UNDP Jobs - 102425- Individual Consultant – Energy, Biodiversity and C

Individual Consultant – Energy, Biodiversity and Climate Action Capacity Assessment Expert

Location :

Kampala, UGANDA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

27-Oct-2021

Application Deadline :

13-Oct-21 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

15 days to be spread over a period of 4 weeks

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

Background

The four-year Sida-UNDP Programme on Environment and Climate Change (Sida Programme) (2020- 2023) is designed to help UNDP deliver better external country results in line with its Signature Solutions. It supports the need for strengthened internal capacities to achieve UNDP’s overall sustainable development (SD) vision for poverty eradication through a more integrated, coherent approach to the environmental and climate dimensions of its Strategic Plan.

The Programme is grounded in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the emerging post-2020 global Biodiversity Framework and linked multilateral environmental conventions and agreements, as well as the challenges and opportunities around COVID-19. The programme includes an overarching priority on poverty eradication and an understanding of the many direct links between multidimensional poverty and natural resource management.

To address development challenges in an integrated manner, the Sida Programme builds stronger coordination and synergies at the global, regional, and country levels across four complementary thematic areas:

Sustainable management and use of ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural capital.
Sustainable water and ocean governance.
Scaling up climate action for Sustainable Development, and
Sustainable Food Systems nexus.

The Programme also builds stronger coordination and synergies across a closely linked set of cross-cutting themes on gender equality and women’s empowerment, conflict sensitivity, and finance.

The Sida Programme supports UNDP Uganda’s internal capacities to enhance the Country Office (CO)’s quality and delivery of its projects and overall programme. To this end, the Sida Programme aims to better connect the dots across Uganda’s Nature, Climate and Energy (NCE) portfolio and strengthen the internal capacities of the CO for integrated programming in ways that contribute to accelerated structural transformations for SD.

Application Process

Applicants are requested to apply online at http://jobs.undp.org by 13th October 2021. The application document can be accessed on https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=84135 . Candidates are invited to submit applications together with their CV for these positions. UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that will consider the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals. Qualified women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply. Interested applicants should send an email to: ug.procurement@undp.org for any inquiries.

Duties and Responsibilities

Job Summary

The Consultant, under the guidance of the Team Leader (TL) – NCE with day-to-day support of the thematic leads, will undertake the capacity assessment of the NCE CO together with selected implementing partners to deliver in the 3 thematic areas of: biodiversity financing, climate action, and renewable energy, with data management, knowledge sharing and communications as cross-cutting. S/He will deliver the following.

Tasks for the consultant Using the Sida Programme Capacity Assessment and Action Plan Toolkit assess capacities of the country office in biodiversity to include among others, the financing needs for implementing BIOFIN and removal of financial disincentives needed to strengthen community livelihoods.
Using the Sida Programme Capacity Assessment and Action Plan Toolkit assess capacities of the country office in supporting policy and regulatory frameworks to promote access to renewable energy.
Assess capacities of the Country Office and key partners geared towards climate action capabilities with special reference to Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) focal institutions, cognizant of the gender equality, social environment standards and knowledge management and propose measures to strengthen those capacities including enhanced access to financing for climate action and NDC implementation.
Using the Sida Programme Capacity Assessment and Action Plan Toolkit, assess and identify areas to promote greater knowledge management, strategic communications, and the sharing of best practices around lessons learned, success stories and innovations related to integrated country programming across the NCE portfolio.

Key Result Areas:

Support to the CO in identifying the capacity gaps under the Nature Climate Energy portfolio with regards to Biodiversity, NDC, and energy
Development of actionable capacity building actions to boost /improve CO delivery

Time Frame:

The assignment will take 15 days, to be spread over a period of 4 weeks.

Desk Review and Inception report writing - 3 days
Presentation of Inception Report - 1 day
Consultations with Staff and IPs – 6 days
Report writing - 3 days
De-briefing /presentation to stakeholders - 1 day
Incorporation of comments and submission of final report - 1 day

Total days - 15 days

Deliverables

Inception report
CO Capacity Assessment carried out
A summary report on the CO capacity assessment process, highlighting the methodology, findings, lessons, challenges, and recommendations for CO.

Competencies

Core Competencies

Innovation: Ability to make new and useful ideas work
Exercise’s stakeholder-centered design approaches for office / programme / division
Leadership: Ability to persuade others to follow
Ensures teams are resourced for success and empowered to deliver
People Management: Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
Guides substantive specialists / teams and expands credibility and innovation capacity
Communication: Ability to listen, adapt, persuade, and transform
Creates confidence among stakeholders by delivering authoritative positions, compelling analysis, and contextual acumen
Delivery: Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement
Accepts accountability for the outcomes of programme delivery and facilitates improvement and innovation in the delivery of products and services

Technical/Functional Competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning

Promotes knowledge sharing and learning amongst colleagues and clients
Demonstrates technical expertise on Nature, Climate, Energy, Resilience programming
Actively works towards continuous learning development and operational effectiveness
Ability to support strategic planning, results-based programming, management, reporting as well as resource mobilization efforts.
Ability to support formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects
Knowledgeable about UNDP’s program management/strategy regulations, systems, and procedures
Strong interpersonal, negotiation and networking skills.
Analyses complex problems systematically and efficiently. Focuses on critical details while managing a broad perspective. Draws accurate conclusions and makes sound decisions.
Results Oriented: Uses initiative to deliver required outputs and planned results in accordance with time and budget targets
Demonstrates high tolerance for change, complexity, and unpredictability. Focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback.
Demonstrates strong conflict resolution skills
Handles confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude. Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Natural Resource Management, Social Sciences, Economics, Development Studies, or related field. A combination of education in several fields will be considered as an asset.

Work Experience:

Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in adult learning methodologies and capacity building; development project formulation and management, gender mainstreaming at the national or international level
Experience natural resources management especially in biodiversity, energy and/or climate action
Some experience in gender and Social Environmental Standards is added advantage
Experience in research and policy-level analysis, design, monitoring, and evaluation of development projects and needs assessments
Demonstrated knowledge and experience in dealing with the tools and systems related to empowerment and capacity development
Demonstrated strong analytical and problem-solving skills required.
Proven ability to work with multiple stakeholders and obtain buy in for project ideas with strong data collection, analysis, and presentation skills
Demonstrated ability to conduct strategic planning exercises and develop implementation plans and formal reports
Experience in advisory role, especially knowledge of Uganda’s development path/plans.
Demonstrable experience undertaking similar consultancies for international development organizations, preferably UNDP

Languages:

Full Proficiency in English required, with outstanding written and oral communication skills