The Science and Strategy Group (SSG) is considered one administrative entity, and has evolved from the previous Ecosystems and Livelihoods Group, Asia construct. It brings under one umbrella all component thematic programmes in IUCN.

Under the guidance of the Head, NRG and in close collaboration with all Natural Resources staff, the Programme Coordinator will provide Natural Resources Group staff with coordination and support to ensure effective and timely project development, planning, delivery, monitoring, and reporting. A key aspect of the position will be to promote integration and experience sharing among the different thematic components of NRG and to assist with information coordination, the capturing of lessons learned and knowledge management.
The Natural Resources Group provides technical support to country and regional teams, develops and implements projects with country and regional teams, and provides a focal point for connections between global teams and commissions. It also carries out the implementation function for GEF and GCF projects in the Asia region, and fulfils the Regional Implementation Team function for the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund Indo-Burma hotspot.

The Programme Coordinator’s responsibilities include support for:
• work planning and scheduling
• contracts and funding agreements
• financial management
• technical and donor reporting
• compliance with IUCN processes
• project development
• information management and communications
• Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund support
• GEF/GCF Implementing Agency function support

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

Work Planning
• Maintain an overall work schedule for the team
• Support planning and allocation of time
• Receive requests for time from other units, including country offices
• Communicate NRG availability to colleagues

Contracts and Funding Agreements,
• Support team members to develop funding agreements and contracts, both for disbursing and receiving funds
• Maintain an overview of all NRG contracts and funding agreements, including expiry dates, ensuring they are of a high standard and comply with IUCN internal approvals processes
• Liaise with other units (e.g. OLA, Finance, RDO, DPRD) as necessary

Financial Management
• Lead the annual, mid-term and other budget processes for NRG, ensuring alignment between funding agreements, IUCN’s project portal, and the budget submissions
• Monitoring monthly financial reports, summarising and extracting data to support decision making
• Maintain an overview of staff time and management fees budgeted and claimed and ensure they align with funding agreements
• Support team members to forecast income and expenditure on a monthly basis to allow better understanding of financial patterns and to support decision making

Technical and Donor Reporting Requirements
• Assist with editing, reviewing and formatting project reports and other products.
• Maintain an overview of all funding agreements, ensuring technical and financial reporting deadlines are met
• Support team members to develop, where necessary, annual plans from funding agreements and ensure these are aligned with unit budgets and the IUCN portal
• Support programme and project evaluations and participate in related reviews, as necessary

Compliance with IUCN Processes
• Support team members to identify what IUCN approvals are required and when they are required during project development, pre-start, implementation and close of projects
• Provide a focal point for the team for contact with other units and experts

Project Development
• Support team members with specific project development as necessary
• Maintain an overview of liaison with donors, including ensuring regular communication and updates with other units and teams

Information Management and Communications
• Lead the development of an NRG Information Management System, to ensure that key programme and project documents are maintained, organised and readily accessible
• Promote knowledge sharing through the NRG business processes and systems across the Asia region
• Support team members with the design and development of key knowledge products.
• In collaboration with the Asia Regional Communications Unit, support external communications activities for NRG
• Assist team members to facilitate processes for obtaining stories that can serve to communicate the work of NRG

Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund Support
• Support the Senior Programme Officer, Species, to deliver effective and efficient funding agreement administration
• Maintain oversight of the CEPF budget
• Support the Senior Programme Officer, Species, to service the grant portfolio and maintain relations with grantees

GEF/GCF Implementing Agency Function Support
• Act as the focal point for the implementation function for GCF and GEF projects
• Maintain financial oversight of the IUCN Asia GCF and GEF portfolio
• Support the lead programme officers for GEF and GCF projects to prepare and submit funding and technical reports