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, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the 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 the 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’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government, and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.
Based in UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, the Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste Hubs host the Environmental Finance (EF) Unit which has the objective of helping UNDP Country Offices to assist countries to access environmental and climate finance to address the dual objectives of addressing environmental and climate priorities in the context of efforts focused on the eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion for the pursuit of sustainable development. This objective is achieved through four inter-related areas of work on:
- sustainable management of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems;
- scaling up of climate change adaptation and mitigation;
- sustainable, affordable and accessible energy services;
- sustainable management of chemicals and waste.
These areas of work are aligned with the two Signature Solutions of UNDP Strategic Plan.
UNDP is an accredited implementing entity for the following environmental vertical funds:
(i) the funds managed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF): the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF TF), the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF); and the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
As an Implementing Agency for these funds, UNDP offers countries highly specialized technical services for eligibly assessment, programme/project formulation, due diligence, mobilization of required co-financing, project implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments, and knowledge management.
With its technical focus, UNDP’s Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste (NCE&W) Hubs are organized into substantive technical teams (Biodiversity, Water and Oceans, Climate Change Mitigation, Climate Change Adaptation, Chemicals & Waste) with a Principal or Senior Technical Advisor (PTA/STA) within each area. Each PTA/STA supports and guides a team of Regional Technical Advisors (RTAs) or Specialists (RTSs). As well as being a member of a technical team, each RTA/RTS is also a member of a regional team, which consists of RTAs/RTSs from all technical teams working together under the leadership of a Regional Team Leader. The regional teams are based in regional hubs from where they support UNDP’s country offices and partners in their region. The technical teams are organized around core thematic areas of nature, climate, energy, and waste.
Climate Change Adaptation Programme
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. 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.
UNDP works with governments, private sector, academia, and civil society to build capacities to implement transformative approaches to securing resilient lives, livelihoods, ecosystems, and markets, particularly focusing on the most vulnerable and marginalized. With a portfolio of adaptation projects and programmes across 100+ countries, UNDP is a key actor within the UN System in supporting countries to access and catalyze public and private finance to implement their adaptation priorities in the context of the SDG agenda.
The strategic objective of the Climate Change Adaptation Team is to develop the capacity of national and sub-national Governments for adaptation planning and support countries in accessing, mobilizing, and implementing adaptation finance for resilient development. To achieve this, the team focuses its efforts on the following signature programmes:
- Supporting integration of climate risks into national/sub-national planning and budgeting: Supports national and sub-national governments (with focus on Ministries of Finance and planning bodies) to develop and strengthen policies, institutions, capacities and knowledge for climate-risk informed medium- to long-term planning, and to make use of the full range of public and private financing mechanisms to support adaptation investments;
- Advancing resilient Livelihoods, Food and Agricultural systems, Water Security, Coastal Zone management, and Ecosystems: Advances climate resilient livelihoods across vulnerable sectors and populations promoting socio-economic development, especially for the poor, women, and indigenous peoples. Also, provides assistance to country-led efforts on gender-responsive, climate change risk management in the context of food security and resilient agriculture, water resources, coastal zone development, ecosystem restoration and management, public health, and climate change-related disaster risks;
- Strengthening Climate Information and Early Warning Systems for Climate Resilient Development: Supports the development of climate information and Early Warning Systems (EWS) across a range of countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific in order to help them respond to both short-term/rapid onset climatic hazards (e.g. cyclones, floods and storms), as well as long-term/slow onset hazards (e.g. drought and long-term climate change).
- Promoting private sector engagement in adaptation: Supports the engagement of private sector in the adaptation portfolio through understanding of barriers, risks, and opportunities to the private sector in adaptation. Works with the private sector experts and other RTS/RTAs to help design and deliver projects that advance unlocking of private sector investments to support adaptation on the ground.
The RTS for Climate Change Adaptation Team works under the overall supervision of the Principal Technical Advisor on Climate Change Adaptation and of the NCE&W Regional Team Leader for Asia & Pacific, and in close collaboration with other technical specialists at both global and regional levels. The RTS will be part of the Climate Hub and located in UNDP’s Regional Hub in Bangkok, Thailand supporting country offices in the Asia Pacific region and is expected to travel frequently. RTSs may be periodically redeployed, in accordance with capability, consent, and due process, to a different duty station as needed.
Job Purpose and Organizational Context
The Regional Technical Specialist for Climate Change Adaptation Team 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 Team 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.
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Innovation, Strategic Leadership, Policy Dialogue and Advocacy
- Contributing to 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 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;
- Contributing to identification, development, and implementation of new strategic programming opportunities and partnerships in the area of climate change adaptation, climate resilient development and sustainable livelihoods.
2. Portfolio Management
- Assisting in the maintenance of programme/project and portfolio information and corporate information systems;
- 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 and Vertical Fund Unit 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);
- Provide inputs necessary to maintain accurate data for project management in UNDP EF systems such as PIMS+, monitor project risks, risk management action plan and ensure timely escalation when appropriate and needed. 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.
3. Resource Mobilization
- Supporting programme and project identification and development, including on integrated approaches and multifocal area projects;
- 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/STA priorities and entry-points for UNDP assistance;
- Facilitating the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of programme/project concepts and full-fledged proposals for financing;
- Providing guidance and support in the identification and sourcing of technical expertise and support including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports;
- Facilitating liaisons with potential financing agencies and institutions.
4. Quality Assurance and Development Impact
- Assisting with inception, contracting and startup of programmes/projects including establishment of indicators, benchmarks and work plans;
- Supporting UNDP country offices and programme/project implementation partners in supervision, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, troubleshooting and adaptive management;
- 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 project risks/critical issues (through Action Plan).
5. 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;
Competencies
Core
Achieve Results:
- Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
Think Innovatively:
- Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
Learn Continuously:
- Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
Adapt with Agility:
- Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demand.s
Act with Determination:
- Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
Engage and Partner:
- Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
- Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies
2030 Agenda: Planet – Nature, Climate and Energy:
- Climate Change Adaptation: agriculture/food security, coastal resilience, concepts and advancing resilient development, early warning, embedding adaptation into development policy/planning/decision making, livelihoods, public and private finance for adaptation solutions, urban resilience, water management
Partnership management – Multi-stakeholder engagement and funding and resource mobilization:
- Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms.
- Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.
Digital & Innovation – Alternative finance:
- Ability to identify potential alternative forms of finance and mobilize them for the purpose of addressing development challenges.
- Ability to assess the risks, limitations, and implications of using new financial mechanisms.
Business Direction & 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.
Business Management – Results-based Management:
- Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
Business Management – Risk Management:
- Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.
Business Management – Communication:
- Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.
Required Skills and Experience
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:
- Minimum of 7 years’ experience working with developing countries on climate change adaptation, community-level finance (e.g. microfinance), and/or development;
- Experience with project development, implementation, and management (direct project management experience is preferable);
- Experience in the policy development processes in climate change risk management;
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships;
- Demonstrated facilitation and coordination skills;
- 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;
- Experience working in the Asia and/or the Pacific region is strongly desired;
- Experience working in an international organization is an advantage, as is knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures, and practices;
Language requirement:
- Fluency in English, both written and oral;
- Working knowledge of another UN language would be an advantage.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
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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