NDC - Low carbon buildings and cooling policy expert Ghana

Support the updating process of the NDC of Ghana related to buildings and cooling sector.

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UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Tuesday 10 Jun 2025 at 03:59 UTC

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Overview

Support the updating process of the NDC of Ghana related to buildings and cooling sector.

You have:

  • Postgraduate/Graduate qualifications in disciplines related to Climate change and Sustainable development, civil engineering, passive buildings design, energy efficiency, thermal comfort performance, building materials, environment planning etc.
  • Minimum of ten years professional experience in the industry in relevant field of work, preferably with at least 8 years of multi-functional experience with a focus on drafting green building policies, buildings energy efficiency, passive design energy, cities, embodied carbon, building LCA, and good understanding of related Government policies and processes.
  • Familiar with NDC formulation processes.
  • Expertise in passive design, sustainable building practices, low-carbon construction, embodied carbon, building LCA and climate-resilient housing, with a deep understanding of local building material markets, planning norms, and community engagement processes.
  • Fluency in written and oral English is required. Knowledge of another language would be an advantage.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

The consultant will support the updating process of the NDC of Ghana by providing technical assistance to identify buildings and cooling related targets as well as formulate ambitious, investable, actionable and inclusive measures related to the buildings and construction , and cooling sectors. This will be done in close collaboration with the established working group under the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and under the guidance of UNEP, the GlobalABC and the Cool Coalition team. The consultant will use the GlobalABC NDC guide and will build on the Climate Action Roadmap for Buildings and Construction of Ghana. The final output will consist in a report to be validated by the NDC lead authors including a set of clear recommendations on NDC measures related to the buildings and construction and cooling sectors to be incorporated in the updated NDC.

Work Location

Ghana (Remote)

Expected duration

4 months

Duties and Responsibilities

In 2025 countries must submit their new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the UNFCCC. Policymakers face a crucial moment to shape the commitments that will set the course for tackling climate change and building resilience in the years ahead up to 2035. How we address the built environment in those NDCs will determine if our buildings are to become an obstacle or an ally to climate action. In this context UNEP is providing assistance to countries to raise ambition on buildings and cooling related targets in their NDCs. A senior consultant with a background on sustainable building policies is needed to perform tasks of a technical, organizational and analytical nature, as part of the Cities Unit of the Mitigation Branch, Climate Change Division at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Specifically, the consultant will provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, and the UNFCCC Focal institution, the Environmental Protection Authority of Ghana to incorporate buildings and cooling related targets and measures in the updated NDCs. The consultant needs to be based in Ghana but can work remotely.

Qualifications/special skills

The consultant should have Postgraduate/Graduate qualifications in disciplines related to Climate change and Sustainable development, civil engineering, passive buildings design, energy efficiency, thermal comfort performance, building materials, environment planning etc. A minimum of ten years professional experience in the industry in relevant field of work, preferably with at least 8 years of multi-functional experience with a focus on drafting green building policies, buildings energy efficiency, passive design energy, cities, embodied carbon, building LCA, and good understanding of related Government policies and processes. Familiar with NDC formulation processes. Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the first level university degree recognized by the United Nations. Specific Knowledge: Expertise in passive design, sustainable building practices, low-carbon construction, embodied carbon, building LCA and climate-resilient housing, with a deep understanding of local building material markets, planning norms, and community engagement processes.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in written and oral English is required. Knowledge of another language would be an advantage.

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.

Potential interview questions

Describe a project where you had to draft green building policies. What challenges did you face? The interviewer seeks to understand your hands-on experience in policy-making in building standards and energy efficiency. Provide specific examples of projects you've worked on, highlighting challenges and solutions.
How do you approach ensuring community engagement in sustainable building projects? This question assesses your ability to involve stakeholders in the planning process. Pro members can see the explanation.
What is your understanding of the NDC formulation process and its significance? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you give an example of how you have integrated passive design principles into a project? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What methods do you use to analyze energy efficiency in buildings? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Tell us about your experience engaging with governmental policies related to building standards. How did you navigate the processes? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you stay updated on the latest trends in sustainable construction and climate change? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies would you recommend for integrating low-carbon practices into existing building codes? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org