Climate Promise Country Coordinator and Technical Advisor (Africa, Western Balkans, Central Asia, Caucasus, Eastern Europe)- IPSA 11 (Home Based)

Home Based - May require travel

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Remote | Home Based - May require travel
Grade: Mid level - IPSA-11, International Personnel Services Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Environment
- Meteorology, Geology and Geography
- Climate Change
- Project and Programme Management
- Managerial positions
Closing Date: 2023-05-23

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Office/Unit/Project Description

Working in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of its key priorities for the next 10 years is to support countries accelerate ambitious action on climate change.

Climate change is the single greatest challenge humanity has ever faced, threatening water and food security, health, livelihoods, and the safety of billions of people together with drastic negative impact on global ecosystem balance. UNDP ambitious “Climate Promise” supports over 120 countries to enhance their climate ambitions under the Paris Agreement, with focus on greater emissions reduction and resilience building. The next phase of the Climate Promise will focus on NDC implementation, climate advocacy, and long-term planning to ensure inclusive climate action at the speed and scale required to keep global temperature below 1.5°C. Achieving the carbon neutrality in the second half of the century by all countries is a crucial requirement set by the Paris Agreement to avoid the irreversible global climate change. Realization of this goal involves work on global, national, and local levels, as well as participation of all relevant stakeholders – governments, business, MDBs, international organizations, NSOs. The path to carbon neutrality should be just and leaving no one behind, while empowering women, youth, indigenous people, and vulnerable groups of population. UNDP is well positioned to enable such work through cooperation on HQ, Regional and Country Offices levels, forming an interconnected system of knowledge exchange and expertise delivery enabling the cutting-edge climate policy advocacy, development, and implementation.

The Climate Promise provides direct financial and technical support to countries on NDC implementation in the context of national development priorities.

As the Climate Promise continues to evolve, UNDP is recruiting a Coordinator and Advisor to provide technical support on NDC implementation and revision to countries across multiple regions, including the Western Balkans, Central Asia, Caucasus, Eastern Europe and anglophone Africa

Duties and Responsibilities

Serve as Country Coordinator for selected countries under the second phase of the Climate Promise. The role of the Country Coordinator includes 1) developing multi-year workplans -together with the UNDP Country Office and the government – that respond to governments’ demand while being in line with the Climate Promise Service Offer; 2) overseeing the implementation of the workplans; 3) providing technical input to deliverables and ensuring quality of the deliverables; 4) facilitating disbursement and management of project funds; 4) facilitating the reporting of project activities; 5) providing technical advice to UNDP Country Office and Government on NDC.
Provide strategic guidance on NDC implementation efforts in selected countries, identifying common needs for which a regional-level activity will be more resource efficient while achieving greater impact.
Support countries in identifying complementarity between the NDC priorities and other UNDP projects; leveraging UNDP Nature, Climate and Energy portfolio to achieve NDC targets. UNDP intervention in the countries encompasses governance, gender, inclusive growth, energy, biodiversity, forestry, security, etc. The NDCs constitute an umbrella to channel the entire UNDP work on climate and environment towards the countries’ climate ambition.
Deliver technical support and/or capacity building to countries on climate change policy-related matters, including Transparency and MRV
Support the Climate Promise Regional Focal Points in responding to requests for technical support from other countries in the region.
Support development of communication pieces and knowledge products on NDC implementation in the countries covered, working closely with the Climate Promise Communications Specialists, to showcase achievements in the countries, educate the public and draw lessons from the region that can enhance best practices within UNDP.
Contribute to webinars and events to strengthen capacity of and share experiences among Climate Promise countries.
Represent UNDP in international events, partnerships, and negotiations, and present on technical issues as needed.
Provide technical input for briefings and speeches for high-level UNDP officials, as needed.

Institutional Arrangement

The Climate Promise Country Coordinator reports directly to the Regional Strategic Technical Advisor. S/he will be part of the larger Climate Strategies and Policy Team (CSPT) and NCE team.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 4: Prioritize team workflow, mobilize resources, drive scalable results/strategic impact

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 4: Easily navigate complexity, encourage/enable radical innovation, has foresight

Learn Continuously:

LEVEL 4: Create systems and processes that enable learning and development for all

Adapt with Agility:

LEVEL 4: Proactively initiate/lead organizational change, champion new systems/processes

Act with Determination:

LEVEL 4: Able to make difficult decisions in challenging situations, inspire confidence

Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 4: Construct strategic multi-partner alliances in high stake situations, foster co-creation

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 4: Create ethical culture, identify/address barriers to inclusion

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Agenda 2030: Planet	Nature, Climate and Energy	Climate Change Policies: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)
Agenda 2030: Planet	Nature, Climate and Energy	Climate Change Policies: including international climate change regime and application
Business Management	Monitoring	Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
Business Development	UNDP Representation	Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities, advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies
Business Direction and Strategy	Strategic Thinking	Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education	Advanced University Degree (Masters or equivalent) in Environmental Studies, environmental policy, political economy, development economics, or relevant discipline.
Min. years of relevant Work experience	At least 7 years of relevant experience delivering advisory services or capacity building on climate change or environment policy, economics, and/or finance at an international level At least 7 years of experience in project management (environment and/or climate change)
Required skills	Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of climate change policy landscape (including the international climate regime), climate finance, MRV systems, adaptation and mitigation policy and ability to apply this to strategic situations at the global, regional and national levels Experience delivering training, capacity building and technical support on climate or environment in developing countries or economies in transition Strong technical knowledge of UNFCCC processes and NDC design and implementation at the national level Demonstrated project management experience on climate/ environment with multiple stakeholders Demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner and with minimal supervision
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section	Substantive experience coordinating with national governments and stakeholders on climate change initiatives in any of the following regions: Western Balkans, Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia or anglophone Africa Demonstrated experience providing technical advisory support on MRV and Transparency Knowledge of UNDP structures, processes and procedures, particularly related to climate change will be considered is desired Experience supporting gender-responsive approaches to climate action will be considered an asset Experience with the work of multilateral, bilateral and civil society is desired Demonstrated ability to develop knowledge products and outreach pieces related to climate change policy and project implementation (i.e. – articles, case studies, guidance notes, etc.) will be considered an asset
Required Language(s) (at working level)	Fluency in English Additional UN languages will be considered an asset

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: 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.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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