Consultant Specialist in Institutional Strengthening and Coordination

Contract

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Result of Service

Contributing to the efficient implementation of the project “Agreements, processes, and tools to move towards a climate-resilient society in El Salvador”. The Consultant Specialist in Institutional Strengthening and Coordination will contribute to the effective implementation of the project by guaranteeing the following tasks: 1. Conduct project performance and handle synergies within the Project’s activities considering their relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact. 2. Provide strategic guidelines to improved environmental governance and strengthened policy coordination with informed recommendations. 3. Provide evidence-based information in the strategic and operative overview and coordination of meetings, workshops, trainings, events, trips, consultations and communications efforts. Undertake follow-up actions as needed to guarantee outputs accomplishment. 4. Prepare agendas and arrange appointments and meetings related to the project activities and produce minutes from the meetings. 5. Work in close coordination with the MARN staff, UNEP and other partners and consultants, to provide technical inputs on potential partnership platforms and ensure the technical quality of the project outputs. 6. Identify recurring gaps in existing partnerships for Project implementation and propose strategies to reduce those gaps. 7. Analyse relevant information including current capacities related to implementation of policies, strategies, plans, and projects on climate change adaptations in all levels. 8. Design and conduct focus group discussions with relevant key stakeholders from the local and regional government, the private sector, academia, civil society, to assess implementation experiences and effectiveness, register successes, challenges, and lessons learned, and develop recommendations for improvement. 9. Identify new and innovative stakeholders to enhance technical, institutional, and managerial capacity for adaptation planning at the national and subnational levels. 10. Develop guidelines to encourage alignment of subnational-level priorities for climate change adaptation. 11. Identify opportunities for scaling up partnerships and stakeholder participation, in order to mainstream climate change adaptation considerations in investment planning processes. 12. Determine the current interaction, information sharing and working relation among the levels of government institutions on climate change adaptation in El Salvador. 13. Liaise with stakeholders to facilitate collaborative and consultative processes. Advise operative mechanisms and channels for dissemination of information to reach local stakeholders.

Work Location

San Salvador, El Salvador.

Expected duration

12 MONTHS

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. 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. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama, 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). In terms of addressing climate change, UNEP aims to support countries in the compliance of the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the priority actions defined in the countries Nationally Determined Contributions. The overall objective of UNEP´s Sub-programme on Climate Change is to strengthen the ability of countries to move towards climate-resilient and low emission strategies for sustainable development and human well-being. The expected accomplishment regarding climate change adaptation is that adaptation approaches, including an 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 crosscutting issues such as gender equity and women empowerment is effectively undertaken 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 (MARN) and UNEP have agreed on the implementation of the project “Agreements, processes, and tools to move towards a climate-resilient society in El Salvador” framed within the Readiness program of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The project aims to strengthen institutional engagement and capacities to plan, finance, implement, monitor, and report strategic adaptation processes, considering stakeholders at multiple levels. The project seeks to achieve its objective through 4 components: • Adaptation planning governance and institutional coordination strengthened. • Evidence basis produced to design adaptation solutions for maximum impact. • Private sector engagement in adaptation catalyzed. • Adaptation finance increased. To fulfill the objectives of the project, the UNEP LACO is recruiting a Consultant Specialist in Institutional Strengthening and Coordination to assist the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and UNEP in the implementation of the Green Climate Fund funded project as set in the funding proposal document. The Consultant Specialist in Institutional Strengthening and Coordination will operate under the overall supervision of the UNEP Adaptation Programme Management Officer at LACO and in coordination with MARN. The incumbent will work from Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week, full time basis and to be located in the MARN in San Salvador, El Salvador. Additionally, he/she will work in close collaboration with the UNEP’s Adaptation team, the MARN in El Salvador, other national consultants and government and non-governmental counterparts. Travel might be needed for consultation processes.

Qualifications/special skills

ACADEMIC • Bachelor's degree in environmental management, environmental sciences, social sciences, political sciences, engineering, development, law, international relations or a closely related field is required. • Master degree in climate change, geography, natural resources management, development studies, environmental economics, social sciences or a related field is required. PROFESSIONAL: • At least seven (7) years of relevant working experience in development and/or natural resource management, and/or climate change adaptation or closely related field is required. • Knowledge experience in the design or implementation of national policies and planning frameworks, related to climate change and/or natural resource management is required. • Experience in engaging with key stakeholders including government agencies, private sector and/or civil society in policy analysis, interinstitutional dialogue or policy development is required. • Demonstrated experience working with national institutions in climate change and/or natural resource management and planning in the coordination of activities at the national, subnational and/or sectoral level is desired. • Technical knowledge related to the design, development, and tracking of NDCs and related reports is desirable. • Demonstrated experience in the development and execution of inter-institutional capacity building strategies is desirable. • Demonstrated knowledge of the scope of the sectorial NAPs of El Salvador is desirable. • Demonstrated experience in the elaboration of reports and official documents from technical and high-level meetings is an asset. • Demonstrated experience in systematizing and developing final reports of the results of adaptation projects and adaptation components in other projects at the national level is an asset. • Ability to communicate with a wide range of actors including decision makers. • Experience with international organizations is an advantage. LANGUAGE: • Fluent in Spanish is required. • Confident level in English is an asset. SKILLS: · Demonstrate ability to build partnerships, facilitate dialogues, and work in multicultural settings. · Familiarity with key concepts, frameworks, and international agreements related to climate change adaptation. · Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products. · Ability to communicate complex and technical ideas to a lay audience. · Ability to build strong working relationships with people from different functions in a multicultural environment. 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

Not available.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.