Francophone Transparency Network Coordinator

Contract

This is a IPSA-10 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally internationally recruited only. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about IPSA-10 contracts.

Background

Article 13 of the Paris Agreement provides the outline for an enhanced transparency framework (ETF) for countries through which they can report on the actions they take related to climate change action and support needed, provided and received. UNDP has been supporting countries across the world in establishing and improving ETF, as well as achieving reporting obligations to the UNFCCC (National Communications, Biennial Update Reports and Biennial Transparency Reports), with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

At COP26, the guidance for operationalizing the modalities, procedures and guidelines for the enhanced transparency framework was adopted. Common reporting tables for GHG inventories, common tabular formats for information necessary to track progress in implementing and achieving NDCs and outlines for BTRs, National Inventory Documents and Technical Expert Review Reports were adopted. The Convention further emphasized the need for financial and technical support to countries to develop these BTRs and encouraged the GEF and development partners to provide this support.

Further, led by UNDP’s Climate Policy and Strategies Team, the “Climate Promise” initiative is the world’s largest offer of support to countries on NDC enhancement and has contributed to an increase of climate mitigation and adaptation ambition. At COP26, the second phase of the Climate Promise was launched – entitled: From Pledge to Impact. This phase will continue the momentum of the first phase and focus on supporting countries to implement their NDCs and enable achievement of targets. One of the most critical challenges to countries in designing and delivering their NDC targets is effective data and transparency. The ability to track, monitor and report on NDC progress directly informs an understanding and ability to advance ambition in subsequent NDC revisions. As such, data and transparency have become a critical workstream within UNDP’s Climate Promise.

As part of this umbrella initiative, the Government of Belgium has approved a contribution of 1.2 million euros to provide capacity building support on transparency to lusophone and francophone countries and foster south/ south exchanges. The project, “Enhancing climate transparency in developing countries – a contribution to the Climate Promise”, has as a primary objective to provide targeted countries with effective governance and enabling environment over time, to accelerate and scale NDC implementation, by providing streamlined support and capacity building on data and transparency. This will be delivered at the country and regional level with a focus on francophone and lusophone countries.

In addition to this, the global CBIT Phase 2 project, implemented by UNEP and funded by the GEF, will also provide targeted technical support and training on reporting obligations to the Convention and ETF for developing country parties and south-south sub-regional networks, including the Francophone network (The CBIT Project has a different grouping of Francophone developing countries which are distributed across Francophone Africa network, Eurasia (Lebanon), and Middle East and North Africa.)

UNDP is seeking a technical specialist on Transparency frameworks with significant field experience in Francophone network (Francophone network consists of Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, and Tunisia) participating countries to lead the activities expected to strengthen their technical capacities as described under the Belgium-funded project and the CBIT Phase 2 project.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Network Coordinator will have direct work experience in one or more of the Francophone network participating countries, in the areas of climate policy, climate negotiations, climate finance and/or transparency. He/she will be fluent in the French language. He/she will work under the direct supervision of the Belgium project coordinator and of the CBIT Phase 2 project coordinator (with matrixed reporting; only CBIT-related activities will be reported to the CBIT project coordinator). As such, Francophone network coordinator will deliver tasks delineated under both projects, as specified below.

• Conduct a quick assessment of skills and knowledge gaps and needs (on all relevant topics) for the implementation of the Paris rulebook (including the new developments from COP26) and country level participation in the enhanced transparency framework.
• Identify and conduct mapping of existing support offers and initiatives, including from ICAT, UNFCCC, CITEPA, PATPA etc.
• Identification of 3 main priorities for the network based on the gaps identified and direct contact with countries.
• Development and support the implementation of an annual network work plan, which takes into account the gaps and the priority areas identified, under the overall direction of the project coordinators and in consultation with PATPA and the Government of Belgium.
• Support the constructive collaboration among the member countries by leading at least two national-level workshops in one year, organize and moderate the annual dialogue and technical workshop (e.g. emails, calls).
• Plan, lead and facilitate three annual webinars per cluster (in Portuguese) on technical matters related to MRV, ETF, gender integration into MRV and NDC tracking
• Assist the project coordinators in providing technical inputs and reviews of reports (BUR, BTR, NC), Mitigation chapters, technical guidelines and toolkits.
• Design and develop agenda for in-country trainings (at least 1, depending on needs) on COP 26 guidance and enhanced transparency framework, support their organization and elaborate training materials
• Technical Assistance in the implementation of QA/QC reviews of GHG inventories, in line with the guidelines provided by UNFCCC (http://unfccc.int/national_reports/non-annex_i_natcom/guidelines_and_user_manual/items/2607.php)
• Support tasks related to the needs of the network, including translation of documentation and ad hoc support requests form countries and the project coordinators.
• Facilitate Francophone network operations and help-desk function and report monthly on support provided.
• Organize network activities as established in the CBIT annual work plans based on regional needs assessments.
• Establish and maintain a list of countries focal points and participants to the trainings/webinars with their areas of expertise.
• Assist with at least 2 requests of BTR funding proposals from countries in the network.
• Capture knowledge generated by the network and share it with project staff of CBIT Phase II, to make it available to other regions and stakeholders in the form of webinars, audio briefings, web content, brochures, and other knowledge products.

Competencies

• At least 5 years’ experience in the area of enhanced transparency frameworks, NDCs, MRV systems and/or reporting to the UNFCCC (BURs, NCs, BTRs)
• Previous field-based work experience in one or more of the participating Francophone countries which are members of the network in the area of climate policy, reporting to the Convention or transparency frameworks
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the institutional, political and/or social dimensions of climate change / climate policy in one or more of the participating Francophone countries which are members of the network
• Demonstrated experience on organizing, conducting and facilitating South-South cooperation and capacity building activities related to MRV systems, GHG inventories, NDC reporting, transparency frameworks, etc.
• Experience working with international organizations related to climate change.
• Excellent analytical and report drafting skills
• Previous work experience with UNDP or UNEP is an advantage

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in environmental science, environment policy or economics, climate change science or policy, or similar
• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience
• Fluency in written and spoken French language with excellent presentation skills
• Excellent (fluency) verbal and written communication in English language
• Being a member of the roster of the UNFCCC MRV/ETF Transparency Division of the Mitigation, Data and Analysis Programme would be an asset