Office/Unit/Project Description
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.
BPPS’s Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, with the support of the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit, works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy and waste.
The newly established UNDP Climate Hub is the arrowhead of UNDP’s commitment to the “Climate Promise” that aims to support programming countries designing and implementing pledges under the Paris Agreement, including ambitious National Determined Contributions, with climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions fully embedded in the national development planning and budgetary processes. The Climate Hub will build on UNDP’s existing over USD 4 billion country-level climate portfolio on Climate Change Policies and Strategies, Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Change Mitigation, Climate and Forests, covering over 142 countries, as well as on UNDP’s Nature portfolio, UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP’s Digital offer and other relevant portfolios on youth, gender, health, climate security among others.
The UNDP Climate Hub is responsible for:
Thought leadership on Climate and to be the custodian of UNDP policy positions on Climate; Strategy and vision formulation; Pipeline development in coordination with the other hubs and the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit; Provision of integrated policy and programme support to Country Offices; Global engagement, advocacy in collaboration with BERA; Integration across thematic areas; Strategic Partnerships development and resource mobilization; Lead and Support global flagship initiatives and partnerships on Climate; Serve as focal point with relevant UN coordination mechanisms and Conventions (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change); Cross-organization knowledge and learning; and Innovation.The UNDP Climate Hub’s carbon markets team support governments to take holistic, comprehensive, and strategic decisions on carbon markets as part of their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) implementation, to address knowledge gaps, and contribute to efficient and high-integrity carbon markets. Governments need information and capacity to be able to provide clarity to investors and ensure that carbon markets investments and initiatives align with national priorities. To address this, UNDP will provide strategic holistic support on carbon markets to host country governments through its network of country offices and coordinated at global level.
UNDP launched at COP 28 its global strategy to support countries’ access to carbon markets to finance their climate goals and accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda. This strategy, entitled High-Integrity Carbon Markets Initiative (HICIMI), aims to promote the high integrity of both the supply and demand side of carbon markets transactions. HICMI is composed of several service offers to operationalize the support in partnership with governments from development countries’ federal and subnational governments as well as UNDP Country Offices:
Service Offer 1: Readiness - Carbon market access strategies Service Offer 2: Interventions to implement Article 6 of the Paris Agreement Service Offer 3: Jurisdictional Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Service Offer 4: Domestic carbon markets/emissions trading schemesUNDP is recruiting Carbon Markets Project Manager to provide technical assistance and capacity building support on carbon markets in the context of HICMI and its Service Offers with the objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mobilizing private green finance and accelerating the 2030 agenda.
Scope of Work
The primary objective of this position is to manage the UNDP High-Integrity Carbon Markets Initiative in support of developing countries pathway to attract finance for NDC implementation. To do that, the Carbon Markets Project Manager will be responsible for the implementation of the UNDP HICMI, ensuring overall management and providing advice and targeted technical assistance for carbon markets implementation, capacity building and knowledge sharing on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, voluntary carbon markets with particular focus on jursidicional REDD+ programmes as well as domestic carbon markets schemes in the context of NDC implementation.
