Background

Duties and Responsibilities

• Establishing and maintaining a strategic understanding of, and engagement with, the substantive technical issues, institutions, and processes associated with Climate Change Adaptation, including establishing contact with and developing strategic partnerships with other agencies, donors, NGO’s, the private sector, scientific institutions and the like;
• Leading, or contributing to, the development and implementation of UNDP’s global and regional strategies on environment and sustainable development;
• Participating in global retreats, focal area retreats, regional strategic planning, pipeline management exercises, etc.;
• Participating in cross-substantive area technical dialogue, common strategic visioning, mainstreaming, programming, and other collaboration within the regional team;
• Keeping the Principal Technical Advisor informed of trends and issues with respect to the substantive technical area.  

• Providing strategic policy development support and guidance;
• Developing strategic UNDP policy position papers and internal briefing notes;
• Developing and advocating for specific policy analysis and development tools and guidance;
• Establishing a trusted  leadership role within the specialized technical area;
• Identifying, and sourcing of technical expertise and support including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports. 

• Programme and project identification and development
• Providing timely quality information and technical advice on source of funds policies, priorities and activities;
• Identifying priorities and entry-points for UNDP assistance;
• Assisting with the coordination of design, preparation, submission and approval of project proposals and requests for project development 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.  

• Assisting with inception, contracting and start up of projects including establishment of indicators, benchmarks and work plans;
• Supporting the supervision, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, troubleshooting and adaptive management of approved projects;
• Maintaining project and portfolio information and corporate information systems;
• Reviewing and commenting on relevant projects and project proposals from other agencies.  

• Evaluating, capturing, codifying, synthesizing lessons and stimulating the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of resource kits and other knowledge materials;
• Peer reviewing, commenting on, and seeking to improve, the technical quality of projects, policies, practices, guidelines, advisory notes, publications and the like;
• Assisting with preparation of global Community of Practice meetings;
• Preparing and delivering training courses;
• Responding to queries on project progress, impacts and lessons;
• Developing and carrying out a personal learning plan (5%).

Competencies

Technical Competencies:

• Ability to advise on the integration of climate risk management, including vulnerability and adaptation impact analysis, climate risk assessment, and long term and medium term responses to these, into national, sub-national and local institutional structures, and systems of governance, including public financial management;
• 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 .  

• 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  

• Ability to lead 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

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
• In-depth practical 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

• Builds 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
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
  Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills

Required Skills and Experience

• Post graduate degree in climate change, geography, natural resource policy,  management, sociology, economics, political science, development studies.
• Minimum of 7 years experience working with developing countries on environment or climate change adaptation issues;
• Extensive experience with project development, implementation and management (direct project management experience is preferable);
• Experience in the policy development processes associated with environment and sustainable development issues;
• Demonstrated strategic technical and intellectual skills in climate change adaptation;
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships;
• Demonstrated  leadership, facilitation and coordination skills;
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities and demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team;
• Full computer literacy;
• Experience working in Africa in particular is preferred;
• Working experience in an international organization is an advantage as is knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices.
• Over 7 years of progressively more responsible relevant leadership and management in the field of climate change adaptation and development
• Excellent command of written and spoken English is essential; working level proficiency in French is highly desirable.