Small Grants Programme Coordinator [Open to Tier 1 & 2 applicants]

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.

UNDP Eswatini is initiating Eswatini Country Programme 2026–2030. As part of this programme UNDP will concentrate on two mutually reinforcing priorities: (1) good governance and social cohesion—strengthening accountable, transparent and people-centered institutions, expanding access to justice and human rights, bolstering anti-corruption and oversight, and improving public service delivery (including through digitalization and citizen feedback); and (2) sustainable and resilient economic development—advancing inclusive, green and digital growth by supporting MSME development, entrepreneurship and decent jobs (especially for youth, women and vulnerable groups), while building climate and environmental resilience through nature-positive development, circular economy approaches and a just energy transition, alongside efforts to mobilize innovative financing for implementation. Within the Sustainable and resilient development portfolio, UNDP will be executing the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP). 

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) is implemented by UNDP on behalf of the GEF Partnership. UNDP oversees the Small Grants Programme (SGP) through the Vertical Hub and the Nature Hub of Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS). Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Small Grants Programme efficiently channels direct grants to non-governmental and community-based organizations to help them cope with climate change; conserve biodiversity; protect international waters; reduce the impact of Persistent Organic Pollutants; and prevent land degradation. Helping communities with their initiatives for sustainable livelihoods while generating global environmental benefits is the core inspiration of the Small Grants Programme.

Launched in 1992 as a corporate programme of the GEF, the GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) has supported local action for over thirty years to address global environmental concerns.  SGP aims to deliver global environmental benefits in the GEF focal areas of biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, protection of international waters, prevention of land degradation, and elimination of persistent organic pollutants through community-based approaches. To date, SGP has funded over 29,000 community-based projects covering more than 120 countries. It has gained considerable experiences at the community level, including adapting to climate change while addressing issues of the GEF focal areas.  Further information can be found at: https://sgp.undp.org/.

The SGP Programme in Eswatini has been implemented over the past 2 years under the oversight of UNOPS Regional Office, with 1 UNOPS contracted staff embedded within UNDP. As the Programme transitions to UNDP full oversight in 2026, UNDP Eswatini is recruiting a National Coordinator to coordinate the SGP in Eswatini.

The National Coordinator will report through a matrixed structure to both the Deputy Resident Representative and the SGP Regional Programme Specialist. The coordinator will work on a day-to-day basis within the Sustainable Development Portfolio of UNDP under the oversight of the Sustainable Development Specialist to ensure synergies and coordination within the overall environment, climate and nature portfolio of UNDP. The Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the SGP at country level, while dedicating approximately 50% of their time to support implementation other country office locally-led initiative on adaptation and resilience, with particular focus on the grants element, including grant pipeline development, appraisal support, grantee capacity strengthening, milestone-based disbursement follow-up, grant monitoring, reporting and learning.

Ensure effective management of the SGP Country Programme team 

• →Liaise with the Sustainable Development/Environment Programme Assistant for administrative support in relation to SGP programming;
• →Promote and maintain effective teamwork within the SGP Country Programme and wider Environment portfolio team, the National Steering Committee members, and with the UNDP CO team; 
• →Prepare and implement annual work plan, including strategic and/or innovative initiatives, with set delivery and co-financing targets; draft annual SGP Country Office administrative and project operational budget proposal;
• →Set annual performance parameters and learning objectives for the SGP Country Programme team, assess their performance and provide feedback.

