Technical Specialist in Institutional Strengthening and Facilitation

Result of Service The main objective of the position of Technical specialist in institutional strengthening and facilitation is to support climate change adaptation governance processes, as well as interinstitutional and intersectoral coordination to promote national adaptation processes within the framework of adaptation measures prioritized in the NDCs and the National Adaptation Plan.

The Technical specialist in institutional strengthening and facilitation is also expected to support the national Project Coordinator in the development and implementation of other activities related to the project, including planning, organizing, and attending national, regional, local meetings, preparing reports, and supporting activities for the National Directorate for Climate Change.

The Technical specialist in institutional strengthening and facilitation will contribute to the execution of the following activities included in the project:

1. Activities 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3 and 1.1.4, included in sub-output 1.1 (Structure, governance and interlinkages of the national adaptation architecture strengthened and operative). 2. Activities 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3 and 2.1.4, included in sub-output 2.1 (National Adaptation Plan institutionalized). 3. Support other activities: 1.4.2, included in sub-output 1.4 (An adaptation cooperation round table lead by government established).

To this end, the Technical specialist in institutional strengthening and facilitation will work closely with the National Project Coordinator and the Project Management Unit (Plan A Project Team), draft, consult, and define institutional arrangements between different national stakeholders to facilitate and enhance institutional coordination around adaptation to climate change in the country.

Additionally, the Technical specialist in institutional strengthening and facilitation is expected to assist the National Project Coordinator and the Project Management Unit in the development and implementation of other project-related activities, including attending national, regional, and local meetings, as required.

For the effective implementation of the activities, the Technical specialist in institutional strengthening and facilitation will perform the following tasks:

1. To develop operational guidelines and provide advice to the DNCC in order to enable the establishment of the adaptation coordination architecture at the national level. This includes defining the coordination mechanisms, the roles, and responsibilities of the different organizations, as well as designing and formalizing a periodic schedule to hold meetings within the framework of the resulting governance (activity 1.1.1). 2. To support the DNCC in the process of reactivation and operationalization of the National Adaptation Committee to lead and advance the national adaptation processes and provide recommendations on the reiterative review of the contributions determined at the national level and the potential update of the national adaptation plan (activity 1.1.2). 3. To support the DNCC to develop, institutionalize, and implement a coordination strategy among governmental institutions working on adaptation, to strength and foster interlinkages among them and become more effective and efficient in terms of implementing adaptation policies and measures (activity 1.1.3). 4. Promote and implement institutional arrangements between the project and institutions involved in the country’s national adaptation processes (activity 1.1.4). 5. To support and contribute in the coordination and development of learning exchange visits aimed at enhancing south-south cooperation, experience and capacity sharing on topics related to adaptation planning with other countries in Latin America, as well as to learn from adaptation solutions being implemented in other countries (activity 1.2.4). 6. Elaborate technical guidelines aimed at aligning public and private actions related to adaptation with the national and international commitments, including the National Adaptation Plan and the Nationally Determined Contributions (1.4.2). 7. To support the institutionalize the National Adaptation Plan and link this plan with the relevant national development policies (activity 2.1.1). 8. Foster the adoption of the prioritized adaptation measures defined under the activity 3.1.1 by the governmental institutions in charge of its implementation (activity 2.1.2). 9. Design and institutionalize regional strategies within the National Adaptation Plan (activity 2.1.3). 10. Design adaptation strategies for the infrastructure and water management sectors and incorporate their results and inputs into the National Adaption Plan (activity 2.1.4). 11. To prepare materials relevant for project activities as may be required. 12. To carry out any other relevant tasks within his/her technical competence, as requested by the National Project Coordinator.

Work Location Project Management Unit, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

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.

UNEP, through its Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO Office) 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 Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

To implement the agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement and the priority actions defined in countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

In terms of supporting countries in the region attain the global commitments signed within the framework of the Paris Agreement, UNEP’s Latin America and the Caribbean Sub-programme on Climate Change aims at strengthening the ability of countries to move towards climate-resilient and low emission strategies for sustainable development and human well-being. In this framework, the UNEP Sub-programme on Climate Change, through its Climate Change Unit leads and supports several initiatives oriented at designing, promoting, and implementing innovative mitigation and adaptation solutions at the national and subnational level, and strengthening the transparency framework of the countries.

