Technical consultant for climate change, carbon markets, and NDCs

Result of Service

The Technical Specialist will support the Climate Ambition and Transparency Team to achieve the main goals: ● Collectively improve the overall knowledge of the scope and functioning of carbon markets and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and challenges and key opportunities related to the implementation of these mechanisms in the LAC region. ● Work closely with the relevant stakeholders from the LAC Region to comply with the institutional, technical, and operational requirements to establish or participate in new or existing carbon markets. ● Promote exchange between south-south peers to share lessons learned, experiences, best practices, opportunities and challenges on carbon market mechanisms and climate transparency actions in the region. ● Collaborate in the formulation and tracking of projects to enhance transparency in LAC region to guide the construction of robust systems that allow the fulfilment of Art. 13 of Paris Agreement and contributing to the informed climate change planning. ● Collaborate with the closing phase of the CBIT projects executed by LACO. ● The regional coordination of the NDC Action project in Latin America and the Caribbean is effectively supported. Outputs: Output 1. The planning and execution of the Climate Ambition and Transparency PAF, CBIT, GCF Readiness and NDC Action Projects are successful, with all project goals committed to the NDC Partnership, GEF, IKI, and GCF respectively being achieved, while adhering to the stringent quality standards set by UNEP. Output 2. Knowledge sharing, capacity building, and informed decision-making is promoted in the pursuit of sustainable development goals related to climate change mitigation and environmental integrity in Latin America and the Caribbean. Deliverables: Product 1. A detailed report on the implementation of a Regional South-South Cooperation Event, which allows the participation of key actors in climate action and transparency. Product 2. A) Technical report of the progress in the implementation of the implemented activities of the projects coordinated by the Climate Ambition and Transparency Team (PAF, Readiness, and NDC Action), which includes information about compliance with the work plan, achievement of the Project objectives and lessons learned. B) Final report summarizing the objectives, activities, outcomes, and impacts of the CBIT Argentina project. Including as minimum an executive summary, introduction, methodology, stakeholders involved, project activities, results and impact, sustainability, lessons learned and recommendations. Product 3. A technical report that aims to provide a comprehensive vision of the first year of execution of the Readiness Project “Carbon Markets and Article 6”. This will include relevant information, such progress of the project compared to the plan, percentage of budget executed, opportunities for improvement and a strategy to strengthen the next steps of the project and articulation. Responsibilities and Activities 1. Climate Ambition and Transparency (CA&T) Team: ● Collaborate with the CA&T Team in the development of initiatives and projects focusing on carbon markets, carbon pricing instruments, climate change and transparency for the Latin America and Caribbean region. ● Contribute to the organization and planning events related to carbon markets, carbon pricing instruments, climate change, and transparency, ensuring their successful execution and impactful outcomes. ● Generate peer to peer exchanges, workshops or meetings with national government counterparts, and other stakeholders when necessary, and act as a representative of the CA&T Team in meetings to explore synergies and opportunities to foster collaboration. ● Elaborate and deliver technical inputs and advise for the incorporation of climate change criteria into decision-making processes, carbon market governance, transparency and capacity building of Latin-American and the Caribbean. ● Provide efficient guidance and assessment to the Climate Ambition and Transparency Team, in preparing all necessary components for the implementation of the Carbon Markets and Article 6 (GCF) project. ● Collaborate with the UNEP’s Climate Ambition and Transparency Unit in the development of knowledge documents related to transparency, climate change, carbon markets and carbon pricing instruments. 2. Regional Readiness in Carbon Markets and Article 6 project – GCF ● Work closely with the Technical Coordinator in Climate Change and Carbon Markets and the Technical Specialist in the bidding and contracting processes required for hiring consulting firms, country leaders, and international senior consultants for the implementation of the project. ● Contribute with the project team for the Regional Readiness in Carbon Markets and Article 6 project, ensuring the meeting strategic deadlines for overall project implementation. ● Work closely with the Technical Coordinator in Climate Change and Carbon Markets and the Technical Specialist in effectively managing technical, financial, and project team resources for the successful implementation of the Regional Readiness in Carbon Markets and Article 6 project. ● Develop comprehensive plans and guidelines for monitoring, follow-up, and evaluation of project implementation at the regional level, ensuring that project activities are on track and aligned with the project’s objectives. ● Ensure the efficient implementation of activities and ensure monitoring of the Project’s progress and compliance with indicators and objectives. ● Conduct thorough reviews of deliverables from the Regional Readiness in Carbon Markets and Article 6 project, ensuring compliance with quality standards, timeliness, and cost requirements, and provide technical inputs. ● Collaborate with the Technical Specialist to Support the Implementation of the Regional Readiness in Carbon Markets and Article 6 project and the Technical Coordinator in Climate Change and Carbon Markets in the preparation of reports, products, and invoices, ensuring they meet the required standards set by UNEP for timely and accurate payment. 3. Capacity Building in Transparency – GEF ● Collaborate closely with the Project Manager of the CBIT Projects in conducting efficient and transparent bidding and contracting processes for hiring consultants, organizing workshops, and arranging necessary trips. ● Regularly attend the weekly project monitoring meetings of CBIT Argentina, actively assisting the team with administrative tasks to facilitate project operations and ensure effective coordination. 4. PAF Proposals – NDC Partnership ● Develop team proposals for NDC Partnership PAFs based on support requests from countries. ● Contribute with the implementation and coordination of PAF projects developed by the Climate Ambition and Transparency Team, which have been selected by the NDC Partnership, and lead the procurement processes. 5. IKI NDC Action Project ● Provide technical guidance in organizing the 2nd Regional Exchange of NDC Action partner countries in the region, envisioned for July 2024. ● Provide strategic inputs with project reporting processes (e.g., IKI reports, IPMR reports) ● Provide technical advice for different project processes.

