Technical Assistant to identify needs and develop institutional processes

Result of Service

The main objective of the position of the Technical Assistant to identify needs and develop institutional processes is to work closely with the Project Management Unit (PMU) and the Directorate of Climate Change of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (DMACC), in the identification of needs, support to the coordination, support to stakeholder involvement and development of institutional processes for the consolidation of the National Adaptation Plan at the national and local level. In doing so, the consultant will contribute to the effective implementation of “Outcome 1: National mandate, strategy and steering mechanisms are in place” and “Outcome 2: Preparatory elements for the NAP in place to develop a knowledge-base and formulate a NAP” of the project "Developing Capacities to advance in the National Adaptation Plan Process" in the in the Dominican Republic, as set in cooperation agreement signed between UNEP and the Government of the Dominican Republic.

To contribute to the effective implementation of the aforementioned components, the Technical Assistant to identify needs and develop institutional processes will perform the following activities:

a. Assist in the development of awareness raising and participatory processes for public and private sectors at national and local levels, NGOs, CSOs, local communities and the private sector on the NAP process established.
b. Assist in the processes of identification of needs, survey, analysis of information and preparation of reports of ongoing initiatives and of the different areas of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources for the consolidation of the National Adaptation Plan.
c. Assist in internal and external communication processes, capacity building, and stakeholder involvement at different levels, according to the identified needs.
d. Organize and participate in activities relevant to the consolidation of the National Adaptation Plan, especially those related to internal communication, capacity building, financing and implementation, according to identified needs and proposal of institutional processes.
e. Assist in the review and analyze documents and proposals that contribute to mainstreaming the National Adaptation Plan in the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources.
f. Compile lessons learned, synthetize key messages and develop recommendations relevant for decision-making and policy formulation related to the consolidation of the National Adaptation Plan.
g. Assist, participate in activities related to the consolidation of the National Adaptation Plan.
h. Provide inputs related to adaptation and the NAP to the formulation of the Annual Operational Plan (AOP) of the Climate Change Directorate and support the monitoring and reporting of its activities.
i. Support the process to identify resources to cover needs and remove barriers for the consolidation of the National Adaptation Plan.
j. Prepare a report of proposed institutional processes for the consolidation of the National Adaptation Plan, related to the adaptation options prioritized and related needs.
k. Carry out any other tasks requested by the Climate Change Directorate, the Project Coordinator and/or the Adaptation Program Officer at the UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), including submitting a monthly progress report.

Work Location

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Expected duration

6 months

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, through its Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO) located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region - including 16 Small Island Developing States - with a population of about 588 million people, to implement the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement and the priority actions defined in countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The office works to serve the needs of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

In terms of supporting countries in the region attain the global commitments signed within the framework of the Paris Agreement, UNEP’s Latin America and the Caribbean Sub-programme on Climate Change aims at strengthening the ability of countries to move towards climate-resilient and low emission strategies for sustainable development and human well-being. In this framework, the UNEP Sub-programme on Climate Change, through its Climate Change Unit leads and supports several initiatives oriented at designing, promoting and implementing innovative mitigation and adaptation solutions at the national and subnational level, and strengthening the transparency framework of the countries.

The expected accomplishment regarding climate change adaptation is that adaptation approaches, including the ecosystem-based approach, are implemented and integrated into key sectoral and national development strategies to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience to climate change impacts. Furthermore, UNEP’s Sub-programme on Climate Change is also committed to ensure that cross-cutting issues such as gender equity and women’s empowerment are effectively integrated in the development of its tasks to guarantee an equitable development in line with its adaptation objectives.

In this context, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic and the UN Environment Program as implementing agency (UNEP), lead the project "Developing Capacities to advance in the National Adaptation Plan Process in the Dominican Republic" (NAP project), framed within the Readiness program of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The project aims to sustainably build country capacity in identifying, prioritizing, planning and implementing measures that address medium- and long-term adaptation needs. The ultimate objective of the project is to reduce the vulnerability of the country to the impacts of climate variability and change, by building adaptive capacity and resilience through the integration of climate change adaptation into planning and implementation within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate. In this sense, while it pays particular attention to some priority sectors, the project is comprehensive in terms of sectors and stakeholders, working with different line ministries, national and local government institutions, the civil society and the private sector.

