Chief Technical Advisor

Organisational Context:

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. 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 organisations. With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

The primary role of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) is to provide substantive project advisory services and technical assistance to the team and partners of the Project on “Enhancing Early Warning Systems to build greater resilience to hydro meteorological hazards in Timor Leste”. Within this context, the CTA will provide technical guidance on the structures, tools and techniques needed for impactful Project delivery.

Project Information:

The project “Enhancing Early Warning Systems to build greater resilience to hydro meteorological hazards in Timor Leste” was approved by the Green Climate Fund Board in October 2021, with a total budget of USD 21.7 million. The United Nations Environment Programme serves as the Accredited Entity for the project. Activities will be executed by the State of Timor-Leste through the Secretary State for the Environment (SSE) and UNEP. The project will be implemented across five years and aims to deliver transformative impact to the entire population of Timor-Leste, including 1.03 million as direct beneficiaries (80% of the population), directly contributing to the attainment of selected targets and indicators of Article 7 of the Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 on Climate Action, SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-Being and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The project will address the urgent need for integrated and end-to-end climate information services and multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS)  through comprehensive institutional, technical and technological capacity building from national to local level to generate and disseminate robust climate data and information at all stages of the climate services value chain. This will be achieved through four inter-related components – the Project Results:

Result 1. Strengthened delivery model and legislation for climate information and multi-hazard early warning services;

Activity 1.1 Establish institutional and policy frameworks, legislation and delivery models for climate services

Result 2. Strengthened observations, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of climate and its impacts;

Activity  2.1  Enhance  infrastructure  and  technical  support  for  observations  and monitoring

Activity 2.2 Strengthen climate modelling and impact-based forecasting 

Activity 2.3 Establish climate services for health

Result 3. Improved dissemination and communication of risk information and early warning;

Activity 3.1 Establish targeted multi-hazard early warning information systems

Result 4. Enhanced climate risk management capacity.

Activity 4.1 Build capacity to prepare for and respond to climate risks and hazards 

Activity 4.2 Establish Forecast-based Financing (FbF)

Local Context:

Timor-Leste is a Least Developed Country (LDC) and a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) whose infrastructure and governmental systems were devastated by a 25-year war of independence. Timor-Leste is highly vulnerable to both extreme climate and slow-onset events, with very limited capacity to prepare for and recover from climate impacts. As these events increase in frequency and intensity, Timor-Leste needs accurate, timely and actionable information and early warnings on local weather, water, climate and ocean conditions and related risks to human and environmental health.

Summary of functions:

• Technical and Institutional Support

• Implementation and Outreach

• Monitoring and reporting

• Knowledge management and innovation

1.  Technical and Institutional Support

• Provide technical oversight of the work of the Project Management Unit, Gender Expert, Monitoring & Evaluation Advisor, Executing Entity and Technical Partners to ensure high technical quality and timely achievement of project targets and objectives related to Climate Information and Early Warning Systems

• Provide strategic technical guidance to the implementation of the project in relation to government policies, relevant substantive guidelines, institutions, with a view to facilitate uptake of project results in accordance with the Funding Proposal and its Annexes as well as the provisions of the Project Cooperation Agreements (PCAs) with the Executing Entity (EE) and Technical Partners and the Funded Activity Agreement (FAA) concluded between UNEP and the Green Climate Fund (GCF)

• Determine the key climate-related health risks for Timor-Leste and identify the climate and weather information and service needs of the health sector, including gaps in current data, information and service delivery

• Oversee and provide guidance and technical inputs to the work carried out by national and international consultants, partners and/or companies

• Lead the adjustment of the project Results Framework, Work Plan and Budget as required and in line with UNEP and GCF requirements

• Facilitate the development of high-level project plans, including the collation of lower- level plans into project-level milestones.

• Provide substantive technical advice on annual work planning, budgeting, procurement of goods and services, budget and expenditure analysis, and contractual management

• Provide technical support, including measures to address challenges to Project implementation, leads and participates in training activities, writes technical reports and facilitate relevant expert activities

• Develop terms of references for consultancies, expert services and other activities as relevant and participate in the identification and selection of consultants and service providers

• Undertake technical review and provide quality assurance of project outputs (e.g., technical reports, studies and assessments) and field activities such as the development of national frameworks on climate services, adherence to the Global Basic Observing Network (GBON) requirements for AWS/AWOS/Radar installation, and air quality monitoring activities

• Advise on the embedding of sustainability dimensions including social and gender inclusion, environmental and economic aspects into project life span, in accordance with the Gender Assessment and Action Plan and the Environmental and Social Safeguards Report.

