Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work is carried out through a network of advisors and specialists located at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, to ensure that local knowledge and context-specific expertise is linked to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP provides its policy advisory and programme support functions through the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains, in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan. Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan and works closely with the Crisis Bureau (CB) that has the responsibility to guide and implement UNDP’s corporate crisis-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery. The Nature, Climate and Energy Team as part of the GPN, supports countries to promote and scale-up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

UNDP’s Nature, Climate and Energy Team as part of the Global Policy Network, supports countries to promote and scale-up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas. The NCE Team works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; supports country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implements the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on the environment, climate change, and energy.  One of the themes under the NCE is Climate Change Adaptation.

Responding to the urgent need for action to harness the land use and agriculture sectors’ potential for climate change mitigation and adaptation, UNDP has launched in 2020 the Support Programme on Scaling up Climate Ambition on Land Use and Agriculture through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) (SCALA). This German Ministry of Environment (BMU)-funded Programme is implemented between 2020 and 2025 and designed to assist countries to translate their NDC and/or NAPs into actionable and transformative climate solutions in land use and agriculture with multi-stakeholder engagement. This Programme is a joint effort of UNDP and FAO and a follow up to the BMU-funded Integrating agriculture into NAPs Programme (NAP-Ag). It is working across 12 countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa. A key outcome of the programme is to increase private sector engagement and investment to support the achievement of NDCs and NAPs.

Within this overall context, UNDP is seeking the support of a Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Officer to support the Programme’s implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Head of Climate Change Adaptation and the Lead Technical Specialist on NAP, and the supervision of the UNDP Technical Specialist on NAP (in charge of programme coordination), the Private Sector Engagement Officer will lead day-to-day operations on matters relating to the implementation of private sector engagement activities, including technical assistance, partnership development and knowledge management. They will work closely with the Private Sector Engagement Specialist in the UNDP CCA team.

The incumbent will:

  • Provide technical assistance to Country Offices on PSE activities as defined in country workplans
  • Liaise with the partner agency, FAO, on programmatic and operational matters pertaining to private sector engagement;
  • Liaise with relevant UNDP teams and practices that work on private sector engagement in agriculture (i.e. the Food and Agricultural Commodity Systems practice);
  • Liaise with government agencies, private sector actors and other external partners as needed to support the delivery of Programme activities
  • Monitor and track the delivery of all private sector-related deliverables under the Programme;
  • Lead the preparation of reports and knowledge products related to private sector engagement in the area of climate action;
  • Support the coordination of webinars and events related to PSE under the Programme

Competencies

Corporate

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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 favouritism.

Professionalism

  • Capable of working in a high-pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
  • Excellent analytical and organizational skills;
  • Exercises the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.

Teamwork

  • Works well in a team;
  • Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
  • Focuses on results for the client;
  • Welcomes constructive feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education

A Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics, Environmental Management, International Relations, International Development or closely related field.

A Bachelor’s degree in the fields listed above and 2 (two) additional years of experience could also be considered.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

At least 5 (five) years of experience in the area of private sector engagement or corporate social responsibility within the context of sustainable development,

Required  skills

Skills

  • Experience providing technical guidance to governments and/or private companies on promoting increased private sector engagement within the context of sustainable development
  • Experience in partnership development
  • Experience in knowledge management, including organizing events/webinars, drafting reports and developing knowledge products

Desired additional skills and competencies

  • Experience in coordinating, liaising and working with private sector actors including coalitions, financial institutions, SMEs and large companies
  • Demonstrated understanding of climate change adaptation and/or mitigation issues is a strong advantage
  • Experience in conducting value chain analysis and/or private sector actor mapping and/or business case development on climate change is a strong advantage;
  • Knowledge and experience of UNDP and/or UN agency and/or other development organizations is an asset; especially work experience on a multi-agency project/programme;
  • Experience working in a developing country context

Required Language(s) (at working level)

Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English

Proficiency in at least one of the following languages: French or Spanish would be an asset

Institutional Arrangement

  • The incumbent will work from home;
  • The incumbent will report to, and be directly supervised by the Technical Specialist on National Adaptation Plans, in consultation with the Head of CCA of the NCE and the Lead Technical Specialist on NAP;
  • The incumbent will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment;
  • The incumbent will be responsible for providing her/his own workstation (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to reliable internet connection;
  • Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the incumbent is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones;

Travel:   

a) UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.

b) Potential travel to one or more of the 12 programme countries might be expected should the COVID 19 situation allow.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

  1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
  2. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
  3. Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as  reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.