Title: National Expert for Environmental and Social Safeguards (re-advertised)

​Requisition ID: 2020

Grade: SB5 – Local Professional (Mid-Level & Senior)

Duty Station: Home Based in Maseru, Lesotho

Category: National Consultant Type of Job Posting: Internal and External

Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed Contract Duration: 39 working days over 12 months Application deadline: 22-Jun-2023

Vacancy Announcement TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL

Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions. Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS) under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization’s development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization’s normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute toward effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Division of Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy (TCS/DSE) under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, assists Member States in the transition to a sustainable energy future through the application of renewable energy solutions for productive uses, adoption of the efficient concepts of energy use by industry and the introduction of low-carbon technologies and processes. In transitioning to a sustainable energy future, the challenges of addressing energy poverty and climate change are an integral part of the Division’s activities, as is the dissemination of relevant knowledge and technologies and paths to plan, manage and finance the energy transition. It collaborates closely on relevant and converging issues with the Climate and Technology Partnerships Division (IET/CTP) and analytical and strategic matters with TCS/CPS and ODG/SPU.

This position is located under the Climate Technologies Innovation Unit (TCS/DSE/CTI) which is responsible for supporting Member States with access to and uptake of low-carbon, climate-friendly and clean energy technologies and innovations promoting those among firms and entrepreneurs. In addition, the Unit is responsible, in close collaboration with other relevant entities in the Organization, for facilitating the transfer of and establishing markets for low-carbon technologies, ensuring wide use by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate mitigation and resilience in recipient countries. The Unit positions UNIDO strategically in the global cleantech innovation support and coordinates partnerships with the technology mechanism of the UNFCCC, including the co-management of the CTCN on behalf of UNIDO.

PROJECT CONTEXT

“Enhancing Lesotho’s private sector readiness for a clean energy transition” is a UNIDO project developed and implemented in partnership with Ministry of Energy and Meteorology of Lesotho and the Green Climate Fund, under the GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme.

The project aims to enhance the readiness of Lesotho’s private sector to develop, commercialize, and invest in climate and clean energy (cleantech) solutions, as well as to maximize the economic growth opportunities embedded therein, while supporting Lesotho in reaching its NDC targets. To this end, this proposal will focus on three areas of intervention:

•  Strengthening private sector’s capacity, systems, and networks to support the planning, programing, and implementation of GCF funded activities
•  Developing a strategy to create a conducive environment for attracting private sector investment for cleantech solutions
•  Developing a pipeline of investment-grade solutions, and two concept notes to leverage private sector financing for large-scale deployment of cleantech solutions

Private sector capacity strengthening will involve two types of direct beneficiaries:

•  Business model enhancement and business growth support provided to private sector enterprises (early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs) that are developing innovative cleantech solutions
•  Training and certification of individuals as cleantech experts, to build their expertise and networks to coach and mentor early-stage enterprises

In addition, the present proposal will support the Government of Lesotho, and in particular the NDA, through the Private Sector Expert Committee. This Committee will be a formal channel for the NDA to solicit and receive private sector views and recommendations, and ensure that the private sector is are better represented and therefore fully engaged in the climate finance processes including the planning, programing and implementation of GCF funded activities.

The present proposal will further contribute to strengthening the cleantech ecosystem of Lesotho, by enhancing the interest and understanding of Lesotho’s private sector to invest in climate and energy action. The private sector engagement strategy will provide recommendations and action points that can guide Lesotho’s private sector to be better equipped and ready to absorb and leverage climate finance with home-grown innovative solutions and play a catalytic role in the market towards a clean energy transition.

Institutional Arrangements

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is the National Designated Authority (NDA) to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the main beneficiary of the GCF readiness support. The Department of Energy (DoE) of the MNR is the main technical counterpart.

UNIDO has been appointed as the Delivery Partner (DP). As the Delivery Partner, UNIDO is the lead implementing agency of the readiness support and will be responsible for its overall fiduciary and financial management, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation, as well as the procurement of all goods and services under this readiness support, all in compliance with UNIDO’s policies and procedures and with the Framework Agreement. UNIDO will conduct all readiness support activities under strategic guidance of the NDA as the main beneficiary, and in close consultation with and the Department of Energy of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) as the main government counterpart.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the UNIDO Project Manager, and the National Technical Expert and Project Coordinator (NTEPC), the National Expert for Environmental and Social Safeguards is responsible for the following duties and responsibilities.

Output 1.3.1

Cleantech specific business acceleration programme is developed and conducted to enhance capacity of enterprises to develop cleantech solutions into viable business models and products

Concrete / measurable outputs to be achieved:

•  technical inputs to ensure environmental and social safeguards are incorporated into the acceleration training curriculum and its operational guidelines (activity 1.3.1.1) May 2023
•  ESS screening of solutions supported through the accelerator (activity 1.3.1.2) November 2023
•  deliver 1 session on gender and youth dimensions during the cleantech accelerator (activity 1.3.1.2) August 2023

Expected duration: 8 days

Output 1.3.2

Cleantech innovation and entrepreneurship experts (trainers, mentors, judges) are trained and certified to support the acceleration programme

Concrete / measurable o utputs to be achieved:

•  technical inputs to ensure environmental and social safeguards are incorporated into the cleantech training curriculum and related materials (activity 1.3.2.1) January 2024
•  deliver 1 session per cycle on ESS during the train-the-trainer workshop (activity 1.3.2.2) April 2024

Expected duration: 4 days

Output 4.3.1

Pipeline of 20 cleantech solutions for investment developed and disseminated to investors and financial institutions

Concrete / measurable o utputs to be achieved:

•  technical inputs to ensure environmental and social safeguards are incorporated into the selection criteria (activity 4.3.1.1) June 2023
•  ESS screening of the 50 solutions (activity 4.3.1.2) September 2023

Expected duration: 20 days

Output 4.3.2

Two concept notes for priority sectors developed and submitted to the GCF

Concrete / measurable o utputs to be achieved:

•  technical inputs to ensure ESS considerations incorporated in the concept notes (activity 4.3.2.1) March 2024

Expected duration: 6 days

Output 5.1.1

Impact report produced and disseminated

Concrete / measurable o utputs to be achieved:

•  technical inputs to impact report (activity 5.1.1.2) April 2024

Expected duration: 1 day

The required level of input is estimated to be 39 person-days. The assignment is expected to start in May 2023, and will be spread through 12 months as per the needs of the project work plan until April 2024. The National Expert for Environmental and Social Safeguards will adapt his/her schedule to the overall project schedule and commit to provide the expected output with strict respect of the deadlines.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in environmental science or other relevant discipline with focus on Environmental and Social Safeguards is required.

Experience, technical and functional expertise

•  A minimum of five (5) years proven experience in environmental impact assessment process, environmental compliance, environmental policy, monitoring and management, preferably in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is required;
•  Technical background and experience in developing safeguards for energy projects is required;
•  Knowledge of and experience in sustainable development and climate change is required;
•  Demonstrated ability to work independently and within a multi-disciplinary team of experts is required;
•  Proven ability to generate and sustain ongoing consultation and meaningful participatory processes with a wide cross section of stakeholders is desired;
•  Knowledge and experience in business acceleration and investment facilitation support required by the private sector in Lesotho or SADC desired;
•  Understanding of linkages between climate action, clean energy transition and the business opportunities therein for early-stage enterprises and SMEs in SADC countries or Lesotho desired;
•  Knowledge of and experience implementing international social safeguards policies/standards (e.g. GCF, World Bank, GEF, IFC or IADB) desired.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core Values

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.

Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants: UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org