Back UNEP NDC Action Project - International Consultant, Paris, France

Posting Title: UNEP NDC Action Project - International Consultant

Department/Office: United Nations Environment Programme

Duty Station: PARIS

Posting Period: 05 January 2021 - 19 January 2021

Job Opening Number: 21-United Nations Environment Programme-147660-Consultant

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Result of Service

• The management of NDC Action in Morocco and the implementation of CAEP activities in the country are supported (incl. LTS development support, if selected);
• The coordination of project work in sectors prioritised for project support in Latin American & Caribbean partner countries is facilitated, so that a good exchange of information with sector experts at UDP and UNEP is ensured (and to the extent needed: the Regional Office for Latin America is supported with the implementation of specific activities -NDC Action and/or CAEP- in Argentina);
• The development of sector/topic-specific studies, concepts and/or technical analyses (e.g. on Carbon Markets, Long-term Strategies) is supported;
• Opportunities to secure additional funding for complementary add-on project activities are explored, where applicable;
• Donor communication and reporting is supported;
• UNEP's contribution to the organization of the 2021 Regional Climate Weeks (RCWs) is supported in close coordination with UNEP Regional Offices;
• The coordination of UNEP's engagement under the NDC Partnership's Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP) is supported, particularly on issues related to monitoring of implementation, reporting, liaising with all teams involved, etc.
• The coordination of the project with the NDC Partnership, the IKI NDC Cluster, IKI Interface projects and other relevant NDC support initiatives is facilitated;
• The organization of NDC Action's global events & steering committee meetings is supported;
• Other short-term support tasks are delivered upon request.

Work Location

Paris

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and

Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the international 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 'NDC Action' Project - jointly implemented by UNEP and the UNEP DTU Partnership (UDP) - supports ten partner countries to translate their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement into concrete strategies and actions ready for financing and implementation, and fosters accelerated public and private investment in sector specific NDC implementation. It builds on three core principles: country ownership, balanced focus between adaptation and mitigation, and integration with national development and climate change priorities.

Mainly funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of BMU/Germany, the project was recently awarded additional funding from several donors, including the World Resource Institute (WRI) under the umbrella of the NDC Partnership (NDC-P)'s Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP), SIDA/Sweden and Norway, for the support of complementary areas of action.

The NDC Action team based at the Energy & Climate Branch in Paris (in the following referred to as 'ECB's NDC Team') ensures the global management and general coordination of the project across partner countries. In addition, the team serves as liaison between UNEP and the NDC-P (in particular with regard to CAEP), as well as with the IKI NDC Cluster.

ECB's NDC Team has been facing a substantial increase of work in recent months in relation to kick-starting project implementation in several countries, the coordination of UNEP's CAEP support, the re-orientation of support due to COVID-19, and other related areas of action, such as the integration of additional funding, project revision, the organisation of regional/global events and the development of partnerships with other NDC support initiatives.

The main objective of the consultancy is thus to support the ECB's NDC Team with the global coordination, management and implementation of the NDC Action Project and its associated activities.

The services of a consultant are needed to respond quickly, flexibly and effectively to immediate, time-bound needs to support the ECB's NDC Team. With his/her advisory capacity and special knowledge, the consultant is expected to deliver specific, measurable and results-oriented support services, falling outside of the staff's core responsibility of ensuring the global management and coordination of the NDC Action project.

The assignment is of a temporary nature and the tasks capable of being performed and completed within the specified period of time. The services performed clearly relate to programmed activities in the project document and budget. The need for the required services cannot be met from within the current staff resources of the Secretariat owing to a lack of time and capacity.

While it is required that the consultant be able to work autonomously -therefore remotely, given the current sanitary situation-, it is hoped that the COVID-19 related restrictions will eventually ease out and that the consultant will be able to have periodic face-to-face meetings with the ECB's NDC Team, in addition to his/her weekly progress update teams calls.

Specifically, the consultant is required for: 1) Supporting the management of NDC Action in Morocco and the implementation of CAEP activities in this country (incl. LTS development support, if selected);

2) Facilitating the sector-specific coordination of project work in Latin American & Caribbean partner countries, ensuring a good exchange of information with sector coordinators (and to the extent needed, supporting the Regional Office for Latin America with the project activities and/or CAEP activities implementation in Argentina);

3) Contributing to/backstopping the elaborating of sector-specific studies, concept notes and/or technical analyses, where needed, e.g. on Carbon Markets, Long-term Strategies;

4) Exploring opportunities to attract additional funding for complementary add-on project activities and lending support for developing any relevant new project concept;

5) Supporting Donor communication and reporting;

6) Supporting UNEP's contribution to the organization of the 2021 Regional Climate Weeks (RCWs) in close coordination with UNEP Regional Offices;

7) Facilitating the close coordination of the project with the NDC Partnership, the IKI NDC Cluster, IKI Interface projects and other relevant NDC support initiatives;

8) Supporting the coordination of UNEP's engagement under the NDC Partnership's Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP), incl. monitoring of implementation, reporting, liaising with all teams involved etc.; and

9) Supporting the organization of NDC Action's global events & steering committee meetings.

Qualifications/special skills

Academic Qualifications: An advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Climate Change/Environmental Studies, International Development, or related studies.

Experience:

• At least two-years -combined full-time and part-time, paid or unpaid- professional experience with relevance to climate change, sustainable development, support to environment/development projects, and/or working with/in developing countries;
• Proven hands-on knowledge of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) support, climate transparency, and/or any other topic closely related to the implementation of the Paris Agreement;
• Familiarity with project management support, such as organising (virtual) workshops and stakeholder consultations, drafting briefings notes, developing and/or revising project documents and concepts;
• Experience working with/in developing countries (ideally incl. Morocco);
• Experience working with climate and development stakeholders from recipient countries and if possible, the donor government institutions, national development agencies, international organizations, and technical partners;
• Experience with supporting the organization of competitive tenders and monitoring/reporting processes is highly desirable;
• Experience working with/for the UN is highly desirable;
• Strong communication skills, ability to listen and analyse carefully, rigorous and autonomous; and
• High motivation to support developing countries in planning and implementing climate actions.

Language: Fluency in spoken and written English and French is required, fluency in spoken and written Spanish is highly desirable, and fluency in spoken and written German would be a plus.

No Fee

THE 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.

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