UNDP Jobs - 82521- Individual Consultant - SWITCH-Asia National Coord

Individual Consultant - SWITCH-Asia National Coordinator for India

Location :

New Delhi, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Jan-2019

Application Deadline :

21-Dec-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

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

The Asia region consumes more materials than the rest of the world combined, and is still at a nascent stage of socio economic development. This indicates a huge increase in consumption and production to come within the next decades. Action is needed now to strengthen the enabling framework for more sustainable consumption and production patterns, so that the region moves towards an inclusive green economy.

India, the second biggest country in the world, leads the economic growth and simultaneously growth rates of consumption of natural resources and materials. India recently launched a Resource Efficiency strategy in the hopes of improving resurce efficiency at the national level, as well as in key sectors.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UN Environment’s sub programme on Resource Efficiency works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of sustainable consumption and production, green economy, green financing, green cities and other related areas; and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. In Asia Pacific, UN Environment Programme operates through its Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and works in 41 countries in the region.

SWITCH-Asia is the European Commission programme for Sustainable Consumption and Production with the aim of contributing to Poverty Alleviation and reducing Emissions affecting Climate Change. UN Environment Programme is leading the implementation of one pillar in SWTICH-Asia II project (2017-2022) on regional policy advocacy on sustainable consumption and production and Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

The overall objective of the programme SWITCH-Asia II is to promote sustainable growth, to contribute to the economic prosperity and poverty reduction in Asia and to support the development of a green economy and mitigation of climate change in the target countries.

The focus of the Project is on mainstreaming sustainable consumption and production and resource efficiency policies at the national level, through policy advocacy at the Regional and Sub-regional level. This will be done with an active involvement of policymakers and key recipient government stakeholders to ensure their ownership and to build capacity to respond to specific national and regional priorities. The project will also engage institutions and mechanisms operating at the international, regional and national levels to deliver support for the design and implementation of the policy instruments.

India, a leader in the fight against climate change and plastic waste, is one of key countries for this project to learn from its experiences for cross-fertilization in the region and also to support its efforts to further accelerate the pace of transforming towards sustainable consumption and production.

In addressing this objective, the Regional Policy Advocacy Component has the following specific objectives which are to be implemented under three main outputs:

Output 1: Advocate SCP related regulatory framework at regional, sub-regional and national level (e.g. reporting on SDG on SCP related goals, SCP mainstreaming, etc.) shared globally and with other regions;
Output 2: Demonstrate effective Sustainable Consumption and Production policy instruments; and
Output 3: Support the uptake of SDG12 (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns) and related SDG targets across the 2030 Agenda.

The project contributes to a cross section of SDGs, primarily the achievement of targets under SDG12 on Sustainable Consumption and Production, as well as other Sustainable Consumption and Production related SDGs outlining cooperation mechanisms, such as multi-stakeholder dialogue platforms, strengthening of statistics capacity, and trade considerations.

Duties and Responsibilities

2. Purpose of the Contract

The National Coordinator will be appointed as an Individual Contractor (IC), and will support SWITCH-Asia project for regional policy advocacy coordination engaging Government and stakeholders in India. The policy advocacy coordination will be with SWITCH-Asia counterpart ministry/department, the inter-departmental exchange group for SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), as well as other partner departments in planning, coordinating and implementing of activities related with sustainable consumption and production including in energy sector, cities, transport and so on. The Coordinator will seek to identify linkages with relevant national government agencies, policy processes and important international processes, in particular the country’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and implement the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) linked with sustainable consumption and production.

3. Reporting structure

The National Coordinator will be based at the UN Environment India Office. The Coordinator will report to the Programme Officer responsible for SWITCH-Asia II at UN Environment Asia Pacific Office (Bangkok) with additional reporting lines to UN Environment India Office.

4. Expected outputs to be delivered (as per SWITCH-Asia II Project)

The theory of change for this project will resulted into “governments and their stakeholders in Asia Pacific have started implementing sustainable growth models and policies to support the development of inclusive green economy, pollution control and climate change mitigation while contributing to their economic prosperity and poverty reduction.”

The Coordinator will be part of core team implementing SWITCH-Asia II for the above state theory of change.

