The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 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.
UNEP helps developing countries to reduce vulnerabilities and build resilience to the impacts of climate change. UNEP builds and strengthens national institutional capacities for vulnerability assessment and adaptation planning and supports national efforts to integrate climate change adaptation measures into development planning and ecosystem management practices, and access to climate change funds for implementation of adaptation and mitigation efforts.
Pakistan is among the ten countries most vulnerable to climate change based on the Global Climate Risk Index developed by the Germanwatch. It is particularly exposed to flash floods due to extreme events, riverine overflows, heavy monsoons, cyclones, droughts and heat waves. From 2010 to 2014, five floods resulted in monetary losses of over US$ 18 billion with 38.12 million people affected, 3.45 million houses damaged, and 10.63 million acres of crops destroyed. Likewise, over 1,200 people lost their lives due to the unprecedented heat wave in Karachi in 2015. Studies show that future threats of climate change will likely cause a severe strain to the country both in terms of socio and economic development. There is therefore the need to especially that they have very low technical and financial capacity to adapt to the adverse impacts brought by the changing climate.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at its COP 16 held in Cancun in 2011 approved a process to enable member states to formulate and implement National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) as a means of identifying medium- and long-term adaptation needs and developing and implementing strategies and programmes to address those needs. The Paris Agreement (2015) in its global goal on adaptation (Article 7) brought new elements and dimension to the climate change adaptation. Namely, enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change, with a view to contributing to sustainable development and ensuring an adequate adaptation response in the context of the global temperature limit of less than 2°C. The UNFCCC’s Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) on adaptation released Guidelines for NAPs (December 2012). Furthermore, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has issued guidance on adaptation planning approaches.
The Government of Pakistan has successfully obtained a grant of USD 2.97 million from the GCF for a three-year project to build capacity to advance the NAP process in Pakistan. UNEP is the Delivery Partner for the project with the Ministry of Climate Change (MCC) of Pakistan as a key partner.
The project entitled “Building Capacity to Advance National Adaptation Plan Process in Pakistan” will be implemented by a small project team headed by a National Technical Advisor and Coordinator. The NAP project will support multi-sectoral, medium- to long-term adaptation planning and budgeting in Pakistan and promote the integration of climate change adaptation aspects into development policies. Systems for developing and sharing climate risk and vulnerability information will be reinforced, and sustainable financing mechanisms for climate change adaptation initiatives are set to be developed.
Organisation Setting And Reporting
UN Environment's respective Divisions help to implement UN Environment's global programs at the regional and country levels by initiating, coordinating and catalyzing cooperation and action in response to environmental problems and emergencies.
- Develop strategy and identify innovative interventions and approaches for delivering the project objectives in consultation with constituents and stakeholders. Review and analyze country specific development plans and priorities, socioeconomic data, reports and other relevan.t information. Assemble and edit basic data required for planning, reporting and negotiation of project activities, considering different approaches and alternative methods for project design, management, problem identification and problem resolution.
- Monitor progress of project activities with implementing partners by reviewing, verifying and analyzing work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness. With the support of the National Project Officer, routinely analyze and aggregate field reports, M&E results and lessons to be learned to prepare reports and recommendations. Identify problems, propose solutions and action and follow-up with implementing partners to expedite implementation and meet targets. Follow-up on delays, clarify information and data provided, and act as the primary focal point for partners' enquiries about clearance and processing requirements. Assist in the development and maintenance of information systems for use in monitoring and reporting on activities and performance.
- Organize, participate as a resource person, and represent the project in consultative meetings, seminars and training workshops, in close coordination with the MCC and key NAP institutional stakeholders. Serve as a focal point for selected technical subjects and prepare speeches, make presentations and address meetings on behalf of the project;
- Ensure adherence to the UN Environment and regulations for financial and administrative matters and ensure timely fulfilment of all obligations and delivery of expected results of the project activities in the country.
- Assist in the programming and control of resources from all sources of funds, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analyzing and monitoring resources as compared to planned activities, anticipate delays and make recommendations to project management for remedial action.
- Maintain regular communication with the relevant specialists in UN Environment Climate Change Adaptation Unit of UNEP. Brief the specialists, project staff and consultants, and visiting officials, academics, UN and NGO partners and provide relevant information on project-related matters. Provide interpretation to other UN Environment staff and consultants where appropriate.
- Undertake missions to project sites independently or accompanying other officials, to provide guidance and coaching to partners on implementing the project and reporting requirements, and to identify challenges and propose solutions to resolve them.
- Establish and maintain close and positive links with the relevant national, provincial and local stakeholders, such as national, provincial and local authorities, non-governmental organizations, private sector actors and the media that are active in the country.
- Act as a national focal point within the project on technical support and ensure visibility of the project and its donor by using the relevant identifiers on all materials and publications, and at workshops and events.
- Ensure that the UNFCCC’s Guiding Principles for NAPs are applied in the Pakistan NAP elaboration, implementation and monitoring processes.
- Prepare assessments, reports and collect data and information as required to support technical activities.
- Facilitate collaborative and consultative processes with all key stakeholders to ensure the involvement of government and other stakeholders through Working Groups or other relevant consultative fora (including national and local authorities, NGOs, academia, and private sector actors) in the development of project deliverables and results.
- Facilitate institutional capacity building in gender-sensitive climate change adaptation planning, multi-sectoral and integrated planning approaches, climate change information and knowledge (modelling, projections and risk assessments), and climate finance.
- Ensure that Project Components and Deliverables are closely aligned to supporting the integration of climate change adaptation into national, sectoral and provincial strategies, plans and budgets. This will involve ensuring close working relationships with key stakeholders, including the MCC, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance, Ministries in charge of key climate-vulnerable sector, and Provincial administrations.
- Identify and document good practices, lessons learned and relevant experiences that may be shared with other countries, or at the regional or global level.
- Draft, edit in, or translate into local language(s) key news releases, media statements, communication materials, official correspondence, statements and speeches and other public information material to communicate project activities ensuring donor visibility.
- Perform other duties as may be assigned by the technical or administrative supervisors that are related to the goals of the project.
- Advanced university degree (at least a Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental and climate science, management, or a related field.
- A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in national policy in relation to climate change adaptation, environment and/or sustainable development work in a multi-cultural setting in is required. Experience in climate policy development area is desirable.
- At least two previous professional positions/ assignments related to facilitating and coordinating implementation of an externally-funded programs or projects in Pakistan
- Demonstrable experience working with the Government of Pakistan in the field of climate change/ environment is essential,
- Experience in leading an intersectoral and integrated development planning process in Pakistan, including integration of cross-cutting thematic issues (e.g. environment, climate change, gender) is preferable.
- Familiarity with the United Nations system, its financial, administrative systems and reporting requirements is advantage.
Language Requirement: For the post advertised, fluency in written and oral English is required. Fluency in local language of the duty station (Urdu) is required