Chief Technical Advisor

This opening expired 1 year ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme

Open positions at UNEP
Logo of UNEP

Application deadline 1 year ago: Monday 22 Aug 2022 at 23:59 UTC

Open application form

Result of Service The Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will provide technical guidance and support to the implementation and technical completion of the project, in its last year of operation, working in close collaboration with the Project Manager (PM) and the UNEP Task Manager (TM). The indicative consultant outputs would include the following key deliverables: - Written reviews of technical reports produced by consultants and contractors; - Contributions to lessons learnt report and exit / sustainability strategy; - Annual work plan and budget revision; - Half-Yearly Progress Report (HYPRs); - Annual Progress Implementation Review (PIR) report; - Contributions to the project results verification and terminal evaluation processes; - Final project implementation report; - At least 1 mission report.

Work Location Home-based with travel to Rwanda

Expected duration The consultancy is for 12 months

Duties and Responsibilities Organizational Setting UN 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. UNEP’s Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Over the past decade, Rwanda has experienced strong economic growth across a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, energy, mining, industry and services. By adhering to green economy principles during this growth, the country has positioned itself to become a world leader in green growth. The pressures from a rapidly-growing population on land, water, food and energy resources are, however, currently threatening the sustainability of its development. Current and predicted effects of climate change are compounding these threats.

The main impacts of climate change in Rwanda are: i) an increased frequency of extreme flood events – by up to 30% in the short rainy season (September–November) and up to 50% in the long rainy season (March–May); ii) an increased duration and frequency of droughts; and iii) increased average temperatures. These impacts are expected to become more severe over the coming decades, with intense negative effects on agriculture, energy production, forestry and water supplies. To address the various threats posed by climate change, Rwanda has developed policies and strategies that are institutionalizing climate change adaptation at national, sectoral and district levels. The Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy (GGCRS), developed in 2011, is of particular relevance. It promotes an integrated approach to climate change adaptation and provides an overarching framework for adaptation planning and implementation by all sectors, institutions and government agencies.

To address the problems caused by floods, droughts and landslides in Rwanda, the project “Building resilience of communities living in degraded forests, savannas and wetlands of Rwanda through an ecosystem-based adaptation approach” uses an Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approach to restore degraded wetland, forest and savannah ecosystems and to increase the capacity of Rwandan authorities and local communities to adapt to climate change. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) / Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), for an initial duration of 4 years, extended to 6 years. The project includes the following interventions: i) strengthening the technical capacity of Rwanda to plan and implement EbA; ii) strengthening the policy and strategy framework in Rwanda to promote ecosystem restoration and management; iii) restoring ecosystems to increase their resilience to the effects of climate change; and iv) promoting sustainable and climate-resilient livelihoods.

In this regard, UNEP is seeking to recruit a Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) to provide technical guidance and support to the implementation and technical completion of the project, in its last year of operation, working in close collaboration with the Project Manager (PM) and the UNEP Task Manager (TM).

1. Duties and Responsibilities The Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) will be responsible for providing high quality technical guidance and advice for the effective implementation of the project and achievement of the planned results. Likewise, s/he will also facilitate and promote coordination and collaboration with other actors in the sector both at national and international levels. The CTA will provide overall technical and operational support to the Project Management Unit, and will be responsible for the following deliverables over the contract period: - Provide overall technical backstopping for the project - Provide advice on best suitable approaches and methodologies for the timely achievement project targets and objectives - Provide advice to the PM for planning the implementation of project activities, and on adjustments to the project Results Framework, Work Plan and Budget as required and in line with corporate requirements - Undertake technical review and provide quality assurance of project outputs (e.g. technical reports, studies and assessments) and field activities - Provide guidance and technical inputs to the work carried out by national and international consultants and/or companies - Review and provide inputs for the preparation of the project’s annual Project Implementation Review (PIR) and the Half-Yearly Progress Report (HYPR) - Make recommendations to the project staff and Project Steering Committee (PSC) for more effective implementation and coordination of project activities - Provide inputs and guidance to the project team on technical and financial reporting - Provide information and other inputs to the project closing process, including the drafting and review of the final project implementation report, and inputs and review for the Terminal Evaluation process - Provide advice and technical contributions to the project’s knowledge management, communications and awareness-raising activities, and document lessons from project implementation

Qualifications/special skills Skills: - Ability to effectively coordinate a large, multidisciplinary team of experts and consultants; - Excellent oral and presentation skills;

Academic Qualifications: An advanced University education (Master’s or PhD) in the area of natural resource management, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, environmental management/studies or environmental / natural resource economics is required

Experience: - At least 7 years of professional experience in senior technical lead positions in planning and management of environmental and/or natural resources management programmes is required, including institutional strengthening and capacity building, of which at least four are at an international or regional level, and four are in climate change adaptation; - Demonstrated experience in project development, implementation and management is required; - Previous experience with GEF project implementation is required, preferably in a CTA position; - Experience of working and collaborating with developing country governments is required; - Previous experience from the East Africa region is desirable.

Language: For this consultancy, fluency in spoken and written English, with excellent writing skills, is required.

No Fee THE 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.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org