Job Identification : 13700

Locations : Tunisia

Posting Date : 10/24/2023, 08:40 AM

Apply Before : 11/12/2023, 09:40 AM

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : UNCDF

Grade : NPSA-11

Vacancy Type : National Personnel Service Agreement

Practice Area : Nature, Climate and Energy

Education & Work Experience : Master’s Degree

Other Criteria : Bachelor’s Degree – 2 year(s) experience

Required Languages : Fluency in French, and working knowledge of English is required

Desired Languages : Language of the duty station (Arabic) is desirable, and knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Vacancy Timeline

2 Weeks

Job Description

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

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.

1. Office/Unit/Project Description (max 300 words)

The United Nations Capital Development Fund makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 46 least developed countries. https://www.uncdf.org

The Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) is a mechanism to integrate climate change into local authorities’ planning and budgeting through the regular intergovernmental fiscal transfer system using performance-based grants in a participatory and gender sensitive manner, increase awareness and capacities to respond to climate change at the local level including through ecosystem-based solutions, and increase the quality and number of local investments that address climate change. LoCAL combines performance-based climate resilience grants (PBCRGs), which ensure programming and verification of change expenditures at the local level, with technical and capacity-building support. It uses the grants and demonstration effect to trigger further flows for local climate action including global climate finance and national fiscal transfers. LoCAL also aims to support private finance for small and medium businesses and municipal finance and public-private partnerships.

https://www.uncdf.org/local/homepage

LoCAL-Tunisia

LoCAL Tunisia is part of the programme called “Appui à l’action environnementale en Tunisie” aimed at improving the sustainability of the Tunisian economy and initiate its ecological transition through changing consumers and producers’ behaviours. Building on the achievements of the Clima-Med initiative, with the following objectives:

•  Political and civic dialogue is effectively engaged in the fight against climate change.
•  Ecological progress comes from investments at the local level.
•  The private sector develops, alone or in partnership, modes of production of goods and management of services in line with the principles of the green and blue economy.

LoCAL Tunisia is foreseen to start in early 2023 for a period of 5 years. This position will be based in Tunis, Tunisia.

2. Scope of Work (5 to 7 items only)

Within this programme context, UNCDF is seeking a Climate Change Technical Specialist. S/He will contribute to the daily implementation of the project which includes providing technical advice on climate change issues and environmental sustainability to government counterparts at national and sub-national levels; leading the technical dialogue and provision of policy and technical specialist services in relation to climate change information and assessments, climate mainstreaming, and contribute to the technical dialogue on climate finance and (direct) access to international climate finance; ensuring the adequate integration of environment and climate considerations in the LoCAL; supporting piloting and establishment of a national local information system for adaptation in addressing hazards, vulnerabilities and exposure of target local governments (communes) and their communities in relation to climate change; and for the integration of environment and climate change issues in the local government development and investment plans and budgets that foster gender equality and climate resilient local economies, aligned with the LoCAL’s investment menu. The Climate Change Technical Specialist is also expected to contribute to the management of day-to-day implementation of selected activities related to climate change and environmental sustainability; and report preparation in the section related to Climate.

The Climate Change Technical Specialist’s key focus areas will be:

•  Programme management (25%)
•  Policy, regulatory and technical advice to government counterparts and key stakeholders (35%)
•  Knowledge management and communication (20%)
•  Networking and partnership building (20%)

[KS1]

1.) Programme Management (25%)

•  Execute, oversee and monitor the day-to-day implementation of selected activities related to climate change and environmental sustainability;
•  Contribute to the management of the risk log of the project;
•  Contribute to the preparation and timely submission of comprehensive technical and financial reports in line with contractual agreements including semi-annual reporting;
•  Organize consultative meetings, seminars and workshops to drive analytical and policy work of the Programme.

