UNDP Jobs - 61991- Policy Analyst - Climate Change (Open to Nepalese

Policy Analyst - Climate Change (Open to Nepalese Nationals only)

Location :

Kathmandu, NEPAL

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

01-Mar-2016

Application Deadline :

15-Dec-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

one year

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

Organizational Context:

UNDP Country Offices are 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), Adaptation Funds, UNREDD to name a few. Likewise, UNDP Nepal is currently engaged in strengthening its strategic interventions and support to the Government of Nepal in accessing, managing, and disbursing current and future climate change finance in the country.

As an extremely climate vulnerable country, Nepal has been channeling its own resources, as well as international climate finance to respond to the challenges. According to the MoF, approximately 10.73% of the national budget is climate relevant, or 23.09% of the development budget for the fiscal year 2014/15. A combination of domestic resources, and dedicated climate international funds have been flowing into the country, through bilateral arrangements, as well as vertical funds such as the GEF, the LDCF, the Adaptation Fund and others. With the establishment of the GCF and UNDP being nominated as one of the accredited agency; the recent financial pledges that have been made by various countries, Nepal will, in the near future, be the recipient of additional international funds, as well as continue its engagement with other vertical funds.

Globally, the pledges and commitments being made by the international community should lead to an increase of climate change finance into developing countries. UNDP, through its technical support plans to assist in strengthening the Government of Nepal’s capacity and systems to access, absorb and effectively manage existing and projected climate funds, as well as its own domestic investments to address climate change. Furthermore, while the delivery of climate change finance – from the international to the national, and the national to the sub-national – needs to happen, the equitable delivery of those resources to those who are most vulnerable to climate change impacts must also be ensured.

The Policy Analyst (Climate Change) will be responsible to support the Nepal Country Office CC team programmatically and as well as technically on various strands of work like NAP, GCF, UN REDD and other initiatives that are related to climate finance. In addition, the Policy Analyst will also coordinate and provide oversight to the ongoing climate change finance related work being supported by UNDP Nepal, including those that are being channeled from the Bangkok Regional Hub, as well as from Headquarters.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting line:

The Policy Analyst will be integrated into the Country office structure and will also receive technical guidance and support from the Regional Hub and EE Practice Leader on areas related to climate policy and finance. The Policy Analyst is expected to work closely with the CO Programme Analyst and other staff working on climate change and environment issues.

Under the supervision and overall guidance of the Assistant Country Director of Energy, Environment, Climate and Disaster Risk Management (EECDRM) Unit within existing climate change structures in the country office and with the technical support of the climate change team at the Regional Hub and HQ, the national Policy Analyst (Climate Change) will work in close consultation with the CO CC Programme Analyst and other team members of EECDRM unit.

Analyst (Climate Change) will work in close consultation with the CO CC Programme Analyst and other team members of EECDRM unit.

1. Support the policy arrangement on climate change, including climate change finance, with government and development partners, building on and ensuring consistency withinternational policy guidance on climate change provided by Regional Hub and HQ:

Coordinate with CO team in its engagement in climate change policy dialogue at national level with key partners - including key line Ministries, donors, NGOs, Private; Sector, and civil society on preparing for the post-2015 institutional and financial regime, using technical guidance available at the regional and global level and ensuring consistency with international climate policy guidance provided by Regional Hub (Bangkok) and HQ;
Conduct desk reviews, research and provide analytical inputs on national low-carbon, climate- resilient development strategies and plans and review of the sector policies building on and ensuring consistency with international climate policy guidance provided by HQ.;
Lead the preparation of analytical documents and background information for the national and international climate change policy debates within the overarching UNDP climate change policy framework and CO priorities;
As requested, provide inputs to UNDP senior management on all climate related policy issues, including climate change finance, and also provide support to implementadaptation programmes at the local level;
Support on capacity development activities on climate change for the UNDP Country Office and UNCT;
Provide technical inputs to the formulation of UNDP Climate Risk Management Strategy and Action Plan and identify areas of comparative advantage for interventions where UNDP can add value;

2. Support an UN-wide approach to climate change and promote UNDP's role, including policy and programmatic initiatives, ensuring consistency and integration with regional and global approaches, methodologies, and strategies:

Support UNDP Nepal in the development of a programmatic approach to integrate climate risk management in the existing framework documents and project portfolios acrossall practice areas;
Assist to innovate, identify and address climate related risks and opportunities in all practice areas such as governance, poverty, environment, CPR, gender capacitydevelopment within UNDP as well as within the UN system, for Implementation of country programme;
Promote cross practice collaboration (poverty, governance, CPR, gender, capacity development) within UNDP as well as within the UN system.

