General
Description of assignment title: Green and Blue Development Programme Support Officer
Assignment country: Samoa
Expected start date: 20/09/2023
Sustainable Development Goal: 8. Decent work and economic growth
Volunteer category: International UN University Volunteer
DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No
Host entity: UNDP
Type: Onsite
Duration: 5 months
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Apia
Details
Mission and objectives
UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.
The UNDP Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Samoa, which covers Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau, implements the UNDP Subregional Programme Document for the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (2018-22), which is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and country priorities as reflected in national development plans. In close partnership with the four Governments, UNDP works in collaboration with donors, the private sector, civil society organizations and local communities, academia, media and regional organizations to provide global knowledge and integrated development solutions to development challenges. UNDP promotes a whole-of-society approach to deliver on the ambition of the 2030 Agenda, with greater involvement of civil society actors, emphasis on empowering women, youth and vulnerable groups, and centered on the principle of leaving no one behind.
Context
Green Economy (50%)
According to Samoa’s latest National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (2020), the road transport sector, largely dependent on fossil fuels, is the country’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2), accounting for 27.4 percent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. With vehicle ownership having increased by 69.5% since 2013 along with the subsequent increase of fossil fuel imports to meet the growing demands of this sector, green transformation of land transport is ever more urgent to pivot towards zero-emission economic development. Samoa’s ocean dependence and heavy reliance on the shipping industry as its national economic lifeline, similarly deems necessary the decarbonization of the maritime transport sector with the need to explore cost-effective low-carbon technologies and operational improvements to fuel efficiency and emissions reductions that advance the achievement of Samoa’s enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
The Japan-funded project Climate Action Pathways for Island Transport (CAP-IT): Accelerating the Decarbonization of Samoa’s Land and Maritime Transport Sectors’, a component of the regional ‘Promoting Green Transformation in the Pacific Region towards Net-zero and Climate-resilient Development Project’, aims to promote urgent and inclusive transformation of the land and maritime transport sectors towards decarbonization by accelerating the uptake of electrical vehicles and low-carbon propulsion systems in support of the achievement of Samoa’s enhanced NDCs for the energy and transport sector by 2030. This will be achieved through a three-fold approach:
- Creating an enabling environment through strengthened and gender-sensitive institu-tional governance, financial, legal, and technical capacities for accelerating the decar-bonization of both land and maritime transport systems;
- Accelerating inclusive decarbonization of the land transport sector with a focus on adoption and imports of electric vehicles and accessible electrification service networks targeting public transport and public service delivery vehicles; and,
- Introducing and piloting low-carbon outboard motors for Samoa’s fishing fleet through a gender sensitive grant mechanism for local fisherfolk and training scheme on installa-tion, operation, and maintenance.
Blue Economy (50%)
The UNV will have the opportunity to work with the Blue Economy team and the Accelerator Lab (AccLab) on co-designing pipeline projects that strategically build on the successes of completed and ongoing Japan-funded blue economy projects. The remaining 50% of the assignment will therefore consist on research support, exploration of strategic partnerships, funding opportunities and engagement with Japanese public, academic and private sector, with a particular focus on circular bio-economies for fish waste and seaweed respectively. Countries like Samoa are walking a tight rope between marine conservation and meeting the nutritional and economic needs of its population. Climate change and marine pollution are further compounding these challenges. In response, the Samoa Ocean Strat-egy 2020-2030 calls for an integrated management for a healthy and abundant future of Samoa’s Ocean. This includes focusing on the urgent need to maximize economic benefits from all caught fish and diversify coastal and ocean-dependent livelihoods.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Assistant Resident Representative for the Environment and Climate Change Unit the UN University Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
Research and External Relations:
• Contribute to active research on replicable Japanese-led innovations in relevant sec-tors and support partnership engagement with respective organizations, including pri-vate sector engagement where relevant;
• Participate in office-wide brainstorming and pipeline portfolio co-development of re-search-based concept ideas;
• Assist with market research and drafting of specifications for project-related goods, namely innovative technology, in support of sustainable procurement initiatives, and value-added products.
Programme Support:
• Contribute towards systematic monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities against the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, including but not limited to the or-ganization and reporting of site visits, regular documentation and inputs towards the Results Oriented Analysis Report;
• Support knowledge management, including but not limited to systematic documenta-tion and filing of project-related information and/or documents;
• Support the development and implementation of South-South exchanges, including publications, webinars, events, inter alia, on Samoa’s green/blue development; and,
• Assist the preparation, logistics and facilitation of project-related meetings, consulta-tions, workshops, trainings and/or events.
Communications and/or Advocacy:
• Contribute towards project visibility and advocacy through support with content devel-opment for blogs, op-eds, social media posts, press releases in English and Japanese, inter alia;
• Assist with content development of project factsheets, publications and presentations; and,
• Support English to Japanese translation of project briefs, factsheets, inter alia.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by read-ing relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage rele-vant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
Eligibility criteria
Age: 18 – 26
Additional eligibility criteria
Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Donor priorities: .
Requirements
Required experience
0 years of experience in • Demonstrated interest and/or experience in green and blue economy sectors, including sustainable transport and sustainable fisheries;
• Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded;
• Good writing skills in English and Japanese.
• Proficient use of MS Office software package.
Area(s) of expertise: Energy and environment , Engineering and construction , Natural and life sciences
Driving license: .
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Japanese, Level: Mother tongue, Required
Required education level: Secondary education
Competencies and values
☒ Adaptability and Flexibility
☒ Commitment and Motivation
☒ Communication
☒ Creativity
☒ Ethics and Values
☒ Integrity
☒ Knowledge Sharing
☒ Professionalism
☒ Respect for Diversity
☒ Self-Management
☒ Technological Awareness
☒ Working in Teams
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
Samoa gained independence in 1962 – the first Polynesian country to achieve this political status. Situated about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, Samoa is made of nine volcanic islands, two of which – Savai’i and Upolu – make up more than 99% of the land mass. The capital city of Samoa is Apia. The total population of Samoa is 200,000 with a total area of 2,934 square km. The terrain consists of narrow coastal plains with volcanic, rocky, 6 rugged mountains in interior.
Samoa is a bilingual country. Samoan is the main language and English is the second official language. Most government bodies and institutions work primarily in English.
The traditional Samoan way, the fa’a Samoa, remains a strong force in Samoan life and politics where family is all-important and elders are highly respected. Each village is made up of extended families that are represented on the village council by a chief (matai). The more western-style parliamentary system in Samoa is highly influenced by traditional social systems and the family, civic and political duties performed by the matai at village level. The country is predominantly Christian.
The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas and agricultural exports. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Tourism is an expanding sector in Samoa.
Apia has good accommodation facilities in terms of the Pacific standard and good road networks. Medical facilities are limited in comparison to developed countries and emergencies are undertaken in New Zealand. Food items and imported commodities are easily available in the market. There is a functioning banking system in the country. Samoa has a warm tropical climate and insect repellents are needed for the nights. Apia has an international airport which is well connected to New Zealand, Australia and Fiji.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy
