Technical Analyst – Environmental and Climate Change

Office/Unit/Project Description 

The United Nations Development Programme works in about 170 countries and territories, helping Governments achieve their own development solutions to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion.

On October 21, 1974, the United Nations Development Programme and the Government of Barbados entered into an agreement to “support and supplement the national efforts of developing countries at solving the most important problems of their economic development and to promote social progress and better standards of life.”

Subsequently, similar agreements were entered with Governments of the ten countries and territories that the UNDP Multi-Country Office (MCO) for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean serves: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The overall aim of EUROCLIMA actions is to help increase the ambition of NDCs, support NDC implementation in relevant sectors and support the development of long-term strategies for decarbonization. This should be done – both at the stage of Country Dialogues and in the implementation of actions – in an efficient coordination with National Focal Points, sector Ministries and/or Departments, relevant institutions, the private sector and civil society, and respecting the leadership of the EUD on the bilateral policy dialogue. UNDP as one of the implementing agencies of the action, will contribute to the objectives, outputs and activities of the EUROCLIMA Caribbean programme being implemented in Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Belize.

Further Details on EUROCLIMA Latin America and the Caribbean can be found at https://europa.eu/capacity4dev/tei-jp-tracker/tei/green-transition-euroclima-latin-america-and-caribbean     

The UNDP MCO for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean is establishing a Project Unit under the NCE Cluster for the implementation of the Project described above.

Scope of Work

Under the overall guidance of the Cluster Head – Nature, Climate and Energy and in coordination with the UNDP Multi- Country Office (MCO) for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, the Technical Analyst (TA) will implement the agreed project activities and ensure that objectives are reached as set out in the project document. The TA will report directly to the Project Coordinator – EUROCLIMA and will be working in close partnership with the Country Partners throughout the Caribbean. The Environmental and Climate Change Analyst will also be required to work closely with other UNDP Country Offices in the region, other implementation agencies, EUROCLIMA PSU and the EU Barbados to implement activities. The TA will work to ensure an interdisciplinary approach to project implementation that maximizes sustainable development gains and minimizes negative environmental and social impacts, delivering results in a manner that is cost-effective, efficient, transparent and demonstrates the added value of the work to beneficiary countries. The Technical Analyst – Environmental and Climate Change will provide high quality technical support to project implementation.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Technical Support to Implementation
• Technical Support with dialogues and project development
• Technical Support reviewing documents, reports, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Action Plans etc.
• Support with Procurement and Contract Management including drafting TORs
• Support with Environmental and Social Standards
• Support with Communications, Stakeholder Engagement, and Partnerships

In the fulfilment of these key functions, the Technical Analyst – Environmental and Climate Change will undertake the following:

Technical Support to Implementation

• Support the Project Analyst in identifying and scoping technical support needs for the project,
• Conduct research, compile, and synthesize technical information on relevant topics, plans, NDCs to support project Implementation.
• Identify and monitor existing external communications channels on Climate Change, NDCs’, National and Sectoral Adaptation and Investment plans in the Caribbean, filter and synthesize key developments relevant to project implementation and communicate these to the Project Analyst.
• Provide technical review and feedback on project outputs, communications, consultancy deliverables and other documents as relevant.
• Coordinate as needed with technical experts contributing to project implementation.
• Scope and summarize existing environmental management frameworks relevant to the issue and the beneficiary countries.

Support with Project Management and Coordination

• Support overall coordination, including preparation of work plans and budgets, tracking activities and expenditure, and management of project resources, and the preparation of reports.
• Support project monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, including monitoring progress and results against planned timelines and the project results framework.
• Support the monitoring of risks to project implementation, including identification of any new risks and updates to the risk log.
• Support the Project Coordinator in liaising with the Project Support Unit and beneficiary country implementing partners, including reporting and information dissemination.
• Provide regular reports to the Project Coordinator and flag any deviations from the work plans immediately.

Support with Procurement and Contract Management

• Support with the procurement of services, goods and/or works as needed for project implementation, through the provision of input regarding environmental and social standards. This may involve providing input to or support with the development of procurement plans, procurement/tender documents, and evaluation processes. 
• Provide support for contract management functions, including budget and schedule tracking, coordination of contractor activities, review of outputs and reports, and performance appraisals.
• Support with Environmental and Social Standards
• Apply project environmental and social standards and broader UNDP policies that are relevant.
• Prepare and maintain summaries of relevant environmental and social policy frameworks in beneficiary countries.
• Support the effective integration of environmental and social standards into project implementation.
• Provide input to project planning documents and reports in the area of environmental and social standards.
• Review project outputs and consultancy deliverables and provide feedback on integration of environmental and social standards.
• Maintain records and provide input to project reporting for environmental and social standards.

Support with Communications, Stakeholder Engagement, and Partnerships

• Support the development of, and adaptive updates to, stakeholder engagement and communications strategy(ies) in alignment with the approved project document and approved work plans, and in collaboration with focal points from beneficiary countries.
• Support the development and maintenance of relationships with main counterparts within country in line with the stakeholder engagement plan.
• Contribute to the wide dissemination and visibility of project achievement and the communication strategy.
• Support mechanisms for exchange of information, experience and lessons learned at the local and national levels, knowledge codification.

Perform any other duties within the functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Institutional Arrangement

Reports to: The Project Analyst.

Competencies

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Education requirements  

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental science, Environmental Management, Natural Resource Management, Coastal Zone Management, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Management or other related/relevant field is required, or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in environmental science, Environmental Management, Natural Resource Management, Coastal Zone Management, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Management or other related/relevant field or equivalent field in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience         

Up to 2 years (with Master’s degree) or minimum 2 years (with Bachelor’s Degree) of relevant professional experience in the area(s) of Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Natural Resource Management, Disaster Risk Management, Coastal Zone Management, Climate Change.

Required skills             

Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, and capable of preparing well formatted documents and creating visually compelling presentations.

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

• Fundamental knowledge of Climate Change, Natural Resources Management and Environmental issues related to Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
• Demonstrated knowledge / experience working with the specific issue(s) being addressed by the project Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National and Sectoral Plans would be advantageous
• Experience with research and/or compiling and synthesizing technical information, demonstrated through academic research and/or relevant technical project experience
• Experience working in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is preferred
• Previous work experience in a UN common system or international/regional development organization would be advantageous.
• Experience working on the coordination/development and/or implementation of environmental projects and activities in the Caribbean region.
• Proven Experience coordinating activities with multiple Governments in the context of Climate Change, Natural Resource Management and Environmental related projects.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Experience writing and reviewing reports and technical documents
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent time management and organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Required Language(s)

Fluency in English (both written and oral) is required.

Disclaimer
 

Important applicant information

All posts in the NPSA categories are subject to local recruitment. Applicants are required to be in possession of legal authorization to work (e.g., CARICOM Skills National Certificate or work permit) in the duty station at the time of application. Please also note that such authorization must cover the period of the contract being advertised.

Applicants are solely responsible for any required travel and/or relocation costs.

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