Context & the organisation
Set up in 1976, Geres is a French based international development NGO which works to improve the living conditions of the poorest and tackle climate change and its impacts. As a grassroots actor, Geres considers the energy transition as a major lever in all its actions. In order to drive societal change, Geres promotes the development and dissemination of innovative and local solutions, supports climate-energy policies and actions and encourages everyone to commit to Climate Solidarity by taking action and supporting vulnerable populations.
In Central Asia, Geres has been working mainly in the sphere of energy poverty and access thereof, energy efficiency in building, bioclimatic solutions in the agricultural sector & overall better (natural) resource management, following as much as possible inclusive market-based approaches and access to finance.
In Mongolia, Geres has a permanent representation office since 2010 and been working consistently in the fields of bioclimatic solutions (solar passive greenhouses and cellars) for the small-scale agriculture sector and in building energy efficiency (thermal retrofitting of individual houses in ger districts but also public buildings) in Ulaanbaatar but also Khentiy and Arkhangai provinces.
The current projects’ portfolio includes:
- A strategic FSP-I pilot funded by the French Embassy in the agricultural sector of Selenge & Darkhan provinces aiming at characterising financing options for cooperatives to invest in bioclimatic solutions (cellars and passive greenhouses) and paving the way for larger replication of the mechanism in Mongolia.
- The second phase of large project in a complex consortium with key national NGOs under the EU SWITCH-Asia programme, called “Switch off Air Pollution in Mongolian cities”, aiming at piloting a comprehensive delivery model to ensure thermal retrofitting of ger districts individual housing. The project intention is to design a functioning intermediation system between construction SMEs, material suppliers, auditing and labelling schemes, line agencies and most importantly end-clients and banks in the delivery of green loans (backed by a GCF funded project).
- An expected AFD funded multi-country programme (July 2024 onwards) that will specifically aim in Mongolia at capitalising on the model for housing energy efficiency to duplicate, scale and spread the systems in selected African countries and for hot climate housing energy technologies.
Main donors are European Union, the AFD (French Agency for Development), French Embassy and its Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Foundation Abbé Pierre and other private foundations.
Mission
With the support of the Country Representative of Central Asia Regional Director, the Country Support Officer will temporarily support the country team and its daily activities. She/he will more specifically:
- Provide support to the SOAP project team in ensuring smooth implementation of activities, sound respect of the project cycle management as well as nurturing collaboration with all the implementing partners
- Provide support to the Country Representative in her/his duties
She/He will be further in close coordination with the in-country admin and finance manager and HQ counterpart.
The proposed mission is set for a duration of 1 year and aims at supporting temporarily the Geres Mongolia country team in filling all its duties and ensure qualitative management of its key project. Roles and duties might evolve pending arising needs and further identified gaps and will be agreed upon with the volunteer at the beginning and throughout her/his mission.
Activities
Oversee SWITCH-Asia SOAP Project Cycle Management
- Plan, coordinate and follow-up implementation of activities together with project and team and partners
- Coordinate the M&E process, including the methods, tools & studies so as to measure results and impacts of the project
- Smoothly tackle implementation constraints and put in place the necessary corrective measures in consultation with stakeholders (including authorities, partners, and beneficiaries)
- Organise and ensure compliance in the use of external service providers, internal support missions and other suppliers
- Organise quality and timely preparation of internal and external reports
- Ensure and maintain a knowledge management system, incl. archival and sharing
- Ensure ownership and capacity building of the team across the entire project cycle management
Manage project partnerships
- Monitor, assess and facilitate the work with the implementing partners. Understand their mandate and agendas, nurture their involvement in the project
- Ensuring commitments of Geres towards its partners are dully filled and reciprocally, that project partners abide by their respective commitments towards Geres
- Prevent and, if need be, solve issues and disputes with partners
Supervise administrative, logistical, and financial management of the project
- Guarantee a framework of operations and responsibilities between the stakeholders in accordance with the rules of the financial partners
- Supervise the planning and delivery of financial expenditures and accounting flows in collaboration with the Administrative and Finance Officer
- Communicate to teams and ensure compliance with logistical, administrative, and financial procedures
- Actively participate in co-funding research efforts
- Ensure that project manager/team report to the HQ Admin/Finance department in timely manner
Project team management and animation
- Perform functional management of relevant team members
- Support planning and priorisation efforts of activities by the project team
- Coordinate and animate the team around the objectives of the projects
Support to the Country Representative, her/his missions
- Contribute to fundraising efforts such as identification of funding sources, partners mobilisation, proposal writing, etc.)
- Upon request, represent Geres Mongolia in stakeholders’ meetings (donors, authorities, fora, etc.)
- Contribute to internal/external communication work on behalf of Geres Mongolia, with the support of Comms officer and HQ Comms department
- Based on needs, participate in recruitment processes
- Any other meaningful and reasonable duty pending further discussion and agreement
Profile
Education
- A relevant Master’s Degree, or equivalent experience required
Experience
- 3 year-minimum experience in project management required
- Significant experience in the field of sustainable development and/or energy transition is an asset
- Confirmed experience of representation towards local authorities, donors, national or international partners strongly expected
Skills
Required skills:
- Commitment, dynamism, and strong enthusiasm for international development work
- Proficiency in Project Cycle Management, Logical Framework Development, Theory of change, M&E systems
- Capacity to adapt and adjust
- Capacity to convince, negociation skills
- Sense of diplomacy
- Public speaking
- Team player with capacity to work in a multicultural environment
- Fluency in English both written and spoken is a must
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
Appreciated skills:
- Conversant with energy, climate change and building energy efficiency themes
- Capacity to build a strategic vision
- Capacity to identify and formulate project proposals
- Advanced knowledge of French both written and spoken
Skills that would be an asset:
- Working knowledge of gender principles and main applied tools in the development sector
Conditions
- Status: VSI – Volontariat de Solidarité Internationale (International Solidarity Volunteer)
- Full-time
- 12 months contract
- Based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Starting date: May 2024 with departure latest 1st June 2024
- Monthly allowance (paid in France): 850€
- Monthly subsistence allowance: +/- 377€
- Visa costs covered
- 1 return flight covered (begin and end of mission)
- Contribution to cost related to pre-departure training organized by La Guilde (Paris) as well as at Geres HQ before deployment
- Contributin to post-mission debrief by La Guilde as well as at Geres HQ
- Leave: min. 2 days/month + public holiday in Mongolia
- Health and social coverage covered 100% by Geres and La Guilde: Health insurance, life/ invalidity insurance, retirement, repatriation
To apply
To apply, please fill in the form online via the following link : http://job.geres.eu/?action=ref&id=104 and attach your curriculum vitae (no more than 3 pages) and cover letter (1 page).
Deadline for application : 31 April 2024.
Only shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Geres can decide to end the recruitment process before the deadline.
