Climate change consultant, specialist in climate adaptation and Loss and Damage

Result of Service The Consultant will support the Climate Ambition and Transparency (CA&T) Team to achieve these main goals:

1. Strengthen overall understanding of adaptation and loss and damage issues in the context of transparency and climate ambition within the Climate Change unit.

2. Better coordination and cooperation between team projects in the Climate Change unit, especially those regarding climate adaptation and other intersecting and complementary topics.

3. Countries of the LAC region are informed about the type of issues and progress made on the themes of Loss and Damage in the context of the UNFCCC

Responsibilities and Activities:

Under the direction of UNEP’s Climate Ambition and Transparency Coordinator of the¿Climate Change Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean Office¿, the consultant shall perform the following activities:

• Timely delivery of Deliverables 1-3
• Provide technical advice and guidance to the CA&T team on issues related to adaptation and Loss and Damage
• Collecting, compiling, and reviewing essential resources and coordinating the information gathering regarding adaptation and loss and damage for the Unit as well as national stakeholders
• Analyze the information and develop recommendations and action points for key stakeholders in the region to provide them with tools to develop the capacity in climate action for minimizing and addressing loss and damage
• Ensure coordination with relevant national institutions and government ministries to ensure that activities are distinct and fully complementary to other national initiatives
• Liaison with national stakeholders, and local climate change entities
• Support the CA&T team in the execution of tasks for all relevant issue themes

Output 1. Overall understanding of adaptation and loss and damage issues and discussions is improved within the unit and for relevant stakeholders in the region

Product No. 1 Publication on Loss and Damage in the LAC region with the purpose of informing governments and other relevant stakeholders on the obstacles surrounding this topic, its linkages with adaptation and mitigation action, and possible courses of action. The publication will include sections such as (but not limited to): - A comprehensive literature review on the topic - Recent progress at the regional and international levels - Successful case studies - Recommendations for different stakeholders

Output 2. Coordination of South-South exchanges and events, including capacity-building initiatives around themes related to gender, just transition, Loss and Damage and climate adaptation for the LAC region

Product No.2 Final Report including lessons learnt for the network with specific recommendations which could be relevant in terms of the peer-to-peer exchanges and capacity-building programmes tailored to each of the specific thematic areas selected.

Output 3. Steps are taken to strengthen the capacity on gender, loss and damage, and climate change for the LAC region and the relevant stakeholders/governments interested in the thematic area.

Product No. 3. A document detailing a project proposal that can be carried out by the CA&T team in LAC on Loss and damage with a gender-focus. This document can include (but is not limited to): - Terms of reference for loss and damage specialist to implement the relevant components of the project - Risk reduction and monitoring and evaluation targets and indicators - Timelines - Assigned responsibilities - Implementation arrangements - Theory of change - Deliverables and activities expected - Cost estimates for its implementation (budget).

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration 6 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 Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of 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)

Throughout the work that UNEP engages in, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change marks a turning point to an emerging climate regime that brings all the states and the actors together to a new global platform to address the growing risks to our planet. Actions under the agreement calls for the establishment of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to achieve Paris Agreement long-term goals of limiting global temperature rise well below 2 degrees °C above pre-industrial levels; and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 °C. The Paris Agreement calls upon countries to review their NDCs every five years and raise mitigation and adaptation ambitions to help put the world on track to achieve neutrality by 2025.

The Paris Agreement also recognizes, under its Article 8 paragraph 1, the importance of “averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage (L&D) associated with the adverse effects of climate change”. While there is no agreed definition for L&D, it is usually understood that countries can avert L&D through mitigation action and minimize through adaptation action. As member states, especially the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, start paying more attention to L&D, there will be a growing need to develop innovative ways to respond to, report, monitor and track losses and damages.

For instance, strengthening M&E systems was highlighted as a priority in countries’ updated NDCs, as they begin to implement robust adaptation plans for different sectors. Given these concerns, the Climate Ambition and Transparency Team (CA&T) is looking for a specialist in climate adaptation and Loss and Damage to support the region in analyzing and better understand the current challenges related to L&D and progress in adaptation, given the existing finance gap in the region.

UNEP has a mandate to help member states with technical capacity building support, taking a science-based approach to knowledge and capacity development. In the areas of adaptation and loss and damage, many solutions relevant to the LAC region have been proposed such as but not limited to improving M&E systems, implementing new multi-hazard early-warning systems (MHEWS) and other proven solutions for adaptation such as ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) that integrates nature-based solutions (NbS). These topics and initiatives are being tackled within the Climate Change Unit and directly respond to UNEP’s medium-term strategy 2022-2025 for tackling climate change, biodiversity and nature loss, pollution and waste

These initiatives that will help avert, minimize, and eventually address irreparable L&D, will need regional and transnational collaboration based on principles of international solidarity. EUROCLIMA+ was designed in response to international and regional mandates on climate change and has an interest to support Latin American countries in their adaptation endeavors to realize their climate ambition.

In this sense, the incumbent will be supervised by UNEP’s Climate Ambition and Transparency Coordinator of the¿Climate Change Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean Office¿ and will be home-based.

Qualifications/special skills- Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, international/global affairs, political science, or other areas related to social sciences, sustainability and/or development (required)

- A minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in areas related to climate action, climate change and/or sustainability is required - Minimum one (1) year of previous experience working in gender, just transition, social and/or climate justice issues (desirable) - Experience working with public and private sectors in areas related to climate change, sustainable development, corporate sustainability, or other relevant environmental issues (desirable) - Previous experience with planning and executing capacity-building sessions and/or workshops (desirable) - Experience handling projects and initiatives in areas related to climate education and communication (desirable) - Demonstrates experience strengthening and creating partnerships between different actors (desirable) - Familiarity with the UN system and environmental governance processes (desirable) - Experience working with Latin American governments and actors (desirable)

SKILLS:

PROFESSIONALISM - Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability. - Excellent understanding of global and national climate change commitments. - Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to climate change mitigation and adaptation planning. - Ability to identify issues, analyse and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. - Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. - 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.

TEAMWORK: - Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. - Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise. - Is willing to learn from others; 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 (required) - Fluent level in English and/or French (desirable)

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.