Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

  • Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
  • Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
  • Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
  • Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

 Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP's Strategic Plan. BPPS's staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government, and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP's Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP's development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

BPPS’s Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, with the support of the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit, works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy and waste.

The newly established UNDP Climate Hub is the arrowhead of UNDP’s commitment to the “Climate Promise” that aims to support programming countries designing and implementing pledges under the Paris Agreement, including ambitious National Determined Contributions, with climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions fully embedded in the national development planning and budgetary processes. The Climate Hub will build on UNDP’s existing over USD 4 billion country-level climate portfolio on Climate Change Policies and Strategies, Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Change Mitigation, Climate and Forests, covering over 142 countries, as well as on UNDP’s Nature portfolio, UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP’s Digital offer and other relevant portfolios on youth, gender, health, climate security among others. 

The UNDP Climate Hub is responsible for: 

  • Thought leadership on Climate and to be the custodian of UNDP policy positions on Climate; 
  • Strategy and vision formulation; 
  • Pipeline development in coordination with the other hubs and the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit; 
  • Provision of integrated policy and programme support to Country Offices; 
  • Global engagement, advocacy in collaboration with BERA; 
  • Integration across thematic areas;
  • Strategic partnerships development and resource mobilization; 
  • Lead and support global flagship initiatives and partnerships on Climate; 
  • Serve as focal point with relevant UN coordination mechanisms and Conventions (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change); 
  • Cross-organization knowledge and learning; and 
  • Innovation.

The UNDP Climate Hub’s carbon markets team support governments to take holistic, comprehensive, and strategic decisions on carbon markets as part of their implementation of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), to address knowledge gaps, and contribute to efficient and high-integrity carbon markets. Governments need information and capacity to be able to provide clarity to investors and ensure that carbon markets investments and initiatives align with national priorities. To address this, UNDP will provide strategic holistic support on carbon markets to host country governments through its network of country offices and coordinated at global level. 

UNDP launched at COP 28 its global strategy to support countries’ access to carbon markets to finance their climate goals and accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This strategy, entitled High-Integrity Carbon Markets Initiative (HICIMI), aims to promote the high integrity of both the supply and demand side of carbon markets transactions. HICMI is composed of several service offers to operationalize the support in partnership with governments from development countries’ federal and subnational governments as well as UNDP Country Offices:

  • Service Offer 1: Readiness - Carbon market access strategies
  • Service Offer 2: Interventions to implement Article 6 of the Paris Agreement
  • Service Offer 3: Jurisdictional Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM)
  • Service Offer 4: Domestic carbon markets/emissions trading schemes

UNDP is recruiting Carbon Markets Policy and Technical Specialist to provide high-level policy and technical expertise on UNFCCC rules, Article 6 mechanisms, and voluntary carbon market (VCM) trends. The role will bridge technical rigor with policy engagement, ensuring that UNDP’s support to countries is aligned with evolving international guidance and best practices in the context of HICMI and its Service Offers with the objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mobilizing private green finance and accelerating the 2030 agenda.

Scope of Work 

The primary objective of this position is to provide targeted technical advisory support for carbon markets implementation, capacity building and knowledge sharing on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, voluntary carbon markets and domestic carbon markets schemes in the context of NDC implementation. Main responsibilities will focus on supporting countries in achieving technical readiness with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement as well as voluntary carbon markets and Emission Trading Schemes (ETS). Empirical knowledge of carbon accounting and monitoring of mitigation actions, and engagement of the private sector will help to set-up and roll-out carbon projects and generate the expected mitigation outcomes while contributing to the SDGs.

Key Duties and Accountabilities:

The Carbon Markets Policy and Technical Specialist will:

 Provide strategic policy guidance on carbon markets

  • Monitor and analyze developments under the UNFCCC, particularly Article 6 negotiations and guidance as well as Article 13, on transparency and the reporting cycles.
  • Monitor and analyze trends and emerging experiences in domestic carbon markets / emissions trading schemes.
  • Track trends and emerging standards in the voluntary carbon market [e.g., Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM), Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)].
  • Provide policy analysis and briefs as well as technical notes to inform UNDP’s positioning on carbon markets, emission trading schemes, country support as well as fundraising efforts.
  • Provide strategic guidance and capacity building support on carbon markets engagement to government representatives and the private sector in key countries.

 Advise and support country engagement and alignment with international frameworks

  • Advise representatives of partner governments and UNDP Country Offices on aligning carbon market strategies with the countries’ NDCs, UNFCCC guidance and carbon markets standards.
  • Advise and support the development of national policy frameworks, including authorization procedures, benefit-sharing arrangements, carbon registries, Article 6 frameworks and corresponding adjustments, as well as their alignment with international requirements. 
  • Provide technical input to national consultations and stakeholder dialogues on carbon market engagement.

Strengthen technical integrity of carbon market interventions

  • Provide general advice on methodologies, baselines, and MRV systems for carbon crediting projects and programs.
  • Ensure consistency between national GHG inventories, NDC tracking systems, and carbon market accounting.
  • Contribute to the development of tools and templates for Article 6 and VCM implementation.

 Facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building

  • Develop and deliver training materials and webinars on carbon market policy and technical elements of carbon crediting programs and projects.
  • Participate in technical working groups, global forums, and interagency coordination platforms on carbon market engagement.
  • Contribute to the development of knowledge products, case studies, and lessons learned.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation

Institutional Arrangement

The Carbon Markets Policy and Technical Specialist will directly report to UNDP's Head of Carbon Markets. S/he will be part of the larger Climate Hub.

Competencies

Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
Act with Determination:  LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management 

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Thematic Area Name Definition
Business Direction & Strategy Strategic Thinking  Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight. 
Business Direction & Strategy Systems Thinking Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business Development Knowledge Facilitation Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange. 
2030 Agenda: Planet Climate Carbon Markets
2030 Agenda: Planet Climate Climate Strategies and Policy: Transparency
2030 Agenda: Planet Climate Climate Strategies and Policy: Inclusiveness

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA

Min. Education requirements          

  • Advanced university degree (i.e., master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Policy, Political Science, Climate Science, International Law, Economics, or related field is required. Or
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience   

  • Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s) of professional experience and strong background and understanding of carbon market policies as well as technical components for the establishment of carbon market inititiaves.

Required  skills           

  • Demonstrated experience in climate policy, carbon markets, or related fields.
  • Proven experience engaging with UNFCCC processes and/or voluntary carbon market standards.
  • Experience advising governments or international organizations on carbon market policy and implementation.
  • Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section      
    • Proven strong knowledge of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and related UNFCCC decisions
    • Familiarity with VCM standards and initiatives (e.g., ICVCM, VCMI, Verra, Gold Standard)
    • Full computer literacy, including proficiency with word-processing, spreadsheet and presentation software 
    • Experience working with governments, multilateral institutions, and/or carbon market stakeholders.
    • Proven strong analytical and writing skills, with ability to translate complex technical issues into policy-relevant guidance.

Required Language(s)            

  • Fluency in written and spoken English is required. 
  • Working knowledge of French, Spanish, or Portuguese is an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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