2.) Policy, regulatory and technical advice to government counterparts and key stakeholders (35%)

•  Provide policy, regulatory and technical advice on climate change issues and environmental sustainability to government counterparts at national and sub-national levels;
•  Lead the technical dialogue and provision of policy and technical specialist services to national and local government counterparts in relation to climate change information and assessments, climate mainstreaming, and contribute to the technical dialogue on climate finance and (direct) access to international climate finance;
•  Ensuring the adequate integration of environment and climate considerations (e.g. specifications) in the investments delivered in the context of the programme, in line with the programme design document;
•  Support “Learning by doing” for the piloting and establishment of a national local information system for adaptation, addressing hazards, vulnerabilities and exposure of target local governments (communes) and their communities in relation to climate change; and for the integration of environment and climate change issues in the local government development and investment plans and budgets that foster gender equality and climate resilient local economies, aligned with the LoCAL’s investment menu.

3.) Knowledge management and communication (20%)

•  Contribute to the implementation of the Communication and Visibility Plan of the Programme, in collaboration with Project team, partners and technical consultants;
•  Identify key knowledge constraints and organize learning, knowledge exchange, training, workshops, etc. to build the awareness and capacities on relevant themes (i.e. climate change, local climate risk assessments, environmental sustainability, mainstreaming, etc.);
•  Identify, collect and disseminate best practices and lesson learned from the Programme in areas of specialty

4.) Networking and Partnership building (20%)

•  Maintain close working relationships with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Environment, NDA, UNFCCC focal points and other key stakeholders at various levels in order to support the quality of the execution of the PBCRGS and its key results areas, to expand the mechanism in Tunisia, in close coordination with senior management and other team members;
•  Support the participation of UNCDF in working groups and steering committees on the issue of environment and climate change and related sectors and provide inputs for conducive policy and regulatory environment

3. Institutional Arrangement

The Climate Change Technical Specialist, reports to the Programme Manager, IPSA 11, based in Tunis, and works under the overall guidance of the Global Manager, P-5, based in Kampala, Uganda and in close collaboration with the LoCAL global Facility and LTF colleagues across the region.

This is not needed for a VA [KS1] [KS1]

4. Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously

LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility

LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination

LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner

LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies)

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Business Direction & Strategy

System Thinking

Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

External Relations & Advocacy

Communication

Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change

Partnership management

Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms

Partnership management

Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objective

Programme and Policy

Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery

Climate Risk Management Disaster and Climate Risk Governance

Nature, Climate and Energy

Climate Change Policies: Climate Finance

Nature, Climate and Energy

Climate Change Policies: Governance / integrated planning for climate change investments in the context of urbanization

Please refer to the competency framework site for the entire list of competencies and further explanations

5. Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education

•  An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental science and management, climate science, geographic studies, international development or a related field is required
•  A first-level university degree in the above areas with 9 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

Min. years of relevant Work experience

•  A minimum of seven(7) years (with Master’s degree) OR 9 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of experience in the field of climate change (preferably on adaptation), environmental management and/or Earth Science discipline, climate science applied to development is required
•  A minimum of three (3) years’ experience related to environmental assessments, climate risk and vulnerability assessments, climate modelling, geographical information system (GIS) and/or risk mapping, in particular at the local level is required.

Required skills

•  Minimum 3 years’ experience in context developing solution on climate action on how to tackle climate change at local level in Tunisia is required
•  Knowledge of climate change issues and its potential impacts on local economic development is required

Desired additional skills and competencies

•  Work experience with central government and Ministry of Environment and knowledge of government systems is highly desirable
•  Experience of designing, developing, and using knowledge products, mentoring, training, or outreach, in the context of climate change is highly desirable
•  Strong networking capabilities and ability to associate him/herself with a range of actors (inter alia central and local governments; policy makers; national statistics office and donors, local communities, women and youth) with a view to building relations and facilitating links;
•  A minimum of three (3) years’ experience working on policy, regulatory and technical specialist services with national and local counterparts will be considered as an asset;
•  Knowledge of the UNFCCC process and the role of climate finance is an advantage
•  Experience with a UN organization/agency is desirable;
•  Proven cross-cultural experience, able to function effectively in an international, multicultural environment.

Required Language(s) (at working level)

•  Fluency in French, and working knowledge of English is required
•  Language of the duty station (Arabic) is desirable, and knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

6. The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

•  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.
•  A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
•  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.

7. Annexes to the TOR

•  Links to any relevant (non-confidential) materials that may help candidates gain a better understanding of the office/unit/project context.
•  Organigram of the office/unit/project indicating the position of the function (for internal use only).

Disclaimer

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Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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