Result of Service The national team’s capacity to undertake administrative and technical aspects of NCs, BURs and BTR reports is built. National teams of the Francophone countries have sustainable project institutional structures in place. High quality project implementation plans, budgets, work plans and reports are prepared Countries submit high quality draft NC, BUR and BTR reports for UNEP’s internal quality check before submission to the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement General and timely coordination between project partners and relevant UNEP staff in the region. Work LocationHome based Expected duration17 Months Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The overall objective of UNEP's Climate Change Division is to deliver effective strategic guidance and high-impact action in support of the transition towards climate stability. UNEP provides capacity building and technical support to governments to enhance their policy and implementation capacity and helps them access finance to align to the Paris Agreement, decarbonize, anticipate, and adapt to climate impacts. Its work is guided by ambition, innovation, credible science, alignment to global climate goals and needs of individual countries. The UNEP Climate Change Division also plays an important role in supporting developing countries to meet their reporting obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement (PA). The Division is seeking the services of an Consultant to support the UNEP Task Manager in undertaking activities related to the GEF portfolio of Climate Change Enabling Activities. This portfolio supports countries to meet their reporting obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement (PA), through the preparation and submission of National Communications (NC), Biennial Update Reports to the UNFCCC and Biennial Transparency Reports under the Paris Agreement. The home-based Consultant for Africa will provide support to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Africa, with a focus on the Francophone – speaking countries. The Consultant will build the capacity of country teams on administrative and technical aspects of NCs, BURs and BTR reports preparation; guide teams in setting up sustainable project institutional structures; and fast-track the review of draft reports, completion, and submission of NC, BUR and BTR reports to the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement. The Consultant will also support the Climate Mitigation Unit to enhance its liaison with project partners and relevant UNEP staff in the region. Under the guidance and supervision of the Task Manager, Climate Change Division/Mitigation Branch/GEF Climate Mitigation Unit, the Consultant will provide support in coordinating and expediting implementation of Climate Change enabling activities in Francophone Africa region Specific tasks and responsibilities The consultants will be expected to deliver as follows: • Train the project management teams in preparation of project reports (financial, technical) reports. • Guide country teams during preparation of Terms of References (ToRs) and recruitment of project personnel and local, regional and international consultants/experts for the project • Guide the project management teams to search for suitable national; sub-regional/ international climate change experts capable of carrying out the requisite thematic assessments in the areas of GHG Inventories, mitigation actions and their effects, establishment of domestic measurement reporting and verification processes, and effective participation in the ICA process. • Participate in project meetings with a view to ensure project implementation readiness and sound and timely project implementation. • Provide guidance on development of training programmes and organization of country level and/or sub-regional workshops • Review countries’ proposed project scope and implementation arrangements during the projects’ design phase • Help countries identify regional centres of excellence in both Annex I and non-Annex I countries to support countries access climate relevant data, information, and appropriate analytical tools particularly in the areas of GHG Inventories, NDC tracking, Climate impacts and adaptation. These centres of excellence will provide technical assistance to country teams to enhance the overall quality of the NCs, BURs and BTRs. • Regularly monitor project progress and performance and troubleshooting projects at risk. Informing the Task Manager of any significant risks or project problems and acting and following up on decisions made • Provide preliminary reviews/comments on countries’ draft reports before final review by CBIT-GSP team • Facilitate communication between country teams and CBIT-GSP teams on quality checks and peer review of draft NCs, BURs and BTR reports • Prepare monthly reports with a list of submitted deliverables. Performance indicators - High quality PIPs and budgets prepared by countries in readiness for execution of the NCs BUR and BTR projects. - Sustainable project institutional structures in place to facilitate the continuous national reporting processes under the UNFCCC. - High quality NC, BUR and BTR reports prepared and submitted by national teams in a timely manner. Qualifications/special skills● Master’s degree (or equivalent) preferably in natural resources management, biological or physical sciences or environmental sciences/studies or related field is required. ● A first level degree with additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree; ● A minimum of five (5) years professional experience in programme or project administration, technical cooperation, or related area is required. ● Experience working on National Communications and Greenhouse Gas inventories required. ● Experience working with national governments in developing countries on project cycle is required. ● Good knowledge of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiation outcomes on transparency under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement is desirable. ● Good communication skills to manage/interact with people inside and outside of the project team will be sought is desirable Languages● English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English and French is a required. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.