General
Description of assignment title: Climate Change and Resilience Specialist
Assignment country: Benin
Expected start date: 01/06/2023
Sustainable Development Goal: 13. Climate action
Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist
DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No
Host entity: FAO BEN
Type: Onsite
Duration: 10 months
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Cotonou
Details
Mission and objectives
FAO is the United Nations agency leading the international effort to eradicate hunger. FAO’s mission is “A world free of hunger and malnutrition, in which food and agriculture contribute to improving the standard of living of all, especially the poorest, in ways that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable”.
Its three global goals are:
- To eradicate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition and progressively build a world in which all people at all times have sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
- To eradicate poverty and promote social and economic progress for all by increasing food production, fostering rural development and promoting sustainable livelihoods.
- To sustainably manage and use natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources, for the benefit of present and future generations.
FAO uses a systems approach to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs. This approach has been summarized as “improving production, nutrition, environment and living conditions by leaving no one behind”.
Context
The FAO country office in Benin provides technical expertise to the Government on a Country Program Framework (CPP) linked to national priorities. The 2023-2026 CPP establishes three priority areas at the state level to guide the partnership with FAO and the support provided to the Government of the Republic of Benin, combining innovative international best practices and global standards with national and regional expertise. These three priority areas are:
- Strengthening food and nutritional security in the face of exogenous shocks.
- Sustainable management of natural resources and strengthening of adaptation and mitigation measures related to climate change.
- Conflict management and social cohesion.
FAO also provides technical expertise in policy development and implementation and develops initiatives at the local level.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of FAO Resident Representative in Benin, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
Assist the country office in identifying projects with climate finance potential
Participate in the various decision-making committees (to grant funding) to argue the alignment analyses and/or the climate qualification of funding
Develop the operation and maintenance plan of water infrastructures (how the differ-ent infrastructures work, who will operate them and provide maintenance also after the life of the project, where will the different part be purchased when needed etc.)
Support addressing any related comment from FAO and GCF
Address all comments and questions from the GCF (CIC2 and ITAP…) related to the climate rational, the proposed climate resilient technologies until submission to the GCF board
Revise the FP and the FS as needed based on the GCF comments and recommen-dations until submission to the board.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading 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: 27 – 80
Additional eligibility criteria
This assignment is funded by the Government of Japan, therefore only Japanese nationals are eligible to apply.
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Donor priorities
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in Agricultural or climate change or Environment/Biodiversity/Natural Resources projects management.
Skills and experience description
Mastery of methods for measuring/estimating emissions (absolute and relative) – in-cluding life cycle analysis
Mastery of climate risk assessment methods
Communication and interpersonal skills, teamwork
Analytical and research skills
Good knowledge of the Paris Agreement and the alignment of private sector actors with it (approaches, methods, initiatives)
Good knowledge of development institutions
Area(s) of expertise: Agriculture, Natural and life sciences
Driving license: .
Languages
English, Level: Working knowledge, Required
French, Level: Basic, Desirable
Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in Agricultural Sciences, Agroforestry, Climate Change, or related fields
Competencies and values
Adaptability and Flexibility ; Communication; Creativity; Ethics and Values; Integrity; Judgement and Decision-making; Knowledge Sharing; Leadership; Professionalism; Respect for Diversity; Self-Management; Technological Awareness; Working in Teams.
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
Benin is a country of democracy and peace located on the West African coast. Cotonou, the economic capital of the Republic of Benin, is served by most major international airlines and waterways. Telecommunication facilities (landline and cell phone, internet) exist and housing is available at relatively affordable cost. There are well known schools such as the French Lycée and the American Schola. Living conditions are relatively good. Running water and electricity are available. Most food products are imported and produced locally. Staple foods include meat, fish, cassava and rice. It is easy to find fresh produce in the market. There are regular flights to/from Benin. The country borders Nigeria, Togo, Niger and Burkina Faso. The official language is French.
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
