Project Coordinator

Job title: Project Coordinator

UNDP Tajikistan Project Coordinator Vacancy

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Office in Tajikistan has been active since 1994 and is guided in its work by the Country Programme Document, which in turn builds upon the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP has made a significant contribution to developing the National Development Strategy, with an outline of policies and investments necessary to reach the SDGs by 2030. Together with the Government of Tajikistan, civil society and the people of Tajikistan, UNDP works towards identifying local solutions to global and national development challenges. Its main focus is reaching sustainable development by enhancing accountability of the current governance system, mitigating natural disaster threats, and contributing to environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation.

The Climate Change, Energy and Environment (CCEE) Cluster of UNDP Tajikistan manages a diverse and growing portfolio of various projects currently under implementation across the country. The Cluster provides strategic, technical, and operational support to national counterparts in addressing Tajikistan’s key environmental, climate, and energy challenges, in line with national development priorities and international commitments. The Cluster’s programmatic focus spans several interrelated thematic areas, including climate change adaptation and mitigation, integrated water resources management, sustainable land management, urban resilience to disaster and climate risks, promotion of renewable and green energy solutions, and biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration.

In particular, with regard to biodiversity conservation and it’s biodiversity portfolio, UNDP's Country Office in Tajikistan is currently supporting the country’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) update and implementation in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). As countries move from updating their NBSAPs towards implementation, targeted support is required to translate national biodiversity priorities into concrete actions and address critical implementation gaps.

In this context, the NBSAP Accelerator Action Account Multi-Partner Trust Fund (NBSAP AAA MPTF) provides targeted support to countries to accelerate implementation of their NBSAP priorities and translate national biodiversity commitments into concrete action. The Fund supports high-priority interventions that address critical policy, institutional, technical and financing gaps and that have not been sufficiently covered through other available resources. Its support is intended to strengthen national readiness for sustained biodiversity action, increase implementation ambition and create foundations for further investment in achievement of national biodiversity priorities and the KMGBF.

In Tajikistan, the project directly contributes to the objectives of the NBSAP AAA MPTF by providing targeted support for NBSAP implementation, with a particular focus on operationalizing KMGBF Target 6 on invasive alien species (IAS). The project will strengthen the scientific, technical and policy basis for the prevention, monitoring and management of IAS, including through establishment of a national IAS database and development of the country’s first State Programme and Action Plan on Invasive Alien Species. These interventions will help address critical data and policy gaps, strengthen national capacities for ongoing biological risk monitoring and management, and establish a more coherent framework for coordinated action on invasive alien species.

The project further contributes to strengthening the core functions of NBSAP implementation through institutional capacity development and strategic policy support, applying a “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach. It also contributes to KMGBF Target 23 on gender equality by integrating gender-responsive approaches and promoting the equitable participation of women and vulnerable groups within IAS knowledge, monitoring and policy systems. The initiative will additionally promote youth engagement and digital innovation in biodiversity information management, thereby supporting an inclusive, sustainable and potentially scalable approach to implementation of KMGBF priorities in Tajikistan.

Under the direct supervision of UNDP Programme Specialist on Climate Change, Energy and Environment, and overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative, the Project Coordinator will coordinate project interventions, liaise with national partners and support effective teamwork and strong partnerships. The Project Coordinator will provide technical and programmatic support to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality project results that strengthen national capacities, data systems and policy frameworks for the prevention and management of invasive alien species, in line with Tajikistan’s NBSAP and the KMGBF.

He/she will ensure implementation mechanisms and technical working groups are established and meet regularly, that all planned workshops, technical studies and other activities are organised in a timely manner, and that they meet expected quality standards. He/she will also specifically be responsible for outreach activities to relevant stakeholders, and the preparation of synthesis reports, policy briefs, press releases and briefing notes for Government, donor, UNDP, etc.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Ensure effective technical support to the project focusing on achievement of the following results:

• General coordination and liaison of project activities with national counterparts, scientific institutions and relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate the development and validation of the National IAS Catalogue and Database.
• Facilitate the development, testing and validation of standardized IAS risk assessment protocols.
• Coordinate the development of the multi-sectoral National IAS Programme and Action Plan.
• Ensure alignment of the project’s technical outputs with the NBSAP, the KMGBF, national biodiversity reporting processes and other relevant national policies and strategic frameworks.
• Facilitate technical assessments, field data collection, consultations and other analytical work required for the development of the National IAS Catalogue, risk assessment protocols, IAS Database and National IAS Programme and Action Plan.
• Provide substantive support to project stakeholders in reviewing and validating technical methodologies, assessments, databases, policy documents and other project outputs.
• Coordinate project activities among relevant stakeholders, including but not limited to the National Biodiversity and Biosafety Centre under the Committee for Environmental Protection, National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry Agency, Customs Service, Food Security Committee, other relevant ministries and agencies, civil society organizations, academia and local communities, as specified in the Project Document.
• Facilitate the establishment and effective functioning of the Multi-Stakeholder Platform and Task Force Group/Thematic Working Group for technical coordination, policy dialogue and development and validation of project outputs.
• Ensure the elaborati