    Ensure Programme/Portfolio Development and Management

• →Keep abreast of national environmental concerns and priorities as well as the socio-economic conditions and trends as they relate to the SGP and assess their impact on SGP’s work and programme.  
• →Ensure formulation and implementation of the Country Programme Strategy (CPS), and its periodic review and update. 
• →Ensure the Country Programme Strategy (CPS) and annual workplans integrate gender analysis, clear gender equality actions, and measurable targets (including for women-led/women-benefiting initiatives), aligned to UNDP and national gender priorities.
• →Manage the SGP grant allocations and country operating budget, maintain the financial integrity of the programme by ensuring adherence to SGP Standard Operating Procedures as well as UNDP rules and regulations, and ensure timely and effective use of SGP resources.
• →Exercise quality control over the development of a portfolio of project ideas and concepts and closely monitor the programme implementation progress and results. 
• →Organize periodic stakeholder workshops and project development sessions for civil society organizations (CSOs) and local communities, and potential applicants and other stakeholders to inform about SGP and its Strategic Initiatives. 
• →Design and deliver capacity development and communications in gender-responsive ways (e.g., convenient timing/locations, accessible formats/languages, safe spaces), to enable meaningful participation of women and marginalized groups.
• →Work closely with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Community-based Organizations (CBOs) in preparation of project concepts and proposals to ensure that projects fit with the SGP Strategic Initiatives, Country Programme Strategy, and technical guidance notes;
• →Authorize and manage project planning grants as required.
• →Oversee ongoing SGP grant projects and conduct periodic project monitoring field visits and provide technical and operational support and guidance to SGP grantees as required.
• →During monitoring visits, assess gender-related results and risks, support corrective actions, and document lessons on what works to advance gender equality in community-based environmental action.
• →Plan and serve as secretary to the National Steering Committee meetings. Support and closely coordinate with the National Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Group where relevant, in the process of project proposal review, selection and approval, especially the initial appraisal of proposals and assessment of eligibility. 
• →Promote gender-responsive grantmaking by applying gender considerations in calls for proposals, appraisal tools and selection processes, and by advising the National Steering Committee on gender equality gaps, risks and opportunities in the portfolio.
• →Foster programme, project, and policy linkages between the SGP and the full or medium-sized GEF projects, planned or underway in the country, as well as those of other government, donors and development partners.  
• →Report periodically to the Central Programme Management Team (CPMT) on programme implementation status, including annual monitoring reporting, financial reporting, audit, and update the relevant SGP databases.
• →Undertake monitoring and evaluation of SGP Country Programme and projects, and grant maker initiatives, in coordination with National Steering Committee (NSC) and CPMT.
• →Perform and coordinate administrative tasks (i.e. procurement, travel) adhering to SGP SOPs procurement rules and regulation, as required for programme implementation.

Support implementation of grassroot level adaptation interventions under the Environment Portfolio (50% level of effort)

• →Support the Sustainable Development Specialist and UNDP Country Office in the effective in-country implementation of adaptation grants, ensuring complementarity between the SGP grant portfolio and the UNDP’s other country initiatives on adaptation, catchment resilience, and nature-based solutions objectives.
• →Support coordination of the grants pipeline for country adaptation and resilience grant, including targeted outreach to eligible community-based organizations, civil society organizations, cooperatives and other local entities; support preparation of concept notes and proposals aligned to Catchment Investment Programme priorities and agreed grant criteria.
• →Provide technical and operational support to the review, appraisal and documentation of grant proposals, ensuring consistency with partner/donor requirements, UNDP Low-Value Grant procedures, social and environmental safeguards, gender and inclusion standards, and fiduciary due diligence.
• →Strengthen grantee capacities in project design, financial management, procurement planning, safeguards, gender-responsive implementation, monitoring, reporting and verification, with particular attention to women, youth and vulnerable groups participating in locally led adaptation initiatives.
• →Conduct field monitoring and quality assurance visits for country office initiatives on adaptation, catchment resilience, and nature-based solutions, document progress against agreed outputs and indicators, identify implementation risks and lessons learned, and support adaptive management by grantees and catchment-level stakeholders.
• →Prepare timely inputs for donor/partner reporting, audits, knowledge products and regional learning processes, including evidence on grant results, beneficiary reach, safeguards compliance, gender-responsive outcomes, co-financing and sustainability prospects.

Gender mainstreaming (cross-cutting responsibility)

• →Integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment considerations across SGP and other locally led adaptation and resilience initiatives’ planning, grantmaking, implementation, monitoring and reporting, in line with UNDP gender policies and the SGP strategic framework.
• →Identify and address gender-related barriers to accessing SGP and in other locally-led Adaptation resources (e.g., information, land/asset access, time burdens, mobility, digital access), including through targeted outreach and capacity support for women-led organizations and groups.
• →Ensure SGP and Locally Led Adaptation processes and partner engagements are risk-informed and safeguarding-sensitive, including attention to prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse/sexual harassment (SEA/SH) and appropriate referral pathways in line with UNDP requirements.

