Nations – UN-Secretariat

Junior Professional Officer Program (JPO) Chiffre Nr. 2025-2-30

TERMS OF REFERENCE

I. General Information

Title: JPO in Climate Change

Sector of Assignment: Climate Change

Organization/Office: United Nations / Deputy SRSG/Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Office (RC/HC), Development Support Office (DSO)/ United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)

Country and Duty Station: Baghdad, Iraq

Duration of assignment: 2 years with possibility of extension for another year. The extension of appointment is subject to yearly review concerning priorities, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance

Please note that for participants of the JPO-Programme two years work experience are mandatory! Relevant work experience can be counted. In order to assess the eligibility of the candidates, we review the relevant experience acquired after obtaining the first university degree (usually bachelor’s degree).

II. Supervision

Title of Supervisor:

Head of Integrated Office

Content and methodology of supervision:

Establishment of a Work Plan: During the first month of the assignment, the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) will work jointly with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed upon work plan. The final work plan will be discussed and mutually agreed to by the JPO and his/her supervisor.

Evaluation: The United Nations Performance Evaluation System (e-performance) will serve as a primary platform to evaluate of the JPO’s performance.

III. Duties, Responsibilities and Output Expectations

Within delegated authority, the Junior Professional Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Plans, facilitates and consolidates evidence-based climate change analysis in support of a shared understanding by the UNCT of sustainable development trends, challenges and opportunities in Iraq.
• Researches, analyzes, consolidates and presents climate change data, paying special attention to gender and capacity development, and proposes policy options to the RC
• Identifies and analyzes issues that impact the environment and have the potential to accelerate progress towards sustainable development across multiple areas.
• Assesses and highlights environmental trade-offs and risk factors, as well as early-warning indicators that may undermine the achievement of SDG targets and impact the UN’s role and programme in the country.
• Collects and analyzes data on UN country level operations in support of environmental progress, identifies gaps and proposes follow-up actions.
• Contributes to the preparation of UN flagship reports, including the analysis of data.
• Contributes to the Government’s National Development Plan on implementation.
• Monitors regional and global environmental trends and issues, analyzes their implications for the realization of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and recommends additional issues for consideration.
• Provides substantive advice on environmental policies to the UNCT through the Resident Coordinator.
• Coordinates substantive support to the RC on environmental issues, particularly on policies to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs and evaluates and highlights potential trade-offs between SDGs.
• Coordinates with UNCT on cross-pillar nexus approaches in country to the realization of SDG goals in line with the 2030 Agenda.
• Coordinates with UNAMI on approaches in country to policy, analysis and assessment.
• Liaises and coordinates with UNAMI, PWG 4, the Water Task Force, and UN agencies, in particular UNDP and UNEP.
• Coordinates Water Advisory Council with UN and Government.
• Plans, facilitates and contributes to local, regional and global communities of practice and knowledge networks and promotes collaboration, peer support, innovation good practices, lessons learned, needs, and opportunities in the area of environmentally sustainable development.
• Tracks, researches, analyzes and presents best practices and lessons learned from implementation of UNCT projects and programs, with a view to advising the RC on actions to strengthen the policy orientation of the UNCT and UNAMI.
• Monitors and analyzes best practices and successful privatization models implemented by the UN to strengthen UN’s advise capacity to the Government.
• Provides advice on global/corporate guidelines, tools and other materials related to environmental policy.
• Provides support including secretariat to the PWG 4 for Promoting Natural Resource and Disaster Risk Management, and Climate Change Resilience.

IV. Qualifications and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in environmental affairs, climate risk management, sustainable development, public policy, business or public administration, social sciences, education or related area.

Work experience:

A minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience in environmental affairs or project/programme management in the context of development cooperation or related area is required.

Languages:

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage..

UN competencies:

PROFESSIONALISM: 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; Ability to apply environmental theories, concepts and approaches to the context of Iraq. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic resources on the internet, intranet and other databases.

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; 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 & 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.

CREATIVITY: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Workforce Diversity

The United Nations believes that an inclusive culture attracts the best talent and encourages all qualified applicants, regardless of gender, disability, sexual orientation, cultural or religious backgrounds, to apply.

V. Learning Elements

On completion of the assignment, the JPO will have/be able to…

• Undertake policy-based research with particular expertise on research related to climate change.
• Prepare progress reports for the UNCT PWG 4 including documentation of lessons learnt and expand skills for information management and dissemination.
• Assist in the undertaking of public advocacy and representational activities for wide audiences.
• Maintain good communication networks across the UNCT, and different departments and substantive areas in UNAMI.

 VI. Background Information

On 5 September, the UN Country Team, represented by the Resident Coordinator, signed the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) jointly with the Government of Iraq. The UNSDCF has five priority working groups. The incumbent would work on Priority Working Group Four (PWG 4) on Climate and Environment. The position is located in the United Nations Resident Coordination Office  and Humanitarian Coordinator office in Baghdad, Iraq and reports directly to the Head of Integrated Office with direct reporting to the DSRSG RC HC as well. On 20 August 2024, the Government of Iraq launch its National Development Plan which includes a key priority on climate and environment. The draft UNSDCF 2025-2029 incorporates the NDC and a pillar on climate and SDGs.

Bitte senden Sie Ihre JPO-Bewerbung direkt an das Büro Führungskräfte zu Internationalen Organisationen (BFIO) unter Angabe der Chiffre Nr. 2025-2-30 auf dem Bewerbungsbogen

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