Technical Expert – Timor Leste Project – Home based IICA 2, ICS-10

Background Information – UNEP

UN Environment is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global 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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.

Background Information – Job Specific

The project “Adapting to climate change and enabling sustainable land management through productive rural communities in Timor-Leste” is funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). The project will be implemented by UNEP and executed by the National Directorate of Climate Change (NDCC), Ministry of Tourism and Environment over 6 years. In this regard, UNEP is seeking to recruit a Technical Expert to provide technical guidance on the implementation of the project. The Technical Expert will report to the National Project Director and work closely with the Project Coordinator, Project Manager and in close collaboration with Task Manager, UNEP, in realizing the project objectives.

The proposed project advocates ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) as the preferred solution to the problem of climate change and unsustainable land management in the rural landscapes of Timor-Leste. This advocated approach includes the: i) improvement of national and sub-national adaptation planning; ii) restoration of ecosystems in water catchments; iii) development and implementation of agricultural management systems; iv) provision of water to rural communities; and v) expansion of a climate-smart agribusiness sector (through improved commodity production, access to value chains and markets and sustainability certification to encourage private sector investment).

This project aims to build the resilience of vulnerable communities in Timor-Leste to the impacts of climate change by implementing interventions that promote the adoption of climate-resilient sustainable land management (SLM) and water resource management (WRM) practices. These interventions will incorporate an Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approach and will be implemented at both the suco (village) level — on communal land — and the farm level, specifically targeting hotspots of land degradation and climate change vulnerability in Timor-Leste’s priority watersheds.

The project will be implemented through a multi-stakeholder approach and include government agencies, development partners, international research forums and relevant NGOs. Local-level EbA interventions will be analysed and lessons learned and best practices will be collated from monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) reports. The extracted information will be used to inform upscaling of the EbA model as well as enhance the national body of knowledge for climate change adaptation, specifically on land degradation neutrality (LDN) and sustainable land management (SLM). Limitations in the institutional and technical capacity of national agencies to plan for and respond to climate change impacts will be addressed by raising awareness, training Facility Management Groups (GMFs) and communities in the two watersheds on the implementation of Climate-Resilient Integrated Watershed Development Plans (CRIWDPs), developing national policies on LDN and EbA and building institutional and technical capacity. Moreover, knowledge and information about climate impacts within the Timor-Leste target areas will be gathered, documented and shared with a Cross-Sectoral Working Group (CSWG) which will propose policy revisions to incorporate: i) EbA and climate resilience; ii) LDN; and iii) agri-business development in support of poverty alleviation.

The Technical Expert will be home-based with travel to the country at least once a year. The Technical Expert will work closely with Project Management unit based in Dili, Timor Leste for developing, delivering and managing the portfolio of engagements in the country of the MCO location itself.

Technical Expert’s roles

“Technical Expert – Timor Leste Project” will provide technical assistance to member states and GAN partners on knowledge, awareness and dissemination of best practices on adaptation to climate change. The individual contractor will support UNEP with design and delivery of policy roundtables, sessions and trainings targeting member states and partners through regular contact with national counterparts and GAN regional nodes.

Functional Responsibilities

The Technical Expert will provide technical guidance and support to the implementation of the project, working in close collaboration with the National Project Director/DNCC, Project Manager and the UNEP Task Manager. S/he will be responsible for ensuring the availability of information on progress and performance to provide quality assurance of the project outputs and deliverables.

Key functions:

• Lead and provide technical supervision and advice and quality assurance
• Strategic policy advises and knowledge management
• Programme planning, implementation, M&E and reporting
• Technical capacity building and knowledge management
• Monitoring and promoting adaptation learning

1.Technical Backstopping

• Provide overall technical backstopping for the project to ensure the project outputs and deliverables are of good quality and in line with the project objectives.
• Provide advice on best suitable approaches and methodologies for the timely achievement of project targets and deliverables
• Assist the PC / PM in planning the implementation of project activities and adjusting the project results framework, work plan and budget as required and in line with the corporate requirement Draft or review as requested, ToRs, for technical consultancies and subcontracts and assist in the selection and recruitment process
• Undertake technical review and provide quality assurance of the project outputs (training manual, technical reports, studies, assessments, protocols, tools etc.) and field level interventions. Oversee and provide technical guidance of the work of National Consultants, District Project Coordinators in their respective domains in ensuring the quality and delivery of the tasks undertaken. Provide strategic guidance in the establishment of a technical working group on EbA including selection of research grants and topics for long term monitoring on EbA
• Assist in monitoring the technical quality of project M&E systems (including Multiyear plans, AWPs and targets)
• Assist staff and national consultants in the conduct of project reviews and evaluations and in revisions of the implementation strategy and work plan, based on review and evaluation results Make recommendations to PSC for more effective implementation and coordination of project activities

2. Monitoring & Learning support

• Help develop monitoring framework to measure progress against each of the targets and indicators in the RRF including change and adjustment in the baseline assessment study being undertaken Develop learning strategy for the project based on the current levels of awareness and
• understanding of EbA measures and approaches among stakeholder groups, interest areas and adaptation learning that the project could generate
• Team up with the PM in preparing the APR and PIR for submission to UNEP/GEF Provide inputs in knowledge management, training, communication and awareness raising of EbA issues at national and sub national level. Enable and support the appropriate dissemination of results and findings to policy makers at various levels.
• Support and facilitate for the development of strategic regional and international partnerships for the exchange of knowledge, skills and information related to climate change adaptation. Provide technical support in reviewing the existing policies and strategies to embrace EbA measures through the development of policy brief
• Develop an EbA up scaling strategy and financing plan based on the lessons learnt from this project.

Although this is a home-based position, the Technical Expert will allocate a certain amount of time within PMU including undertaking a certain number of field visits during the early stages of project implementation and monitoring. A total of 305 working days has been allocated for the entire project duration; the indicative allocated days will be split into yearly and quarterly plans.

The following outputs are anticipated during the tenure:

• Annual Programme review and work planning (preparation of MYP, AWPs and budgets) Refined project monitoring framework including changes and adjustments in the RRF targets and indicators based on the baseline assessment study.
• A policy brief on EbA including a project learning and knowledge management strategy An EbA up scaling strategy and financing plan based on the lessons learnt from the project Contributions for the write-up of the Project Implementation Report
• Selection of research topics and grants for long term monitoring
• Contributions to mid-term review, final evaluation missions including drafting of PCR Written reviews of the technical reports, tools and knowledge products developed by the project culminating to at least ten products
• Guidance, technical oversight towards the production of knowledge products such as policy briefs, training manuals, tools and protocols on EbA

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education:

• An advanced University Degree (Master’s or equivalent) or higher degree, preferably in natural resource management, biodiversity, climate change adaptation, ecosystem management, disaster risk reduction, environmental science, agriculture and water resources management, or related discipline.
• First-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in the above-mentioned fields with an additional two (2) years of relevant experience can be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5)years of experience in a senior technical and/or leadership position with planning and management of environmental/or natural resources management programmes, institutional strengthening, capacity building, providing technical support to climate change adaptation projects or related areas is required with a Master’s or higher degree.
• International working experience in the above field preferably from the South Asian region in the capacity of Technical Expert or Team Leader is a must.
• S/he must possess good analytical and report-writing skills in English.

Language Requirements:

• Full working knowledge (Fluency) in written and oral English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset

Contract type, level and duration

1. Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement (IICA)
2. Contract level: : ICS 10 / LICA 10 / IICA 2
3. Contract duration: Total of 305 working days for the entire project period. The initial contract will be issued until 31 Dec 2028, with possibility of extension until 31 Dec 2029.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Disclaimer: In duty stations where the NPO category has been established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), a Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA) must be issued for a home-based contract.