UNDP Jobs - 51427- Climate Change Policy Specialist

Climate Change Policy Specialist

Location :

Bangkok, THAILAND

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Feb-2015

Application Deadline :

18-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year (Renewable subject to good performance and availability of funds)

Languages Required :

English

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

Internal candidates who previously applied need not re-apply.

The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government and civil society dialogues, South-South and Triangular cooperation initiatives, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.

Within BPPS, UNDP’s democratic governance practice focuses on fostering inclusive participation, strengthening responsive governing institutions, and promoting democratic principles. Inclusive participation expands equal opportunities for engagement by the poor, women, youth, indigenous people, and other marginalized groups who are excluded from power. Efforts in this area aim to strengthen opportunities for civic engagement in the core channels linking people and the state, at the national, regional and local levels. Strengthening responsive governing institutions entails promoting the core channels of representation and accountability in the state at the national, regional and local levels. Responsive institutions mean that the state reflects and serves the needs, priorities, and interests of all people, including women, the poor, youth, and minorities. Supporting national partners to strengthen democratic practices grounded in human rights, anti-corruption and gender equality require UNDP leadership in promoting integration, coordination and information-sharing of policies, practices, and strategies strengthening democratic governance within and outside of the UN family.

As the UN system's development program and a GEF Implementing Agency since 1991, UNDP also supports countries in addressing development, climate, and ecosystem sustainability in an integrated manner. BPPS’s UNDP-GEF/Green, Low-emission, Climate-resilient Development Strategies team works to support countries to attract and direct public and private investment towards catalyzing and supporting sustainable economic growth through initiatives focused on integrated Climate Change Strategies, Advancing Cross-sectoral Climate Resilient Livelihoods and Strengthening Climate Information and Early Warning Systems for Climate Resilient Development. One key area of support is in the context of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, a key work-stream on adaptation in the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) under the Conference of Parties. The NAP process draws attention to the need for developing countries to mainstream climate change adaptation into existing planning and budgeting processes in order to identify, finance and implement appropriate medium- to long-term adaptation needs.

In Asia and the Pacific, UNDP is increasingly being requested to provide governance related services that support governments in articulating their response to climate change. These services include strengthening government’s institutional and administrative framework to be able to deliver integrated climate policy and programming within a range of sectors; strengthening government’s planning and budgeting processes to be able to account transparently for climate relate services; strengthening parliament and civil society’s roles in holding governments to account for their response to climate change and supporting local governments in integrating climate related services into their programming. There is also an increasing urgency to ensure that the needs, priorities, and interests of all people, including women, the poor, youth, and minorities and those particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts are included in the governance of a climate change response: in all stages of policy formulation, programme implementation and processes of accountability that determine a response to climate change.

To respond to the growing demands, in 2009 BRH established a multi-disciplinary development solutions team – the governance of climate change finance team – to deliver services that support governments and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive approaches to govern the challenge of climate change. The team supports a ‘whole of government’ approach to the governance of climate change finance, building collaboration between Ministries of Finance, Planning Environment and local government centered on climate responsive budgeting. The team builds a concern with poverty and gender into all its programming. In addition the team aims to strengthen the role of parliament and civil society actors in holding government to account for its delivery of a climate change response through the budget. The team works across practices within UNDP including HQ, BRH, UNDP country offices and in partnership with a range of development partners, in particular DFID and the Government of Sweden, to deliver this support.

Given the technical linkages between the UNDP-led support to NAPs, and the support provided by the governance of climate change finance, UNDP is recruiting a Climate Change Policy specialist who will be a full member of a development solutions team on governance of climate change finance team. The incumbent will report to the Climate Change Governance and Development Effectiveness Advisor in the Democratic Governance Practice in the Regional Centre in Bangkok (who in turn reports primarily to Democratic Governance Practice Team leader). The specialist will work closely with the BPPS staff who also work on climate change and in particular support policy and technical advice mainstreaming climate change into national planning and budgeting Alongside the Governance and Public Finance specialist, his/her main focus (70% of the work plan) will be to support the delivery the DFID supported Strengthening the Governance of Climate Change Finance to benefit the poor and vulnerable programme as part of the overall Asia Regional Governance Programme and RBAP Business Plan priorities alongside other relevant regional programs and BRH services including EEG, CPR and CDG programmes with a particular focus on the NAP. The specialist’s work on NAP (30% of the work plan) will focus on providing policy and technical advisory support to countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The specialist will work under oversight of the Head of Climate Change Adaptation (Global), UNDP-GEF and/or his designate. The specialist will also represent the governance of climate change finance team and other BRH teams in regional events and international meetings to share experience and advocate for the climate governance approaches developed within the UNDP BRH.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

The Climate Change Policy specialist will provide substantive technical advice and advocacy regarding Governance and Climate Change Finance in the Asia Pacific region (100%). The incumbent will also provide high-quality technical support, as well as knowledge and capacity development services to partner countries supported by UNDP and partners on the National Adaptation Plan process.

Overall tasks will include supporting development and delivery of country level projects as part of the programme and the delivery of regional knowledge products and south-south cooperation as part of the programme.

Regional Programme Support and Policy Advice:

Support the management and technical back-stopping of country level interventions to include:

Consult with government, DFID, UNDP as well as other stakeholders to finalise modalities for country support in South Asia, Indonesia and Thailand;
Strengthening baselines and finalise monitoring and evaluation frameworks at the country level;
Assisting in developing work plans and support national stakeholders in implementing country interventions;
In selected countries (e.g. Indonesia, Nepal and Thailand) support the integration of NAP project activities and Governance of Climate Change Finance activities. This would entail: iii) iv); v).

