The Senior Coordinator, based on a sound understanding of strategic direction and priorities, of the portfolio regionally and at the national level, and of relations with partners, especially the OCTs, will be responsible for the formulation, design and implementation of the RESEMBID-OCT Hub.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

 SENIOR COORDINATOR,

RESEMBID OCT REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATION AND EXCHANGE HUB

(“THE RESEMBID OCT HUB”)

Duty Station: Home-based, with duty travel as needed. She/he may work remotely with travel to St. Maarten or another OCT, as required. Attends periodic and other staff meetings by video conference.

Duration: 18 months

Background and Context 

The Resilience, Sustainable Energy, and Marine Biodiversity Programme for Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (hereinafter: the Programme) is a €40M programme financed by European Union (EU) and implemented by Expertise France (EF). The Prime Minister of Sint Maarten currently performs the role of Regional Authorising Officer (RAO) for the Programme.

The Programme is being implemented in twelve Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs):

• Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten
• Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands
• Saint-Barthélemy.

The Programme has been under implementation since 2019 and has achieved a portfolio of 47 projects valued at €22.4M, representing approximately a 90% approval rate on programmable funds. With a portfolio of 47 projects, RESEMBID will in the long-term, contribute to the environmentally sustainable human development of the 12 OCTs by realising the following outcomes linked to three priority focus areas:

1)     Marine Biodiversity – improving protection and sustainable management of the marine biodiversity of the OCTs. This focus area aims to protect and conserve the marine ecosystems of the 12 OCTs. To do this RESEMBID is working with the OCT governments and their stakeholders to implement projects in five areas – Marine Ecosystem Conservation, Sustainable Fisheries, Marine Protected Areas Management, Sustainable Finance and the Blue Economy and Environmental Education.

2)     Resilience – helping Caribbean OCTs to adapt to extreme and recurrent natural events. Capacity to cope with the effects of major natural extreme events is limited in the OCTs, and in this regard, there is a need to reduce structural vulnerability and increase the resilience of economic infrastructure and fragile coastal ecosystems to extreme recurrent natural events. Capacity development in this area continues to be necessary and strategically critical.

3)     Sustainable Energy - The RESEMBID Programme seeks to support the OCTs strengthening the delivery of resilient energy services to their populations. This means increased capability of the people to use and maintain innovative technologies, whilst contributing to low carbon development locally and regionally. RESEMIBD, provides substantive technical assistance through a myriad of channels including the provision of technical training in energy efficiency and renewable energy, the commissioning of feasibility studies and subsequent pilot and proof-of-concept projects in-country. The RESEMBID Programme is anchored in and driven by the needs and priorities of the OCTs. It is implemented through OCT-owned projects that are designed to advance sustainable human development of their societies.

The Assignment

An important strength of the RESEMBID Programme is the opportunity it provides the OCTs to connect and exchange on the development issues, strategies and activities that are most salient to them, particularly in the priority areas of activity of the Programme. This connection is facilitated at the governance level through the Strategic Steering Committee and at the programmatic level through the implementation of multi-country regional projects. Finally, the hosting by the Programme of Communities of Practice sessions encourages the sharing of best practices and learnings among the implementing partners. In this way, RESEMBID is laying the groundwork for regional collaboration amongst the OCTs.

There is need to ensure that the momentum towards regionalism is sustained. An additional critical consideration for the OCTs is strengthening their capacity in development financing and, in this connexion, for strategising collectively on their needs and priorities.                         

The RESEMBID OCT Regional Development Collaboration and Exchange Hub (The RESEMBID OCT Hub) seeks to fulfil these needs and opportunities through the creation of a facility with three fundamental objectives:

1. Deepen internalisation and future sustainability of RESEMBID project results through compilation of learnings from the implementation of the Programme
2. Foster inter-OCT regional connection, proactive exchange and collaboration on development challenges and opportunities of common interest
3. Strengthen OCT capacity for development financing to plan strategically for post-RESEMBID programming

Illustrative examples, inter alia, of some the ways in which these objectives may be operationalised may include:

• A process for compiling and disseminating the learnings from the RESEMBID Programme in a way that facilitates the OCTs being able to incorporate these learnings (local internalisation) and, thereby ensure the continued long-term sustainability of the results and impact achieved through RESEMBID.
• A framework for cross-fertilisation, ongoing connectivity and collaboration among the OCTs through in-person engagements (meetings, fora, conferences, roundtables) on matters of shared concern and importance.
• A mechanism to facilitate and encourage regional exchange among OCTs on their priorities for donors’ programming cycles and on development financing more broadly.

