Project Associate, Climate Risk Finance & Policy (PSA-3)

Position description

United Nations University (UNU): is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge, furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States. 

 

For the past four decades, UNU has been a go-to think tank for impartial research on human survival, conflict prevention, sustainable 

development, and welfare. With more than 400 researchers in 12 countries, UNU’s work spans the 17 Sustainable Development Goals’ full 

breadth, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU maintains more than 200 collaborations with UN agencies and leading universities and research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit http://unu.edu

 

United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS):

UNU-EHS, established in December 2003, is part of the UNU system, a worldwide network of Research and Training Institutes. Its mission is to advance human security through knowledge-based approaches to reducing vulnerability and environmental risks. For more information, please visit www.ehs.unu.edu. 

 

The Munich Climate Insurance Initiative e.V. (MCII) was initiated as a non-profit organization by representatives of insurers, 

research institutes and NGOs in April 2005 in response to the growing realization that insurance solutions can play a role in adaptation to 

climate change, as suggested in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. This initiative is hosted at the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS). As a leading think tank on climate change and insurance, MCIIis focused on developing solutions for the risks posed by climate change for vulnerable people in developing countries. www.climate-insurance.org.

 

The MCII ‘Policy, Governance and Strategies’ team works on the international level (e.g. in the context of the UNFCCC, G7, G20,

or the World Bank and IMF), with national governments, as well as with local civil society organizations to promote sound financial management of climate risks. Currently, the team supports the Vulnerable Twenty Group of Finance Ministers (V20) on their financial protection agenda and their contributions to the Global Shield against Climate Risks. 

Additionally, the team is advising the Sustainable Insurance Facility Project Office, hosted in UNEP FI PSI. Other projects include the 

technical advisory to civil society organizations (CSOs) to support the formation of multi-stakeholder partnerships on climate and disaster risk finance and insurance (CDRFI), research on localized impacts of loss and damage, and the elaboration of guidance documents on climate risk management and CDRFI integration in national strategies and policies.

 

Responsibilities

Under the authority of the Director of UNU-EHS and the direct supervision of the Head of the MCII division, the successful candidate 

will be entrusted with the following tasks:

1) Support research activities in the MCII Policy, Governance & Strategies Team

• Support the preparation of research material and written inputs,
• such as academic and non-academic contributions on relevant topics, 
• including climate risk management, climate disaster risk finance and 
• insurance, financial protection against climate risks, loss and damage 
• from climate change, and climate finance.
• Identify new/emerging research questions coming out of different policy debates, incl the V20, UNFCCC, G20, G7. 

 

2) Support ongoing projects of the Policy, Governance & Strategies Team

• Assist in project management by preparing project documentation,
• project meetings, reporting, supervising external experts, and other 
• tasks.
• Draft memos, policy briefs, blog posts, policy-papers and other written outputs as needed by the projects.
• Actively expand project opportunities based on ongoing engagement.

 

3) Stakeholder management 

• Coordinate outreach to various stakeholders for inputs on the 
• global Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance (CDRFI) agenda 
• including the Global Shield against Climate Risk.
• Maintain communication with key MCII stakeholders.

 

4) Event support

• Prepare the agenda, timelines and required documents to support the successful management of events. 
• Manage logistics and provide on-site support during field-missions and conference engagements.
• Represent the organization at relevant expert meetings, and conferences as needed.

 

5) Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely and quality implementation and delivery of project activities.
• Timely and quality development of relevant research material.
• Quality and level of engagement with partners.
• UNU is seen as a reliable and trustworthy partner by research partners.

 

Qualifications

Values:

• Inclusion – Take action to create an environment of dignity and 
• respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, 
• gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, 
• nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual
• orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity.
• Integrity
• – Act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United 
• Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or
• unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards.
• Humility – Demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others.
• Humanity – Act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.

 

Behaviours:

• Connect and Collaborate – Build positive relationships with 
• others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as 
• One UN
• Analyse and Plan – Seek out and use data from a wide 
• range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose
• evidence-based solutions and plan action
• Deliver Results with 
• Positive Impact – Hold oneself and others accountable for delivering 
• results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that 
• the United Nations serves
• Learn and Develop – Pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others
• Adapt and Innovate – Demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways

Qualifications

1) Education and certification

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in 

economics, disaster risk management, political science or other 

relevant academic studies.

 

2) Required skills and experience

Required:

• Excellent analytical skills and first experience on relevant topics;
• A minimum of 1 year of relevant working experience;
• Proven ability to structure work processes and successfully deliver project results;
• Background
• or experience on climate risk management, disaster risk financing, 
• climate change adaptation; loss and damage; and/or climate risk 
• insurance topics;
• Fast-paced individual, initiative seeker 
• with a strong hands-on attitude who brings practical thinking towards 
• achieving results;
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Strong
• team player with strong interpersonal skills committed to working in a
• multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect
• for diversity;

 

Desired:

• Work experience / knowledge of: UNFCCC-related processes, 
• including loss and damage; climate vulnerable countries / ministries;
• Experience in project management and stakeholder interaction;
• Demonstrated critical thinker with a strong interest to provide social innovation in the frame of MCII’s mission;
• Track-record
• of demonstrated abilities in public speech, including clear and 
• effective communication and presentation skills;
• Existing 
• professional networks consisting of contacts to academic partners, 
• disaster risk management organizations, relevant development actors 
• and/or UN organizations.
• This position requires the candidate to travel as needed by the project work-plan;

 

3) Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN official working language, especially French and Spanish, is an asset.

 

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under an national PSA 

contract. UNU offers an attractive compensation package including an 

annual net salary, commensurate with the experience and qualifications 

of the candidate. Benefits include 30 days annual leave and a health 

insurance scheme.

UNU is not liable for any taxes that may be levied on the 

remuneration you receive under this contract. Payment of any such taxes 

remains the sole responsibility of PSA holders. 

 

 

Duration of contract

 

The duration of the initial contract is 1 year. This is Personnel 

Service Agreement (PSA) contract with UNU, with the possibility for 

renewal subject to requirements and satisfactory work performance. The 

combined duration on a PSA contract with UNU may not exceed six (6) 

years. The mandatory age of retirement for PSA holders is 65 years.

 

This post is open to applicants from all countries and UNU will aid 

the successful applicant in securing a work visa for Germany, as 

necessary. 

It is, however, a locally recruited post and no relocation allowances apply. The duty station will be Bonn, Germany.

Application instructions

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