NDC Support and Youth Engagement Officer (Home based Retainer) - Nukuʻalofa, Tonga

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

As part of the Global Portfolios Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR. The EU-UNOPS Lives in Dignity (LiD) Grant Facility is also based here.

WEC Background: 

The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support.  

WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The NDC Partnership:

The NDC Partnership is a global coalition, bringing together more than 250 members, including more than 130 countries, developed and developing, and more than 110 institutions to deliver on ambitious climate action that helps achieve the Paris Agreement and drive sustainable development. Governments identify their NDC implementation priorities and the type of support that is needed to translate them into actionable policies and programs. Based on these requests, the membership offers a tailored package of expertise, technical assistance and funding. This collaborative response provides developing countries with efficient access to a wide range of resources to adapt to and mitigate climate change and foster more equitable and sustainable development. The NDC Partnership Support Unit is jointly hosted by the World Resources Institute (WRI), the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the UN Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC). For this project, the Consultant will be contracted through UNOPS.

Tonga is a member of the NDC Partnership and submitted its Second NDC to the UNFCCC in December 2020. Tonga also launched its NDC Implementation Roadmap and Investment Plan in 2022, which serves as the guiding document for implementation and resource mobilization. Tonga has submitted several requests for support through the NDC Partnership, receiving support from members of the NDC Partnership as well as through the Partnership Action Fund. In Dec 2023, Tonga requested support for embedded coordination – through the recruitment of an embedded NDC Support and Youth Engagement Officer.

The incumbent will closely support the Tonga Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC). He/she plays a key role in ensuring the smooth implementation of NDC processes and enhancing youth engagement. 

He/she will be responsible for implementing MEIDECC's Youth Awareness Strategy to increase youth participation in climate initiatives, coordinating events for meaningful discussions among stakeholders, providing administrative support to senior officials, conducting research and assisting in the development of training materials and resources to youth and staff capacity in relevant sectors. He/she will assist the country’s NDC Officer and National NDC Coordinator with their daily tasks related to NDC implementation and provide additional support for various aspects of the NDC implementation process. 

The NDC Support and Youth Engagement Officer will work closely with the Director of the Department of Climate Change, as well as MEIDECC’s NDC Officer and National NDC Coordinator in Tonga (aligning with a work plan approved by both the NDC Partnership and the Department of Climate Change, MEIDECC) and will work in close collaboration with the different ministerial offices and in-country stakeholders. The candidate will serve as an embedded support facilitator, working on a daily basis alongside government officials within government facilities. While the role is an embedded position, the role will report to the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist based in Suva. 

* This is a retainer national vacancy / position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with possibility of an extension depending on satisfactory performance and on availability of funds. 

**This is a Home-based position, meaning the incumbent will be expected to work from government offices in Tonga and not work from a UNOPS office or from home. Additionally, the incumbent will need to take their own laptop, equipped with all the relevant software, to government facilities. 

*** As this is a Local Position, in order to be eligible, the incumbent should be a national of Tonga or have a valid residence permit in the country.

****Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The NDC Support and Youth Engagement Officer will provide project management support, facilitate youth engagement activities, and ensure effective communication and coordination among stakeholders to achieve project objectives.

1. Project Management Support

• Assist in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of project activities.
• Provide administrative support to the project team, including organizing meetings, preparing reports, and managing project documentation.
• Track project progress and identify potential challenges, proposing solutions to ensure timely and effective implementation.
• Support the development of project proposals, work plans, and budgets.

2. Youth Engagement

• Develop and implement strategies to engage youth in climate action and sustainable development initiatives.
• Organize and facilitate youth workshops, training sessions, and awareness campaigns.
• Create platforms for youth to share their ideas, experiences, and solutions related to climate change.
• Support youth-led projects and initiatives, providing mentorship and resources.

3. Stakeholder Coordination

• Liaise with government agencies, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration and coordination.
• Facilitate communication and information sharing among project partners.
• Represent the project at relevant meetings and events.

4. Reporting and Documentation

• Prepare regular progress reports, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date project documentation, including meeting minutes, reports, and correspondence.
• Contribute to the development of knowledge products and communication materials.

Required

• A Master degree preferably in environmental science/management, natural resource management, engineering, social sciences, administration or other relevant field of study. 
• A Bachelor degree  in combination with additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of a university degree.

Required

• With a Master’s degree, no professional experience is required (however it is considered an asset)

• With a Bachelor degree, at least 2 years of experience in climate change or environmental issues in a Tongan context is required.

  
  

Desired

• Experience in working with youth groups, understanding their needs, and facilitating their participation in projects is an asset.
• 2 years’ experience with a focus on climate change, policy, project management, stakeholder or donor engagement.
• Experience in multilateral, national or grassroot governance and processes related to climate change, policy or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs);
• Demonstrated experience in fostering networks with key state and non-state stakeholders.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
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• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.