Nature4Cities National Coordinator in Cuba

Result of Service The consultant will be responsible for overall coordination of the execution of the GCF funded project Nature4Cities in Cuba, and shall ensure the following:

• Project activities and deliverables in the target city are carried out as outlined in the Project Document.
• Proper coordination between the local project management unit, key local stakeholders and the rest of the project team.
• Development of bi-annual work plans.
• Budget planning and reporting.
• Drafting technical reports, including the development of baselines on NbS integration into urban planning and development processes.
• Coordination between different experts involved in the project and local stakeholders.
• Support in drafting of communication material.
• Organization of meetings and workshops.

The consultant will be responsible of the following:

• Conduct the day-to-day implementation of the project, ensure stakeholder engagement and proper reporting of activities to the Project Coordinator (RC) and Regional Project Steering Committee (RSPC).
• Oversee and manage project implementation, monitor work progress, and ensure timely delivery of outputs in the two selected cities according to GCF project’s requirements,
• Provide input for the baseline assessment on the state of NbS integration into urban planning in each participant city, including an estimation of the feasibility of NbS integration into urban planning and development processes.
• Provide input to management and technical reports and other documents as described in the project document.
• Facilitate the convening and meetings of the city-level NbS Task groups
• Act as a liaison and promote dialogue between national, provincial and local stakeholders, ensure key actors in the urban planning processes are involved in the project’s development.
• Coordinate the work of the local experts and consultants in the respective country.
• Promote the participation of local communities in project activities.
• Participate in training activities, report writing and facilitation of expert activities.
• Advise the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) experts in developing and implementing a comprehensive monitoring and reporting system.
• Provide inputs for the development of audio-visual material for each of the pilot cities as well as develop awareness-raising material, providing feedback and inputs for revision.
• Collaborate with the website designer to develop the online portal on urban Ecosystem based Adaptation (EbA).
• Participate and promote dialogue in the community of practices and/or webinars that will be implemented within the project.
• Systematize national material on shared folders for a common regional use on knowledge management, capacity building and communication activities.
• Advise with the dissemination of materials and activities related to the community of practice with key stakeholders in the country.
• Report to the Regional Project Steering Committee regarding project progress.
• Inform the Regional Coordinator immediately of any issue or risk which might jeopardize the success of the project.
• Provide on-the-ground information for progress reports.
• Coordinate visits to project sites.
• Coordinate with other UN agencies (such as UN Habitat) the organization of events, identification of potential collaboration areas and alignment with UNEP portfolio on urban areas in Cuba.
• Analyze and provide technical inputs to products from local finance expert.
• Provide inputs to the development of concept notes to multilateral funds, such as the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund or similar, ensuring alignment with national priorities and insight from local regulations, and ongoing and past projects.
• Design NbS Urban Adaptation Plans for the project cities
• Provide input and design the conceptualization of projects, aligned with the scaling-up strategy of Nature4Cities in the country, this includes middle-scale project proposal, such as Generation Restoration initiative, the WWF initiative for resilient cities
• Handle the synergies and contribute to the Joint Programme ¨Environmental Finance Enabling Framework to accelerate the SGDs in Cuba¨, as part of the scaling-up strategy of NbS in Cuba
• Obtain country and city-level legal and regulatory documents, and technical reports to support the development of UNEP adaptation projects in Cuba
• Connect the coordination team of new and ongoing UNEP project with key stakeholders at the national and regional level.
• Identify new relevant partners for the implementation and sustainability of the project, maintain the relationship and ensure synergies with the current and new partners and relevant initiatives.
• Provide technical insights in order to prepare Agreements with relevant partners for the scaling-up of the project.

• Guarantee the accomplishment of environmental and social safeguards, and that gender and vulnerable communities’ policies are duly implemented in all project activities.

  Work Location Institute of Physical Planning, La Habana, Cuba

  Expected duration 12 months

  Duties and Responsibilities 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 UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama 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).

The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region is the second most urbanized region in the world, with ~80% of the population living in cities. Within the next two decades, this proportion is projected to reach ~85%, thereby ranking the cities of the LAC region among the fastest-growing in the developing world. The rate of urban expansion is faster in small and medium-sized cities relative to mega cities. This rapid urbanization and the associated expansion of cities is degrading urban and peri-urban ecosystems – including wetlands, green spaces and forests – that provide a wide range of ecosystem services for urban communities.

To address the vulnerability of urban communities, governments in the 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, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Ecuador, Uruguay, Panamá and Cuba to execute a 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.

UNEP LACO 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.

To achieve this, UNEP is seeking a National Coordinator for the Nature4Cities project in Cuba, under the supervision and guidance of the UNEP Programme Officer for Adaptation of the Climate Change Unit for Latin American and Caribbean Office, while working in close collaboration with the Regional Team and National Coordinators for Nature4Cities who will be responsible for overall coordination of the execution of the GCF funded project Nature4Cities in Cuba. The consultant will work from the Institute of Physical Planning, La Habana, Cuba, 40 hours per week, from Monday to Friday, full time.

Qualifications/special skills ACADEMIC: - Bachelor’s degree in environment, natural resources management, architecture, urban development, economic development, or a closely related field is required. - Master’s degree in environment, natural resources management, architecture, urban development, economic development, or a closely related field is required.

PROFESSIONAL: - A minimum of 5 years of work experience related with architecture or project management with at least 2 years’ experience as a lead project manager in urban development, urban planning, environmental management or related sectors is required. - At least 2 years of working experience in Cuba or for Cuban institutions and/or government is desirable. - Demonstrated solid knowledge of ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change, ecological restoration and sustainable use of natural resources is desirable. - Demonstrated solid knowledge of Cuban environmental and climate change policies. Knowledge on urban planification processes, legal framework on adaptation to climate change and of the relevant stakeholders working in these sectors in Cuba is also desirable - Experience in the public participation development process associated with environment and sustainable development is an asset. - Proven experience in working and collaborating within governments is desirable. - Experience in urban planning and development is an asset. - Experience with GCF projects is an asset.

Languages- Fluency in Spanish is required - Fluency in English is required

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.