Support Policy Development:

Climate Change is integrated into budget formulation at national and subnational levels:

Facilitate inter-ministerial dialogue to advance national adaptation planning in the context of existing planning and budgeting processes. This will include providing technical support to countries to identify the scope and direction of the mainstreaming climate into planning and budgeting processes at national and subnational levels;
Lead on the implementation and strengthening of the Climate Public Expenditure and Institutional Reviews (CPEIR) methodology in selected countries in Asia and Pacific countries;
Guide and review country activities (e.g. Indonesia, Nepal and Thailand) focused on stock-taking of on-going and completed initiatives of relevance to informing and contributing to the NAP process. The specialist will also work to reactivate and guide national teams (comprising of staff from Ministry of Finance, Planning and Environment) who work on advancing the NAP process at the country level;
Assist in the organization of country level stakeholder consultations and contribute significantly to CPEIR final report production and launch;
Conduct and/or review and comment on gap analysis conducted on key institutional and technical capacities to fully embark on medium to long term planning and budgeting for adaptation linked and aligned with national development priorities (conducting capacity assessments to identify technical strengths that should be capitalized on and weaknesses that need to be strengthened) in a select number of countries;
Provide regional support and direct technical assistance to develop climate finance strategies and policies in Asia and Pacific countries;
Support the development of specific policy analysis and development tools and guidelines integrating NAP and governance of climate change finance approaches.

Knowledge Management:

Knowledge effectively shared within and across countries as well as with key international policy processes related to climate finance:

Provide overview and technical expertise in reviewing regional knowledge products which synthesize country analysis produced;
Contribute and lead on the community of practice on the governance of climate change finance champions which are being identified;
Develop and support innovative South-South issues which strengthen the governance of climate change finance in Asia and Pacific;
Facilitate partnerships for South-South and North-South transfer of technical and process-oriented information on experiences, good practices, lessons and examples of relevance to medium to long term national, sectoral, and local plans and planning and budgeting processes;
Facilitate training in the use of the tools and approaches to advance medium-to-long term adaptation planning and budgeting;
Evaluate, capture, codify, synthesize lessons and stimulate the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of resource kits and other knowledge materials;
Identify and source technical expertise and support including assisting with the preparation of ToRs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports.

Policy Positioning and Representation:

Support institutions to track and report on climate change expenditure as part of the budget process at national and sub-national levels:

Carry out training on integrating tracking and codification mechanisms for climate change into national systems. (e.g. budget code development, results indicators, expenditure classification etc.);
Support the identification of options and piloting approaches to integrate climate change expenditures into budget expenditure reporting and tracking systems;
Provide inputs to training for non-executive institutions and civil society / media with a potential role for promoting accountability for the effective management of climate change;
Provide policy advisory support to national partners including key Ministries (especially in finance, planning and other relevant line Ministries) and other stakeholders, on the importance of medium to long-term planning and budgeting for adaptation;
Coordinate with UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisors supporting adaptation programming with multiple sources of finance, as well as others both within and outside UNDP on substantive issues of relevance to assisting countries with their NAP process.

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization:

Support overall programme management and key partnerships:

Support UNDP BRH in integrating services around the governance of climate change finance with a particular focus on linking UNDP’s National Adaptation Plan programming and Governance of Climate Change finance programming;
Support the team in liaison with its key donors – DFID and Sweden as well as Germany and the GEF and develop and maintain close linkages with these and other relevant agencies, stakeholders, NGOs, and international organizations partners Support linkages with key international process such as the UNFCCC and other relevant Post 2015 related processes;
Identify further potential sources of support for regional and country level governance of climate change finance programming;
Lead efforts to ensure that NAP GSP project activities are integrated and coordinated with the established operations of both UNDP and UNEP within their comparative advantage and their areas of work;
Support UNDP country offices in liaising with national partners on climate related planning and budgeting including NAP related issues.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrate the integrity and fairness by modeling UN/UNDP value’s and ethical standard;
Promote the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
Display culture, gender, religious, race, nationality and age sensitivities and adaptability.

Technical/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;
Excellent organizational skills.

Management and Leadership

Strong managerial and leading skills;
Effective mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
Builds and promotes effective teams;
Demonstrate strong coordination skills;
Consistently approaches to work with energy and a positive and constructive attitude;
Ability to work as a part of a team, sharing information and coordinating efforts within the team.

Communication:

Good communication skill both in writing and oral including networking and interpersonal skills;
Excellent analytical and writing skills;
Proven ability to persuade and influence others to cooperate;
Shares knowledge across the organization and builds a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.

Client Orientation:

Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients;
Proven ability to build strong relations with partners, clients for positive feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in development, environment, economics, international policy or a closely related field with a major focus on climate change related issued.

Work experience:

At least 7 years of experience in areas related to climate change (i.e. environmental/ climate economics, adaptation, mitigation, technology transfer, investments and financing, land use, forestry), with a good understanding of the developing country context;
Track record of successfully working with governments in the Asia on climate change issues. Proven experience and knowledge in Development Effectiveness, Climate Change Finance and its related issues is an asset and knowledge of regional institutions working on climate finance;
Experience in programmes/projects management including technical, administrative and financial management;
Experience working in the international organisation or UN family is an advantage;
Work experience in an international organization is an advantage;
Knowledge of UNDP’s policies, procedures and practice is an asset;
Full computer literacy in internet searching and Microsoft Office programmes i.e. MS-Word, MS-Excel and MS-Power Point. Website management experience is an asset.

Language:

Excellent knowledge of English, both spoken and written;
Fluency in other languages spoken in the region is an asset.