UNDP Jobs - 23192- Policy Advisor, Climate Change

Policy Advisor, Climate Change

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

04-Jul-2011

Application Deadline :

18-Oct-11 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 year

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 49 least developed countries (LDCs) in which UNDP works face a broad range of climate change challenges: island states are at risk of inundation as sea levels rise; low-lying coastal countries face increased flooding in the short term from increasingly severe storms and in the long term from sea level rise; and land-locked arid regions may be exposed to increased variability in rainfall in the short term and hotter and drier climates in the long term. Some LDCs could see increasing health threats from diseases such as malaria as temperatures rise. Others have important genetic reserves in species that are at risk of extinction as a result of climate change. In all cases, the ability to understand the changes, adapt to them and chart growth paths that are low carbon and pro poor is essential. Unfortunately, at the moment, capacities within LDCs to address these challenges are not strong.

UNDP Country Offices are, in consequence, receiving an increasing number of national requests for assistance with understanding the implications of climate change on national development and preparing integrated strategies and plans to manage anticipated challenges and opportunities. UNDP has played an important role assisting countries to access and deliver climate change financing, as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), joint manager of the National Communications Support Programme, and by delivering initiatives like MDG Carbon, Capacity Development for Policy Makers, the MDG Achievement Fund, Africa Adaptation Programme, CC-DARE, UN REDD, Carbon Neutral and Climate Resilient Territories, and the 2007 Human Development Report on climate change (activities totaling more than 220 million USD in catalytic funding). At the same time, UNDP must further strengthen its climate change policy advisory capacity – particularly to support Least Developed Countries.

In light of these challenges and the limited capacity in many LDCs to effectively respond, the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme agreed to a strategic investment programme to build capacity in LDCs in the area of climate change during 2010-2011. The purpose of the programme is to strengthen select LDCs through the provision of focused expertise both at the regional and national levels.

Acknowledging the need to incorporate climate change concerns into the design and implementation of its core development assistance at the national, regional and global levels, UNDP has created four regional policy advisor positions that will support the Environment and Sustainable Development Focus of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. The Regional Policy Advisors will complement and strengthen a team of Policy Advisors already active in the regions.

The Regional Policy Advisor (Climate Change) (HQ) will be based out of the Regional Bureau for Africa in New York and will focus on LDCs in Western and Central Africa and work closely with the Regional Policy Advisor for Climate Change based in the Regional Service Centers in Dakar and Johannesburg. This post will help ensure technical leadership and knowledge networking for the 8 National Climate Change Officers (‘Boots’ Officers) based in the region and support their efforts to strengthen technical capacities of LDCs to integrate climate change risks and opportunities into human development based planning, programming, and public and private investments. They will work under the direction of the Regional Bureau for Africa’s Head of Strategic Advisory Unit and the Director of EEG to ensure integrated service delivery on climate policy to the countries concerned. Strong links will also be made with environment and energy, disaster risk reduction, capacity development and gender teams in the regional service centres and in HQ, so as to better incorporate these perspectives and skills into all climate change support. In order to ensure that policy guidance is pro-poor and aimed at poverty reduction whenever possible, the Regional Policy Advisor (Climate Change) will participate in cross-practice teams in order to refine approaches and methodologies that are most effective to achieving these dual goals. The Regional Policy Advisor (Climate Change) will build on the policy, technical, and methodological guidance developed by the EEG team at HQ and ensure consistency and coherent application at the regional and country level.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Under supervision of the Head of the Strategic Unit in RBA, who reports to the Director of RBA, and the BDP/EEG Director, and in collaboration with the Environment and Energy Group and the climate teams in the Regional Service Centre and HQ/EEG, the Regional Policy Advisor (Climate Change) will provide:

Technical leadership and support, substantive oversight and quality assurance to the 14 National Climate Change Officers (‘Boots’ Officers): The Regional Climate Change Policy Advisor will work with the 14 Africa-based National Climate Change Officers recruited under the ‘Boots on the Ground’ initiative, as well as thematic practice leaders and focal points who are actively engaged in supporting the integration of climate change considerations in to development efforts in Africa, to produce effective country and sub-regional analyses, publications, contributing also to provide timely policy advice in each country. Particular focus will be given to the 8 participating countries from West and Central Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal and Togo. Typical outputs will include specific country advisory notes, working papers, published booklets on key climate and development issues, and advocacy toolkits. Outputs should also include joint organization of conferences and publication of reports, building on partnerships with key institutions, such as the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Union, the New partnership for African Development (NEPAD), the World Bank, OECD thematic networks, UNEP and other UN and international bodies; The Regional Policy Advisor will provide support to the National Climate Change Officers recruited under the Strategic Initiative on Climate Change in LDCs (the ‘Boots on the Ground’ initiative) in the Country Offices, including:
Liaising with the National Climate Change Officers to provide thematic guidance, as well as policy oversight and quality assurance;
Organizing and managing the periodic cluster meetings of the Africa-based National Climate Change Officers, as a forum for networking, knowledge management and sharing on important climate-development issues on the African continent;
Collaborating with EEG to provide knowledge resources and network or e-discussions that are tailored to the region;
Encouraging the National Climate Change Officers to provide regular and up-to-date country level information.

