Background Information - Job-specific
WEC Background:
The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support.
WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.
The NDC Partnership:
The NDC Partnership is a global coalition of countries and institutions collaborating to drive transformational climate action through sustainable development. In 2015, the world endorsed the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Nations signal their commitments to the Paris Agreement through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - each country’s strategy to cut its own greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience against the negative effects of a changing climate. The Partnership advances the goals of the Paris Agreement by bringing together nearly 200 countries and institutions in new ways to accelerate NDC implementation and enhance ambition over time. The Partnership’s work through 120 partners supporting almost 80 countries produces many examples of impact, lessons learned and ideas for the future. The Partnership is governed by a Steering Committee, co-chaired by two country representatives. The Partnership’s work is facilitated by a Support Unit based at World Resources Institute in Washington DC and the UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn, Germany. UNOPS supports the NDC Partnership and its Support Unit through the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC).
Country Context
Tunisia is a member of the NDC Partnership and seeks to further benefit from technical support to strengthen its climate ambition and ensure the effective implementation of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
To this end, Tunisia through the Ministry of Environment is seeking for a climate finance specialist. The objective is to enhance national capacities in the design and preparation of climate projects, as well as to explore and leverage opportunities for accessing climate finance instruments and resources at the international, regional, and bilateral levels.
The incumbent will serve as a climate finance specialist at the national and sectoral levels. He/She will be invited to contribute to assist all key actors and stakeholders for the preparation of sectoral portfolios and projects’ financing document for the Tunisian NDC implementation.
The incumbent will support the Ministry of Environment in Tunisia (National Climate Change Coordination Unit) and national key institutions engaged in NDC implementation, in identifying key projects and preparation of financings documents for more effective NDC implementation in Tunisia.
The embedded climate finance expert will implement all tasks in coordination with the NDC Partnership In-Country Facilitator, under the direct supervision of the NDCP Partnership Development Specialist and will work in close collaboration with the different ministerial offices. This is a retainer national vacancy / position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with the possibility of an extension.
* This is a Homebased position, meaning that the incumbent will not work from a UNOPS office but from the government facilities. Therefore, the incumbent will need to use his/her own laptop and software.
** As this is a Local Position, in order to be eligible, the incumbent should be a national of Tunisia or have a valid residence permit in the Country.
*** Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Functional Responsibilities
The following responsibilities are part of the embedded incumbent role:
Coordination and communication with key stakeholders
Maintain a regular communication with key national actors and stakeholders to ensure their continuous engagement for NDC implementation.
Organize consultation meetings with key sectors and actors, to discuss the NDC priorities, and identify key actions and support in order to the preparation of relevant sectoral portfolios and projects for climate change issues integration.
Operationalization of NDC Implementation Plan
Collaborate with the NDC Partnership In Country Facilitator, key sectors and the National Climate change Unit, to construct a list of key projects documents for NDC implementation.
Ensure continuous support to key stakeholders to prepare concept notes for identified priority projects and support to identify potential sources for financing of the projects, including domestic sources, and international institutions.
Mobilization of resources for implementation
Identify relevant financial mechanisms for NDC Implementation, and support sectors and stakeholders to engage continuous communication to explore adequate financial opportunities for NDC implementation,
Improvement of projects’ documents (concept notes, projects proposal), to ensure more alignments with financial institutions’ requirements and procedures,
Assist all relevant sector to identify their needs to improve their capacities for more efficient access to climate finance opportunities
Contribute to improve technical capacities of national actors operating in climate change for climate finance access, by providing technical continuous support and assistance.
Tracking of Implementation Plan and Investment Plan implementation progress
Take all necessary activities to guarantee more opportunities for effective of the NDC 3.0, the relevant investment plan for its implementation and the Investment conference, planned in September 2025.
A master’s degree preferably in the field of finance, environment, energy, development, climate change, natural resource management, and any other relevant field of study.
Bachelor's degree in related discipline with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience (7 total) may be accepted instead of an advanced university degree.
Experience
Required
With a Master’s degree, at least 5 years’ experience in public and/or private sector with a focus on climate change and finance, project management, stakeholder and donor engagement and/or preparation of cross-cutting workplan/proposal development or any related field;
Experience in multilateral, national and grassroot governance and processes related to climate change, policy and/or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs);
Knowledge of the country’s context of policy frameworks, national plans and strategies related to climate change is required.
Asset
Familiarity with UNFCCC processes including Subsidiary Body and Conference of Parties (CoP), NDC and past experience on government climate change process.
Experience of other national contexts that indirectly contribute to climate change is desirable
Ability to foster formal and informal networks to strengthen cooperation between agencies, including Government, private sector participants, NGOs and other stakeholders
Language
Fluency in French and English is required.
Working knowledge of Arabic is desirable.
For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx
Additional Information
Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.