Title: Climate Innovation Project Coordinator

​​Requisition ID: 5624
Grade: P3 (Specialist)
Country: Austria
Duty Station: Vienna
Category: International Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 12 months
Application Deadline: 28-May-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora. The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.

The Division of Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP) assists Member States in the emergence, deployment, and large-scale up-take of solutions for low carbon and climate resilient industrialization. The division promotes system innovation approach to achieve transformational change in climate change by innovating across key levers of change including technology, finance, policy, and regulation. The Division is responsible for the dual mandate of accelerating innovation and building climate innovation ecosystems to promote low-carbon and climate-resilient industrialization; and planning, developing and implementing interventions to facilitate compliance with the Montreal Protocol and, in particular, its Kigali Amendment and to support countries in achieving their NDCs. In addition, the Division is responsible, in close collaboration with other relevant entities of the Organization, for facilitating the transfer of innovative low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions and building markets to ensure their widespread use by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience in recipient countries. It collaborates closely on relevant and converging issues with TCS/CEG, TCS/ECA and IET/CTP.

The position is located under the Climate Technology Innovation Unit (TCS/CMP/CTI), which responsible for supporting Member States in fostering innovation across technologies, finance, policy and regulation to promote the emergence, deployment and large-scale up-take of low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions and business practices. In addition, the Unit is responsible, in close collaboration with other relevant entities in the Organization, for facilitating the transfer of and establishing markets for low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions, ensuring wide use by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate mitigation, adaptation and building resilience in recipient countries. The Unit positions UNIDO strategically in the global discourse on climate technology innovation support and acts as the focal point in UNIDO for partnership with the technology mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Climate Adaptation Innovation Portfolio

The aim of this call for expression of interest is to establish a two-years roster of qualified experts who would be involved in the design and implementation of the technical cooperation projects portfolio Climate Technology Innovation Unit (TCS/CMP/CTI). The Individual Consultants to be considered for the roster, should have technical expertise and experience in at least one of the fields of competence, mentioned in the mandate of the Unit. The selected candidate(s) will be expected to contribute technically and procedurally to the design, development and implementation of UNIDO’s climate adaptation innovation portfolio.

UNIDO’s approach to building its climate adaptation innovation portfolio involves developing projects that address key environmental challenges while promoting sustainable economic growth. This includes a rigorous project selection and development process, ensuring alignment with UNIDO and partner country’s strategic objectives. By working closely with the partner countries and the climate adaptation ecosystem, UNIDO aims to design and implement projects that deliver significant environmental benefits and contribute to the global environmental agenda. The future vision is to establish a diverse and impactful climate adaptation portfolio that supports long-term environmental sustainability and resilience.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, assists in appraising, adjusting and presenting project proposals, and monitoring programme execution, identifying problems and utilizing information as an input to corrective actions to promote effective project management, develops and administers technical cooperation projects. The incumbent shall carry out following main duties.

• Locate and analyze specific economic and social data and distilling and synthesizing information relevant to proposed projects;

• Identify, describe and justify project possibilities related to a particular project and consistent with approved technical cooperation programmes and ongoing activities;

• Appraise, review and adjust project proposals to ensure consistency with national, sub regional, regional and sectoral priorities and programmes, and with available resources; formulate and present such proposals on the basis of technical and substantive inputs in accordance with required format for final review and approval;

• Develop schedules, arrangements and methods for the management of the execution of individual project/s, in consultation with project personnel, technical, substantive and administrative service units;

• Exchange information required for project formulation and execution with government officials in planning, finance, donor input coordination and sectoral functions, as well as with representatives of multilateral and bilateral donor agencies;

• Monitor and expedite project execution systematically through discussions and correspondence with technical, substantive and project staff, field visits, analysis of periodic project progress reports, participation in tripartite reviews and mid-term project evaluations; utilize information obtained as an input to corrective decision-making and revisions;

• Organize and conduct briefings and debriefings on projects with special regard for the country, sub regional and regional aspects, resources and development characteristics, with a view to maximizing project performance levels.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in engineering, sciences, economics, business administration, international relations or other relevant discipline with specialization in climate change, climate innovation, climate finance, climate technologies, climate adaptation and resilience, private sector development, AI for climate, machine learning for climate risk assessment, or other related fields, is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least five (5) years of professional experience in technical cooperation project management or portfolio project management including some exposure at the international level, is required.
• Ability to research and analyse information independently and recommend solutions is required.
• Ability to write in a clear and concise manner is required.
• Ability to work effectively in multi-cultural teams is required.
  • Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries, is desirable.
  • Experience in designing and developing technical cooperation projects in the fields of climate change, especially in climate innovation or climate adaptation and resilience are highly preferred.
  • Evidence of experience in developing proposals for key UNIDO partners such as the Global Environment Facility, the Adaptation Fund, or the Green Climate Fund are also highly desirable.
  • Experience in designing and developing technical cooperation projects in the fields of climate change, especially in climate innovation, climate adaptation and resilience, AI-driven climate adaptation, digital climate solutions are highly desirable.
  • Also highly desirable are experiences in leveraging AI-powered analytics and digital tools to support project monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment, ensuring data-driven decision-making for climate adaptation solutions, and/or supporting the integration of AI and digital innovations into project design, ensuring scalable and technology-driven climate adaptation interventions.
  • Knowledge of applied AI, machine learning, or data-driven approaches for climate risk assessment, predictive modelling, or industrial decarbonization is an asset.

    Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

    Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN languages, particularly French and Spanish are highly desirable.

    REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

    Core values:
    WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

    WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

    WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

    
    Key competencies: