Description

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Office/Unit/Project Description

Working in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries/territories achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan emphasizes the critical links between environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and broader efforts to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement. Climate change could drive an additional 100 million people into poverty by 2030. One of its key priorities for the next 10 years is to support countries/territories accelerate ambitious action on climate change. Climate change is the single greatest challenge humanity has ever faced, threatening water and food security, health, livelihoods, and the safety of billions of people together with drastic negative impact on global ecosystem balance. UNDP’s ambitious “Climate Promise” supports over 120 countries/territories to enhance their climate ambitions under the Paris Agreement, with focus on greater emissions reduction and resilience building. The second phase of the Climate Promise, launched in 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow, focuses on NDC implementation, climate advocacy, and long-term planning to ensure inclusive climate action at the speed and scale required to keep global temperature below 1.5°C. The Climate Promise Portfolio provides direct financial and technical support to countries on NDC implementation in the context of national development priorities and is comprised of several distinct projects/programmes that require dedicated support. Complementary to this portfolio is UNDPs National Adaptation Plans support which is active is 50+ countries and supports the further elaboration and implementation of adaptation priorities.

The Climate Promise also supports countries to access to the Green Climate Fund Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme. This programme aims to support country-driven initiatives by developing countries to strengthen their institutional capacities, governance mechanisms, and planning and programming frameworks towards a transformational long-term climate action agenda. Under the GCF readiness window, working under the umbrella of the climate change adaptation sub-team and its associated partnerships, UNDP supports countries to advance their National Adaptation Plans processes.

Under the Readiness funding window, the GCF grants finance for (1) building the institutional capacities of the National Designated Authorities (NDAs) to the GCF, develop GCF Country Programmes through stakeholder consultations at the national level (including with the private sector and civil society), support direct access entities in their accreditation process, and accelerate access to GCF finance; and (2) for the development and implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). This work contributes to the mainstreaming of adaptation in planning and budgeting systems and overall whole of government/whole of society approaches to risk informed development.

The UNDP Country Offices directly implement the projects’ activities, with guidance and leadership of the NDAs. Senior Technical Advisors of the GCF Readiness Programme and NAPs provide targeted technical and management oversight and interface with the GCF, for this portfolio.

UNDP is seeking a TechnicalSspecialist to provide thematic and policy oversight to the GCF Readiness and National Adaptation Plans portfolios.
Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will work closely with the GCF Readiness and NAPs Programme Analyst to provide substantive quality control and oversee proposal design, submission and review, as well as project cycle milestones to a selected set of countries under the GCF Readiness and National Adaptation Plans portfolios.

Quality assurance of implementation milestones and reporting:

Guide countries on reporting against the new GCF readiness results framework for NDA strengthening and National Adaptation Plans
Monitor and update risk logs and risk assessments and SESP related commitments and coordinate with country offices.
Provide guidance to country offices during inception as well as PMU set up, and on monitoring both delivery and results throughout the project cycle.
Compile, review, and submit bi-annual GCF Readiness Portfolio and NAP reports Provide targeted technical support and reviews to countries’ products/deliverables.
In coordination with the GCF Readiness and NAP Programme Analyst, review annual work plan design, extension requests, review budget revisions, and liaise with UNDP’s Vertical Fund Programme Support and Compliance to respond to ad hoc requests/policy updates from GCF.
Facilitate the identification and sourcing of technical expertise and support, including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts, and support the lessons learned and evaluation exercises envisaged in the project documents as well as review management responses;
Develop and advocate for specific policy analysis and development tools and guidance in support of programming and finance for climate change adaptation, including from both public and private sources;
Contribute programme/project and portfolio information to corporate information systems on for projects under implementation.

Quality control of design

Advise governments and discuss with National Designated Authorities to the GCF and UNFCCC focal points and country offices on stock-taking exercises, policy scans and other areas linked to climate finance/NDCs and NAPs, to prepare GCF readiness and NAP proposals under the new Results Framework of GCF.
Guide countries on the UNDP SOPs for new GCF readiness proposals and GCF NAPs proposals within the parameters of the UNDP POPP as well as UNDP-GCF legal framework agreement on readiness and preparatory support.
Work with country offices to apply SOPs for new NAP and GCF readiness requests including application of Pre-Investment Screening Criteria and SESPs requirements and prepare terms of reference for inputs needed in the design process, including of consultants and consultations required.
Advise country offices to source appropriate expertise for GCF readiness and NAP proposal development and orient proposal developers to the standards require for quality assurance as appropriate within the different scopes of the NDA strengthening and NAPs.Lead and conduct quality assurance and complete technical clearance requirements of proposals under development from early drafts, to revisions and submissions needed during the design process. Address all queries raised during the review process in coordination with the Vertical Fund Programme Support and Compliance.
Work with the Programme Assistants and UNDP country office and advise on guidelines for developing budgets for both NDA strengthening and NAP project proposals and review budget alignment with programmatic log-frames and advise on changes and modifications needed.

Proposal development

On an annual basis take individual charge of undertake the drafting of one NAP readiness proposal with budgets from start to finish in coordination with country offices

Institutional Arrangement

The Specialist will report to, and be directly supervised by, the Senior Technical Advisor (STA) on Adaptation Planning for National Adaptation Plans and STA for GCF Readiness;
Given the consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the Specialist is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones;
The Specialist will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
The Specialist will be responsible for providing her/his own working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection;
The Specialist will engage regularly with the supervisor by email and Skype on a weekly and/or as needed daily basis;
The Specialist shall submit to the Supervisor a monthly progress report on the status of the implementation of tasks.

Competencies
Core
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

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Thematic Area Name Definition
2030 Agenda: Planet Nature, Climate and Energy

Climate Change Policies: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)

Business Management Customer Satisfaction/Client Management

Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs.
Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests.
Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Management Project management

Ability to plan, organise, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management

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

Business Management

Portfolio Management

Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business as usual, while optimizing return on investment

Business Management Monitoring

Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results, including support at the webinars and official events

Partnership management Relationship management

Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Required Skills and Experience
Min. Academic Education Master’s degree in international development or economics, environmental/climate change policy, or natural resource management
Min. years of relevant Work experience At least 5 years of relevant work experience in climate change policy, negotiations, or climate finance, or climate change adaptation.
Required skills and competencies

Skills

At least 5 years of demonstrated experience on climate change policy and planning, climate and environment funds and/or global negotiations
At least 5 years of project design, project management, and/or results-based monitoring and evaluation, related to development, environment, or climate change projects.

Desired additional skills and competencies

Experience providing advisory services to developing countries’ governments or experience in public sector institutional capacity building
Experience with the Green Climate Fund, GCF Readiness or other vertical fund programmes
Working experience in an international organization is an advantage, as is knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices
Working knowledge of French or Spanish is desirable

Required Language(s) (at working level) Excellent oral and written communication skills in English