Result of ServiceThe Lead Technical Specialist Consultant for Panama will contribute to the Climate Ambition and Transparency Team’s achievement of these main goals:

•  Collectively improve the overall knowledge of the scope and functioning of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement in Panama, but also in Argentina, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and El Salvador through a regional approach
•  Enable the relevant stakeholders from these participating countries to comply with the institutional, technical, and operational requirements necessary to establish or participate in new or existing carbon markets. This will not only contribute to the participating countries’ fulfillment of the goals set in their NDCs but also promote increased ambition and cooperation among national governments in meeting their commitments under the Paris Agreement. Under the direct supervision of UNEP’s Programme Manager Officer for the Climate Change Unit, the consultant shall perform the following activities:
•  Coordinate day to day oversight of project execution in relation to activities for Panama.
•  Provide guidance with the coordination the day-to-day activities for Panama.
•  Work in close collaboration with the NDA of Panama and maintain a fluid conversation, to design high-quality deliverables developed based on the country’s priorities.
•  Provide technical inputs and timely revision to the deliverables specifically tailored for Panama.
•  Ensure a high-quality implementation of the activities designed for Panama.
•  Prepare progress reports for activities for Panama.
•  Ensure coordination with relevant national institutions and government ministries of Panama to guarantee that project activities are distinct and fully complementary to other national initiatives.
•  Attend inception workshops and national steering committee meetings.
•  Liaise with national stakeholders and engage with local climate change involved entities.
•  Provide technical insights to all national and international experts involved.

Work LocationMinistry of Environment of Panama, Panama City, Panama

Expected duration12 Months

Duties andResponsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). One of the most relevant challenges the implementation of the Paris Agreement poses to countries is to count with strong Transparency Frameworks. Article 13 of the Paris Agreement establishes the need of Parties to implement national robust and transparent monitoring, reporting, verification, and accounting systems to give clarity on action and support while providing clear information to stakeholders to be available to assess if the necessary is being done in relation to compliance with the commitments assumed to face climate change. As part of building and enhancing their Transparency Frameworks, Parties of the United Nations Frame Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) -will progressively implement better tools and institutional arrangements, as many of them not sufficiently developed in the countries. The UNFCCC enhanced transparency framework demands substantial and immediate progress in the countries´ domestic Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems and strategic de-carbonization and adaptation planning. This entails moving from often disintegrated and often different methodological approaches in data management to an integrated and robust system. The success of the Paris Agreement hinges on enhanced transparency of action and support, as a critical foundation to making its bottom-up country-led approach work, as well as mutual trust and confidence amongst Parties. In this line, the UNEP Transparency and Climate Ambition Team has developed, together with eight (8) countries of the region, a Regional Readiness Project “Capacity Building in Carbon Markets and Article 6â€. This proposal seeks to collectively improve: i) the overall knowledge of the scope and functioning of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement in Panama, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and El Salvador through a regional approach and, ii) support the relevant stakeholders from these participating countries to comply with the institutional, technical and operational requirements to establish or participate in new or existing carbon markets. This will not only support the participating countries to comply with the goals established in their NDCs but it also allows the national governments to increase their ambition, transparency and cooperation among parties in their commitments under the Paris Agreement. Therefore, the Climate Ambition and Transparency Team is looking for a Country Leader for Panama to steer down the execution of the Readiness activities in Panama, and whom will i) work in close collaboration with the international – individual consultants and firms in the development of activities and deliverables for Panama, ii) provide technical inputs to ensure high quality Readiness deliverables, iii) maintain fluid conversations with Panama´s NDAs and local stakeholders and, iv) ensure that activities are developed according to Panama’s national circumstances and priorities. The Lead Technical Specialist Consultant will be supervised by UNEP’s Programme Manager Officer for the Climate Change unit. The incumbent will be based at the Ministry of Environment of Panama in Panama City, Panama, and will be expected to comply with 20 hours per week (part-time), Monday to Friday, based on the Government priorities.

Qualifications/special skillsACADEMIC:

•  Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences, economics, finance, administration, political science, international relations, environmental engineering, or related studies is required.
•  A Master’s degree in environmental sciences, climate change, economics, finance, administration, political science, international relations or related fields is desirable. PROFESSIONAL:
•  General Experience: At least four (4) years of experience in public policy, climate change mitigation, environmental sciences, environmental economics, climate policy, research, or related fields is required.
•  Specific Experience: At least two (2) years of specific work experience in public institutions is desirable.
•  Experience working in carbon markets and Article 6 is highly desirable. LANGUAGE:
•  Fluency in Spanish. (required)
•  Confident level of English. (desirable). SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: PROFESSIONALISM:
•  Excellent understanding of global and national climate change issues related to transparency and carbon markets.
•  Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to climate change mitigation and adaptation planning, and intergovernmental climate change negotiations. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations. TEAMWORK:
•  Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING:
•  Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.