National Consultant- Mainstream adaptation and synergy of climate change adaptation into development planning

Environment

Overview

Strengthen institutional and technical capacities for climate change adaptation in Iraq.

You have:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in governance, public policy, climate and environment, or related fields.
• Degree in environmental sciences, development, public policy, or a related field is required.
• Fluency in written and spoken Arabic is required, proficiency in English is required.
• Experience working with government institutions, preferably with ministries of planning or relevant bodies is desirable.
• Familiarity with Iraqi context and national climate change plans and policies preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to conduct research and work independently is desirable.

Result of Service Strengthening institutional, technical and financial capacities for climate change adaptation in Iraq.

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration 9 Months

Duties and Responsibilities 1. Organizational Setting, Purpose and Objective: 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. The Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA) delivers advisory services and capacity building support to countries to achieve environment and sustainable development objectives. The Republic of Iraq is considered one of the most vulnerable countries in the Arab region to the impacts of climate change. A higher frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as drought, sand and dust storms have been experienced in recent years. These events are leading to rising environmental degradation throughout the country, threatening Iraq’s progress towards sustainable development. The Iraqi government considers adaptation to be a priority for the country, particularly in addressing the impacts of climate change on poor and vulnerable communities and has made some progress towards managing the impacts of climate change. However, despite short-term and ad hoc adaptation interventions, Iraq’s ability to initiate a plan for medium- and long-term adaptation to unfolding and emerging climate change impacts is facing significant challenges, such as limited institutional capacity to integrate adaptation into policies and plan and insufficient and irregular collection, analysis and dissemination of data and information. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Readiness project seeks to address these barriers by strengthening institutional, technical and financial capacities to ensure that medium to long-term adaptation needs are integrated into national development planning in Iraq. The objectives of the NAP process are: (a) To reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, by building adaptive capacity and resilience; (b) To facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation, in a coherent manner, into relevant new and existing policies, programmes and activities, in particular development planning processes and strategies, within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate (decision 5/CP.17, paragraph 1). The UNFCCC’s Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) on adaptation released Guidelines for National Adaptation Plans (December 2012) and a number of Supplementary Guidelines. NAPs are focused on medium and long-term adaptation planning. Planning for adaptation at the national level is a continuous, progressive and iterative process, and should be based on and guided by the best available science, as stated in the NAP technical guidelines (UNFCCC, 2012). Furthermore, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has issued guidance on its support to national adaptation planning processes. Development plans such as The National Development Strategy 2018-2022 and Iraq Vision for Sustainable Development 2030 recognize climate change implications for Iraq as a serious threat that are likely to become progressively more significant in the years and decades to come that need local adaptive capacity determined by local conditions. Yet, such important development plans and policies have missed considering or suggesting adaptation options to climate change as major tools by relevant sectors to reduce its impacts on the population and local communities. Mainstreaming climate change adaptation into development policies at national and sectoral levels through relevant measures while assessing climate risks and opportunities will enable the government to effectively improve its general directions and priorities in dealing with the impacts of climate change. In collaboration with the international consultant, the objectives of this national consultancy are: - To address the gaps identified in national policies and sectoral development plans (outcome 2 of the NAP proposal) and align them with the NAP processes; - To Promote coherence and synergy at the sub-national level. This work will be carried out at both the national and local levels of government. It will be supported through (a) developing a Protocol for integrating climate change adaptation into development planning at national, sectoral and local levels, (b) elaborating a Strategy for the periodic review of policies, strategies and plans and formulating an implementation plan for the strategy and (c) promoting synergies at the subnational levels. The Local Consultant will work closely with an International Consultant (IC) and will report to the Regional Climate Change Coordinator at UNEP West Asia Office. He/she will also work in close collaboration and coordination with UNEP National Officer in Iraq and the NAP Coordinator of the Iraqi Ministry of Environment. ¿ Duties and Responsibilities: Under the direct supervision of the Regional Coordinator for Climate Change at UNEP, and in consultation with the National NAP Coordinator, the Ministry of Environment, NAP project stakeholders, and working closely with an IC, the National Consultant will carry-out, inter alia, the following duties and responsibilities: Task 1: Contribute to the development of a Protocol (Activity 3.2.2). The National Consultant will work closely with the IC to develop a Protocol for integrating climate change adaptation into development planning, by reviewing and providing required inputs and feedback into the Protocol based on a consultative process with relevant government institutions. The National Consultant will: ¿ Collect basis data and information on institutional set up, government planning procedures and budget and plan performance reporting frameworks ¿ Provide technical inputs to the inception report on the assignment methodology, workplan and timeline, ¿ Liaise with stakeholders and establish contacts with them and promote their engagement ¿ Provide technical inputs into the Protocol. ¿ Participate in discussions with relevant stakeholders on the Protocol. ¿ Lead the validation workshop with the International Consultant on the Protocol. ¿ Upon approval, initiate distribution of the Protocol to relevant government and national institutions Deliverables: - Institutional Mapping (in Arabic and English) - Validation workshop report (Arabic and English). - Evidence of distribution and receiving feedback on the Protocol - Translation of the Protocol into Arabic Task 2: Work with the international consultant in the development and implementation of a strategy for review of policies, strategies and plans (Activity 3.2.3) The National Consultant will work closely with the IC in the development and implementation of a strategy for the periodic review of policies, strategies and plans. Through working collaboratively with relevant stakeholders, the National Consultant will ensure the following is included in the strategy: i) updated climate information; ii) lessons learned from prior integration of climate change into these strategies and plans; and iii) lessons learned from the prior implementation of these policies, strategies and plans (Activity 3.2.3).The National Consultant will: - Conduct research and collect information as agreed with International Consultant - Lead the in-country consultations with relevant stakeholders, particularly national ministries on the strategy and incorporate feedback, as required. - Contribute to the development of an implementation plan for the periodic review including review cycles and a clear timeline and actions. - Lead an inter-ministerial workshop to confirm and validate lessons learned from the Strategy and the implementation plan Deliverables: - Inter-ministerial workshop organised - Consultations report (in English and Arabic language) Task 3: Contribute to the promotion of synergies at the sub-national level (Activity 1.2.1) To ensure proper coordination among key sectors working on the adaptation plans, work will be initiated and followed to promote synergies and coherence in the assessment, planning and implementation of these adaptation plans at the subnational level. In close coordination with the Ministry of Environment and the IC, the National Consultant will: ¿ Liaise with stakeholders and encourage their participation and engagement. ¿ Hold consultations with key stakeholders to sensitize them on synergy and coherence in the planning and implementation of adaptation national plans at the sub national level. ¿ Provide inputs to the coordination work plan led by the IC to further scope joint initiatives. ¿ Contribute to the development of capacity building programme led by the IC at the sub-regional level to strengthen pathways for coherence ¿ Lead 1 national and 3 subnational workshops with relevant stakeholders to strengthen and operationalize synergetic activities at the sub-national level using the capacity building programme developed by the IC. Deliverables: - Reviewed coordination workplan - Workshop leading and workshop reports

Qualifications/special skills Degree in environmental sciences, development, public policy, or related field is required. At least 5 years previous work experience in governance, public policy, climate and environment, planning, or related field is required. Experience in working with government institutions, preferably with ministries of planning, national bureaus of statistics and/or other relevant government bodies, in areas of policy formulation and planning is desirable. Familiarity with government processes and development planning and programming in Iraq is desirable Familiarity with the Iraqi context and national climate change plans and policies preferred Strong organizational skills and ability to conduct research and work independently is desirable

Languages Fluency in written and spoken Arabic is required, proficiency in English is required, knowledge of any other languages is 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.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org