Climate Knowledge and Policy Specialist

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.

Climate change is the single greatest challenge currently facing humanity, threatening water and food security, health, livelihoods, and the safety of billions of people together with drastic negative impact on global ecosystem balance. UNDP’s ambitious “Climate Promise” supports over 120 countries/territories to enhance their climate ambitions under the Paris Agreement, with focus on greater emissions reduction and resilience building. The Climate Promise is currently scaling up its support to countries on implementation of their national climate pledges, or Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and long-term planning to ensure inclusive climate action at the speed and scale required to keep global temperature below 1.5°C. Achieving carbon neutrality in the second half of the century by all countries/territories is a crucial requirement set by the Paris Agreement to avoid the irreversible global climate change. Realization of this goal involves work on global, national, and local levels, as well as participation of all relevant stakeholders – governments, business, MDBs, international organizations, NSOs. The path to carbon neutrality should be just and leaving no one behind, while empowering women, youth, indigenous people, and vulnerable groups of the population. UNDP is well positioned to enable such work through cooperation on HQ, Regional and Country Offices (CO) levels, forming an interconnected system of knowledge exchange and expertise delivery enabling the cutting-edge climate policy advocacy, development, and implementation.

The Climate Promise provides direct financial and technical support to countries on NDC implementation in the context of national development priorities. As part of this portfolio initiative, a contribution from the Japan Supplementary Budget (JSB) of $42M has made Japan the newest and one of the largest partners to UNDP’s Climate Promise This contribution provides financial and technical assistance to 23 countries/territories around the world and serves as the catalyst to deliver and showcase NDC implementation as part of the UNDP flagship initiative. The JSB component seeks to advance the implementation of the country’s NDC measures and realization of its targets under two key pillars: clean energy and net-zero pathways; and resilience of vulnerable and fragile settings to climate impacts

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Regional Climate Change Specialist for the Climate Promise in Asia and the Pacific, or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer in Climate Knowledge and Policy in Bangkok Regional Hub will coordinate his/her work with the Global Climate Promise Team and will be responsible for:

1) Knowledge management and peer-to-peer learning

• Collect inputs for knowledge generation, analysis and codification in the region, including analysis of regular reports, extracting lessons learned, and tracking progress and results • Coordinate peer-to-peer learning among JSB programme countries/territories and organize or coordinate with other regional teams to support webinars and south-south exchange workshops, including to share information and experience across different regions. • In coordination with the global and regional climate teams, create knowledge products on NDC enhancement and implementation that draws on and showcases the results and experiences under JSB in the region, with a focus on benefits of the projects for vulnerable groups of population and wider stakeholder involvement. • Contribute to relevant regional outreach, visibility, and reporting requirements, as requested by Regional Team Leader and global JSB coordinators. 2) Country and Regional delivery and support • Support the coordination and implementation of JSB-funded projects across the region, backstopping COs with technical advice, in coordination with the global coordinators of JSB and broader Climate Promise infrastructure. • Provide the information requested by the donor in relation to RBAP JSB-supported activities from COs, as needed. • Help to oversee the timely delivery and reporting of the CO-driven JSB projects and provide technical support as needed – particularly on key outputs related to the NDCs and the relevant climate change portfolio in the region, in coordination with the NCE Regional Team Leader and relevant regional technical focal points.

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 UNDP team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNDP and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: o Periodical updates to the regional/global team on JSB projects in the region and latest deliveries and trend for countries’ NDC implementation work; o Donor requested information and reporting of the CO-driven JSB projects; o Supporting the organising or facilitating of knowledge exchange among countries and community of practice on climate policy and strategies; o Knowledge products on NDC enhancement and implementation that draws on and showcases the results and experiences under the JSB portfolio in the region.

• 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 UNDP; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNDP procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy 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; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNDP in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • 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; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • 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; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNDP’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

climate change and environmental science, international development, economics, engineering and or related fields; 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 in conducting policy research and analyses related to climate change; • Demonstrated knowledge on inter-governmental processes on climate change such as NDCs, LTSs, NAPs etc.is mandatory; • Demonstrated experience in supporting with organizing or facilitating of knowledge exchange events/workshops is mandatory; • Demonstrated experience in project management, specifically relevant to Japan Supplementary Budget, is considered an asset; • Excellent oral and written skills in English; working knowledge of Russian or Japanese are considered an asset; • Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools; advanced knowledge on using MS Excel is considered an asset; • 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; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of teams and partners

Thailand is located in Southeast Asia. The climate is tropical, with the monsoon season running from May/June through October/November. Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, and it is also the most populated city in the country. It is located in the Chao Phraya River delta in the central part of the country. Bangkok has an estimated population of 8.75 million as of 2017 (13% of Thailand’s total population), based on data from the 2010 census. Over the past decades, Bangkok has grown rapidly with little urban planning or regulation. This has led to traffic congestion and air pollution, and there is frequent flooding of streets during the rainy season in the City’s low-lying areas.

The cost of living in Thailand is relatively low, as compared to many other capitals in Southeast Asia. Housing is widely available in various sizes and at various price points. Private healthcare in Thailand is of excellent standard, and there are numerous top hospitals in Bangkok, which fall far below countries like the US in terms of price. There are numerous high-quality international schools available in Bangkok, with English as the language of instruction. Bangkok has different public transportation options, including the BTS Skytrain and MRT Underground, metered taxis, mobile-based ride-hailing services (Grab, All Thai Taxi, etc.), tuk tuks, motorbike taxis, buses and boats.