Summary of Role and Purpose

The Senior Coordinator will be responsible for the formulation, design and implementation of the RESEMBID-OCT Hub so that it fulfils the aforementioned objectives. Reporting to the Programme Director, the incumbent will be required to work closely and collaboratively across the RESEMBID Management Team and all stakeholders. Accordingly, the incumbent adopts a whole-of-team, cross-cutting outlook, avoiding a narrow, vertical or siloed approach.

Key functions

The incumbent, based on a sound understanding of strategic direction and priorities, of the implementation of the portfolio regionally and at the national level, and of relations with partners, especially the OCTs, will have the following key functions:

Phase I

Formulation of the Hub

• In consultation with the Regional Authorising Officer (RAO), all other relevant stakeholders and the RESEMBID Team, develop the core concept for the Hub, including its specific objectives, expected perceived added value and the specific operational ways and means in which it will execute its objectives

Phase II          

Design of the Hub

• Proceeding on the foregoing, and through the logical framework methodology, design the project document for the Hub
• Produce Terms of Reference for the selection of the implementing agent

Phase II          

Implementation of the Hub

• Ensuring proactive, efficient, diplomatically competent management of resources and relationships to implement the Hub effectively
• Provide appropriate oversight/management of the implementing agent
• Generate and develop/refine innovative, dynamic, practical initiatives (ways and means) to operationalise the Hub
• Conduct effective relationship management among the twelve OCTs, other stakeholders and the RESEMBID team, ensuring alignment across all partners, proactive engagement and OCT ownership
• In collaboration with the RESEMBID Performance Management team, produces a learnings agenda to guide the review, validation and curating of key learnings emerging from the implementation of the RESEMBID Programme
• Designs a process for the dissemination of learnings
• In collaboration with the Manager, Communications and Visibility, proactively ensures communications on the Hub are effective and in synch with overall RESEMBID strategy
• Facilitates the logistical, financial and administrative aspects of the Hub with the RESEMBID Team and the implementing agent
• Nurtures and maintains impeccable relations with all stakeholders, and most centrally, with the 12 OCTs
• Employing savvy of implementation of technical cooperation, emotional intelligence, diplomatic skill and substantive understanding of human development, ensures fluid communication with stakeholders, building trust and credibility

The above list of key responsibilities is illustrative, and not exhaustive. It is subject to the evolving operational needs of the Programme and the initiatives of the incumbent.

Minimum Eligibility Criteria

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience leading and managing technical assistance projects on the ground in the Caribbean essential.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience formulating and designing technical assistance projects essential. Fully conversant with Logical Framework Matrix methodology.
• Familiarity with knowledge management, especially with respect to distilling, curating and communicating key learnings on project performance and results would be an asset.
• Excellent spoken and written, nuanced command of English is essential. French a plus.

Competencies

• Solid experience in implementation of technical cooperation programmes on the ground, including project management
• Demonstrated ability to interpret strategic direction/objectives and achieve the related results, including through collaboration with others.
• Experience managing complex agendas and the interests of multiple, diverse stakeholders in dynamic and sensitive environments.
• A strong manager of processes and people, who is focused on results with a demonstrated ability to build alignment among stakeholders
• Emotionally intelligent, diplomatic
• Energised by the complexity of a multi-dimensional, multi-site programme
• Excellent sense of humour, flexible, tolerant

Application will be reviewed and interviews will be conducted in a rolling basis. Therefore, Expertise France reserves the right to proceed with a pre-selection as early as possible.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to prepare a brief methodology and workplan reflecting her/his understanding of the assignment.