United Nations Environment Programme

Dams and Development Project

UNEP, through the DDP Secretariat, was entrusted to ensure that the implementation of the project activities was within the framework of the work programme and the criteria set forward by the Project document. In this regard, the DDP Secretariat was responsible for the overall management of the project leading to the accomplishment of its goals and achieving the expected outcomes. This included planning, management, assessment and reporting of the activities and its outcomes as per the activity plan. The administrative functions were carried out within the context of UNEP and UNON’s operational rules. The Secretariat sought advice from the SC on substantive matters to ensure a balanced approach to fulfilling the UNEP-DDP mandate.

The Secretariat was initially located in Cape Town, South Africa, from the establishment of the DDP in November 2001 until the relocation to Nairobi in April 2003. During this transition period, UNEP delegated the administrative and financial management of the Project to IUCN that liaised with the DDP Secretariat through its regional office in Pretoria, South Africa. From April 2001, the DDP Secretariat was located in the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi. During Phase 1, the composition of the Secretariat incuded a Coordinator, two Senior Advisors and two Associate Experts supported by four general staff members. The integration of the team was influenced by its siting in two different locations and the inherent relocation process. The composition of DDP Secretariat during Phase 2 was reduced comprising a Coordinator, one senior Project Officer, two Associate Project Officers and two general support staff members.