Senior Programme Manager [International Forest Policy Adviser]

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the Bureau for Policy & Programme Support/Global Policy Network to implement the project activities for the Global Programme on Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration.

UNDP’s NCE Climate and Forests Programme

The Nature, Climate and Energy (NCE) Team works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy. This multi-billion dollar portfolio encompasses: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests; Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems; Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Renewable and Modern Energy; Extractive Industries; Chemicals and Waste Management; Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches. This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning.

UNDP Climate Change Mitigation Programme: In order to avoid an irreversible climate crisis, we need to halve global emissions by 2030, and have carbon-neutral economies by 2050. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions – or climate change mitigation - is essential to fulfilling commitments to the Paris Agreement and limiting global mean temperature increase to 1.5° C above pre-industrial levels. All sectors, including energy, transportation, industry, forests, and land-use/agriculture must make a meaningful contribution towards achieving carbon neutrality. UNDP, as the largest implementer of climate change support within the UN system, plays a critical role by supporting countries in their emission reduction plans. With a commitment to providing long-term development support, our mitigation portfolio currently comprises of over 280 projects and programmes in over 110 countries. Together with our partners, UNDP supports countries to take ambitious climate action, advance Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and use a wide range of strategies and approaches across energy, forestry and land-use/agriculture sectors.

Climate & Forests Programme: Forests support the livelihoods of over 1 billion people and host the largest share of the world’s biodiversity. UNDP provides expertise in stakeholder engagement, social and environmental safeguards, governance, institutional coordination, strategic planning, implementation of policies and measures to address drivers of deforestation, access to innovative finance and accessing results-based payments. UNDP also facilitates the necessary partnerships to address the complex elements of the REDD+ process.

The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), is a partnership of governments, multinational companies, civil society and indigenous peoples who strive to halve deforestation by 2020 and to end it by 2030. The NYDF outlines ten ambitious global targets related to protecting and restoring forests. The NYDF Global Platform seeks to increase ambition, forge new partnerships and accelerate progress on the NYDF goals by responding to NYDF endorsers’ requests for a dedicated, multi-stakeholder platform to re-invigorate political endorsement of the NYDF, to facilitate coordination and communication, to share best practices, resources and lessons, and to support ongoing monitoring of progress.

The Secretariat for the NYDF Global Platform is provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Meridian Institute and Climate Advisers. The NYDF Assessment is coordinated by Climate Focus. The Platform seeks to fill an important gap in multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration necessary to achieve the goals of the NYDF, working to increase ambition, forge new partnerships and accelerate progress on the NYDF goals by responding to NYDF endorsers’ requests for a dedicated, multi-stakeholder platform to re-invigorate political endorsement of the NYDF, to facilitate coordination and communication, to share best practices, resources and lessons, and to support ongoing monitoring of progress.

Under the supervision of the Senior Portfolio Manager and in coordination with the Principal Technical Advisor to UNDP‘s Climate and Forest Programme, the Senior International Forest Policy Advisor will coordinate UNDP’s engagement in the NYDF Global Platform, ensuring strategic integration with the Climate and Forest programme’s portfolio, supporting the Principal Policy and Technical Advisor’s role in the NYDF leadership group, and coordinating with forest-related UNDP initiatives, with the ultimate objective to position the platform as a high-level forum to advance the international Climate and Forest agenda.

The Senior Programme Manager [International Forest Policy Adviser] will provide advice and guidance on engaging with international stakeholders on forest, climate and development related policies, to coordinate efforts across various teams and partners.

New York Declaration on Forests Global Platform: 

●       Ensure coordination and facilitate contributions to NYDF from the broader UNDP team including the Green Commodities Programe/ Food and Agricultural Commodities Systems (FACS), the Ecosystems and Biodiversity team, and the Environmental Governance Group;

●       Represent UNDP at the NYDF core group and Secretariat, and prepare materials and decision documents for the NYDF leadership group;

●       Provide strategic guidance and direction for the NYDF refresh process and revision of the NYDF global platform workplan, in line with the Climate and Forests team strategic framework;

●       Manage the NYDF Secretariat and coordinate the delivery of the workplan within the UNDP team, and with the NYDF Global Platform partners;

●       Manage the revised NYDF country engagement strategy, in consultation with UNDP stakeholders, at UNDP-led forest events at various international fora;

●       Coordinate with other platforms and initiatives to support stakeholders in engaging in conversations on current gaps and ways to achieve success in conserving and restoring forests to position the Platform's value-add, as a key platform to discuss and advance the climate and forests agenda;

●       In collaboration with partners and related initiatives lead implementation of NYDF contribution to forest outcomes at the COP 26 UN Climate Conference; 

●       Manage drafting and dissemination of NYDF 2.0 narrative and process, the NYDF Theory of Change and fundraising for post-2021;

Strategic Forest Policy Advice:

●       Follow up and coordinate positioning UNDP in global forest and climate initiatives, such as the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative;

●       Support strategic inputs from the Climate and Forests team to other relevant NCE initiatives, such as the Climate Promise and the NCE Forest Community of Practice; and

●       Other policy advisory support, as requested by the PTA

Strategic communications and knowledge sharing:

●       Synthesizing lessons and stimulating the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of knowledge materials;

●       Peer reviewing, commenting on, and seeking to improve the technical quality of programmes/projects, policies, practices, guidelines, advisory notes, publications;

●       Responding to queries on programme/project progress, impacts and lessons.

* FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY* * CANDIDATES WITH NO UNITED NATIONS OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY*
Education 

●       Master’s degree preferably in international relations, sustainable development, environmental management/sciences, social/political science, business administration and management, and/or other relevant field is required.     

Work Experience

●       A minimum of 7 years of working experience on at least one of the following topics at a conceptual and/or practical level is required: REDD+ readiness and implementation; community-based natural resource management and local sustainable development; indigenous peoples rights; biodiversity/climate change/environmental protection;
Desirable experience (the following experience is optional candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply)

●       Prior experience supporting international events, communications and/or local development is considered a strong asset;

●       Experience in engagement with environmental processes and mechanisms, including but not limited to the UNFCCC, Green Climate Fund, UN-REDD Programme, is highly desired;

●       Experience supporting management of UN or UNDP projects would be an important asset;

●       Experience in project development and/or proposal writing would be an important asset.  

Language

●       Fluency and excellent writing ability in English is required.

●       Fluency and excellent writing ability in French and/or Spanish is required.

Contract type: ICA Contract level: IICA-3/ICSC-11
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.