Project Development Specialist

Project Development Specialist

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Project Development Specialist

Overview

Job Title: Project Development Specialist
Type of Position: Fixed-Term Contract
Duty Station: CCCCC Headquarters, City of Belmopan, Belize
Duration: 2 years, with possibility of renewal, depending on performance and availability of funding
Reporting to: Lead Senior Project Development Specialist
Requirement: CARICOM Nationality

Background

The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) leads the region's response to climate change, serving as the main repository for related information. Established by CARICOM, it manages projects with various donors, including the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund. The CCCCC is governed by the CARICOM Revised Regional Framework and its Strategic Plan (2021-2025).

2. OBJECTIVE 

Under the supervision of the Lead Senior Project Development Specialist (LSPDS), the Project Development Specialist (PDS) works within the PDMD, collaborating closely with sector experts and national authorities. The PDS leads the project preparation process, ensuring quality and timeliness in proposal submissions, and supports Project Managers by coordinating and managing consultants who contribute technical studies and reviews for proposal development. The primary responsibility of the PDS is to produce technically compliant project documents, including Annexes. The PDS must employ a collaborative approach and engage closely with Member States and their focal points on Climate Change, ensuring that project concepts align with national and regional frameworks while being innovative, transformative, and impactful. With guidance from the LSPDS, the PDS is expected to ensure inclusive planning and continuous collaboration with key technical staff within the CCCCC to ensure that projects mainstream gender and promote social inclusion from the onset. The PDS will engage and collaborate with technical specialists to ensure the effective integration of environmental and social safeguards (e.g. GCF, AFC) and gender considerations into project design and planning to meet donor’s requirements and compliance with CCCCC Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS). 

3. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Project Development Responsibilities:  

• Support the expansion and diversification of the CCCCC project/programme portfolio through the active delivery of project ideas, concept notes, and proposals, leading or coordinating thematic and technical working groups for project development. This entails:  

• Developing and articulating the project’s Theory of Change. 

• Supporting the collation/preparation of necessary Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews, with input from national counterparts for formulating projects.   

• Facilitating and guiding consultations to determine project strategy, priorities, key partners, and key barriers to success. 

• Supporting the stakeholder analysis and consultation processes, ensuring that they are complete and comprehensive.    

• Ensuring that gender findings are meaningfully integrated into the project’s strategy, theory of change, and results framework.   

• Ensuring that action points, including risk assessments from the CCCCC Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP), are fully implemented during project preparation as appropriate.   

• Defining the project/programme preparation arrangements including the technical coordination of each component/activity as appropriate.   

• Elaborate project activities and assess the technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and incrementality of proposed activities. 

• Prepare project budgets, detailing necessary inputs (consultants, services, travel, etc.) in the appropriate format. 

Expected Deliverables: 

• Finalize proposals with, inter alia, costing and budget, cost-benefit analysis, a log frame/result framework, monitoring and evaluation plan, risk management plan and outline of institutional arrangements.   

• Finalize proposals for submission to bilateral and multilateral sources. 

Support Technical Studies:  

• Collate and prepare necessary preparatory technical studies and reviews with inputs from national counterparts. 

• Address all technical comments from the PDMD, donors, development partners, and countries. 

Conduct Stakeholder Analysis: 

• Engage stakeholders, represent the CCCCC, and present its work at various forums. 

• Ensure comprehensive stakeholder analysis and consultation processes. 

• Guide consultations to establish project strategy, priorities, key partners, and barriers to success. 

• Work alongside the CCCCC development team (including Social and Environmental Safeguard experts, Gender Experts, and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Experts) and perform any other duties assigned for effective service delivery within the PDMD. 

Integrate Gender Findings:  

• Meaningfully integrate gender findings into the project’s strategy, theory of change, and results framework. 

Implement Risk Assessments:  

• Ensure action points and risk assessments from the CCCCC Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) are implemented during project preparation. 

