Climate Change Adaptation Specialist

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Thursday 2 Feb 2023 at 23:59 UTC

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Result of Service The main objective of the position of Climate Change Adaptation Specialist is to provide technical support to the National Project Coordinator and the Project Management Unit in the coordination and development of several activities related to science-based adaptation planning within the framework of the project Building capacity to advance National Adaptation Plan Process in the Dominican Republic, including compiling baseline information on the climate change impacts, risks and vulnerabilities in the country and the main actions that are and have been implemented to address them. This includes the revision of primary and secondary data and the identification of information gaps and needs. Similarly, the Climate Change Adaptation Specialist will elaborate of two sets of terms of reference for the execution of the knowledge generation based component of the approved project proposal, provide technical inputs for the different processes to start with the formulation of the National Adaptation Plan and assist the National Project Coordinator and the Project Management Unit in the development and implementation of other project related activities, including attending national, regional and local meetings, as required.

The Climate Change Adaptation Specialist will contribute to the effective implementation of the project by performing the following tasks:

1. Compile available information on climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation initiatives, including the assessment of qualitative and quantitative information gaps and needs. 2. Develop a report containing experiences obtained from a visit or virtual exchange, presenting the lessons learned by the team on adaptation planning and implementation. 3. Guide and support the supervision of the preparation and validation of the communication strategy. 4. Provide technical advice for develop Terms of Reference, guide and the generation of regional and local adaptation plans, including interventions at systemic level and in specific slums. 5. Support the training sessions for staff responsible for approval of infrastructure projects; Protocols on climate resilience of infrastructure projects. 6. Contribute with develop Terms of Reference and oversee the preparation of a methodological guide on climate change adaptation planning and implementation at regional and local levels. 7. Collaborate and guide the support to enhance the efficiency of the procurement and tendering process and preparation of preliminary tender documents to enable private sector participation and promote the establishment of public-private partnerships. 8. Provide support with the report on the research priorities on climate change adaptation; Cooperation agreements between the Directorate of Climate Change and research institutions. 9. Monitoring the climate finance-related aspects of during the development of a strategy for the periodic review of the National Adaptation Plan, including the financing strategy, based on i) updated climate information; ii) updated socio-economic vulnerabilities, implementing costs, opportunities and plans; iii) lessons learned regarding adaptation planning (at legal, policy and institutional level); iii) lessons learned regarding implementation of adaptation measures on the ground 10. Review the process of prioritization of adaptation solutions based on costs-benefit analyses, and lessons learned at the national and international level. 11. Review the process to develop reports on costing adaptation in the Dominican Republic, compile information and identify information gaps for a reliable estimation of costs for implementing climate change adaptation in the medium and long term. 12. Collaborate with the process to estimate the costs of implementing the prioritized adaptation interventions at national, sectoral and local levels. 13. Guide the process for scaling up financing for adaptation, including through domestic public budgets, public-private partnerships and international cooperation. 14. Review the adaptation finance strategy to access new identified sources of adaptation finance. 15. Provide technical advise for the development of concepts and associated documentation for two adaptation programmes, one focusing on urban areas (covering Santo Domingo and 4 other cities) and one focusing on rural areas (covering 2 rural areas and 1 protected ecosystem and its mitigation areas), in coordination with efforts conducted through the readiness grant already been implemented.

Product 1 Report on available information on climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation initiatives, including the assessment of qualitative and quantitative information gaps and needs.

Product 2 Technical document including the methodological guide on climate change adaptation planning and implementation at regional and local levels.

Product 3 Report with technical inputs to consider updated climate information, updated socio-economic vulnerabilities, opportunities and plans; lessons learned regarding adaptation planning aspects during the development of a strategy for the periodic review of the National Adaptation Plan

Product 4 Report on the research priorities on climate change adaptation; Cooperation agreements between the Directorate of Climate Change and research institutions.

Product 5 Report on technical inputs included in the GCF Concept Notes and associated documentation for two adaptation programmes,

Product 6 Report containing experiences obtained from a visit or virtual exchange, presenting the lessons learned by the team on adaptation planning and implementation.

Product 7 Report on the relationships of climate change adaptation with other cross-cutting issues, such as environmental sustainability, disaster risk management, gender equity and land use and territorial cohesion, including conceptual, legal, policy, institutional, vulnerability and strategic aspects.

Work Location Home Based

Expected duration 8 months

Duties and Responsibilities 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, through its Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO Office) located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region - including 16 small island developing States -with a population of about 588 million people, the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

To implement the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the new Paris Agreement and the priority actions defined in the NDCs (Nationally Determined Contribution) of the region.