Work Location

Home-Based

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The 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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). One of the most relevant challenges the implementation of the Paris Agreement poses to countries is to count on strong Transparency Frameworks. Article 13 of the Paris Agreement establishes the need of Parties to implement national robust and transparent monitoring, reporting, verification and accounting systems to give clarity on action and support while providing clear information to stakeholders to be available to assess if the necessary is being done in relation to compliance with the commitments assumed to face climate change. As part of building and enhancing their Transparency Frameworks, Parties of the United Nations Frame Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) -will progressively implement better tools and institutional arrangements, many of them not sufficiently developed in the countries. This is especially true for developing countries. The Enhanced Transparency Framework of the Paris Agreement demands substantial and immediate progress in the countries´ domestic Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems and strategic de-carbonization and adaptation planning. This entails moving from often disintegrated and often different methodological approaches in data management to an integrated and robust system. The success of the Paris Agreement hinges on enhanced transparency of action and support, as a critical foundation to making its bottom-up country-led approach work, as well as mutual trust and confidence amongst Parties. In this line, the Transparency and Climate Ambition Team at UNEP has developed, together with eight (8) countries of the region, a GCF Regional Readiness Proposal “Capacity Building on Carbon Markets and Article 6”. This proposal seeks to collectively improve: i) the overall knowledge of the scope and functioning of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement in Panama, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and El Salvador through a regional approach and, ii) support the relevant stakeholders from these participating countries to comply with the institutional, technical, and operational requirements to establish or participate in new or existing carbon markets. This will not only support the participating countries to comply with the goals established in their NDCs, but it will also allows the national governments to increase their ambition, transparency, and cooperation among parties in their commitments under the Paris Agreement. Moreover, The Global Environment Facility – Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (GEF-CBIT) is supporting the Argentinian government in strengthening its capacities to comply with the Modalities, Procedures, and Guidelines of the ETF. This is happening by improving the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories and increasing its capacities to domestically track and evaluate mitigation measures and related finance support received and provided, as well as generating the technical inputs needed for medium and long-term planning contributing to the improvement of climate-related decision-making in the country. Lastly, the IKI-funded NDC Action Project supports 10 partner countries with their efforts to decarbonize their economies and adapt to the impacts of climate change by providing technical assistance aimed at translating countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) into measures and actions ready for financing and implementation. In Latin America and the Caribbean, project partner countries include Argentina, Colombia, and Costa Rica. Therefore, the Climate Ambition and Transparency Team (CA&T) is looking for a Technical Consultant in Climate Change, Carbon Markets, and NDCs to (i) support the implementation of the Regional Readiness in Carbon Markets and Article 6 Project, (ii) address government requests, develop and collaborate in the initiatives in carbon markets, transparency and climate change in the LAC region, (iii) act as the focal point for the CBIT projects and contribute to its coordination team in technical, procurement and administrative processes, and (iv) provide support for the regional coordination of the NDC Action Project in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Technical Consultant will be supervised by UNEP’s Programme Management Officer of Energy Efficiency of the Climate Change Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean Office and will work from home.

Qualifications/special skills

ACADEMIC: ● Bachelor’s Degree in environmental sciences, environmental engineering, economics, finance, administration, political science, international relations, diplomacy, or related studies is required. ● Additional studies, specific training or certification in climate science and carbon markets is considered a valuable asset. PROFESSIONAL: ● General Experience: At least four (4) years of experience in climate change projects, environmental sciences, environmental economics, climate policy, economic research, or related fields is required. ● Experience with Carbon Markets/Article 6, the Enhanced Transparency Framework, and/or NDC processes would be an advantage.

Languages

● Fluent in Spanish (required). ● Fluent in English (required).

Additional Information

SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: PROFESSIONALISM: ● Excellent understanding of global and national climate change issues, particularly related to transparency and carbon markets. ● Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to climate change mitigation and adaptation planning, and intergovernmental climate change negotiations. Ability to identify issues, analyze, and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations. TEAMWORK: ● Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: ● Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

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.