Climate Change and Environment Expert – Level B

Result of Service

The ultimate results will be the operational contribution to implementation of UNEP`s growing mountain adaptation project portfolio in the South Caucasus.
Specific outputs and deliverables as well as deadlines and timelines to be reviewed and agreed upon with the Associated Programme Management Officer of Vienna Programme Office upon assignment and in alignment with the Adaptation at Altitude programme Project Document (PRC approved PoW Project 112.9) with a focus on Mountains ADAPT.

Work Location

Tbilisi, Georgia

Expected duration

01/07 - 31/12/2023

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. The UNEP - Vienna Programme Office coordinates the UNEP Mountain Network and maintains a number of different projects related to sustainable mountain development and climate change adaptation including the first phase of the SDC-funded programme „Adaptation at Altitude: Taking Action in the Mountains“ (2019-2023) and the Austrian funded project “Mountains ADAPT: Advancing Climate Action” (starting 2023).

The overall objective of the Adaptation at Altitude (A@A) programme is to increase knowledge on climate change and appropriate adaptation solutions in mountains and feed it into science-policy platforms for informed decision-making in national, regional and global policy processes, in order to increase the resilience and adaptive capacity of both mountain communities and ecosystems to climate change.

The programme - which has been initiated and fully funded by the Swiss Agency of Development of Cooperation (SDC) –responds with 4 distinct outcomes: Outcome 1: Improved availability and use of mountain observation data and information services support regional and global knowledge products on climate change impacts in mountains, Outcome 2: Mountain climate change adaptation is integrated into planning and policy processes of regional bodies/frameworks/platforms/initiatives and their national constituencies as the result of strengthened science-policy dialogue platforms, Outcome 3: Knowledge on climate change adaptation solutions in mountains is strengthened and capitalized at the regional and global level. Outcome 4: Major global policy processes are taking climate change adaptation in mountains into account.

UNEP besides ICIMOD (responsible for Himalayas) and CONDESAN (responsible for Andes) has been selected by SDC to lead the work under Outcome 2 to support regional policy action in the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) and East Africa (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania) as well as the inter-regional level.


The International Consultant will undertake the following duties and responsibilities under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Associated Programme Management Officer of the UNEP - Vienna Programme Office – SCC.

¿ Mountains ADAPT

- Overall expert contribution to implementation of tasks under the Austrian-funded Mountains ADAPT project in the South Caucasus region.
- Gather relevant intelligence and information in facilitating setting up a small grants scheme for local adaptation solutions.
- Liaising with relevant stakeholders and experts for identifying local adaptation needs and facilitating capacity development.
- Contribution for the implementation of inter-related interventions under the Adaptation at Altitude programme planned for the South Caucasus, in close coordination with the project team and implementing partner.
- Contribution to further resource mobilization for the region.

¿ UNEP Mountain Network

- Contribute with information about mountain adaptation relevant developments in the South Caucasus and buy-in of relevant stakeholders for respective projects and programmes of the UNEP Mountain Network.

Qualifications/special skills

A master’s degree in Environmental Governance, Environment/Natural Resources Management, Environmental Technology and / or International Affairs or similar is required.
A minimum of 5 years of work experience in environmental sector / international affairs, preferably with a focus on sustainable mountain development / climate change adaptation / regional governance-related aspects is required
Experience in developing tools, methodologies, and guidance, preferably with a focus on climate change adaptation is required
Demonstrated knowledge of climate finance, including types of financing schemes is desirable
Experience of working in the South Caucasus region is desirable

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. In addition, knowledge of a language of the South Caucasus countries will be considered as an asset.

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.