Small Grants Programme Coordinator

The Small Grants Programme Coordinator will oversee the implementation of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (SGP) in Eswatini, coordinating the country programme team and supporting locally-led adaptation and resilience initiatives. The role involves programme management, grant oversight, stakeholder engagement, gender mainstreaming, resource mobilization, and knowledge management within the Sustainable Development Portfolio of UNDP Eswatini.

Responsibilities

• Manage the SGP Country Programme team and liaise with administrative support for programming.
• Promote teamwork within the SGP team, National Steering Committee, and UNDP Country Office.
• Prepare and implement annual work plans and budgets for the SGP Country Programme.
• Set performance parameters and assess team performance.
• Monitor national environmental priorities and their impact on SGP work.
• Formulate and implement the Country Programme Strategy and annual workplans integrating gender analysis.
• Manage grant allocations and ensure adherence to financial and operational procedures.
• Develop a portfolio of project ideas and monitor programme implementation progress.
• Organize stakeholder workshops and project development sessions.
• Design and deliver capacity development and communications in gender-responsive ways.
• Support CSOs and CBOs in project concept and proposal preparation.
• Authorize and manage project planning grants.
• Conduct project monitoring field visits and provide technical support to grantees.
• Assess gender-related results and risks during monitoring visits and support corrective actions.
• Plan and serve as secretary to National Steering Committee meetings and support project proposal review and approval.
• Promote gender-responsive grantmaking and advise on gender equality gaps and opportunities.
• Foster linkages between SGP and other GEF projects and development partners.
• Report to the Central Programme Management Team on programme status and financials.
• Undertake monitoring and evaluation of the SGP Country Programme and projects.
• Perform administrative tasks adhering to procurement rules and regulations.
• Support implementation of locally-led adaptation grants and resilience initiatives.
• Coordinate grants pipeline and support proposal preparation aligned to priorities.
• Provide technical support for grant proposal review and ensure compliance with safeguards and standards.
• Strengthen grantee capacities in project design, financial management, procurement, safeguards, gender-responsive implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• Conduct field monitoring and quality assurance visits for adaptation initiatives.
• Prepare inputs for donor reporting, audits, and knowledge sharing.
• Integrate gender equality and women's empowerment across programme activities.
• Identify and address gender-related barriers to accessing resources.
• Ensure risk-informed and safeguarding-sensitive processes including SEA/SH prevention.
• Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders and promote SGP visibility.
• Develop and implement resource mobilization and partnership strategies.
• Support grantees in securing co-financing and sustaining projects.
• Document programme stories, lessons learned, and best practices.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange and promote uptake through knowledge platforms.
• Ensure knowledge products reflect gender-responsive results using inclusive language.
• Track, analyze, and report gender-related results using appropriate indicators.
• Perform other duties as necessary for efficient functioning of the office and organization.

Requirements

• Master's Degree with 2 years of experience OR Bachelor's Degree with 4 years of experience.
• Experience in programme management, grant management, and coordination within environmental or sustainable development contexts.
• Knowledge of climate change, biodiversity conservation, environmental protection, and community-based approaches.
• Experience supporting gender equality and women's empowerment in programme implementation.
• Ability to manage budgets and ensure financial integrity in accordance with UNDP and SGP rules and regulations.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, partnership development, and resource mobilization.
• Skills in monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and knowledge management.
• Ability to conduct field monitoring visits and provide technical support to grantees.
• Proficiency in English and Siswati; knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
• Familiarity with UNDP operational guidelines and procedures.
• Competencies include strategic thinking, systems thinking, results-based management, and people management.
• Ability to integrate gender considerations and safeguard policies in programme activities.

Skills

• Programme Management
• Grant Management
• Environmental Protection
• Sustainable Development
• Climate Change Knowledge
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Community-Based Approaches
• Gender Equality Support
• Women’s Empowerment
• Budget Management
• Financial Integrity Issues
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Partnership Development
• Resource Mobilization
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Reporting
• Knowledge Management
• Field Monitoring
• Technical Support to Grantees
• UNDP Operational Guidelines
• Result-Based Management
• Strategic Thinking
• Systems Thinking
• People Management
• Gender Mainstreaming
• Safeguarding Policies

Languages

English, Siswati