In terms of supporting countries in the region attain the global commitments signed within the framework of the Paris Agreement, UNEP´s Sub-programme on Climate Change aims at strengthening the ability of countries to move towards climate-resilient and low emission strategies for sustainable development and human well-being. In this framework, the UNEP Sub-programme on Climate Change, through its Climate Change Unit leads and supports several initiatives oriented at designing, promoting and implementing innovative mitigation and adaptation solutions at the national and subnational level, and strengthening the transparency framework of the countries.

The expected accomplishment regarding climate change adaptation is that adaptation approaches, including the ecosystem-based approach, are implemented and integrated into key sectoral and national development strategies to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience to climate change impacts. Furthermore, the UNEP’s Sub-programme on Climate Change is also committed to ensure that cross-cutting issues such as gender equity and women empowerment are effectively integrated in the development of its tasks to guarantee an equitable development in line with its adaptation objectives.

In this context, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic and UNEP, have agreed on the implementation of the project Building capacity to advance in the National Adaptation Plan Process in the Dominican Republic, framed within the Readiness program of the Green Climate Fund.

The project is aimed to sustainably build country capacity in identifying, prioritizing, planning and implementing measures that address medium and long-term adaptation needs considering decisions 1/CP.16 and 5/CP.17 and all elements of the National Adaptation Plan Technical Guidelines. The ultimate objective of the project is to reduce the vulnerability of the Dominican Republic to the impacts of climate variability and change, by building adaptive capacity and resilience through the integration of climate change adaptation into planning and implementation within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate. Specifically, the project has the objective to strengthen the country's capacity to integrate adaptation into national and local planning, including the participation of different line ministries, local governments, the private sector and civil society organizations.

The project seeks to achieve its components and objective through: - Strengthening the institutional, legal, policy and planning framework; - Engaging key stakeholders in climate change adaptation planning and implementation; - Producing high-quality and pertinent knowledge; and - Building capacity at different levels.

To fulfill the objectives of the project, the UNEP LACO Office is recruiting a Climate Change Adaptation Specialist to provide technical support and inputs to the National Project Coordinator and the Project Management Unit in the delivery of 07 products related to adaptation planning, including the development of a baseline report to identify information on climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation initiatives, the assessment of qualitative and quantitative information gaps and in the drafting of two sets of terms of reference for the execution of the knowledge generation-based component of the approved project proposal aimed at generating robust science-based evidence that enables the identification of prioritized adaptation solutions and subsequent integration into the National Adaptation Plan. Additionally, the Climate Change Adaptation Specialist will provide technical inputs for the different processes needed to start with the formulation of the National Adaptation Plan.

The Climate Change Adaptation Specialist will operate under the overall supervision of the UNEP Adaptation Programme Officer at the UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office and will be assist the UNEP National Project Coordinator. Additionally, he/she will work from home in close collaboration with the UNEP’s Adaptation team, the Directorate for Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change, of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic and other national consultants and government and non-governmental counterparts. Travel might be needed for consultation processes.

Qualifications/special skills ¿ Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, conservation, environmental sciences, climate change adaptation or a closely related field is required. . ¿ Master’s degree in climate change adaptation, natural resources management, development studies, social or environmental sciences or a closely related field is desirable. ¿ A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience working with on climate change adaptation and/ or natural resources management Is required. ¿ Demonstrated experience in climate change adaptation and Land Use and Planning is an advantage. ¿ Demonstrated knowledge and experience working in design and planning of adaptation solutions, preferably in the Caribbean region and/or in the Dominican Republic, at the National, subnational or sectoral level is desired. ¿ Demonstrated experience in the elaboration, preparation and design of technical reports and documents is required. ¿ Demonstrated experience working with climate change scenarios in decision making process is desirable. ¿ Demonstrated experience in engaging with government institutions and other stakeholders at national and local levels is desirable. ¿ Previous work experience and knowledge about the Dominican Republic is an asset. ¿ Experience with international organizations will be an advantage, as will be knowledge of UN Environment policies, procedures and practices is an asset.

SKILLS: ¿ Excellent political, advisory and facilitation skills. Ability to facilitate technical discussions and participatory processes with multiple stakeholders in multicultural environments. ¿ Demonstrated understanding of development planning and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations. ¿ Excellent technical leadership and understanding of climate change adaptation concepts, principles and policies. Ability to provide guidance on climate change adaptation, especially as it relates to development planning. ¿ Strategic perspective to guide the development of products to maximize impact and success.

COMPETENCIES: ¿ Professionalism: Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. He/she shows pride in work and in achievements; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. ¿ Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. ¿ Teamwork: Is able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team to achieve organizational goals and to take leadership when appropriate; 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. ¿ Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Languages ¿ Fluent in Spanish is required. ¿ Confident inEnglish 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