UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.
New York Portfolio Office (NYPO) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.
Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners’ programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.
UNOPS has signed an agreement with the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) of the United Nations to implement the activities of the Climate Action Team (CAT) Project.
Following COP26 in Glasgow, there is less than a decade to prevent a climate breakdown. Without deep emissions cuts, the world is heading towards 2.4-degrees Celsius of warming with catastrophic consequences. At current levels of warming the world is experiencing unprecedented climate impacts. An increase in global average temperature above 1.5 degrees would mean extreme weather and climate disasters increasing in frequency and intensity, putting billions of people at immediate risk with significant parts of Africa becoming unlivable and whole countries ceasing to exist. The Secretary-General’s call to all countries, cities, companies and institutions to go into emergency mode on climate is needed more than ever.
While climate change risks undermining the 2030 Agenda, as well as the social, economic, and environmental pillars of sustainable development, climate action also presents an opportunity. Green investments boost growth and jobs; just transitions are inclusive and help to eradicate poverty; and enhancing carbon sinks strengthen biodiversity and resilience. It will be essential to ensure that the transformation of economies and societies takes place to enable accelerated climate action in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during this decade of action.
The objective of the Secretary-General’s climate action strategy throughout his second term will be to accelerate the pathway towards a resilient, low carbon world, that keeps the 1.5 degrees goal alive, and to secure the alignment of public and private finance to enable the necessary transitions to take place while leaving no one behind. COP26 made progress on mitigation, adaptation and finance.
It will be critical to build on progress made at COP26. The two-year period from Glasgow in November 2021 to the Global Stocktake in November 2023 will be essential to meeting this goal and is aligned with the complementary push for accelerated efforts during the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs by 2030. This will require enhanced coordination and collaboration across the UN System especially at the country level.
In order to support the Secretary-General’s Climate Action Strategy, the Climate Action Team is recruiting a Senior Programme Officer, Mitigation.
This is a position in UNOPS for supporting projects carried out for or in the United Nations Secretariat. The incumbent of this position will be a staff member of UNOPS under its full responsibility.
Funcional responsibilities
Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Director of Climate Ambition, the incumbent will provide substantive senior-level support on member state engagement. The responsibilities of the Senior Programme Manager [Mitigation] includes:
- Manage the engagement with relevant UN entities and other stakeholders to ensure coordination and alignment on issues relative to NDC enhancement, fossil fuel phase out, coal phase-out and related just transition strategies;
- Working with Energy Lead, design a strategy to track the NDC development process and assess their scientific rigor and their alignment with 1.5C.
- Working with Energy Lead, design and develop targeted fossil fuel and coal phase out and related just transition strategies.
- Contribute to the preparation of strategic notes and advice relating to the NDC enhancement, fossil fuel phase out, coal phase-out and related transition strategies.
- Monitor trends and innovations across energy sector in governments, private sector, and non-State actors to remain up to date on developments within the sector;
- Support the development of recommendations, briefing notes, key messages and inputs into speeches for SG and DSG engagements, working in collaboration with the relevant substantive departmental and interdepartmental stakeholders.
- Perform other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above.
Education/ Experience/ Language requirements
*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
*CANDIDATES WITH NO UNITED NATIONS OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree), preferably in International Relations or Public Policy or other relevant fields is required.
- Two (2) additional years of relevant work experience, in combination with a relevant first-level university (bachelor’s degree or equivalent), may substitute for the requirement of a master’s degree.
Required Experience:
- At least five (5) years of relevant professional experience in the field of climate change required with at least three (3) years of experience working in project management combined with policy research and analysis.
- Experience in identifying, strengthening, and leveraging relationships with key stakeholders to advance policy objectives is required.
- Strong familiarity with the Paris Agreement and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiation processes.
Language requirements
- Fluency in oral and written English is required.
Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: Fixed Term
Contract level: P4
Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability’.
For more details about United Nations staff contracts, please follow this link*:*
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/UN-Staff-Contracts.aspx