3. Support strategic partnerships and knowledge management on Climate Change:

As requested, adapt global and regional technical and strategic position papers, presentations, advisory and briefing notes, for national circumstances;
Support the presentation of inputs from the CO to policy briefs/position papers that address links between climate change, climate change finance and other development concerns, in collaboration with other practices such as governance, poverty reduction, gender, crisis prevention and recovery, and capacity development;
Maintain and strengthen strategic and thematic partnership with key stakeholders, particularly government, donors, private sector to identify opportunities, formulate joint initiatives with maximum impacts and efficiency, minimize duplication of efforts and reduce transaction costs;
Support resource mobilization efforts of the government on climate change, through increasing knowledge of climate change specific financing mechanisms, (including Green Climate Fund and others) and identifying areas where UNDP can support;
Promote information sharing and support the CO dialogue within the donor community related to climate change and/or participating in consultative meetings and preparing briefs and policy papers on climate change;
Follow up and consolidate information on the status of international climate change negotiations and forthcoming events, using disseminated inputs from EEG and the Regional Hub. These inputs should contribute to the development and strengthening of common UN positions regarding climate change issues;
Ensure information-sharing on climate change issues, such as initiatives, projects, international climate negotiations, and related issues between CO and other partners, in particular the Regional Hub and HQ.

4. Support Coordination and Oversight of climate change finance portfolio and projects:

Support regional and headquarter teams to develop the climate change finance project and ensure the timely implementation of the project. This will require close discussion and agreements with national implementing partners, UNDP Nepal team, relevant Bangkok Regional Hub team, as well as relevant UNDP Headquarter team;
Oversee implementation of the strategic interventions identified under the CC finance portfolio and ensure that targets and objectives are met;
Coordinate and oversee the arrangements of stakeholder consultations and meetings at national and district level, including across relevant sectors and ensure follow-up from meetings and consultations with key stakeholders;
Support as the focal point from UNDP Nepal on communications with BRH and HQ on CC Finance related tasks under the guidance of ACD-EECDRM unit;
Provide necessary inputs on documents on CC Finance, in addition to annual progress reports, mid-term reports, and others as required;
Lead coordinating and organizing of national and sub-national workshops, meetings, and conferences, as and when required;
Organize and convene meetings, ensure their input and follow up on recommendations as appropriate;
Effectively coordinate and work in close consultation with Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, and National Planning Commission, among others, as well as selected DDCs and follow up as required on issues related to the climate change finance strategy;
Develop and maintain good working relationships with key development partners, such as DFID, FAO, others.

Impact of Results:

The key results have an impact on the overall effectiveness and efficiency of UN climate change activities in the country, including decision-making, short, medium, and long term planning, improved business results and client services. The post will also play a key role to support the mobilization and advocate for the potential of climate change finance and its contribution towards the achievement of sustainable development, including the SDGs.

They also impact on increasing Governments, Partners, and civil society and communities' awareness and knowledge of climate risks to development, and on the ability for climate proofing of development plans and sectoral policies. Accurate analysis, production and presentation of strategic information will strengthen decision-making and promote timely positioning and readjusting of UNDP programme management.

Competencies

Corporate Responsibility & Direction:

Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values and strategic goals of UNDP.

People Skills:

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.

Partnering and Networking:

Builds and sustains relationships with key constituents (Internal/external/bilateral/multilateral/public/private; civil society)

Innovation and 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.

Job Knowledge and Expertise:

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, economics, earth sciences, natural resource economics, political sciences, or related social sciences, or other closely related field.

Experience and Requirements:

Master's Degree with 7 years' work experience on issues related to climate policy, climate risk, vulnerability reduction and capacity development. Past experiences on climate change finance is an advantage;
Background in partnership building is preferred;
Experience in working with government, donors or the UN previously is an asset;
Experience in development work in the area of climate change, climate change finance, natural resource management, and related issues;
Familiarity with policy dialogues and advisory functions involving government counterparts and other stake-holders;
Good knowledge and understanding of the global debate on climate change and experience in multilateral environmental debates and dialogues and processes;
Proven experience and knowledge of country's institutional framework and policies of climate change is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in written and spoken English. Fluency in, or working knowledge of, other UN languages is an asset.