Resilient Watersheds Project Leader

Host entity: UNEP

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Climate change, environment, Project management, programme development, strategy, Water, sanitation, waste

Application deadline: 04/10/2026

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading environmental authority in the United Nations system. UNEP uses its expertise to strengthen environmental standards and practices while helping implement environmental obligations at the country, regional and global levels. UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

Assignment context

The main objective of the position of Resilient Watershed Project Leader is to be in charge of the overall coordination of the project and collaborate with the Ministry of Environment to achieve project objectives by delivering the planned outputs on schedule while working with UNEP to provide technical and operational expertise, ensuring effective liaison with the national counterparts, representing the project and presenting its results in key events, and coordinating the secretariat of the Project Steering Committee and of the CAUCE group.

Task description

The Resilient Watershed Project Leader will contribute to the effective implementation of the project by performing the following tasks:

Project Implementation
• Effectively implement project initiatives with project counterparts and UNEP by complementing existing capacities and providing oversite and support where needed;
• Facilitate decision making on activity execution, particularly related to planning, budget, and implementation issues;
• Prepare annual work plans and budgets and manage activities, and monitoring spending using guidance from the Technical Advisory Panel and the Steering Committee. The work plans will provide guidance on the day-to-day implementation of the project noting the need for overall coordination with other projects implemented by UNEP in Panama.
• Provide inputs to strategic planning, achievement of targets and objectives;
• Facilitate technical training and deliver presentations on the project’s progress, results and lessons learned during events, technical fora and other engagements;
• Conduct field visits to project sites for the provision of hands-on support and quality assurance;
• Ensure technical, administrative, and logistical support is given to the projects;
• Participate with UNEP at meetings, technical sessions, project events, ceremonies, and functions.

Technical Support
• Provide technical guidance to Project partners for the preparation of the project outputs;
• Initiate and assist with the design, organization, and facilitation of consultation meetings, training, workshops, and other activities;
• Provide specific technical input on the implementation and documentation of project activities directly within her/his technical area including editing and/or drafting and/or proof reading of technical reports and studies;
• Work closely with international and national consultants recruited to undertake/support the implementation of project activities;
• Collaborate with UNEP in the development of Terms of References for consultants and sub-contractors.

Coordination and Networking
• Manage the liaison with the project national counterparts and foster functional relationships with the project partners and other key stakeholders, acting as the main focal point of the project vis-à-vis the Ministry of Environment and the other national institutions involved.
• Facilitate or participate in workshops, webinars, and meetings as necessary.
• Liaise with and ensure strategic partnerships with the responsible Institutions of the beneficiaries at the national and sub-national levels and coordinate with them for the implementation of the Project and the achievement of the expected results.
• Participate in the Project Steering Committee: convene the meetings, prepare and circulate the agenda and the supporting documentation, draft and distribute the minutes, and follow up on and report on the implementation of the decisions taken;
• Coordinate the secretariat of the CAUCE group (Cuencas y Adaptación basada en ecosistemas a través de la Unión en Conocimiento y Experiencias), which aims at facilitating the exchange of information, methodologies, tools, good practices, lessons learned and experiences among the projects and partners working on watersheds with an EbA/NbS approach in Panama, promoting mutual knowledge, synergies and opportunities for collaboration and financing. This includes convening and facilitating the meetings, maintaining the membership and the work plan of the group, and following up on the agreements reached;
• Advocate for the project and present its progress, results and lessons learned in key national, regional and international events, meetings and technical fora, and prepare the corresponding presentations, talking points and briefing notes for UNEP and Ministry of Environment officials, when required;
• Participate and promote dialogue in the community of practices and/or webinars that will be implemented within the project.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
• Work in partnership with project counterparts and UNEP for the timely submission of periodic, accurate, and professional (narrative and financial) progress reports to management and other stakeholders as required;
• Ensure adequate tools are in place to track all progress, achievements, challenges, and lesson learned;
• Promote learning and knowledge sharing amongst all related stakeholders;
• Contribute to knowledge sharing, producing documentation for case studies and lessons learned;
• Collaborate with the preparation of assessments and studies as required.

Skills and experience

• 10 years of relevant experience in project coordination, management and reporting is required.
• 7 years of experience and knowledge in the field of water resource management, integrated watershed management, natural resources management, climate change, disaster risk reduction or a closely related field is required;
• Experience working with climate change scenarios and climate risk analyses is desirable;
• Experience in coordinating multidisciplinary teams is required.;
• Demonstrated experience in liaising with government counterparts and in coordinating inter-institutional platforms, working groups or committees, including acting as their secretariat, is required;
• Demonstrated experience in representing projects or institutions and in presenting technical results before technical and non-specialist audiences is required. Working experience in Panama for national or local institutions and/or government, with the correspondent legal suitability to practice in the country is desirable;
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of ecosystem-based adaptation is desirable;
• Experience in public consultation and capacity building processes associated with environment and sustainable development is desirable;

Competencies and values

• Professionalism
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Planning and organizing
• Accountability

Living conditions

Panama is a family‑friendly duty station and is considered a safe place to live; however, as in any city in the world, it is always advisable to be aware of your surroundings and stay alert. Panama offers a wide variety of products and numerous modern shopping malls, as well as department stores, designer shops, and 24‑hour supermarkets. There are suitable residential areas, housing options, good hospitals, schools, universities, banks, and a wide selection of restaurants and entertainment venues.
Panama offers many options for interesting weekend activities. There are beaches, mountains, and national parks in the tropical rainforest, which are said to host one of the world’s greatest varieties of flora and fauna.

There are no major health concerns in Panama, although it is important to note that in some areas, such as the Darién province, precautions against malaria are recommended. The website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends the yellow fever vaccine for travel to the Darién province and the San Blas Islands.


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Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.