Technical Advisor of the National Adaptation Planning project

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 25 years old. Nationals of the country of assignment are not eligible, except the assignments in Headquarters duty stations.

Description of task

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of UNEP Chief Climate Change Adaptation Unit or his/her designated mandated representative(s) as well as the NAP project National Director within the General Division of Environment (Ministry of Infrastructure and Natural Resources) the UN Volunteer Technical Advisor of the National Adaptation Planning project in Sao Tome and Principe will contribute to the successful implementation of the project by providing technical guidance and support as well as capacity building to the project team on project management and adaptation planning.

Project management:

• Provide overall technical backstopping, operational guidance and support to the National Project team to ensure that project objectives are being met and that activities are carried out within agreed deadline and under high technical standards
• Assist the Project Coordinator in planning the implementation of project activities, and in adjusting the project Results Framework, Work Plan and Budget as required and in line with corporate requirement and GCF rules
• Provide specific support at project start-up to set-up strong bases for an effective project implementation including capacity building on climate change adaptation and project management
• Provide advice on best suitable approaches and methodologies for achieving project targets and objectives;
• Provide quality assurance and technical review of project outputs such as technical reports, studies, assessments, training materials, and knowledge products;
• Draft or review, as requested, ToRs for technical consultancies and sub-contracts, and assist in the selection and recruitment process
• Provide technical inputs to key procurement processes such as technical specifications of goods and equipment;
• Provide a technical guidance and supervisory function to the work carried out by national and international consultants hired by the project;
• Support project risk management and provide sound advice on adaptive management of the project;
• Ensure the respect of economic, environmental and social safeguards throughout project implementation
• Assist in monitoring the technical quality of project M&E and reporting systems (including project indicators and targets);
• Assist the Project Manager and coordinate the preparation of the six monthly GCF Interim Progress Reports (IPRs), other M&E reports and reviews required by UNEP, the GCF and Government departments
• Support the project team in administrative and financial reporting including quarterly financial reports for submission to UNEP. This will involve working closely and coordinating with the project payment agent: UNDP country office in Sao Tome and Principe
• Support in the preparation of Project Steering Committee meetings, and participate as required;
• Conduct technical supervision missions to support activity implementation or reporting as appropriate
• Provide advice and assist in knowledge management, communications and awareness-raising, and document lessons and good practices from project implementation

Adaptation Planning:

• Provide lead technical support in guiding the Sao Tome and Principe National Adaptation Planning process in accordance with the UNFCCC’s Least Developed Expert Group (LEG) on adaptation released guidelines for National Adaptation Plans (2012) , Green Climate Fund (GCF)’s guidance on adaptation planning approaches as well as existing supplementary guidelines including UNEP Ecosystem based Adaptation (EbA) NAP guidelines with particular focus on ensuring that:

  • Climate science informs risk assessments and identification of adaptation options
  • Appraisal of adaptation options are based on economic, social and environmental cost and benefits to guide prioritization and trade-offs
  • Priority adaptation strategies and measures are well integrated into national, sub-national plans, sectoral strategies, public budget processes, and national and sectoral monitoring and reporting systems.

• Closely collaborate with and support the work of the national and international adaptation planning consultants to deliver, among other:

  • Sub-Outcome 1.1: NAP leadership, management and institutional arrangements are established and national adaptation process is launched in STP
  • Sub-Outcome 1.3: Training strategy is developed and initial training are conducted to advance the NAP process in Sao Tome and Principe
  • Sub-Outcome 2.3: Climate and environmental information and data are produced and shared to support the regular update of climate risk and vulnerability maps and analyses in STP
  • Sub-Outcome 3.2: National Adaptation Plan is developed through a consultative process and based on available evidences
  • Sub-Outcome 3.3: Planning support tools are developed to systematize the integration of climate change adaptation into planning
  • Sub-Outcome 3.4 A law developed to institutionalize climate change integration into planning thanks to the new guidelines as well as to ensure adequate implementation and regular revision of the NAP in Sao Tome and Principe
  • Sub-Outcome 4.2: Funding strategy developed and implemented through development of GCF concept notes to support the NAP process in STP

• Facilitate the development of strategic regional and international partnerships for the exchange of skills and information related to climate change adaptation planning

• Perform any other tasks within the context of the NAP project as may be requested by the Project Team, the Project Steering Committee, and the UNEP Task Manager

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required degree level:

Master degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

Advanced higher degree (Master’s or equivalent) in climate change adaptation, environment or sustainable development planning or any related field of studies such as natural resources management or urban and regional planning; a first-level university degree or equivalent in combination with relevant training and/or 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Required experience:

60 Months

Experience remark:

• A minimum of 5 years’ work experience in a technical lead or planning position on development/climate/natural resources management programmes, preferably in a developing country context;
• A minimum of 2 year international work experience in either institutional strengthening, stakeholder engagement and capacity building or development/climate/natural resources management programmes
• Demonstrated experience of working with climate change adaptation planning processes and integration into national, subnational and sector policies, plans, monitoring and budget processes would be an asset;
• Previous similar experience in provision of technical support to complex projects and multi-lateral (e.g. GEF, GCF, AF) financed projects or UN implemented projects will be an added asset;
• Work experience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Africa including in Sao Tome and Principe would be an advantage
• Excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills and accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including community members and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines
• Have affinity with volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Language skills:

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent
• Portuguese(Mandatory), Level - Fluent

Area of expertise:

Climate change mitigation and mechanisms for technology transfer

Driving license:

No

Competencies values:

Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

Please first register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup. Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply.

* Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

Please first update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to apply.

Application deadline: 13-06-2021