Cities and Climate Change Technical Advisor

Contract

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

The purpose of the Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon and Resilient Cities (Urban-Act) project is to strengthen multi-level climate governance (MLCG) across 5 programmes countries: China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand. The focus of the four-year project is on enhancing the capacities of city governments to meaningfully engage in climate change dialogue and implementation. MLCG describes a vertically integrated, ‘whole-of-government’ approach for integrated climate action that is based on effective partnerships for aligning policies and practices between different levels of government and across sectors.

Urban-Act is financed by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) under the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and delivered through a broad consortium of partners including amongst others GIZ, UNESCAP, United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC), the University of Stuttgart and TU Dortmund University. The role of UNESCAP is to support regional dialogue and the collaboration of national government agencies for vertical integration of climate action in cities, climate-sensitive urban planning best practice, capacity building and technical support for a transboundary pilot, capacity building in climate finance, knowledge exchange and regional advocacy.

Urban-Act will result in an improved enabling environment for accelerating coherent, evidence-based and inclusive urban climate action and access to finance in line with national climate policy frameworks and the SDGs. The enhanced enabling environment will lead to communities, cities, and urban regions that benefit from improved low-carbon and resilient urban development. The multidisciplinary consortium will achieve its results through deep engagement at the local, national and regional level across key areas including: national framework conditions, climate-sensitive urban planning, innovative climate action, access to finance, and regional exchange and learning.

Within the direct supervision of Economic Affairs Officer / Project Manager and overall supervision of the Chief of Section, the UN Volunteer Cities and Climate Change Technical Advisor will provide substantive support to the implementation of the Urban-ACT project and other relevant activities of the Sustainable Urban Development Section, as follows:

• Monitors issues related to MLCG and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern in the five project countries and the wider Asia-Pacific region, in coordination with national and other regional implementing partners such as GIZ and UCLG-ASPAC; • Promotes integration of climate change into the design, planning, and execution of all project activities through employing climate assessments, rigorous strategic planning techniques and developing innovative analytical approaches to providing solutions for delivering sustainability in varied domestic and international contexts in the countries of concern to the Urban-ACT project with national implementing partners; • Designs and conducts research, studies and technical documents with academic partners to support countries and cities to address climate change through a ‘whole of government and society’ approach, including in areas of climate policies, planning, financing, data and capacity building as well as across relevant sectors such as transport and mobility, spatial planning, biodiversity, waste management, energy and so on; • Supports the organization of forums, trainings, workshops and expert consultations at the regional level to support consensus building and cooperation for MLCG with government officials across countries, UCLG-ASPAC and other project partners; • Attends international, regional, sub-regional and national meetings to hold discussions with representatives of government, UN entities, sub-regional intergovernmental organizations, academic institutes, private sector and civil society; • Participates in intra- and inter-Divisional undertakings of broader concern to represent the views or interests of the organizational unit; • Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s service; • Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• 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); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• 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 outputs

• As an active UNESCAP team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high- quality support rendered to the organization and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions will result in strengthened: o Capacities of government agencies to support cities on low carbon and resilient urban policy development, delivered through; i. Comparative research and analysis; ii. Regional advocacy and intergovernmental exchange; iii. Assessment of enabling conditions for urban climate finance in India and Indonesia specifically. o Abilities of city administrators and other key actors to develop viable projects on urban climate action investments delivered through: i. City networking and matchmaking with international urban climate finance initiatives; and ii. Transboundary piloting in the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT). o Knowledge of national and city stakeholders on low-carbon and resilient urban development, climate sensitive planning and inclusive urban climate action, delivered through: i. Regional e-learning programmes and specific country and/or city-level training courses; ii. Establishment and implementation of a Community of Practice (CoP) at both the regional and country-level to foster technical dialogue, knowledge exchange and learning; and iii. International and regional peer-learning and exchange.

• 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: Knowledge of climate change and in particular urban climate mitigation and adaptation pathways. Ability to identify issues, formulate options and make conclusions and recommendations. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

• 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;

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNESCAP’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

climate Change or area related to environmental policy or planning; a first-level university degree or equivalent in combination with relevant training and/or professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree; • Professional work experience at the national and/or international level in climate change related field; • Demonstrated technical knowledge on climate change mitigation and adaptation with a focus on urban sustainability is required; • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness; • Have affinity with or interest in climate action and sustainable cities as well as volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Bangkok is a major metropolitan city in Southeast Asia with good infrastructure and comfortable living. The basic needs in Bangkok city will be condominium living within the city, with convenient access to restaurants, banking medical facilities and recreational facilities. Thailand has good telecommunication infrastructure with good broadband internet connections. Most international foods can be found in supermarkets and malls carrying imported goods. Bangkok has a variety of restaurants and healthcare facilities at international standards. In Bangkok the common mode of transportation is taxi or the elevated train service (BTS). Mobile phone is the most dependable tool to be in-touch with colleagues and friends. Internet service is readily available and affordable at most apartment complexes. ATMs are everywhere in Thailand and Western cards can usually be used to withdraw Thai Baht.