Policy Advisory/Programme Support-Delivery, building on and ensuring consistency with policy guidance, approaches, methodologies, and strategies provided by HQ:

With a focus on the National Climate Change Officers in West & Central African participating countries:

Contribute to the timely provision of guidance and support to Country Offices as they engage in the climate change policy dialogues at the national level with key partners such as governments, donors, civil society, ensuring adherence with, and consistent and integrated application of, HQ/global approaches, methodologies, and strategies.
Support COs on specific issues for climate change policy dialogues at national level with key partners, including key line Ministries, donors, NGOs, private sector, and civil society on preparing for a post-2012 institutional and financial regime, building on and ensuring consistency with international climate policy guidance provided by HQ.
Provide substantive inputs to Country Offices and governments on national low-carbon, climate-resilient development strategies and plans and review of sector policies, which can provide the foundation for Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), building on the methodologies developed by EEG.
Provide to Country Offices, in close coordination with BDP/EEG, policy support and information in the context of multilateral negotiations/discussions on climate change, including those associated with the UNFCCC (including the processes of the National Communications).
Support the Country Offices in the development of strategic and thematic partnerships with governmental agencies, UN agencies and other important actors in climate change.
Support the capacity development of governments to programme climate change-related resources and provide advice on the effective use and management of different climate financing mechanisms.
Explore strategic opportunities with Country Offices and governments that can maximize synergies between climate change, gender, poverty, and MDG-related activities, including south-south cooperation schemes and innovative clean technology options for energy access for the poor.
Liaise and coordinate with regional development partners and donors, building strategic alliances on behalf the Regional Service Centre and HQ that deliver benefits to national governments and NGOs and Country Offices.

Research and Content Development/Knowledge Management:

Work with the National Climate Change Officers to adapt HQ briefings for Country Offices, governments, and Regional Service Centre senior management on the international climate change negotiations, forthcoming climate events in the region, major regional and HQ initiatives under way, and climate change projects being implemented by UNDP and other UN organizations in the region, including National Communications.
Secure a flow of information between the Country Offices, the Regional Service Center, and BDP/EEG by putting in place mechanisms to ensure the region and Country Offices know about climate change related activities undertaken by BDP/EEG and other UN bodies and major global and regional actors, while also delivering information on national needs for policy support to the Regional Service Centre senior management and BDP/EEG.
Promote the use and improvement of knowledge management mechanisms put in place by BDP/EEG to share information about climate change related initiatives (e.g. the CC Map).
Share HQ technical and strategic position papers, presentations, advisory and briefing notes, as needed.
Adapt HQ inputs for regional policy briefs/position papers in collaboration with other practices that address links between climate change and other development concerns such as governance, private sector, poverty alleviation, gender, crisis prevention and recovery, and capacity development.
Provide climate change advisory services to Regional Service Centre colleagues from all practice teams, as needed.
Identify relevant lessons learnt to be disseminated between countries and identify and develop linkages between countries in the region as appropriate.

Policy Development/Practice Management/Practice Advocacy:

Support strategic planning for the regional activities addressing climate change and their incorporation into the regional business plan.
As an elaboration of the above, support joint planning meetings involving the Regional Bureaux, both in HQ and regional centers, BDP/EEG and Country Offices, as required.
Propose value-added activities based upon internal discussions and identification of in-house best practices and capacities.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals of UNDP
Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others; gives credit to the contributions of others
Managing for Results, Plans and prioritizes work activities to meet organizational goals

Building Partnerships:

Builds and sustains relationships with key constituents (internal/external/ bilateral/ multilateral/public/private; civil society)
Makes effective use of UNDP’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships
Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations
Capacity to interact with senior officials and credibly influence senior decision makers in UNDP programme countries and other international development organizations

Innovation & Judgment:

Conceptualizes and analyzes problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate
Generates creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations
Devises new systems and processes, and modifies existing ones, to support innovative behaviors

Communication:

Demonstrates excellent and effective written and oral communication skills
Demonstrates effective communication skills in a multidisciplinary working environment
Demonstrate respect to knowledge and culture and religion in a multidisciplinary working environment

Promoting Organizational Learning And Knowledge Sharing:

Actively seeks and promotes innovative methodologies and leads the development of supporting policies/tools to encourage learning and knowledge sharing

Job Knowledge & Expertise:

Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in climate change policy and a broad knowledge of related disciplines
Keeps abreast of new developments in area of climate change and seeks to develop him/herself personally
Applies the required depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise to meet job demands
Uses Information Technology effectively as a tool and resource

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in climate sciences, environmental sciences, earth sciences, natural resource economics, political science, related social sciences or related discipline.

Experience:

Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience on issues related to climate risk, vulnerability reduction and capacity development.
Minimum 10 years of technical experience on specific climate issue (e.g., capacity development, technology, adaptation, gender, economics, etc)
Strong background in partnership building will be an essential requirement.
Experience in working with government, donors or UN previously is an asset, particularly in the African region
Familiarity with development work in an African context.
Proven track record in policy analysis, development work in the area of climate change and related issues.
Demonstrated ability to engage in and contribute to high-level policy dialogues and advisory functions involving high level government counterparts and other stake-holders.
Thorough knowledge and understanding of the global debate on climate change and experience in multilateral environmental debates and dialogues and processes.
Experience in advising climate change adaptation and energy policy development in Africa is a major asset
Through knowledge of and experience with various climate financing options, for example national climate funds (‘climate trust funds’), CIFs, GEF or adaptation funds is a major asset.

Language:

Fluency in verbal and written English and French.
Fluency in other UN languages an asset.