Climate Change Portfolio and Programme Analyst [Open to Tier 0, 1 & 2 Applicants]

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.

UNDP’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan emphasizes the critical links between environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and broader efforts to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP’s Planet Hub promotes and scales up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas. 

The Planet 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.

In addition to UNDP’s bilateral partnerships on natural capital, environment and climate, UNDP is an accredited multilateral implementing agency of: the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), the Adaptation Fund (AF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which includes the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF Trust Fund); the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF); the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF); and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds, UNDP provides countries specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services. 

The strategic objective of the Climate Change Adaptation Team, as part of the Planet Hub, is to develop the capacity of national and sub-national Governments for adaptation planning and support countries in accessing, mobilizing, and implementing adaptation finance for resilient development. To achieve this, UNDP has identified seven thematic areas as being at the core of its support for climate change adaptation: mainstreaming adaptation; livelihoods; ecosystem-based adaptation; food security and agriculture; water and coastal resilience; urban resilience; and climate information and early warning systems. UNDP estimates that since 2010 it has mobilized $1.4 billion in grants from vertical funds and bilateral donors and leveraged $3.2 billion in co-financing for adaptation projects for 99 countries.

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Principal Technical Advisor for Climate Change Adaptation and Global Focal Point for GCF Programming, the CCA Portfolio and Programme Analyst provides critical programme support services ensuring high quality, accuracy, and consistency of work.

The CCA Portfolio and Programme Analyst liaises with the Regional Programme Associates/Assistants in the UNDP-Environmental Finance team Regional Coordination Units located in Istanbul, Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Panama City and New York in the Climate Change Adaptation focal area. The CCA Portfolio and Programme Analyst takes the lead in resolving climate change adaptation programme-related issues. The CCA Portfolio and Programme Analyst serves as back-up for the Global Programme Associates in the other Clusters at HQ and other regional units during their absence.

The CCA Portfolio and Programme Analyst will be based in Bonn, Germany and may be required to travel.  UNDP staff may be periodically redeployed, in accordance with capability, consent, and due process, to a different duty station as needed.

Position Purpose

The main tasks of the position will be the following:

• Oversight and administrative management of global projects/umbrella projects and adaptation of processes and procedures;
• Support to strategic planning and oversight of the adaptation portfolio;
• Quality control of project submissions to Vertical Fund Secretariats, as well as, bilateral donors;
• Effective administrative/budget oversight support to the CCA portfolio:

1. Portfolio budget management;
2. Recruitment 
3. Travel
4. Registry
5. Ensuring timely and accurate attention to technical comments and deadlines

• Facilitation of knowledge generation and management.

Duties and Responsibilities

Oversight and administrative management of global projects/umbrella projects and adaptation of processes and procedures:

• Supports global CCA projects from development to implementation through review of project documentation, formats, contents and programme financial criteria at different stages of the specific vertical funds that are targeted (GEF, AF, GCF, etc.)  and UNDP project cycle; 
• Coordinates the process from concept to development and onward to implementation in accordance with UNDP and targeted vertical funds’ (GEF, AF, GCF, etc.) policies and procedures;
• Supports Technical Advisors and proponents, liaising with NCE Directorate, regarding cost-effective execution arrangements, drafts budgets, and drafts/edits project documentation;
• Manages information flow between Regional Coordination Units (RCUs) and HQ, project proponents, and other partners in an anticipatory manner to meet all reporting requirements on the Cluster’s global projects;
• Advises environmental focal points, NGOs, Executing Agencies, and consultants on procedural issues;
• Responsible for budget and administrative management of Global Direct Implementation Modality (DIM) projects, including preparation of key supporting documents (justification for waivers, DIM clearance checklists, etc.)
• Enters global project budgets and budget revisions in Atlas ERP system; 
• Notifies Executing Agencies of redeployment of funds and project closure, and prepares GEF quarterly project delivery and operational reports;
• Maintains close contact with Executing Agencies, recommending courses of action as appropriate and alerts the Principal Technical Advisor (PTA) of technical issues that require attention/resolution;
• Briefs project consultants regarding UNDP and Vertical fund requirements.

Support to strategic planning and oversight of the adaptation portfolio

• Supports the Principal Technical Advisor (PTA) in coordination across the team in developing the CCA business plan;
• Monitors and takes corrective action as necessary in respect of project delivery for the Climate Change Adaptation Cluster portfolio, and submission of progress reports and budget revisions through Quantum; 
• Analyzes and identifies reasons for shortfall in delivery and recommends remedial actions ; 
• Initiates strategic management actions and prompts corrective steps, with direction from the Principal Technical Advisor; 
• Generates and analyzes portfolio business intelligence;
• Strategically supports all aspects of the CCA global portfolio through anticipatory action, proactive monitoring, data mining, producing analyses of business intelligence and creation of tools to facilitate agile business processes ( i.e. pipeline management and overall workflow), thereby supporting the CCA team in aligning their targets to the Business Plan.

