National Climate Change Technical Specialist

  • Full Time
  • Kathmandu
  • Applications have closed

Website UNCDF

National Climate Change Technical Specialist

Job Identification: 13656
Locations: Kathmandu, Nepal
Job Schedule: Full time
Agency: UNCDF
Grade: NPSA-10
Vacancy Type: National Personnel Service Agreement
Practice Area: Nature, Climate and Energy
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific
Contract Duration: 1 Year with Possibility for extension
Education & Work Experience: Master’s Degree – 5 year(s) experience OR Bachelor’s Degree – 7 year(s) experience
Required Languages: English and Nepali
Vacancy Timeline: 2 Weeks

Job 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.

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.

The Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) is a mechanism to integrate climate change into local authorities’ planning and budgeting through the regular intergovernmental fiscal transfer system using performance-based grants in a participatory and gender sensitive manner, increase awareness and capacities to respond to climate change at the local level including through ecosystem-based solutions, and increase the quality and number of local investments that address climate change. LoCAL combines performance-based climate resilience grants (PBCRGs), which ensure programming and verification of change expenditures at the local level, with technical and capacity-building support. It uses the grants and demonstration effect to trigger further flows for local climate action including global climate finance and national fiscal transfers. LoCAL also aims to support private finance for small and medium businesses and municipal finance and public-private partnerships. LoCAL is currently active in 17 countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, with another 17 countries preparing to join (at the design stage).

In Nepal, UNCDF is preparing the LoCAL mechanism for initial piloting. The detailed design of the Performance Based Climate Resilient Mechanism for Nepal, will be established during the initial inception phase while institutionalizing LoCAL-compliant (ISO 14093) for local governments. LoCAL’s methodology channels funds through the central government to reach the local level while providing incentives for LGs to mainstream climate-adaptive thinking into everyday planning and investment, thereby encouraging systematic analysis of changing weather patterns and their impacts on local communities and economies. LoCAL aims to contribute to the implementation of Climate Change Policy in Nepal, and vertically integrate the NDCs and the National Adaptation Plan of Action.

Within this programme context, UNCDF is seeking a National Climate Change Technical Specialist, NPSA to contribute to the effective delivery of the Programme’s activities in Nepal.

The National Climate Change Technical Specialist will provide policy, regulatory and technical advice to the national counterparts, and to pilot municipalities in relation to the LoCAL programme activities, with a focus on the integration of climate change and environmental sustainability into public planning and budgeting systems at sub-national level.

The National – Climate Change Technical Specialist will also be responsible for providing technical, policy, and programme implementation support and oversight, and knowledge and capacity development services for the effective deployment of LoCAL programmatic activities, for providing operational support to the LoCAL Facility, and is also expected to contribute to LoCAL’s resource mobilization activities on an ongoing basis.

  • Programme management and implementation (30%)
  • Policy outreach, partnership building and resource mobilization (25%)
  • Policy, regulatory and technical advice to government counterparts and key stakeholders (25%)
  • Coordination with government counterparts, UN system and development partners (10%)
  • Knowledge management and communication (10%)

Duties and Responsibilities

The National Climate Change Technical Specialist reports to the LoCAL Global Programme Manager, P-5, based in Kampala, Uganda and works in close collaboration with other LTF and LoCAL colleagues in the regional office/HQ based and in country and across the region. This position will be based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Programme management and implementation (30%)

  • Oversee the day-to-day implementation of selected LoCAL activities, with a focus on climate change and environmental sustainability;
  • Lead delivery and achievement of objectives by working with and supporting implementing partners’ project related activities;
  • Ensure the integrity of LoCAL Annual Work Plan, budget, financial resources, review of budget requirements, delivery and the consistent application or rules and regulations;
  • Provide effective programme and project design, supervision, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting and completion of assigned LoCAL activities, in close collaboration with MoFE and related stakeholders, with the UNRCO, the LoCAL
  • Facility Manager and the LoCAL Facility (global);
  • Contribute to the management of the risk log of the project;
  • Support identification and sourcing of technical expertise, including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports.
  • Contribute to the preparation and timely submission of comprehensive and quality technical and financial reports in line with contractual agreements, including semi-annual reporting;
  • Ensuring the timely and effective management of the activities as scheduled.

Outreach, partnership building and resource mobilization (25%)

  • Develop strategies to mobilize additional resources based on programme requirements and new opportunities;
  • Maintain close working relationships with key national and subnational institutions and other key stakeholders at various levels in order to support the quality of the execution of the PBCRGs and its key results areas;
  • Support negotiations on co-operation with UNDP, the UN system, Government, bilateral development agencies, and other technical partners to identify and develop synergies with relevant in-country projects and technical partnerships for LoCAL with a focus on policy and capacity development for climate change mainstreaming and climate finance;
  • Build effective and efficient partnerships at the operational level with national counterparts and financial and technical partners;
  • Organize consultative meetings, seminars and workshops to drive analytical and policy work of the Programme.