Contribute to Capacity Building:  

• Support the CCCCC’s efforts targeting CARICOM Member States to enhance capacities for developing and implementing climate change projects. 

• Where applicable, suggest partnerships with government, civil society organizations, research centres, or private sector partners interested in multi-focal area approaches. 

Define Monitoring Indicators: 

• Define recommended project monitoring and evaluation indicators aligned with the CCCCC Programme Framework Document. 

4. REQUIRED QUALIFICATION, EXPERTISE AND COMPETENCIES 

Eligible candidates should have the following minimum qualifications, experience, and key competencies: 

Qualifications: 

• A Master’s Degree in Development Studies, Finance, Environmental Science/Management, Economics, Agriculture, Biology, or related discipline.  

• Certification in Project Management (e.g. PMP, CAPM, CPM, CSM, etc.) is an asset. 

Experience: 

1. At least two (2) years of grant writing experience and developing donor-compliant project documents. 

2. Proven experience in developing and implementing projects for bilateral and multilateral organizations such as the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, Caribbean Development Bank, World Bank, and the European Union.   

3. Proven standard project planning and development/formulation cycle expertise.   

4. Knowledge and/or familiarity with climate change threats, development imperatives, and socio-cultural dynamics in the Caribbean.   

5. Experience in synthesizing baseline/situational analysis for full-size project development and articulating project theory of change. 

6. Work experience in the Caribbean region preferred.   

 Skills and Competencies: 

• Proven ability to build strong relationships with clients, ensuring their meaningful engagement and participation. 

• Ability to work independently and within a multi-disciplinary team of experts to design and develop project/programme designs. 

• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English. 

• Integrity by modeling the CCCCC’s values and ethical standards. 

• Sensitivity and adaptability to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age differences. 

• Fulfills obligations to gender sensitivity and maintains a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment. 

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and diplomatic skills with the ability to work effectively in a team. 

• Openness to change and ability to receive and integrate feedback. 

• Ability to work under pressure and in stressful situations. 

• Strong analytical, reporting, and writing abilities. 

• Strong technical writing skills. 

• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills. 

Performance Standard: 

1. CCCCC policies and procedures.  

2. CCCCC Confidentiality Agreement and Code of Conduct.  

5. PLACE OF WORK 

The Project Development Specialist (PDS) will be contracted full-time at the CCCCC’s Headquarters in the City of Belmopan, Belize. The initial contract duration is for twenty-four (24) months with a probationary period of three (3) months and is subject to an extension contingent on performance and availability of funding. The Project Development Specialist is expected to take up the assignment immediately. 

6. MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS 

The Project Development Specialist (PDS) reports to the Lead Senior Project Development Specialist. 

7. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION 

1. Submission Package: 

Eligible candidates shall submit the following: 

1. A motivation letter outlining how your experience, skills, qualifications, and professional associations fit with the required job description. 

2. A detailed Curriculum Vitae or Résumé with full details of experience, achievements, qualifications, and names (include copies of Degrees and certificates). 

3. Proof that nationality is that of a CARICOM Member State. 

4. A valid Police Record. 

5. Three (3) professional references from past employers, including name, title, company, contact number, and email address. 

2. How to Apply: 

Applications should be clearly identified as: “Vacancy for Project Development Specialist” in the subject matter of the email and be submitted as ONE PDF package (in the order listed above) via an email to: 

Human Resources Administrator  

Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) 

3rd Floor, David L. McKoy Business Center 

Bliss Parade, City of Belmopan, Cayo, Belize 

Phone: (501) 822-1094 or 1104 

3. Deadline for Submission of Applications: 

Friday, 4th July 2025, at 9:00 A.M. Belize Time (GMT-6). Incomplete packages and late applications will be rejected. 

4. Additional Notes: 

• Only candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted. 

• The CCCCC is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. 

• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 

• ALL qualified individuals are equally encouraged to apply.