UNDP Regional Technical Specialist – Climate Change Adaptation: International Contract
UNDP Regional Technical Specialist – Climate Change Adaptation: International Contract
Locations: Amman, Jordan
Apply Before: 07/21/2023, 04:59 AM
Job Schedule: Full time
Agency: UNDP
Grade: IPSA-11
Vacancy Type: International Personnel Service Agreement
Contract Duration: 1 Year with Possibility for extension
Education & Work Experience: Master’s Degree – 7 year(s) experience OR Bachelor’s Degree – 9 year(s) experience
UNDP Regional Technical Specialist – Climate Change Adaptation: International Contract
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.
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan.
Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages; represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, including public-private, government and civil society dialogues; and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.
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BPPS’s Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, with the support of the Vertical Fund Programme Support Oversight and Compliance Unit, works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy and waste. This multi-billion-dollar portfolio encompasses:
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests;
- Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems;
- Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS;
- Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation;
- Sustainable Energy;
- Extractive Industries;
- Chemicals and Waste Management;
- Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches.
This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning.
In addition to UNDP’s bilateral partnerships in Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, UNDP is an accredited multilateral implementing agency of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), the Adaptation Fund (AF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds (VFs), UNDP’s Vertical Fund Programme Support Oversight and Compliance Unit supports UNDP’s Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste related Hubs and provides countries specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services.
Climate change could drive an additional 100 million people into poverty by 2030. Countries have increasingly included adaptation priorities in their NDCs pointing to issues of water and food security, safeguarding economic assets from extreme climate events and disasters, and protection and regeneration of natural capital. This is particularly important in the Arab region, the world’s most water scarce and food import dependent region and where temperatures are rising faster than the world average. The region is seeing more frequent and severe droughts and climate induced disasters, converging with situations of fragility, conflict and displacement.
Building on the experiences and lessons from a portfolio of initiatives in over 137 countries, UNDP advances a ‘whole-of-society’ approach to accelerate adaptation and continues to support countries to mobilize public and private finance to implement their adaption priorities. UNDP assists government partners to scale up the integration of climate change adaptation into policy, planning, and investments at both national and local levels through the support to the National Adaptation Planning (NAP) process and the NDCs. UNDP supports climate change adaptation action in the context of agriculture and food security, water resources, coastal zone management, ecosystems protection, public health, resilient infrastructure, urban resilience, livelihoods, and climate information/early warnings.
The Regional Technical Specialist (RTS) works under the overall supervision of the Regional Team Leader for Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste Hubs as primary supervisor and the Principal Technical Advisor of Climate Change Adaptations secondary supervisor, and works in close collaboration with other Regional Technical Advisors/Specialists at both global and regional levels. The Regional Technical Specialist will be part of the Climate Hub and the Regional Hub for Arab States supporting country offices in the region and is expected to travel frequently.
Duties and Responsibilities: UNDP Regional Technical Specialist – Climate Change Adaptation: International Contract
The Regional Technical Specialist will provide second level oversight, quality assurance, and compliance with fund/donor requirements for the Environmental Vertical Fund programming initiatives during the design phase and implementation phase, and ensure portfolio-wide risk-based oversight of the portfolio for the related technical area, within the Arab region.
The Regional Technical Specialist is primarily responsible for providing technical, policy, and programming implementation support and oversight, and knowledge and capacity development services pertaining to the work of the Climate Change Adaptation signature programmes to UNDP country offices, working with other UN agencies, governments and inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, donors, the private sector and many others. Specific results are expected in the areas of:
Innovation, Strategic Leadership, Policy Dialogue and Advocacy
- Provide support to establishing and maintaining a strategic understanding of, and engagement with, the substantive technical issues, institutions, and processes within the region, including establishing contact and developing strategic partnerships with other agencies, donors, NGOs, the private sector, scientific institutions and the like;
- Participating in the development and implementation of UNDP’s global and regional strategies on environment and sustainable development within the BPPS and beyond; engagement in policy and advocacy work with external partners where relevant
- Providing policy development support and guidance;
- Supporting the development of strategic UNDP policy position papers and internal briefing notes;
- Facilitating policy analysis and the development of technical tools and guidance;
- Maintain a trusted leadership role within the region;
- Keeping the Regional Team informed of trends and issues with respect to the substantive technical area;
- Keeping the Principal/Senior Technical Advisors informed of trends and issues in the region;
- Participating in cross-substantive area technical dialogue, common strategic visioning, mainstreaming, programming, and other collaboration within the regional team
- Contributing to identification, development and implementation of new strategic programming opportunities and partnerships in the area of climate change adaptation and sustainable livelihoods.
Portfolio Management
- Assisting in the maintenance of programme/project and portfolio information;
- Facilitating the identification, and sourcing of technical expertise and support including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports;
- Supporting the development of strategic policy and guidance for strengthening UNDP Country Offices with climate change adaptation project design and implementation including alignment with national priorities;
- Assisting the development of and advocacy for specific policy analysis and development tools and guidance in support of programming and finance for Climate Change Adaptation;
- Supporting the establishment of a trusted leadership role for Climate Hub within the region;
- Sourcing of technical expertise and support including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports;
- Contributing to regional retreats, focal area retreats, regional strategic planning, pipeline management exercises, etc.;
- Promoting gender equity/empowerment in programming opportunities;
- Helping to ensure that strategies and projects are aligned to country outcomes and UNDP corporate environment results in internal UNDP project tracking systems (e.g. ERBM);
- Maintaining quality/accuracy in data and project management (UNDP EF systems such as PIMS), management of Quantum Risks logs, and portfolio delivery rates;
- Monitoring to ensure expected quality standards are maintained in project implementation reviews;
- Supporting the Regional Hub to internalize lessons from evaluations in programming in the region.