Policy, regulatory and technical advice to government counterparts and key stakeholders (25%)

  • Ensure adequate provision of technical, policy and regulatory assistance and advice to federal and subnational governments in the field of public financial management, good governance, decentralization, adaptation planning/programming, climate finance, climate change issues and environmental sustainability, climate change mainstreaming into planning, budgeting, investment plans, implementation, and monitoring of adaptation measures (performance assessments);
  • Provide technical advice and capacity building support (“learning by doing”) for the piloting and establishment of a local information system for adaptation and of a climate risk assessments for subnational adaptation (including projections and mapping) addressing hazards, vulnerabilities and exposure of local governments in relation to climate change including desk review, data collection, preliminary design of the system, analytical writing, piloting, consultation and validation and gradual deployment of the local climate information system;
  • Support the strengthening of capacities, institutions and systems with a focus on local level adaptation mainstreaming and the strengthening of public financial management systems for climate change (e.g. by facilitating and undertaking capacity needs assessments; the development of capacity building programmes; the organization of training workshops; and on-the-job learning);
  • Maintain close working relationships with the Ministry of Forest and Environment, the Ministry of Federal Affaris and General Administration, Ministry of Finance and the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission, UNFCCC focal points and other key stakeholders at various levels in order to support the quality of the execution of the PBCRGs system and its key results areas, to expand the mechanism in Nepal, in close coordination with senior management and other team members;
  • Strengthen the quality of the monitoring and evaluation and reporting of LoCAL in line with ACCAF the standards and requirements of the ‘Assessing Climate Change Adaptation Framework’ (e.g. preparation and;monitoring of the annual work plan, organization and participation in M&E field missions, proposing corrective measures, contribution to the preparation of annual reports);
  • Provide technical advice and capacity building support (“learning by doing”) for the integration of environment and climate change issues in the local government development and investment plans and budgets that foster job creation, gender equality and green and climate resilient local economies;
  • Provide technical advice and capacity building support for the adequate integration and costing of environment and climate considerations (e.g. specifications, cost estimations, etc) in the investments delivered in the context of the Programme;
  • Lead the technical dialogue and provision of policy and technical advisory services to national and local government counterparts in relation to climate change information and assessments, climate mainstreaming, climate finance and (direct) access to international climate finance (e.g. through development of GCF funding proposals).

Coordination with government counterparts, UN system and development partners (10%)

  • Serve as the UNCDF focal point in working groups and steering committees on the issue of environment and climate change and related sectors and provide inputs for conducive policy and regulatory environment;
  • Manage UNCDF’s commitments within the UNDAF Results Matrix, ensures effective application of results -based management tools, monitors initiative work plans, programme effectiveness and achievement of results;
  • Coordinates and provides substantive contributions from UNCDF on LoCAL mechanism in the CCA and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), promotes thematic and sectoral synergies and coordination of programme activities and execution with development partners in Nepal and any other assigned LoCAL country in the region;
  • Coordinate closely with development partners and UNRCO on LoCAL development and delivery, identifies approaches and modalities to achieve development targets by ensuring synergies and coordination between UNCDF LoCAL global programme and development partners in Nepal (or any other assigned LoCAL country), as well as provide technical, policy and programmatic advice to the UNRCO on relevant themes.

Knowledge management and communication (10%)

  • Identify key knowledge constraints and organize learning, knowledge exchange, training, workshops, etc. to build the awareness and capacities on relevant themes (i.e. climate change, local climate risk assessments, environmental sustainability, mainstreaming, in support of women and youth employment, etc.);
  • Contribute to the implementation of the Communication and Visibility Plan of the Programme, in collaboration with Programme team, partners and technical consultants;
  • Identify, collect and disseminate best practices and lesson learned from the Programme in areas of specialty;
  • Manage the process of convening national and regional stakeholders to share lessons learned on selected themes.

Additional information on LoCAL can be found here https://www.uncdf.org/local/homepage

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

External Relations & Advocacy
Communication

  • Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change

Partnership

  • Strategic engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives

2030 Agenda – Engagement and Effectiveness
2030 Agenda: Planet

  • Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery: Climate Risk Management Disaster and Climate Risk Governance
  • Nature, Climate and Energy: Climate Change Policies: Climate Finance

Cross Functional Competency
Business Management

  • Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
  • Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Business Direction & 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

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental science and management, climate science, geographic studies, international development, economics, statistics, or a related field is required
  • A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in environmental science and management, climate science, geographic studies, international development, economics, statistics, or a related field in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

Experience:

  • A minimum of five (5) years (with Master´s degree) or seven (7) years (with Bachelor´s degree) of experience in implementing/coordinating development projects in the field of climate change and/or environmental sustainability and decentralization issues
  • Good knowledge of the system of federal, provincial and local governments in Nepal and its framework;
  • Proven ability to work with different tiers of government, federal government institutions/ministries, local governments, local stakeholders, and local communities
  • Knowledge of climate change issues and its potential impacts on local economic development, particularly for the most vulnerable is required
  • Proven track record in addressing gender equality as project objective and/or cross-cutting issue would be an asset
  • Strong networking capabilities and ability to associate him/herself with a range of actors (inter alia federal and subnational governments; CSOs, NGOs, policy makers; national statistics office and donors, and local communities) with a view to building relations and facilitating links
  • At least three (3) years of work experience in decentralization and local government, particularly in Nepal is highly desirable
  • At least three (3) years managerial /professional level work experience
  • Experience working on policy, regulatory and technical advisory services with national and subnational stakeholders is highly desirable
  • At least three (3) years’ of work experience related to performance-based grants and/or similar instruments such as budget support and/or local economic development is desirable
  • Knowledge of current developments in local economic development for the most vulnerable (women and youth) is desired
  • Experience with a UN organization/agency is desirable
  • Knowledge or experience in the context of developing solutions on climate action on adapting to climate change and building resilience in Nepal is highly desirable
  • Experience with UN Procurement Processes is desirable

Required Languages:

  • Fluency in spoken and written English and Nepali

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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Apply Before: 09/28/2023, 11:59 PM

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