Under the overall supervision of the Regional Efficiency Coordinator of UN Environment Programme Office for Asia and Pacific, the National Coordinator will be responsible for the following duties and results, in close consultation with SWTICH-Asia project team of UN Environment Asia Pacific office:

Support the planning and implementation of regional and sub-regional forums and knowledge products involving policy makers, private sector and consumers.
Analyse, consolidate, and track trends in the policies and gaps in India for sustainable consumption and production, especially the mainstreaming of green technology, from various entry points such as, but not limited to, energy, natural resources, materials, cities, transport, etc.
Develop and implement partnership activities, as well as manage relationships to contribute to the outcomes of the project to facilitate access to green technology and green finance for the implementation of policies and regulatory frameworks in promoting sustainable consumption and production working with all the team members.
Support from India to mobilise intra-Asia regional and interregional (Especially Asia-Africa) dialogue on green technology and green finance and bringing global level attention to the regional SCP Roadmap implementation e.g. Asia Africa dialogue, SDG High Level Platform, UNFCCC.
Facilitating and leveraging at least two strategic regional partnerships, especially with the private Sector, for innovative green technology and green finance solutions to the accelerate regional SCP Roadmap implementation and national interventions, to inform policy entry points for stakeholders for sustainable consumption and production such as climate change commitments (adaptation and mitigation), SDGs, green economy and green financing, sustainability, gender and human wellbeing with a focus on green technology and green finance.
Facilitate at least one Young Professionals (public and private sector) training and mentoring initiatives on mainstreaming SCP in various sectors such as Energy, Plastics and Waste Management, Transport, and Cities with a focus on green technology and green finance.
Support the design at least four SCP communications products especially targeted at policy outreach for consumers, the private sector and governments, and increasing the profile and visibility of successful innovations and leaders including at events, online and linking with UN Environment Campaigns such as #BeatPollution, #BreatheLife, #CleanSeas.
Facilitate the linking between investors, technology solutions and infrastructure development to accelerate SCP regional/subregional dialogue on investment initiatives focusing on sustainable public procurement, green technology and green finance.
Produce at least two policy assessments of best practices and trends in SCP and SDG 12 implementation at national and subregional levels including private sector engagements, delivery of SDG indicators, access to green technology and green financing.
Produce at least two Policy Information Documents and ensure high visibility with Partners, media and institutions to increase the outreach of the Project’s outputs.
Assist in developing and maintaining narrative reporting for overall project for the donor (the European Commission) and UN Environment Programme and provide the updates in line with the reporting requirements.
Ensure integration of the activities of SWITCH Asia II with other UN Environment projects in India to increase impact and partnerships, and raise co-financing for project in related areas including energy efficiency, waste management, air pollution management, poverty alleviation, natural resources management and climate change mitigation.
Support, participate in or lead field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
Contribute to activity and overall project monitoring, reporting and evaluation, including that of Programme and Finance.
Perform other duties as required.

NOTE: Most of the results will require more detailed consultations with national stakeholders and with the project team of SWITCH-Asia II (UN Environment Asia Pacific office) to support the respective outputs. The scope, timing and sequencing of the outputs are therefore subject to change. Here the guidance, technical oversight and quality support by designated officials from the UN Environment are essential, who may adjust the outputs through common agreement with the Coordinator.

Competencies

Competencies and Critical Success Factors

Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity
Acting as a team player and facilitating team work, initiative-taking
Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
Learning and sharing knowledge and encouraging the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing
Informed and transparent decision making

Development and Operational Effectiveness

Ability to efficiently and effectively manage complex issues with partners of the public and private sectors, including with people of different national and cultural backgrounds
Demonstrates good knowledge of sustainable consumption and production concepts
Demonstrates good knowledge of the public and private sectors of PR China
Understanding of results frameworks

Knowledge Management and Learning

Shares knowledge and experience
Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Leadership and Self-Management

Demonstrates problem-solving, teamwork and coordination skills and strong ability to manage demanding and complex programmes, focuses on result
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Building Strategic Partnerships

Analyses general information and selects materials in support of partnership building initiatives
Able to communicate technical concepts to policy practitioners, including senior government officials

Required Skills and Experience

Required Qualifications

Advanced university degree having a focus on gender mainstreaming in environmental studies, natural resource management, science, related discipline, or the equivalent combination of education and experience in a relevant field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management or related area with a focus on policy analysis and outreach in the field of sustainable consumption and production, and or resource efficiency, particularly in accessing, advocating for and mainstreaming sustainable development. Experience working in Asia-Pacific region, especially with the private sector in technology and sustainability related issues and familiarity in mobilising policy dialogue and partnerships is desirable. Previous experience of directly working with the government of India and/or UN agencies is highly desirable.

Languages: Fluency in spoken and written English. Excellent oral and written communications skills. Knowledge of a local language is an asset.

Application:

All applications should be submitted via UNDP Jobs Website.

Technical Criteria weight - 70 marks

Educational Qualification - 20 points
Experience in relevant field - 50 points

Financial Criteria weight - 30 marks

Financial Proposals to be submitted.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

for any clarification, Please write to: ic.india@undp.org