Resource Mobilization and Partnerships

• →Establish and maintain close working relationships with stakeholders as well as promote the value, comparative advantages, and ensure visibility of the SGP.  
• →Assess interest and priorities of key donors and other development partners and develop/update and implement the resource mobilization and partnership strategy to mobilize resources from and develop partnerships with the government, donors and other partners to best leverage SGP resources and develop programme level partnerships.
• →Support SGP grantees in securing co-financing and project level partnerships and assist in identifying opportunities and resources for sustaining and scaling up projects. 
• →Mobilize resources and partnerships that explicitly support gender-responsive community climate and biodiversity solutions, including engagement with women’s organizations and gender machinery where relevant.

Facilitate Knowledge Management and Communication

• →Document programme/project stories, lessons learned, and best practices in SGP programme/project development, implementation, and oversight. 
• →Access SGP and other global and regional knowledge, distill best practices and facilitate their dissemination and incorporation within SGP Country Programme and projects, UNDP CO, and to counterparts and partners; 
• →Support capacity building and networking of grantees to facilitate knowledge exchange, and promote uptake through Knowledge platforms, Knowledge fairs etc.
• →Ensure knowledge products and visibility materials reflect gender-responsive results (including women’s leadership and benefits), using inclusive language and ethically obtained stories/images/quotes with informed consent.

Ensure Monitoring and Progress Controls

• →Sound SGP programme results and impacts, in alignment with national strategies and priorities and SGP strategy and approaches, that contribute to transformational change in society and economy to conserve the global environment and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, Innovative, technically sound and socially inclusive grant portfolio is developed and implemented. Effective and efficient use of resources to create maximum project/programme impact. Increased trust by clients and donors and increased opportunities for visibility, partnerships and co-financing.
• →Track, analyze and report gender-related results using appropriate indicators and sex-/age-disaggregated data where feasible; ensure findings inform adaptive management, learning and future grant cycles.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. 

• The incumbent will be based in the UNDP Eswatini offices;
• The incumbent will have a matrixed reporting line to the Deputy Resident Representative and to the SGP Regional Programme Specialist, in accordance with SGP Operational Guidelines; 
• The Coordinator will work on a day-to-day basis under the oversight of the Sustainable Development Specialist to ensure synergies and coordination within the overall environment, climate and nature portfolio of UNDP;
• The incumbent will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• The incumbent will be provided with a workstation (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, access to scanner/printer, etc.) and access to reliable internet connection.

Core competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning 
  Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process 
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously 
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships 
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

People Management competencies

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction & Strategy

• Strategic Thinking
  • Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight. 
• Systems Thinking
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management

• Results-based Management
  • Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. 
  • Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
• Communication
  • Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
• Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Partnership management

• Strategic engagement
  • Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives.

2030 Agenda: Planet

• Nature
  • Local Action.

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental or Natural Resource Management, Public Policy, Law, Environmental Economics/Management, Advanced Community Development or a related field is required. 
  OR
• A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in managing environment / natural resource management projects / initiatives at national or local levels is required.

Required Skills:

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.

Desired Skills:

• Progressively responsible experience in project or programme management or related area at international and/or national level is desirable. 
• Proven experience in managing and/or providing services for the design, management and monitoring and evaluation of UN/DP Programmes and/or development projects including results-based management a significant advantage
• Experience in any of the GEF-SGP thematic areas at the national level highly desirable
• Knowledge of strategic programmes and operational policies of UNDP is an asset
• Proven experience working in a sensitive environment requiring liaison and collaboration with multiple actors (e.g. NGOs, CSOs, government, etc.) is desired. 
• Experience supporting implementation of Adaptation Fund, GEF, UNDP or similar climate/environment programmes with grant-making components, including Low-Value Grants, community grants, grantee capacity development, fiduciary follow-up, safeguards and results reporting, is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience integrating gender equality/women’s empowerment considerations into project or programme design, implementation and results-based monitoring is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English language and Siswati language is required.
• Knowledge of other UN language is an advantage.

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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