• Perform other duties as requested by the Supervisor, Project Steering Committee and UNEP HQ

2.  Implementation and Outreach

• Coordinate the project work with other activities in the country and region that relate to climate information and multi-hazard early warning services; observations, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of climate and its impacts; dissemination and communication of risk information and early warning and related activities with a view to facilitate synergy and share project experiences and lessons learned

• Lead the implementation of establishing climate services for health in Timor-Leste through determining the key climate-related health risks for Timor-Leste; identifying climate and weather information and service needs of the health sector, including gaps in current data, information and service delivery; and enhancing the capacity of DNMG to meet the specific needs of the health sector

• Ensure participatory approaches are followed and that stakeholders and community members are informed and involved in the implementation of activities, as relevant

• Engage with relevant regional, sub-regional and national mechanisms (such as the WMO RA-V region and UN Country Team) to ensure the visibility of the project

• Establish the necessary operational linkages with the UNDP team managing FP109 in Timor-Leste as part of the overall UNDP-UNEP Strategic Partnership

• Ensure beneficiaries and stakeholders are aware of project activities, progress and opportunities for engagement;

• Participate in and provide technical  contributions to Project  Steering Committee meetings

• Ensure compliance with national policies on anti-corruption, Anti-Fraud and Corruption Framework of the UN, GCF Prohibited Practices and Grievance Redress Mechanism, and UN and GCF policies on sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment at all times

• Conduct technical supervision missions to project sites

• Where requested, advise the project coordinator in liaison work with project partners, donor organizations, NGOs and other groups to ensure the effective coordination of project activities

3.  Monitoring and reporting

• Oversee and support project results monitoring based on the project results framework

• Advise on the embedding of monitoring and evaluation practices into project implementation, in line with the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

• Support the development of management responses to findings of the mid-term and terminal evaluations

• Monitor project progress and propose corrective actions, risk mitigation options, and practice adaptive management in the event of delays and implementation challenges in coordination with the PMU, UNEP HQ and Project Steering Committee

• Ensure  high  quality  preparation  of  all  required  reports  and  documents  (Annual Performance Reports, Half-yearly Progress Reports, Financial Information, Quarterly Expenditure  Reports,  Budget  Revisions,  Cash  Advance  Requests,  Co-financing Reports, etc.)

4.  Knowledge management and innovation

• Identify, analyze and communicate lessons learned to UNEP HQ that may be useful in design and implementation of similar projects. The duty of identifying and analyzing lessons learned is an on-going one, and the duty to communicate those lessons is on an as-needed basis

• Share knowledge on the Project and its achievements. Promote identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from Project implementation, for organizational sharing and learning.  Promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture

• Contribute to the analytical work of the project and ensure high quality knowledge products. Promote the substantive quality of all knowledge products, reports and services, and ensures effective integration thereof with other pillars.

• Contribute to the oversight of lessons learned procedures, ensuring that lessons learnt are shared in a timely and appropriate manner.

Impact of Results

The Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) directly impacts on achievement of project results by overseeing the effective and high-quality implementation of the project activities, reduced risks, cut costs and improve success rates. This consequently reinforces the visibility and image of UNEP as an effective Executing Entity and Accredited Entity in project services and management and strengthens its competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.

Education:

• A  Master’s  Degree  in  environmental  science,  climate change, meteorology, or a related field.

• A relevant first university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in combination with two (2) additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of least 7 years of relevant experience, specifically in project management related to environment, climate change and/or sustainable development is required.

• Previous experience of working with government entities and other stakeholders in implementing activities at national levels,  particularly in the Asia Pacific region, is desirable

• Experience as a Chief Technical Advisor  on other projects is desirable

• Demonstrated project experience in strengthening climate information services and early warning systems is desirable

• Demonstrated working experience with Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, or similar donor- funded projects desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.

1. Contract type: IICA 
2. Contract level:  ICS 11 / IICA 3
3. Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

• 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.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and it is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, or disability.
• 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.  
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, 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 recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.