Quality control of project submissions to Vertical Fund Secretariats, as well as, bilateral donors

• Conducts capacity development of RCUs and other stakeholders through quality control and corrective/anticipatory feedback, thus contributing to quality and accuracy of project submissions;
• Accountable for reviewing project documents for format, content, and programme financial criteria at different stages of the targeted vertical funds (GEF, GCF, AF) and UNDP project cycles;
• Coordinates submission processes from inception to development and implementation in accordance with UNDP and targeted vertical fund (GCF, GEF, AF) policies and procedures;
• Coordinates support to the team across pipeline management for bilateral projects and programmes, including administrative support for agreements and reporting requirements.

Effective administrative/budget oversight support to the CCA portfolio

• Administrative management of CCA portfolio budget;
• Oversees logistics, documentation, preparation/review of budget and authorization of expenses;
• Initiates and contributes to the planning and finalization of annual budget including travel, procurement, etc.;
• Identifies activities to be charged in ATLAS, ensures budget clearances prior to payments, and generates management reports;
• Supports recruitment processes by drafting/organizing external media advertising, identifies consultants to prepare shortlists and preparation of corresponding Terms of References (TORs)/scoring tools, organization of interview panels, and finalization of interview report for submission to Appointment Board;
• Supports the recruitment of consultants and technical reviewers, drafts TORs, ensures budget availability/ recording, initiates requests for contracts, verifies requests for payments, and ensures preparation of various consultant evaluations;
• Coordinates PTA’s missions including formulating mission travel plans, obtaining management approval, verifying travel budget, obtaining travel authorization and maintaining files;
• Manage contractual related monitoring of consultants and execute necessary actions including contract amendment, PO issuance, PO extension, and documentation; 
• Serves as communications liaison with Secretariat of Vertical Funds that the unit works with (GEF, GCF, AF), and Implementing Agencies ensuring timely and accurate attention to technical comments and deadlines.

Facilitation of knowledge generation and management 

• Coordinates support with ICT and Communications team on the CCA thematic website (digital workspace) and administers mail group;
• Supports information/benchmarks, content mining, and content generation for the CCA portfolio;
• Contributes to corporate knowledge tools including programming manual and Programme Associate (PA) training manuals;
• Organizes training programs and workshops specific to the targeted vertical funds (GEF, GCF, AF) for the team as required; 
• Coordinates focal area knowledge management activities, working with the communications team to manage dissemination of information through Power Point or similar means, resulting in public awareness of the work and achievements of UNDP-EF Unit via websites, the media, and project networks;
• Acts as facilitator/administrator for knowledge and portfolio management and undertakes research and data mining for the PTA and Technical Advisors;
• Trains new staff in UNDP and targeted vertical fund (GEF, GCF, AF) on programme requirements, provides on-going corrective feedback and mentoring to new Programme Associates at HQ and RCUs; 
• Backstops PAs in other NCE teams and handles ad hoc tasks as required.

Competencies

Core Competencies

Achieve Results - LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively - LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
Learn Continuously - LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility - LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
Act with Determination - LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner - LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion - LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

Cross-functional & Technical Competencies

Business Management - Monitoring and Evaluation:  Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key
stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. 
Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
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.
Business Management - Communication: Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and
verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. 
Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Business Management - Project Management:  Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Operations - Procurement / Contract Management:  Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations
Policy and Programme - Effectiveness:  Project Quality Assurance
Policy and Programme - Climate:  Climate Change Adaptation: Ecosystem-based adaptation and management

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in business or public administration, political sciences, social sciences, or other closely related fields;
• A first‑level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in one of the above fields  in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying relevant experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Certification in Project Management and/or Procurement is an advantage.

Experience:

• Applicants with Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience at the national and/or international level in Relevant experience in programme/project management, financial resources management, budget management, and/or Administrative support functions. 
• Experience in project oversight and/or management of vertical funds (e.g. GEF, GCF) highly desirable;
• Experience with tools and methodologies to follow-up on projects or project cycle management;
• Experience at the national or international level with organizations that manage grants or vertical funds is an advantage;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of web-based management systems;
• Good knowledge of an ERP System (such as Quantum) and UNDP Procurement, programming, and budgeting structure is an advantage; 
• Knowledge of UNDP Environmental Finance is an advantage.

Language:

• Excellent knowledge of the English language is required;
• Competency in other UN languages 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. 

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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