Programming and Quality Assurance Design:
- Supporting programme and project identification and development for integrated, strategic and/or high-risk projects, in line with project origination SOPs and RACI.
- Providing timely and quality information and technical advice on sources of funds, policies, priorities and activities, including the Global Environment Facility funds, the Green Climate Fund, other multilateral donors, bilateral donors and foundations;
- Identifying and suggesting to the PTA priorities and entry-points for UNDP assistance;
- Provide 2nd level quality assurance, in coordination with relevant units across Nature, Climate, Energy, and Waste Hubs in line with the POPP and RACI, on alignment of budgets, procurement plans, safeguard appraisals, and etc. associated with the project with fund/donor requirements;
- Provide 2nd level technical quality assurance and compliance checks with UNDP technical investment criteria on climate-related matters and fund/donor requirements, including providing quality assurance for Climate Hub technical specialists assigned to projects, across the process of preparation, design, submission, reviews and approval of programme/project concepts and full-fledged proposals, in line with Fund/donor/UNDP policies and requirements;
- Provide second line quality assurance to ensure the required due diligence of Implementing Partners has been completed by the CO (in coordination with the Regional Bureau) and CO capacities are assessed and considered to inform the implementation arrangements and risk management in line with the policies of the fund/donor and UNDP;
- Providing guidance and support in the identification and sourcing of technical expertise and support including providing technical inputs for the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports;
- Facilitating liaisons with potential financing agencies and institutions.
Portfolio Management- Quality Assurance and Development Impact
- Assisting with inception, contracting and startup of programmes/projects including establishment of indicators, benchmarks and work plans to ensure that these align with the technical investment criteria and the requirements of funds/donors;
- Supporting UNDP country offices and programme/project implementation partners in supervision, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, troubleshooting and adaptive management (including project revisions and extensions, etc.) in line with Fund/donor policies and requirements;
- Preparing reports and communications pieces effectively showcasing socio-economic development benefits as well as environment results;
- Undertake supervision mission aimed at (a) verification of results and (b) troubleshooting to manage technical quality assurance risks;
- Undertake risk management oversight of technical risks that compromise the effectiveness and efficiency of the Fund/donor approved projects, including conducting risk-based second tier portfolio oversight and support CO/RBX/BPPS to address escalated GEF project risks/critical issues (through Action Plan).
Learning, Knowledge Management and Self Development
- Evaluating, capturing, codifying, synthesizing lessons and stimulating the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of knowledge materials;
- Peer reviewing, commenting on, and seeking to improve the technical quality of programmes/projects, policies, practices, guidelines, advisory notes, publications and the like;
- Developing and carrying out a personal learning plan;
- Preparing reports and communications pieces effectively showcasing socio-economic development benefits as well as environment results.
- Contributing to the preparation of regional Community of Practice meetings;
- Supporting the preparation and delivering of training courses;
- Responding to queries on programme/project progress, impacts and lessons;
Institutional Arrangement
- The incumbent will work from UNDP offices in the Regional Hub for Arab States in Amman, Jordan;
- The incumbent will report to the Regional Team Leader for Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste Hubs at UNDP’s Regional Hub for Arab States in Amman and the CCA PTA under BPPS/Climate Hub based in New York ;
- The incumbent will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment;
- The incumbent will be provided with a workstation, laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) when working office-based. The incumbent is responsible for providing her/his own work equipment (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) when working remotely at the duty station
Competencies: UNDP Regional Technical Specialist – Climate Change Adaptation: International Contract
Core Competencies:
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- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
- Business Direction & Strategy – Effective Decision Making:
- `Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
- 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 Management – Results-based Management:
- Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
- Business Management – Project Management:
- Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
- Partnership Management – Relationship Management:
- Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
- 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
- Programme and Policy 2030 Agenda: Planet – Nature, Climate and Energy:
- Climate change adaptation
- Business Management – Communication:
- Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
Desired additional skills and competencies:
- Demonstrable extensive experience developing or implementing adaptation projects with financing from vertical funds (the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, Least Developed Country Fund and/or Special Climate Change Fund) is highly desirable;
- Eexperience working in the Arab region is highly desirable;
- Experience working in an international organization is an advantage, especially with knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures, and practices;
Required Skills and Experience: UNDP Regional Technical Specialist – Climate Change Adaptation: International Contract
Education:
- Master’s degree or higher in environmental economics, environmental law, natural resources management, sustainable development, climate change adaptation/mitigation, international development with a specialization in climate change adaptation, environment and development, or other closely related field.
Experience: UNDP Regional Technical Specialist – Climate Change Adaptation: International Contract
- Minimum 7 years of experience with Master degree working with developing countries on Climate Change Adaption and/or Mitigation, and/or Community-level Finance;
- Minimum 5 years of experience in providing technical research in support of formulation of projects/programmes/proposals;
- Minimum 5 years of experience with project development, implementation, and/or management in business-oriented or private sector platform (project management experience is preferred);
- Minimum 5 years of experience in policy development processes in climate change risk management.
Language:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English language
- Good command of oral and written French or Arabic is highly desirable.
Travel
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- The incumbent will be expected to travel to join the duty station, Amman, Jordan. Cost of an economy-class ticket will be paid by UNDP and no daily subsistence allowance (DSA) is paid for the assignment travel;
- International mission travel may be required (destinations to be identified). Expected mission travel would be discussed upon commencement of assignment and updated quarterly;
- Any necessary mission travel must be approved in writing and in advance by the Nature Hub Director;
- The BSAFE course must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
- The incumbent is responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP and for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
- S/he is required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb.
The following documents shall be required from the applicants:
- Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
- A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
- Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.
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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