Programme Technical Specialist for Climate Change and Energy

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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.

The UNDP Multi-Country Office (MCO) current support to the Government of Mauritius in the energy sector includes several on-going and pipeline projects, which are in line with the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement to reduce GHG emissions by 40% and increase the share of renewable energy to 60% in the national energy mix by 2030. 

The UNDP MCO consists of a diverse portfolio worth USD 65 million including GCF, GEF, Adaptation Fund, EU, Japan Supplementary Budget, and UNDP TRAC 2 projects. Key projects currently under implementation include ‘Accelerating the Transformational Shift to a Low Carbon Economy’ funded by the GCF and ‘Promoting Low Carbon Electric Public Bus Transport in Mauritius’ funded by the GEF. The energy efficiency project ‘Realizing Energy Savings and Climate Benefits of Implementing Mandatory Energy Auditing in the Republic of Mauritius’ is expected to initiate implementation shortly.

Scope of Work:

The UNDP MCO for Mauritius and Seychelles is seeking to recruit a Programme Technical Specialist for Climate Change and Energy with a strong technical background in climate and energy, and climate finance and project management for immediate placement at the Mauritius Country Office (CO). 

The Programme Technical Specialist for Climate Change and Energy is primarily responsible for providing overall technical backstopping and oversight support in climate change and energy to the Environment Unit, policy, and programming for the climate and energy portfolio of UNDP MCO for Mauritius, for the GCF and GEF energy portfolio. 

The Programme Technical Specialist for Climate Change and Energy will also facilitate in ensuring coherence and synergies in the climate and energy programming of the UNDP MCO, for the articulation of the GCF project ‘Accelerating the Transformational Shift to a Low Carbon Economy’ with other climate and energy initiatives. Under the direction of the Environment Team Leader, s/he will work with other UN agencies, development agencies, governments and inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, donors, the private sector, and other stakeholders. 

The UNDP MCO for Mauritius and Seychelles is seeking to recruit a Programme Technical Specialist for Climate Change and Energy with a strong technical background in climate and energy, and climate finance and project management for immediate placement at the Mauritius Country Office (CO). 

The Programme Technical Specialist for Climate Change and Energy will be responsible for the following:

1. Ensure effective strategic direction of the Environment Unit on Climate change and Energy areas:

• Contribute to defining the strategic direction of the Environment Unit on climate change and energy, with a focus on building synergies with the GCF and GEF portfolio.

The Programme Technical Specialist for Climate Change and Energy will work under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and the direct supervision of the Team Leader of the Environment Unit. S/he will also work closely with the Climate Change Mitigation Regional Technical Advisor through the Team Leader of the Environment Unit in line with the VF oversight and accountability framework.

Competencies

Core Competencies

• 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 inclusivity.

People Management

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-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.
• Entrepreneurial Thinking
  • Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client needs based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate.

Business Management

• Partnerships Management 
  • Ability to 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 policies.
• Communication
  • Ability to 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.

Partnership Management

• Resource Management
  • Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.

2030 Agenda Planet

• Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery
  • Disaster and Climate Risk Governance.
• Nature, Climate and Energy
  • Climate Change Adaptation: strategies

Requirements:

Min. Education requirements:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Energy, Engineering, Climate Change, Finance, Environment economics or related field is required OR;
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields of study, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Minimum of five (5) years (with master’s degree) or seven (7) years (with bachelor’s degree) in the design of programmes / projects on climate change, energy efficiency and renewable energy, and/or assessment of investment projects involving low-carbon technologies, climate finance and others is required;
• At least three (3) years of experience in managing or providing technical assistance to nationally (Mauritius) or internationally funded projects/programmes (UNDP and/or international organizations/UN agencies/MDBs/DFIs) is required.

Required skills:

• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Experience in overseeing the implementation of climate change, energy, and sustainable transportation projects including estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions is highly desirable;
• Experience in development projects with public institutions is an asset.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English (both written and oral), and Mauritian Creole is required;
• Working knowledge of French (both written and oral) is desired.

Disclaimer

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: 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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