Background

Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure the technical quality, accuracy, and relevance of country-level CDM capacity development activities in the LAC region.
• Provide technical support to UNDP Country Office staff in the delivery of CDM activities under the Carbon-2012 project and the MDG Carbon Facility.
• Contribute to the overall management of the Carbon-2012 project by ensuring the timely and accurate provision of technical information as it relates to project outputs and activities.
• Provide substantive expertise on CDM procedures and modalities to support the implementation of the EEP Regional Climate Change Strategy.

Technical backstopping and support for the development and delivery of country-level CDM activities:

• In collaboration with the Project Implementation Manager, ensure the overall success of the delivery of the Carbon-2012 project work plan.
• Ensure the quality, technical accuracy and relevance to the emerging post-2012 carbon market, of the project’s capacity building activities, including workshops, studies and assessments, strategies, publications, communications products, and training materials.
• Oversee the implementation and efficient delivery of regional and country-level communications strategies, and ensure the consistency and relevance of messaging across the region;
• Support Country Offices in the development of strategic partnerships with organizations interested in developing CDM projects, through technical facilitation of project financing case studies, on-site audits, and other appropriate mechanisms such as the establishment of UNDP collaboration agreements.
• Identify barriers to the uptake of national carbon markets in participating Carbon-2012 countries and develop results-based targeted strategies to overcome them;
• Liaise with the project partners and stakeholders, including the Designated National Authority/National Focal Point in Host Countries, as well as other countries in the region through the RIOCC;
• Serve as the primary technical focal point for the project as required for liaison and coordination with other UN and international organizations, in particular UNEP Riso Centre.

Coordination and technical support to UNDP Country Offices in the implementation of CDM related activities:

• Support Country Offices in the implementation of results-based management mechanisms to ensure the successful delivery of the Carbon-2012 project.
• Assist UNDP Country Offices participating in the Carbon-2012 project with the recruitment, selection, and training of national Carbon Finance Officers;
• Oversee the development and technical relevance of country-level project work plans and provide technical-level approval;
• Establish robust and efficient mechanisms to monitor project activities and produce timely reporting to UNDP senior management, donors, regional networks, and participating governments;
• Develop mechanisms for the timely and fluid exchange of information between Carbon Finance Officers delivering the Carbon-2012 project, and between other related capacity development projects in the region and globally.
• Provide guidance and technical input into the contracting of consultants through the design and structuring of Terms of Reference, monitoring of progress, and evaluation of deliverables. 

Technical support for the overall financial and administrative management of the project:

• Work collaboratively with the Project Implementation Manager to provide technical input to the Carbon-2012 Project Board, which will guide the overall strategic direction of the project;
• Ensure the technical accuracy of internal management and reporting functions, including annual work plans and reports, budgets, quarterly progress reports, and special progress reports to donors;

• Support the broader objectives of the CC Unit through provision of substantive expertise on evolving CDM rules and procedures, global/regional carbon market trends, and emerging CDM project modalities such as Program of Activities;
• Monitor and gather intelligence on activities related to the development of the post-2012 carbon market and identify key issues for CDM market participants in the region.
• Ensure the effective transfer of accurate, timely and relevant information on the CDM to related programs within the CC Unit and broader Energy and Environment Practice, and facilitate knowledge transfer to stakeholders in the region;
• Work in close collaboration with Project Staff of climate change projects delivered through the RSC, and with the Climate Change Regional Technical Advisors, to identify synergistic opportunities between programs, and to support the effective integration of the Carbon-2012 project within the climate change activities of the RSC/Energy and Environment Practice.

Competencies

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to support, supervise and motivate a culturally diverse staff .
• Focus and understand client needs and results.
• Able to take the initiative, originate action and be responsible for the decisions make.
• Sound judgment, vision and high-level negotiation and communication skills.
• Consistently approaches work punctually, with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Patience and sensitivity to develop and nurture commitment with an innovative team of people.
• Participative and collaborative working approach

Required Skills and Experience

• Master's Degree or equivalent in Environment, Economics, or International Development.  

• At least five years of experience working in the field of climate change and project-based flexibility mechanisms
• Detailed knowledge of the rules and procedures of the CDM and experience with the project development cycle
• Experience in working with national governments and agencies on climate change
• Familiarity with private sector participation in Clean Development Mechanism projects;
• Experience designing and implementing CDM capacity development projects in Latin America and/or the Caribbean
• Work experience in UNDP and knowledge of UNDP policies and procedures is desirable
• Relationship and network building

• Fluency in English and Spanish.
• Working knowledge of any other language of the region is desirable.