Nature4Cities Local Specialist

Result of Service The main objective of the position is to provide technical support to the National Coordinator of Nature4Cities in Ecuador and to ensure operational effectiveness during the planning and implementation of the project.

The Local Specialist will report directly to the Adaptation to Climate Change Programme Officer of UNEP and will work in closed collaboration with the National Coordinator for the project in Ecuador and the Ministry of Environment.

The Local Specialist´s main duties and responsibilities will include:

a. Collect data and review local policy, regulatory framework, key planning processes for urban development and all relevant documentation for the elaboration of local assessments. b. Collect data and systematize information about climate finance and opportunities to engage with private sector and to support investment on nature-based adaptation and mitigation initiatives at national and local levels. c. Identify existing regulations for public and private infrastructure, national and local policies related to the land use and planning, and identification of gaps to better guide regional approach. d. Propose opportunities of regulations, policies and standards most suitable for the city beneficiaries, including the local adaptation and nature compatible building and infrastructure. e. Validate the activities according the environmental and social safeguards. f. Collaborate to develop the baseline of vulnerability and climate risk assessment and Green House Gases (GHG) inventory of the city, and support to the online GHG tool on communities of practice. g. Provide input to develop the Nature Based Urban adaptation and mitigation Plan, in the selected city. h. Participate in training activities, report writing and facilitation of expert activities. i. Provide input to technical reports and other documents as described in the project document. j. Inform the National Coordinator immediately of any issue or risk which might jeopardise the success of the project. k. Support to the National Coordinator regarding outputs progress, and information for progress reports. l. Drafting and review technical reports. m. Liaise different experts, consultants and allied entities involved in the project and local stakeholders. n. Support in drafting of communication material. o. Support to the National Coordinator in the coordination of meetings, workshops among other activities. p. Perform other duties as requested.

Ultimate result of service - Support the baseline analysis for the city-level vulnerability and climate risk assessment and the GHG inventory. - Support the elaboration of the city-level NbS adaptation and mitigation plan, providing guidelines and recommendations on its structure. - Support the elaboration of the city-level private sector engagement plan, in the strategies and commitments of actors. - Support the elaboration of the city-level climate finance assessment report, gathering information and case studies. - Support the validation of the city- level financial guidelines to support investment in climate action. - Validation workshop report including participants list and validation of deliverables. - Report outlining potential opportunities for investments on NbS for urban areas.

Work Location Municipality of Santo Domingo, Ecuador

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 (ROLAC), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region - including 16 small island developing States - with a population of about 588 million people. The office works to serve the needs of the region and its activities are integrated into the work programs approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly of UNEP (UNEA).¿

UNEP seeks to support countries in Latin America to implement the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the new Paris Agreement and the priority actions defined in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of Latin American countries.¿

The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region is the second most urbanized region in the world, with ~80% of its population living in cities. Rapid urbanization, coupled with limited urban planning and the associated expansion of cities, is degrading urban and peri-urban ecosystems that provide vital ecosystem services for urban communities. Ecosystem degradation poses a threat to urban communities and increases their vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change related impacts.¿ ¿ To address the vulnerability of urban communities, governments in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region need to develop and implement cost-effective, low-risk solutions, such as Nature-based Solutions (NbS) by protecting, maintaining and rehabilitating priority ecosystems in urban areas. As a result, UNEP is working with the governments of, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Honduras Cuba, Panama, Guatemala and Uruguay to execute a two-years, Readiness project “Nature4Cities - Increasing resilience through Nature- based Solutions in Latin-American cities” funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). ¿ The aim of the project is to increase the capacity of participating countries to design and implement Nature- based urban development strategies that ensure urban resilience to climate change through five main areas of work: (1) Strengthening the knowledge base of national and local governments to assess the potential for Nature- based Adaptation and Mitigation Solutions in urban areas in the context of broader climate change strategies; (2) Reinforcing enabling policies and institutional frameworks to increase adoption of NbS in urban planning; (3) Strengthening partnerships between key actors to accelerate the adoption of NbS solutions; (4) Defining climate finance strategies through innovative public, private and blended financial mechanisms and facilitating access to climate finance for the sustained implementation of NbS; (5) Accelerating upscaling and replication through a regional Urban NBS platform.¿

The Nature4Cities Local Specialist will be responsible to support the activities in Ecuador. The specialist will be supervised by the Adaptation to Climate Change Programme Officer and will work in close collaboration with Nature4Cities National Coordinator and the Ecuador’s National Designated Authority (NDA). He/She will be based in the selected city of Santo Domingo, Ecuador, and will be present in the institutional offices of the Municipality 20 hours per week, from Monday to Friday on a partial-time basis from 9am to 1pm, according to the Project schedule. The Local Specialist will also be required to move for workshops or technical visits as required by the project’s implementation.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: - Bachelor’s Degree in environment, architecture, urban development, environmental economy, or closely related field is required. - Master’s degree is desirable, in law, political sciences, economics, urbanism, sustainable development, environmental development, environmental economy or a closely related field.

Experience: - A minimum of 3 years relevant work experience, including at least 1 year experience in development projects or international cooperation projects in Ecuador is required. - Experience in areas of work related to climate change adaptation and mitigation policy development is desirable. - Experience participating in the processes of development and implementation of public policies is desirable. - Experience in the public participative development process associated with environment and sustainable development is an asset.¿ - Participation in initiatives related to climate finance with focus on the public and private sector is desirable - Proven experience in working and collaborating within governments is required.¿ - Experience in research or work on urban law, urban financing, climate change, urban and environmental conflicts or closely related field is an asset.¿

Language: - Fluent in Spanish is required - Confident level of English is desirable.

Skills: - Demonstrated solid knowledge of ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change, ecological restoration and sustainable exploitation of natural resources.¿ - Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily and to turn information from various sources into a coherent project document.¿ - Ability to design and develop technical documents.¿ - Excellent organization and planning skills.¿ - Excellent communication skills (written and oral presentations).¿ - Ability to work independently and as a team.¿ - Motivated and dynamic to jump-start activities¿

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.