APAN Network Coordinator

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

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.

UNEP’s Asia and the Pacific Office geographically serves 41 countries across the region to promote and implement sustainable development solutions. It assists countries of the region pursue sustainability, particularly in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including technical expertise, facilitating access to finance, undertaking cutting-edge science-policy assessments, offering advisory services and strengthening laws, policies, management and governance.

UNEP works with national and local authorities, civil society, other UN organizations, research institutions and the private sector to catalyze the efficient use of the region’s natural assets and reduce the degradation of the environment.

The overall objective of the UNEP's Asia and the Pacific Office is to support countries in the region to address environmental degradation, and negative effects on human well-being including climate change in close collaboration with other Divisions of UN Environment. It helps countries address pollution, increase resilience to climate change and reflect linkages between other environmental dimensions in their development planning. The position is under the Climate Change Sub-Programme in the Asia and the Pacific Office.

The Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN), developed and launched by the United Nations Environment Programme in 2009 under the Global Adaptation Network (GAN), is the first regional adaptation network. APAN is an open network that strives to equip adaptation actors in the region with knowledge for designing and implementing adaptation measures, building capacity to access technologies and finance, and integrating climate change adaptation into policies, strategies, and plans towards building climate change resilient and sustainable human systems, ecosystems, and economies. APAN has established a good partnership with key sub-regional organizations and become a key adaptation knowledge mobilizer in the Asia and the Pacific Region.

The UN Volunteer, as part of the Climate Change team for Asia and the Pacific Office, will act as a coordinator APAN and will support the function of APAN Secretariat, hosted by UNEP Asia and the Pacific Office. The work of the APAN is to facilitate the exchange of information and knowledge about adaptation and it works through a series of partners and regional platforms.

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Coordinator, Climate Change Sub-Programme and the overall guidance by the Regional Director, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Act as a Network Coordinator of APAN and coordinate all APAN activities including updating APAN workplan for 2022 and 2023. • Manage one communications consultant and one APAN Forum technical consultant • Lead on maintaining regular communications, monitoring and reporting to Ministry of Environment, Government of Japan • Lead on overall planning and execution of the 8th APAN Forum including among other tasks: o Coordination of all advisory committee meetings, note-taking and applying recommendations and suggestions made by technical partners in the planning and execution o Oversight of the 8th APAN Forum webpage o Partners outreach in the region to strengthen collaboration on APAN Forum’s four resilience areas and five enablers o Identification of speakers and communication with speakers including invitations, speaker briefings, etc. o Coordination of pre-forum webinars o Liaison with Administrative and Finance officers o Liaison with Forum hosts and co-organizers o Provision of inputs and review: Forum concept note, Forum programme book, Forum detailed agenda, Resilience outlook report/ factsheet, Forum summary report • Oversight of APAN website migration to UNEP website • Support delivery of AP-PLAT activities, a partner knowledge platform initiated by the Ministry of Environment, Government of Japan • Support delivery of activities of Global Adaptation Network (GAN) in Asia and the Pacific Region and maintain a close link with GAN Coordinator and other regional networks under GAN. • Keeping abreast of adaptation events in the region and exploring opportunities for APAN to connect/support and increase visibility of APAN work on climate change adaptation knowledge. • Maintain APAN email list-serve including updating contact lists for APAN including a database of adaptation contacts, organizations, companies, and renowned experts along with their areas of expertise. • Making regular contact with leading adaptation experts including in the private sector, and keeping abreast/discovering what they’re working on, interest and expertise (for potential involvement in projects, publications, sessions, webinars) on climate adaptation and related areas. • Gathering information on regional adaptation reading to feed into regular APAN newsletters and learning digests. Develop content in the form of articles, stories, op-eds or other for APAN newsletters and APAN website. • Organising virtual or in-person adaptation events, webinars, seminars or sessions. • Contributing to the delivery of UNEP’s MTS 2022-25 Programme of Work related to Climate action, Nature action and Pollution. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day) (IVD). • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • Provide annual and end of assignment reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities using UNV’s Volunteer Reporting Application. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers. • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected Output:

As an active UNEP Climate Change Team and APAN team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNEP, its partners and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• Monthly reports covering activities carried out and outputs delivered as well as contributions made in adaptation discussions by APAN • APAN newsletters and learning digests are published • Narrative and financial reports are submitted to Ministry of Environment, Government of Japan • APAN’s email list is maintained • Web-stories about APAN activities are published • Virtual or in-person adaptation events, webinars, seminars, or sessions are organised • Successfully deliver the 8th APAN Forum • Partnerships with APAN Knowledge partners are maintained

The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counter-parts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to United Nations Environment Programme; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to United Nations Environment Programme procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards United Nations Environment Programme’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Climate Change, Environment Studies, Environ-mental Policy/Law, Natural Resources Management or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. • At least 5 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in climate change adaptation or other closely relevant programmes. Working experience with national government in Asia and the Pacific region will be an asset. Previous experience working in the UN or other international development organization is also desirable. • Experience in program management in developing countries is desirable.

Bangkok has similar conditions to any relatively developed city in the world.

The climate of Thailand is tropical, with three distinct seasons, i.e. a hot season from March to mid-May, a rainy season caused by the southwest monsoon, which generally runs from mid-May to October, and a dry and relatively cool season from November to February, when the north-east monsoon, coming from the Asian continent, prevails. However, the relatively cool season is felt in the north and in inland areas, while on the coasts and in the south it's hot even in winter.