Manager Sustainable Land Management

Tiered Approach 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. Organizational Context: UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all. With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet. UNDP India’s new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios: • Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs. • Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized. • Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability. South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture. You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first. Office/Unit/Project Description: The Action for Climate and Environment (ACE) Unit at UNDP is organized around the thematic areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem & land restoration, disaster management and resilience, and access to clean and efficient energy. The Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity pillar of ACE is supporting the Government of India in meeting national development objectives along with commitments under important multilateral environment agreements especially the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The programme/projects under the pillar have been supporting the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), National and State level planning for land restoration and biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration, carbon sequestration through enhanced restoration, promotion of nature-based livelihoods and One Health approach. UNDP is supporting the Ministry in the implementation of a GEF -7 project “Sustainable management and restoration of degraded landscapes for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in India”. The project aims to achieve land degradation neutrality by creating additional carbon sinks through an ecosystem-based approach for restoring degraded agricultural, forest, pastoral lands, and surface water bodies. It involves enabling institutional frameworks and policies for integrated sustainable land management practices and up-scaling landscape-wide practices in 3 states Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh contributing to the national target of restoring 26 Mha of degraded lands by 2030. The project being implemented over a period of five years will lead to the following outcomes: (1) Enhanced national, state and district-level enabling frameworks incentivizing SLM practices and supporting participatory multi-sector platforms to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate mitigation; (2) Integrated participatory landscape design and financing models established in support of avoidance, reduction and reversal of land degradation, desertification, biodiversity loss and negative impacts of climate change to generates multiple sustained environmental and economic benefits; (3) Improved capacity for LDN monitoring, assessment and reporting to UNCCD in support of LDN target setting and evaluation of capacities of partners; allowing government institutions and other agencies to better document, analyse and disseminate effective intervention strategies for restoring productive landscapes and replication of best practices at national and state level, and at international level through improved South-South cooperation, knowledge and adaptive management. UNDP seeks to engage a Project Specialist (Sustainable Land Management) under the GEF- GoI- UNDP LDN project who has the communication, analytical, planning and implementation capacities to support range of projects across Biodiversity, Land Restoration, Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Projects. S/He will support the project management unit in implementation of the project as per the UNDP and GEF Project Management Policy and Procedures. We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, motivated, and committed to making a positive contribution to Development in India. Job Purpose and Scope of Work A. Main Purpose: The Manager -Sustainable Land Management will be responsible for ensuring effective leadership in the planning, resource mobilizing, project proposal development, implementation, coordination, monitoring & evaluation and reporting of the projects in the areas, such as, Biodiversity, Land Restoration, Forestry and Wildlife Conservation, which are to be anchored in the Ministry. S/he will ensure effective engagement and partnerships with the Ministry & other key stakeholders and liaison with government officials and UNDP as required to meet the project goals, objectives, deliverables, and targets. The position will be based at the UNDP Country Office, New Delhi and will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Advisor and Team Lead – Action for Climate and Environment (ACE) UNDP India. B. Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Provide Technical Support: • Provide technical support to the Project management Unit (and Government Stakeholders on the overall implementation of project such as the LDN projects and other projects in the areas of the Biodiversity, Land Restoration, Forestry and Wildlife Conservation. • Coordinate with the respective National and State level project management units for preparation, finalization and implementation of the Annual work Plans • Lead the development and implementation of national and regional LDN strategies and action plans • Assist in the development of technical project plans, including timelines, resources, and budgetSupport establishment and validation of an LDN baseline and assessment of LDN trends at national and subnational levels in order to inform the LDN target setting proce