Key Duties and Accountabilities:
1. Provide strategic leadership for effective project planning and implementation
Ensure project compliance with appropriate UNDP policies and procedures. Ensure effective coordination, accountability, and quality of services. Coordination with Country Offices and oversight of projects. Ensure sound management of activities, strategic planning of project and timely preparation of quarterly work plan and substantive elements. Ensure strategic planning of the activities. Project monitoring and managing risks. Evaluation of the projects’ impacts - monitoring and analysis of the projects’ environment, timely readjustments in projects implementation. Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of carbon projects, including payment for results to carbon mitigation project developers. Leadership in advocating and communicating project objectives, and in assuring that all interested parties are well informed about carbon mitigation project activities and outputs.2. Provision of advisory support on carbon markets readiness
Facilitate the development of online tools/platforms, webinars and knowledge products and technical presentations in the context of Article 6, voluntary carbon markets and domestic carbon markets schemes. Advise government counterparts and other relevant institutions on the potential funding sources for carbon finance. Identify and establish a private sector network with potential to implement carbon mitigation projects with targeted performance-based payment support. Advise and guide consultants, government counterparts towards the achievement of carbon mitigation project outputs.3. Provision of technical support for carbon markets implementation
Guide and assist on the technical design aspects and implementation support of the carbon mitigation project portfolio, including support to UNDP Country Offices. Assess carbon finance opportunities across economic sectors to engage in carbon markets, through compliance and voluntary mechanisms. Support the prioritization of activities and advise on cost-efficient and effective solutions for host countries, considering existing capacities and institutional contexts. Considerations of costs and price carbon credits with and without impacts in the host country NDC. Oversee the technical support in project identification, feasibility assessments, baseline establishment, project design, and the development of monitoring plans to quantify emission reductions, in partnership with private sector actors.+4. Support establishment of governance and infrastructure setting
Assess existing legislation and agreements on carbon markets and carbon ownership. Identify gapsin capacities, regulatory frameworks, and/or institutions. Assessment of opportunities to strengthen current institutional and governance arrangements on carbon markets. Support the development of internal policies or guidelines for government agencies on carbon markets. Support the establishment of institutions (e.g., registries, special purpose vehicles) and legal frameworks (e.g., for approvals). Develop financing strategies and business models, including in the context of blended finance. Support the establishment of robust technical and regulatory infrastructure for carbon markets as part of the NDC implementation.5. Support countries with NDC implementation through carbon finance with particular focus on the forest sector
Support the design, implementation and monitoring of carbon programmes in the context of Article 5 of the Paris Agreement and reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) . Provide implementation support or oversight and advisory functions to UNDP programmes and projects directly implementing technical assistance on jurisdictional REDD+ in the context of the voluntary carbon market. Support countries with NDC implementation in the forest sector, including through policy reforms and carbon financing schemes.6. Facilitate capacity building and knowledge sharing
Provide technical support to build capacity, interpret and apply relevant carbon market standards. Conduct capacity-building workshops and training sessions to governmental officials, project teams and other stakeholders, in collaboration with partners. Promote knowledge sharing on carbon market’s best practices.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Carbon Markets Project Manager will directly report to the Global Lead, Carbon Markets. S/he will be part of the larger Climate Hub.
Competencies Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivityCross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Direction and Strategy
System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system. Results-based Management: Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools. Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policiesBusiness Development
Communication: Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.2030 Agenda: Planet
Climate: Carbon Markets. Climate change adaptation policy and planning: National Adaptation Plan Nature: Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Socio-environmental impacts of natural resource extractionMinimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA
Min. Education requirements
Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Engineering, Technology, Finance, Political Sciences, Economics, or a related field is required. OR A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.Min. years of relevant work experience
Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional experience and strong background and understanding of the technical components for the establishment of carbon markets is required, including the processes to get a project certified as well as the establishment of registries and infrastructure.Required skills
Proven ability to manage the preparation of carbon projects in the electricity, industry, forest/REDD+, transport, agriculture and/or waste sector and in supporting governments in their readiness and infrastructure needs for engagement in carbon markets. Experience managing large and complex projects in international organizations with multiple sources of funding.Desired skills
Strong knowledge of Article 6 UNFCCC decisions and independent carbon crediting programs. Proven experience in capacity development, interactions with governments (national and/or subnational) and other key climate and carbon market stakeholders in developing countries. Full computer literacy, including proficiency with word-processing, spreadsheet and presentation software is desirable. Demonstrated strong organizational skills. Experience in supporting to build capacity, interpret and apply relevant carbon market standards.Required Language(s)
Fluency in English is required. Professional knowledge of Spanish, Portuguese or French is highly desirable.Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
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.
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