Background

*The candidates who have previously applied to this position need not reapply

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

The Cluster on Sustainable Development focuses on integrating UNDP’s economic, social and environmental work into a coherent sustainable development policy and programming framework. It seeks to provide an integrated package of services covering all strands of sustainable development, including on integrated development planning and inclusive and sustainable growth, sustainable livelihoods and economic recovery in post crisis situations and natural capital and the environment.

Based in UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, Sustainable development Cluster, the UNDP-Global Environmental Finance Unit (UNDP – GEF Unit) has an objective to help countries achieve the simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion by assisting Country Offices in accessing environmental finance for sustainable development. This objective is achieved through five inter-related areas of work: (i) sustainable management of ecosystem goods and services; (ii) scaling up of climate change adaptation and mitigation; (iii) sustainable, affordable and accessible energy services; (iv) sustainable management of chemicals and waste; and (v) improved water and ocean governance. These areas of work are fully aligned with the four environmental outputs of the UNDP Strategic Plan

UNDP is an accredited implementing entity for the following environmental vertical funds: (i) the funds managed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF): the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF TF); the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF); the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF); and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF); (ii) the Adaptation Fund (AF); and (iii) the Green Climate Fund (GCF). As an Implementing Agency for these funds, UNDP offers countries highly specialized technical services for eligibly assessment, programme/project formulation, due diligence, mobilization of required co-financing, project implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management.

The UNDP – GEF Unit is organized into five substantive technical teams corresponding to the five areas of work above. Each area of work is led by a Principal (PTA) or Senior Technical Advisor (STA), who supports and guides a team of Regional Technical Advisors and Specialists (RTAs/RTSs).  The regional teams are based in regional hubs/regional service centers (Addis Ababa, Istanbul, Bangkok and Panama) from where they support UNDP’s country offices and partners in their region. 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 UNDP – GEF Regional Team Leader.

UNDP’s work in Energy, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology, has as an overall strategic objective to make the use and supply of energy more environmentally sustainable, affordable and accessible, and to promote low emission and climate resilient urban and transport infrastructure. The value of all UNDP-managed sustainable energy and transport projects currently in planning or under implementation is US$ 0.6 billion, with UNDP supporting more than 100 countries to access Global Environment Facility grant finance for energy-based climate change mitigation, and to combine this with domestic and bilateral sources of finance.  An additional US$ 5 billion?in co-financing has been leveraged for these projects from a range of partners, bringing the current total portfolio size to US$ 5.6 billion.

Through this project portfolio UNDP provides support to countries’ work in three programming areas: (i) promoting access to clean and affordable energy systems and services; (ii) promoting low emission and climate resilient urban and transport infrastructure; and (iii) promoting access to new finance mechanisms, including climate finance.

The Regional Technical Specialist (RTS) works under the overall supervision of the Principal Technical 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 Hubs, 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 hub as needed.

The Regional Technical Specialist for Climate Change Mitigation and Energy will be initially based in Istanbul, Turkey 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 change mitigation (including ecosystem based mitigation) and low carbon transport and mobility. This position will also cover coordinating programming for the GCF, in particular under its climate mitigation window.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Regional Technical Specialist for Climate Change Mitigation and Energy 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;
• Providing policy development support and guidance;
• Contribute to the development of strategic UNDP policy position papers and internal briefing notes;
• Undertake policy analysis and develop technical tools and guidance
• Maintaining a trusted  leadership role 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.

Key result:  New strategic opportunities for UNDP are realized, UNDP’s technical focus is leading edge and innovative, UNDP has strong partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders, UNDP has a trusted leadership role in the technical area of expertise.

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.

Key result:  Portfolio of programmes/projects managed efficiently and effectively.  UNDP recognized as providing outstanding programme and project oversight and supervision support.

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;
• Facilitate 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;
• Liaison with potential financing agencies and institutions.

Key result:  Resources are mobilized in support of developing country clients as a consequence of the identification, development and funding of high technical quality and results based programmes and projects in line with country priorities and UNDP strategic priorities.

Development Impact:

• Assisting with inception, contracting and start up 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, troubleshooting and adaptive management.

Key result:  UNDP programmes and projects consistently deliver high quality, high impact development results.

Learning, Knowledge Management and Self Development:

• Synthesizing 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;
• Responding to queries on programme/project progress, impacts and lessons;
• Developing and carrying out a personal learning plan (5%).

 Key result: 

• UNDP recognized as a learning and knowledge management organization.

Competencies

Core:

Innovation:

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership:

• Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management:

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication:

• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery:

• Ability to get things done.

Technical/Functional:

Primary:

Energy – Sustainable and Renewable Energy Options:

• Knowledge of sustainable consumption and production patterns and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Energy – Energy Finance:

• Knowledge of market based energy financing and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Energy – Energy Access:

• Knowledge of energy access concepts and/or issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Climate Change Mitigation:

• Knowledge of climate change mitigation concepts and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Climate Finance:

• Knowledge of climate finance concepts and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Resource Mobilization:

• Ability to identify and organize programmes  and projects to implement solutions and generate resources.

Secondary:

Knowledge Management:

• Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge.

Quality Assurance:

• Ability to perform administrative and procedural activities to insure that quality requirements and goals are fulfilled.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s Degree (or higher) in Engineering, Environmental Economics, Finance or 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 mitigation, including ecosystem based mitigation (LULUCF).

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience working with developing countries on one or more of the following: energy management, energy systems operations, in the residential, industrial, commercial and transport sectors, as well as in energy-integrated urban development planning and applications, the design and implementation of RE-based energy systems both for thermal and power generation and applications, carbon finance, urban transport, and/or ecosystem-based climate change mitigation;
• Experience with project development, implementation and management (direct project management experience is preferable);
• Experience in the policy development processes in sustainable energy management, climate change mitigation and sustainable development;
• Demonstrated technical and intellectual skills in substantive area;
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships;
• Demonstrated  facilitation and coordination skills;
• Full computer literacy;
• Experience working in Europe and the CIS would be an asset;
• Working experience in an international organization is an advantage as is knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices.

Language:

• Excellent knowledge of the English language, with exceptional writing, presentation and communication skills;
• Working knowledge of Russian is desirable
• Proficiency in other UN languages is an asset.

Note:

This vacancy announcement will be used to populate a roster of qualified candidates from which future Regional Technical Specialist for Climate Change Mitigation and Energy assignments will be drawn. Kindly note that the Roster will consist of internal and external candidates found suitable for Regional Technical Specialist for Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Fixed Term Appointments (FTA) at P4 levels. These candidates will have to be endorsed by the UNDP Compliance Review Board (CRB) after having successfully undergone a competitive recruitment process including a thorough technical assessment and a competency based interview. These individuals will be required to complete an application and, if successful, will be considered as “pre-approved” candidates for a duration of up to 3 years.