UNDP Jobs - 70198- Environment & Climate Change

Environment & Climate Change

Location :

Apia, SAMOA

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

30-Jan-2017

Application Deadline :

23-Jan-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

Initial 6 months

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

UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in 170 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.

World leaders have pledged to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030. UNDP's network links and coordinates global and national efforts to reach these Goals. The 17 Global Goals are more ambitious than the previous 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that culminated in 2015, as they go much further to include areas that were not in the MDGs, such as inequalities, economic growth, decent jobs, energy, climate change, sustainable consumption and production, peace and justice for all. These 17 Goals provide the goal posts and will guide our work over the next 15 years.

The UNDP Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Apia covers four Pacific island countries (Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau), and manages regional programs for 10 additional countries. The UN programmatic framework (2013-2017) currently under review covers 14 Pacific countries through a Sub-Regional Programme Document for Pacific Island Countries. Most of MCO is focused in climate change and environment (CC&E, about 90 percent of the total budget), although the office also provides significant support in poverty eradication and governance.

The MCO’s portfolio has a large portfolio of about US$85million. The CC&E unit, spread over about 18 small and large projects, manages about US$75 million of this. The ultimate objective of UNDP’s EE&C unit is to have a positive impact for the sustainable use of natural resources and resilience to climate change. Financial oversight, effective strategic planning and monitoring and evaluation is critical to ensure the successful implementation of projects and to further develop the portfolio. Management and coordination is also gradually moving from a project-based approach to a wider approach where several sectors are considered under one project, in order to have stronger impact, more results, and more efficient management of resources.

The Samoa Multi-Country office has about 40 staff, consisting of regular staff, consultants, United Nations volunteers and interns. The UNDP office is located on a compound shared with FAO, UN Women and UNESCO. WHO and UNEP also have offices in Samoa, although not located in the same compound as UNDP. The head of unit will manage a staff of 5 people, of which four are national staff and one international consultant.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the Programme Manager (Environment and Climate Change) and in close coordination with the staff of UNDP MCO E&CC Unit, the Intern will undertake the following responsibilities:

Assist in resource mobilizing for Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Global Environment Facility (GEF):

Attend meetings and events and report back to office;
Prepare briefing papers and share relevant documents;
File all e files and hard copies.

Assist in mainstreaming the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for the UNDP MCO Samoa:

Monitor upcoming events for SDG integration;
Prepare briefing papers and share relevant documents;
Attend meetings and events and report back to office.

Develop and maintain a calendar for key international/regional events on the environment. This task involves:

Monitor upcoming international/regional events on the environment;
Review the results of the events;
Prepare a summary and share the summary/relevant documents;
Circulate the summary/relevant documents to the colleagues of UNDP MCO Samoa and upload into the UNDP teamworks site.

Develop lessons learned and knowledge management documents on ongoing projects for the environment. This task involves:

Review of all key project documents (e.g. project document, annual progress reports, Quarterly Progress Report, technical reports, brochures, project website, etc.);
Interview with stakeholders/Survey (e.g. IP, beneficiaries);
Site visit;
Develop a lessons learned document.

Assist with youth and climate change programme & the Small Grants Programme (SGP):

Revision of project proposals, progress and other technical reports;
Attend meetings and site visits and report back to office;
Foster partnerships with private sector etc.

Assist with Meetings, Workshop & Trainings:

Prepare agenda and take minutes;
Assist with logistics and reports;
Assist with quotation and payments.

Undertake other responsibilities as requested by heads of programme units:

Briefing papers and updates on mainstreaming of SDGs for MCO of Samoa;
Event calendar and summary developed and maintained;
E- Library and cabinet library for Environment and CC;
Meeting, Workshop & Training minutes and reports;
Lessons learned documents developed and disseminated.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Excellent analytical and writing skills;
Excellent teamwork and people management skills;
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
Good negotiation and problem-solving skills:
Commitment to sustainable development;
Experience working in a development context;
Have the ability to work under significant pressure and tight deadlines;
Work effectively and creatively with minimal supervision.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

student must be enrolled in the last year of a Bachelor's degree, or;
must be within a year after graduation from a Master's degree in a field related to environment, climate, or sustainable development.

Experience:

Specific focus on the GEF focal areas is preferable;
Any professional experience in the area of finance and administration, sustainable development, including risk management, energy, environment, climate change, policy, or international development will be an added advantage although not strictly required;
Training and research experience in sustainable development, particularly with a focus on GEF Focal Areas in developing countries, is an advantage.

Language:

Fluent in English both written and verbal.

Note:

The intern shall not communicate with any person, government or other entity external to UNDP, any UNDP-GEF documents/information related to ongoing project development guidelines for adaptation projects made known to the intern by reason of his or her association with UNDP/GEF except as required by this contract or upon written authorization by UNDP/GEF.