The project seeks to achieve its objective through:
- Strengthening the institutional, legal, policy and planning frameworks;
- Engaging key stakeholders in climate change adaptation planning and implementation;
- Producing high-quality and pertinent knowledge; and
- Capacity building at different levels

The project builds on existing institutions, coordination mechanisms, processes and legislation to avoid duplication and foster sustainability of the progress already made. In this sense, it follows the lessons learned from the preparation of the National Adaptation Plan and the National Climate Change Policy.

The Outcome 1: “National mandate, strategy and steering mechanisms are in place” of the NAP project, requires the development of awareness raising campaigns at national and local levels and the private sector through the activities 1.2.3 and 1.24:
• 1.2.3 Develop awareness raising campaigns at national and local levels for the Council for Municipal Planning, NGOs, CSOs and local communities.
• 1.2.4 In collaboration with business organisations, develop awareness raising campaigns at national and local levels for the private sector.

The Outcome 2: “Technical/Sectoral Institutions use up to date climate information for risk assessment and appraisal of adaption interventions¨ of the NAP project, requires the consolidation of the National Adaptation Plan at the national level through activity 2.3.1 “Consolidate the inputs developed in a National Adaptation Plan document that explicitly presents the prioritized adaptation solutions.

To fulfill the objectives of the project, the UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office is recruiting a Technical Assistant to identify needs and develop institutional processes to provide technical support and inputs to the National Project Coordinator, the Project Management Unit (PMU) and the Directorate of Climate Change of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic (DMACC). In particular, the consultant will support the identification of needs and the development of institutional processes for the consolidation of the National Adaptation Plan at the national level.

The Technical Assistant to identify needs and develop institutional processes will operate under the overall supervision of the Adaptation Program Officer at the UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office. He/she will assist the Project Management Unit (PMU) and the Directorate of Climate Change of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (DMACC) in the execution of the Project Outcomes 1 and 2 and will articulate with other national consultants and government and non-governmental counterparts.

The Technical Assistant to identify needs and develop institutional processes is expected to work 40 hours per week, from Monday to Friday, full time, and to be located in the DMACC and hold meetings as needed with the PMU for the duration of the assignment.

Qualifications/special skills

EDUCATION

• Must have a first-level degree (bachelor or equivalent) in Industrial Engineering, Sustainable Development, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Science, Business Administration, Public Relations, Law or a closely related field.


EXPERIENCE

• At least 3 years of experience in the fields of environmental management, organizational processes, project engineering, planning and logistics, or institutional arrangements is required.
• Previous experience leading interinstitutional processes, dialogues or agreements in the Dominican Republic.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and leading participatory processes with multiple actors, such as local organizations, private sector, academia, and NGOs is desirable.
• Experience working with environmental government entities/authorities in the Dominican Republic is highly desirable.
• Professional experience in climate change projects is desirable.
• Experience working with cooperation agencies and international organizations is desirable.
• Knowledge of the strategic framework and instruments of Climate Change at a national and international level is desirable.


LANGUAGES

• Fluency in Spanish is required.
• Confident in English is required.


SKILLS

• Strong analytical and writing skills and ability to formulate technical reports or knowledge materials.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to communicate complex issues in a language and format that is appropriate to specific target audiences.
• Proficiency in MS Office (MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook) software applications.
• Ability and willingness to travel to urban and rural regions of the country and international travel.



COMPETENCIES

• Professionalism: Is results-oriented and committed to excellence. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Demonstrates adaptability to change and willingness to engage in continuous learning. Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of views.
• Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style and format to match audience.
• Teamwork: Is able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team to achieve organizational goals; takes leadership when appropriate; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

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.