UNDP Jobs - 57575- Climate Partnership Specialist

Climate Partnership Specialist

Location :

Geneva, SWITZERLAND

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Jul-2015

Application Deadline :

30-Jun-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

5 months

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

The UNDP Office in Geneva is headed by a Director who reports to the Director of the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy (BERA). In addition to its BERA functions, it comprises BPPS (Bureau for Policy and Programme Support) units dealing with substantive issues including Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction Trade, Human Rights, HIV-AIDS, UN REDD – liaising with Geneva-based global decision and standard setting centers in those areas and providing advice and support to Country Offices worldwide, and CRU (Crisis Response Unit). It has a specific responsibility for resources mobilization vis-à-vis certain European donors, as well as for representing UNDP vis-à-vis UN sister agencies and other intergovernmental bodies and institutions present in Geneva and in the geographical area covered by the Office. It provides communication services and performs the functions of the Office of Communications in Europe except for the Nordic Countries, Ireland, the UK and the EU institutions. The Office builds strategic and innovative partnerships with a variety of actors, including local and regional authorities, private sector, foundations and civil society organizations.

The UNDP Office in Geneva being located in the second UN Centre in the world also plays a key role in supporting and advancing the UN reform and UNDP’s pivotal role therein. It fosters relations at all levels with specialized UN institutions, intergovernmental and non-governmental bodies, diplomatic missions and other partners based in Geneva and Paris and represents various UNDP units at events and meetings taking place in Geneva and as appropriate and requested in other places in Europe.

The UNDP office is also involved in supporting UNDP’s work at the the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) being held in Paris on November/December 2015.

Additionally, UNDP Geneva hosts the member- and donor- financed CVF Trust Fund (CVFTF) established in 2012 as administered by UNDP’s Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office. UNDP is a primary implementing agency of the Fund assisting the realization of CVF-determined objectives. In 2013 UNDP initiated a global project with which to carry out CVF support. The project’s overall objective is to ensure representatives of climate vulnerable counties involved in the CVF are empowered as collective agents of more effective climate change policies at international and national levels.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the UNDP Geneva Partnerships Advisor for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, and in close coordination with the Global Team Leader for Climate Change and COP 21 Core Planning Team the consultant will be responsible for acting as the Geneva Office focal point for the global Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Support Project of UNDP and for COP21, encompassing also support for the CVF Trust Fund and its Steering Committee.

The following deliverables are expected:

Ensures effective support to UNDP/BERA/BPPS and other Bureaus in the management of external relations with member states, donors and partner institutions in relation to the CVF Support Project and COP21;
Oversees and supervises the work of 2 interns, as well as external contractors, as necessary;
Organize multiple briefing meetings and public events with internal and external stakeholders for the CVF project and COP21, as necessary;
Support the Steering Committee of the CVF Trust Fund, organizing meetings, documenting meetings with minutes, and liaising with members for follow-up, including with the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office of UNDP;
Ensure a donor report for a recent grant to the UNDP CVF Support project is completed to the full satisfaction of the donor.
Ensure provision of continuous support to the Chair, coordination hub and other members and partners of the CVF for organizational, technical and communications needs as required;
Supports the management of UNDP Geneva COP21 and the CVF support project’s online web presence and social media channels and content on a continuous basis, working in cooperation with UNDP communications colleagues;
Supports the Director and Partnerships Advisor in the preparation and the follow up of meetings between senior officials from UNDP and other stakeholders in relation the CVF support project and COP21;
Supports the Directorate in day-to-day interaction and specific initiatives for inter-agency coordination in relation to the CVF support project and COP21: developing and maintaining opportunities for effective coordination, preparing material for and following up on inter-agency meetings;
Any other technical, organizational, external relations, and communications tasks that may be assigned by the supervision, in particular in relation to the CVF support project and COP21.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Client Orientation:

Ability to identify clients' needs and appropriate solutions; ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with donors and other partner agencies;
Fosters linkages with key internal clients and other UN agencies and strategic partnerships with key external stakeholders.

Communication:

Excellent personal and professional communication and presentation skills, with strong representational abilities;
Builds strong relationships with both internal and external actors - cultivates productive relationships with donors, and other partners;
Strong analytical and communications skills, and a proven ability to speak at public events and draft a wide range of documentation (correspondence, briefing and concept notes, talking points etc.);
Familiarity and experience managing website content and online social media channels, including web editing, publishing and/or development;
Proven advocacy, analytical and writing skills.

Cultural Sensitivity and Adaptability:

Communicates effectively with and relates to people of different cultures, demonstrating an ability to see issues from other perspectives;
ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Teamwork:

Strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to lead and gain the assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavor;
Ability to build trust through operating with transparency and creating an open, positive and enabling environment.

Technical Competencies:

Knowledge of international climate change policies, and of application procedures and rules and regulations as regards reporting, financial management, visibility etc. of EC and other European donors an asset;
Sound understanding of UNDP practice areas and approaches to partnerships and local development;
Proven record in programme management and results-based programming.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced University degree in a development-related area of study.

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years of progressively relevant experience in environment, development, humanitarian affairs or other related area;
At least 5 years of experience directly related to climate change issues at the international level, including a focus on developing countries, and strong, progressively responsible experience in programme/project management;
Experience in managing international conferences, policy dialogue and communication projects, and in liaising with Permanent Missions to the UN and with senior officials in relevant international and national institutions, including proven experience with resource mobilization, working with multiple donor countries and with the processes of UNDP-managed Trust Funds
Strong familiarity with the UN system;
Experience in building and maintaining partnerships with donor development partners and UN agencies;
Programme management and country-level experience in a UN context an asset.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken French and English is required;
Knowledge of other European languages an asset.

Application Procedure

Kindly note we will not accept any applications through this website. All applicants should submit the following documents by the deadline to be considered for this position which can be downloaded at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=14844:

Required Documents:

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP;
Financial proposals must be all inclusive and must be expressed on the basis of a daily fee in US dollars;
Travel will be arranged and funded by UNDP and should not be included in the proposal.

Criteria for Selection of Best Offer

The selection will be based on a combined Scoring method – where the qualifications will be weighted 70% and combined with the price offer, which will be weighted 30%.

The 70% rating will be based on how well the applicant meets the minimum qualifications/competencies described below:

30 points:

Experience in managing international conferences, policy dialogue and communication projects, and in liaising with Permanent Missions to the UN and with senior officials in relevant international and national institutions, including proven experience with resource mobilization, working with multiple donor countries and with the processes of UNDP-managed Trust Funds.

20 points:

Progressively relevant experience in environment, development, humanitarian affairs or other related area, including directly related to climate change issues at the international level, including a focus on developing countries and/or fieldwork experience, and strong, progressively responsible experience in programme/project management;
Relevant education.

15 points:

Excellent analytical, drafting/writing, presentation and communication skills in English, with extensive experience in drafting formal communications and briefing documents of all kinds, including press releases, speeches, talking points, op-eds, technical reports and meeting minutes;
Experience in web publishing, web editing and/or web development especially desirable.