UNDP Jobs - 42226- Re-advertisement - Region based Technical Speciali

Re-advertisement - Region based Technical Specialist for Energy, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology

Location :

Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

03-Feb-2014

Application Deadline :

24-Jan-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 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.

Background

Those who previously applied need not apply again.

The UNDP Environment and Energy Group (EEG) is based in UNDP’s Bureau of Development Policy and is responsible for providing leadership and technical support to engineer delivery of the Environment and Sustainable Development pillar of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Its main focus is on helping countries develop the capacity to fully incorporate environmental sustainability into development at national and local, but also global and regional, levels. The principal areas of work are in environmental mainstreaming, environmental finance, adaptation to climate change, and local management of natural resources.

With its technical focus, the Environment and Energy Group (EEG) is organized into substantive technical teams with a Principal or Senior Technical Advisors (PTA/STA) being the team leader within each area. Each team leader supports and guides a team of Regional Technical Advisors (RTAs) and Specialists (RTSs). As well as being a member of a technical team, each RTA/RTS is also a member of a regional team, which consists of RTAs/RTSs from all technical teams working together under the leadership of a Regional Practice or Team Leader. The regional teams are based in regional service centres from where they support UNDP’s country offices and partners in their region.

The PTAs and RTAs are also responsible for providing detailed knowledge related to sources of funds for environment work, and assisting partners to obtain, use, and report on, such funding. Currently the main sources of funds include: the Global Environment Facility (GEF); the GEF managed Adaptation Funds (LDCF, SCCF); the UNFCCC Adaptation Fund; compliance and voluntary carbon markets; and various bilateral, multilateral, and sub-national donors and partners including country governments and the private sector.

The Regional Technical Specialist (RTS) works under the overall supervision of the Principal Techncial Advisor and in close collaboration with other technical specialists at both global and regional levels. RTSs have global responsibilities in their area of specialized technical expertise but are deployed from Regional Service Centres, normally close to the countries to which they provide most support. RTSs have a secondary line of reporting to the Regional Practice or Team Leaders for the countries to which they provide support. RTSs may be periodically redeployed, in accordance with capability, consent, and due process, to a different regional centre as needed.

The Regional Technical Specialist for Energy, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology will be initially based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with a policy and project portfolio emphasis on attracting and directing public and private investment towards catalyzing and supporting environmentally sustainable pathways for energy use and supply, climate resilient infrastructure and low carbon transport and mobility.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Regional Technical Specialist for Energy, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology is primarily responsible for providing technical, policy, and programming implementation support and oversight, and knowledge and capacity development services pertaining to the work of the Energy, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology signature activities to UNDP country offices, and works with other UN agencies, governments and inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, donors, the private sector and many others. Specific results are expected in the areas of:

Innovation, Strategic Leadership, Policy Dialogue and Advocacy:

Maintaining a strategic understanding of, and engagement with, the substantive technical issues, institutions, and processes within the region, including establishing contact and developing strategic partnerships with other agencies, donors, NGO’s, the private sector, scientific institutions and the like;
Contributing to, the development and implementation of UNDP’s global and regional strategies on environment and sustainable development;
Assisting the development of and advocacy for specific policy analysis and development tools and guidance in support of programming and finance for energy, infrastructure and transport;
Contribute to the development of strategic UNDP policy position papers and internal briefing notes;
Undertake policy analysis and develop technical tools and guidance;
Supporting the establishment of a trusted leadership role for UNDP GEF EITT within the region;
Keeping the Regional Team informed of trends and issues with respect to the substantive technical area;
Keeping the Principal Technical Advisors informed of trends and issues in the region.

Portfolio Management:

Maintaining programme/project and portfolio information and corporate information systems;
Identifying, and sourcing of technical expertise and support including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports.

