APAN Forum Technical Programme Consultant

Result of Service

Under the supervision of the APAN Coordinator and the strategic guidance of the Regional Coordinator, Climate Action, the consultant will lead the development of some the 8th APAN Forum key deliverables.

The objective of the consultancy is to ensure that all APAN Forum objectives, as follows, can be met:
1. Improve knowledge and understanding of key and important climate change adaptation issues, approaches and strategies including relevant policies and mandates from regional and global MEAs. These will serve as inputs in climate change adaptation planning.
2. Report on specific actions taken and the progress made since the last APAN Forum on addressing the identified priority knowledge, policy and funding gaps.
3. Act as a platform for discussions to accelerate action and facilitate the “how” part of adaptation knowledge and programmes with actionable and scalable “next steps” guidelines for communities, practitioners and policy-makers.
4. Formulate a set of recommendations on how to expand current efforts on adaptation in the Asia-Pacific region and provide the basis for the region’s contributions to relevant COPs and other global and regional adaptation initiatives.
5. Showcase climate change adaptation and resilience knowledge, experiences and best practices.
6. Share frontline findings and innovations, opportunities and challenges in mainstreaming climate change adaptation and resilience into development.
7. Provide “an interactive space” to build collaboration and maximize synergies, stimulate action, and facilitate experiential and shared learning that supports the process of adapting to climate change.
8. Amplify messages and recommendations from the local level to the regional and global levels.

Work Location

UNEP/ROAP

Expected duration

13/03/2023-27/10/2023

Duties and Responsibilities

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’s Asia and the Pacific Office geographically serves 41 countries across the region to promote and implement sustainable development solutions. It assists countries of the region pursue sustainability, particularly in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including technical expertise, facilitating access to finance, undertaking cutting-edge science-policy assessments, offering advisory services and strengthening laws, policies, management and governance.

UNEP works with national and local authorities, civil society, other UN organizations, research institutions and the private sector to catalyze the efficient use of the region’s natural assets and reduce the degradation of the environment.

The Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN), developed and launched by the United Nations Environment Programme in 2009 under the Global Adaptation Network (GAN), is the primary regional adaptation network in Asia and the Pacific. Its secretariat is hosted within UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP ROAP).

APAN is an open network that strives to equip adaptation actors in the region with knowledge and tools for designing and implementing adaptation measures, building capacity to access technologies and finance, and integrating climate change adaptation into policies, strategies and plans. APAN has established close partnerships with key organisations and has become an important adaptation knowledge mobiliser in Asia and the Pacific region.

The Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum (APAN Forum) is the flagship event of the APAN Secretariat. It is the main regional platform for adaptation practitioners to meet, share their learning and experiences, and work together towards the pertinent outcomes and practical solutions needed to address the challenges of climate change. Since 2010, the APAN Forum has been hosted and sponsored by different governments and agencies with varying themes of focus. The 8th APAN Forum will take place August 28 – September 1, 2023, in Incheon, Republic of Korea and is hosted by the Republic of Korea as part of the Korea Global Adaptation Week 2023.

APAN is seeking a dedicated APAN Forum Technical Programme Consultant to lead the 8th APAN Forum planning and reporting activities while providing support to the APAN secretariat in articulating results, outreach and ensuring visibility of the Forum.

The consultant will be required to:

1. Lead the development of the 8th APAN Forum concept note
The consultant will develop the Forum concept note based on COP 27 adaptation outcomes, outcomes from other key global and regional adaptation fora, past APAN Forum concept notes, outcomes of the 7th APAN Forum, and the 8th APAN Forum advisory committee and APAN secretariat inputs.

2. Lead the development of a call for session proposals
The consultant will develop a call for session proposals. The call for session proposals should be accessible to a broad range of adaptation experts: climate change adaptation researchers, field practitioners, researchers, community representatives, policymakers, and private sector representatives from the Asia-Pacific region, with the goal of having a diverse and inclusive pool of proposals. The consultant will need to identify key channels through which the call for proposals could be disseminated by. The consultant will also participate in the review and selection of proposals alongside the APAN secretariat.

3. Lead the development of regional pre-forum messages
With support from the APAN Coordinator, the consultant will be engaged in the delivery of pre-forum webinars targeting key focus areas to be covered during the 8th APAN Forum. These webinars will be an opportunity for regional practitioners and policymakers to craft messages that will directly feed into conversations at the 8th APAN Forum.

4. Lead the development of the 8th APAN Forum programme book
Based on the 8th APAN Forum concept note, inputs received from the advisory committee, session proposals received and APAN technical partners’ proposed sessions, the consultant will develop the 8th APAN Forum programme book.

5. Lead the development of the 8th APAN Forum detailed agenda
The consultant will develop a detailed agenda based on the 8th APAN Forum Programme book.

6. Lead the development of the 8th APAN Forum Summary Report
The consultant will lead on planning for notetaking and reporting during the Forum. Prior to the Forum, the consultant will develop a note-taking template to be disseminated to the technical partners and session rapporteurs. During the Forum, the consultant will take notes during plenaries with support from one APAN secretariat member. After the Forum, the APAN secretariat will collect additional parallel sessions’ notes for the consultant to develop the forum summary report. Key recommendations made during the Forum should be captured and synthetized as part of the report. Travel to the Forum will be organized by UNEP.

The consultant may be asked to provide support for other activities related to the 8th APAN Forum.

Qualifications/special skills

- A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in environment, climate change and sustainable development
- Documented experience in designing and delivering large conference/event convening diverse participants and stakeholders in the area of environment and climate change adaptation, and/or economic and social development
- Understanding of climate change and interconnected environmental/societal issues in Asia and the Pacific region
- Experience with relevant global climate change conventions and processes such as UNFCCC COP, CBD COP, etc.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Additional Information

Academic
- Advanced university degree in Environmental Sciences, Management, Development, or a related field is required.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.