Senior Advisor, Geological and mineral information – UNDP

a) Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

b) A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

c) Evidence of geological and mineral information compilation, processing and analysis performed, in the form of sample from databases or reports

Travel:

a) UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements

b) If official travel is required, and subject to (local) Covid-19 health permission, such travel shall be at UNDP’s expense in accordance with UNDP’s travel guidance and policy, and the personnel shall receive a per diem not to exceed United Nations daily subsistence allowance rate.

Office/Unit/Project Description:

The African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) was established as the coordinating arm for the African Union Commission (AUC) to implement the African Mining Vision (AMV). It aims to ensure minerals play a greater transformative role in the development of the continent. The role of the AMDC is set by the directive of the African Union Conference of Ministers Responsible for Mineral Resources Development. The twenty-sixth ordinary session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government (AU-AHSG) held on 30th January 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia adopted the Statutes establishing the AMDC as a semi-autonomous Specialized Agency of the African Union (Decision No. Assembly/AU/Dec.589 (XXVI)). The AU Assembly Heads of State and government in its July 2018 summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania further decided the AMDC shall be hosted by the Republic of Guinea (under Decision No. Assembly/AU/Dec.697 (XXXI)).

Recently, the AUC and the UNDP have been partnering to support the AMDC in developing its five-year Business Plan and organizing the First Africa Forum on Mining. The AMDC is being supported through the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme (Phase II), initiated by the Secretariat of the OACPS (the Organisation for African, Caribbean and Pacific States, formerly known as the ACP Group of States), financed by the European Commission and UNDP, and implemented by UNDP at the request of the OACPS. This arrangement seeks to ensure the effective implementation of the services of the AMDC through a coordinated approach under a professional and semi-independent structure. This will allow the AMDC to respond to AU members’ needs with the flexibility and swiftness needed to address the current challenges in the mineral sector.

Therefore, UNDP is seeking a Senior Advisor on Geological and Mineral Information, with focus on mineral and resources classification and geological information systems, including the relevant policy and legal frameworks, standards development and capacity building. The Senior Advisor will work closely with the Interim AMDC Director and other interim staff and consultants of the AMDC.

Additional materials that may help candidates gain a better understanding of the project context:

Statute of the African Minerals Development Centre

Africa Mining Vision

Institutional Arrangement:

The Senior Advisor will report to the Interim AMDC Director and to UNDP’s Programme Manager of the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme.

The position will be administered by the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme.

The Senior Advisor on Geological and Mineral Information will be responsible for providing technical advisory, policy and programmatic support in the mineral sector, focusing on the implementation of the AMV, in particular on the development of the African Mineral and Resources Classification system (AMREC) and geological information systems, the development of relevant policies, legal frameworks and standards development, and capacity building.

Particularly, the Senior Advisor shall perform the following duties and responsibilities:

• Data, information and policy analysis and knowledge generation
• Implementation of the Geological and Minerals Information (GMIS) Strategy and AMV Instrument for Geological Information related matters across the continent;
• Keeping track of the development and update of the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) and United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS);
• Developing robust relationships with the relevant financial institutions such as developmental banks, commercial banks and stock exchanges for the active implementation of AMREC/PARC;
• Building collaboration with universities, academic institutions and professional societies for the adoption of AMREC/PARC;
• Coordination and organising of the Committee of Directors General of African Geological Surveys – a Sub-Committee of the Specialized Technical Committee of Trade, Industry and Mining (STC-TIM);
• Conceptualizing, conducting, guiding and overseeing studies and research related to the AMV’s pillar programmes, with focus on mineral and resources classification systems and geological information systems;
• Gathering and analyzing data and conducting reviews of available information;
• Working towards increasing capacities in developing and managing data and information systems;
• Leading the development of key publications and data systems of the AMDC;
• Drafting standards, policies, model laws, regulations and agreements related to the AMV pillar programmes in the above focus areas.

Partnership and capacity development

• Engaging and coordinating with the African Union Member states, specialized government and training institutions on mineral and resources classification systems and geological information systems;
• Conceptualizing and organizing AMDC’s workshops, seminars and meetings, including identifying and engaging experts in these events;
• Contributing to capacity development of government and non-government stakeholders of the African Union Member states in the above focus areas;
• Contributing to communication and knowledge sharing in the above focus areas.

Programme development and management

• Providing project and programme management support for the operationalization of the AMDC;
• Preparing programmes and project proposals;
• Producing and submitting periodic reports on activities;
• Conducting reviews, monitoring and tracking continental projects in the above focus areas;
• Performing other relevant duties to support the objectives of the AMDC.

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s and AU’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the AU and the UN;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
• The individual will serve in his/her individual capacity and not as a representative of a Government institution, corporate body or other authority external to UNDP.

Required competencies:        

Strategic and analytical thinking:

• Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with the organization’s objectives, based on systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities.
• Linking the vision of the organization to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions;
• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends and to demonstrate foresight.
• Ability to conceptualize and analyze problems and complexity to identify patterns and propose new ideas, approaches and solutions.

Working with evidence and data; knowledge generation:

• Ability to inspect, clean, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making;
• Demonstrate superior logical thinking, as well as attention to detail and accuracy in managing data;
• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

Achieving results:

• Demonstrate focus on achieving quality results and impact;
• Consistently strive to meet or exceed excellence standards; Hold self and others accountable for results;
• Efficiently establish appropriate plans and resources for self and others to accomplish goals

Desired competencies:

Analytical thinking:

• Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends and to demonstrate foresight;
• Ability to conceptualize and analyze problems and complexity to identify patterns and propose new ideas, approaches and solutions.

Communication skills:

• Demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills.

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