Resource Mobilization:

Programme and project identification and development;
Providing timely quality information and technical advice on sources of funds, policies, priorities and activities;
Identifying and suggest to the PTA priorities and entry-points for UNDP assistance;
Support the process of preparation, design, submission and approval of programme/project concepts and full-fledged proposals for financing;
Identification and sourcing of technical expertise and support including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports;
Support the liaison with potential financing agencies and institutions.

Development Impact:

Assisting with inception, contracting and startup of programmes/projects including establishment of indicators, benchmarks and work plans;
Supporting UNDP country offices and programme/project implementation partners in supervision, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, preparing and reviewing annual work plans and reports, troubleshooting and adaptive management.

Learning, Knowledge Management and Self Development:

Supporting the synthesizing of lessons and stimulating the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of knowledge materials;
Peer reviewing, commenting on, and seeking to improve the technical quality of programmes/projects, policies, practices, guidelines, advisory notes, publications and the like;
Assisting with preparation of regional Community of Practice meetings;
Preparing and delivering training courses, as needed;
Developing and carrying out a personal learning plan.

Impact of Results

The results of the work of the Regional Technical Specialist impact on the standing and reputation of UNDP in all the countries of the region. Overall, the decisions taken by the Regional Technical Specialist also impact: the relations and credibility of UNDP with government (civil society and donors), programme success or failure, and the efficiency and effectiveness of resource allocations within UNDP. The Regional Technical Specialist has regular contact with Country Office and national counterparts in monitoring UNDP EITT programmes and projects. The Regional Technical Specialist makes recommendations to the UNDP Country Office on necessary courses of action in response to changes in the country context and new programme and resource mobilization opportunities. When requested, the Regional Technical Specialist represents UNDP in international and national fora, liaises with external clients and a broad range of constituencies and UNDP counterparts in the Government, local and international media, civil society as well as counterparts from other international organizations. The Regional Technical Specialist promotes good cooperation and coordination among programme and operations staff and between the Country Office and Government counterparts.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to contribute to strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting;
Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
Ability to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations;
Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships;
Demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities and demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner, but also as part of a team;
Demonstrated facilitation and coordination skills;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office;
Knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP.

Client Orientation:

Builds and maintains strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.

Technical:

Ability to advise on environmentally sustainable pathways for energy use and supply, climate resilient infrastructure and low carbon transport and mobility; and on the design and operation of energy systems in the residential, industrial, commercial and transport sectors, as well as in energy-integrated urban development planning and applications;
Ability to advise on the use of GHG management protocols and mitigation options;
Ability to advise on the design and implementation of RE-based energy systems both for thermal and power generation and applications in developing countries;
Ability to advise on how to access the carbon markets and use of existing compliance mechanisms, including methodologies;
Able to render policy advice on identifying, accessing, combining and sequencing different sources of environmental finance to meet country financing shortfalls in the arenas of low carbon energy options and climate change mitigation;
Ability to guide the design and implementation of multi-sectoral and sectoral programmes and projects at different scales; and
Ability to work with multiple stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree (or higher) in Engineering, Environmental Economics, Finance, Environmental Sciences or other closely related field; with main focus on energy management, energy systems, renewable energy, sustainable transport, civil engineering and/or climate change.

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years’ experience working with developing countries on one or more of the following: the design and implementation of RE-based energy systems both for thermal and power generation and applications; energy management, energy systems operations, in the residential, industrial, commercial and transport sectors, as well as in energy-integrated urban development planning and applications; carbon finance; urban transport;
Demonstrated experience with project development, implementation and management (direct project management experience is preferable);
Experience in the policy development processes in sustainable energy management, infrastructure development and transport;
Experience working in Africa, and in particular in West and Central Africa is essential;
Full computer literacy;
Working experience in an international organization is an advantage as is knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices.

Language Requirements:

Excellent knowledge of the English language, with exceptional writing, presentation and communication skills;
Excellent knowledge of French;
Proficiency in Portuguese is an asset.

UNDP Personal History form (P-11 required of all applicants at time of application):

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.