Job Opening
Job Opening ID: 225522
Job Network : Economic, Social and Development
Job Family : Environmental Affairs
Category and Level : Consultants, CON
Duty Station : PARIS
Department/Office : United Nations Environment Programme
Date Posted : Jan 20, 2024
Deadline : Jan 26, 2024

Result of Service
The main objective of the consultancy is 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.

The consultant’s role encompasses the following responsibilities:
1. Identifying opportunities to secure additional funding for supplementary add-on project activities at the global level, whenever possible, from francophone donors and others as relevant.
2. Assisting in the coordination of global and regional events (such as UNEA-6, regional climate weeks and COP 29) as well as steering committee meetings, as required, and in close collaboration with the Project Manager.
3. Aiding the UNEP global core team, along with UNEP’s National Project Coordinators in Sub-Saharan Africa (IKI NDC Action partner countries of Ghana, Uganda and other countries as relevant that may send requests to the NDC P) and the project teams in these partner countries, in effectively coordinating project activities, and for taking an active role in the joint UNEP / UNEP-CCC / Deloitte Maroc team to further support related to Morocco’s National Low Carbon Strategy 2050.
4. Performing a comprehensive literature review on technological innovations relevant to priority sector interventions across partner countries of the NDC Action project.
5. Taking part in the arrangement of project workshops and/or webinars centered around NDC implementation in Africa.
6. Supporting the NDC Action Project’s adaptation finance work stream as necessary.
7. Assisting in the development of policy briefs, studies, concept notes, and/or technical analyses, as and when the need arises.
8. Providing administrative assistance to the project management when required, including tasks like preparing terms of reference (TORs), contracts and routing slips.
9. Exploring and/or supporting new areas of support and groups to engage further (e.g. private sector, youth) for increased ownership of NDCs and their faster implementation, and increased integration of NAPs, NDCs, LT-LEDS and national climate strategies and sectoral roadmaps.
Work Location
home based
Expected duration
10 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 Copenhagen Climate Center (“UNEP-CCC”) – 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 BMWK/Germany, the project was recently awarded additional funding from that program through a project cost-extension, as well as from several donors, including the World Resource Institute (WRI) and UNOPS that are hosting NDC Partnership (NDC-P)’s dedicated assistance funds, 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 alignment with the new delivery model. In addition, the team serves as liaison between UNEP and the NDC-P for coordinating responses by UNEP teams to countries’ requests shared by NDC-P, apply for additional funding where relevant, and consolidate implementation reporting, as well as with related projects of the IKI Programme.
Qualifications/special skills
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

An advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Climate Change/Environmental Studies, Engineering, International Development, or related studies (required)

WORK EXPERIENCES:

• At least three-years-combined full-time and part-time, paid or unpaid- professional experience with relevance to energy, climate change, sustainable development, support to environment/development projects, and/or working with/in developing countries; (required)
• Proven hands-on knowledge of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) support, and/or any other topic closely related to the implementation of the Paris Agreement; (required)
• Familiarity with project management support, such as organising (virtual) workshops and stakeholder consultations, drafting briefings notes, developing and/or revising project documents and concepts; (required)
• Experience working with/in developing countries (ideally incl. Morocco and SSA Countries); (required)
• Experience working with/for the UN, Regional Organisations and Civil Society Organisations (e.g. gender, disadvantaged groups, or Youth Organisation) (required);
• Experience working with climate and development stakeholders from partner countries and if possible, the donor government institutions, national development agencies, international organizations, and technical partners; (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 (desirable)

SKILLS:

PROFESSIONALISM:
● Has a solid commitment to the national and global goals of climate change, per the Paris Agreement.
● Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to climate change mitigation and adaptation planning.
● Ability to identify, analyze and participate in resolving issues/problems. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work, and manage conflicting priorities.
● 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 complex 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 per 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 consistent with agreed strategies.
● Identifies priority activities and assignments.
● Adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate 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.
Languages
Fluency in spoken and written English and French is required. (Some) knowledge of Spanish would be an asset for peer-learning and exchange with partner countries in Latin America