The expected accomplishment regarding climate change adaptation is that adaptation approaches, including the ecosystem-based approach, are implemented, and integrated into key sectoral and national development strategies to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience to climate change impacts. Furthermore, UNEP’s Sub-programme on Climate Change is also committed to ensure that cross-cutting issues such as gender equity and women’s empowerment are effectively integrated in the development of its tasks to guarantee equitable development in line with its adaptation objectives.

In this context, the Ministry of Energy, Natural Resources, Environment and Mining of Honduras and UNEP have agreed on the implementation of the project Enabling environments to effectively plan, implement, monitor and report strategic National Adaptation Processes in Honduras (Plan A Project), framed within the Readiness program of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The project is aimed to sustainably build country capacity in identifying, prioritizing, planning, and implementing measures that address medium and long-term adaptation needs considering UNFCCC decisions 1/CP.16 and 5/CP.17 and all elements of the UNFCCC Technical Guidelines for National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). The ultimate objective of the project is to reduce the vulnerability of Honduras to the impacts of climate variability and change, by building adaptive capacity and resilience through the integration of climate change adaptation into planning and implementation within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate. Specifically, the project has the objective to strengthen the country's capacity to integrate adaptation into national and local planning, including the participation of different line ministries, local governments, the private sector, and civil society organizations.

The project seeks to achieve its components and objective through: - Strengthening institutional and technical capacity, and stakeholder engagement at different levels. - Strengthening national adaptation strategic planning by revising, updating, and institutionalizing existing adaptation planning instruments. - Fostering financial flows and investment for adaptation measures under the National Adaptation Plan and the National Determined Contributions. - Strengthening knowledge management through the development and implementation of Adaptation Knowledge management strategy. - Strengthening the adaptation transparency framework to increase the country capacity to monitor and report adaptation progress effectively.

To fulfill the objectives of the project, the UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office is recruiting a Technical specialist in institutional strengthening and facilitation to provide technical support and inputs to the National Project Coordinator and the Project Management Unit (Plan A Project Team), on the strengthening of the climate change adaptation coordination structure at the national level. This will ensure that all relevant stakeholders including government institutions, private sector, civil society, academia, Indigenous peoples, afro-descendants, and other stakeholders participate in the adaptation NDC’s and National Adaptation Plan process and through the revision, formalization and establishment of current and new coordination mechanisms and instruments that foster an enabling environment for the effective implementation of adaptation strategies in the country. Additionally, the Technical specialist in institutional strengthening and facilitation will provide support to the National Project Coordinator in the drafting, preparation and socialization of institutional arrangements aimed at mainstreaming climate change adaptation into national planning processes and aligning different ongoing adaptation initiatives to ensure a more efficient use of resources.

The Technical specialist in institutional strengthening and facilitation will operate under the overall supervision of the UNEP Adaptation Programme Officer at the UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office and will assist the National Project Coordinator in the execution of the project. Additionally, he/she will work in close collaboration with the National Directorate for Climate Change (DNCC) of the Ministry of Energy, Natural Resources, Environment and Mining of Honduras (MiAmbiente+) and other national consultants, government, and non-governmental counterparts.

The Technical specialist in institutional strengthening and facilitation is expected to work 12-month period, 40 hours per week, from 8:00am to 5:00pm (Monday to Friday) and to be located in the Project Management Unit in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Qualifications/special skills ACADEMIC: ¿ A Master’s degree in environmental science, politics, law, public administration, development studies, or any related field is required. In case the consultant doesn’t have a Master’s Degree in the aforementioned areas, a Bachelor’s Degree in any other area with at least five (05) years of extra professional experience performing relevant tasks compensates in lieu of the requirement of a master’s degree in such areas.

PROFESSIONAL: ¿ A minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in public administration, development and/or natural resource management, and/or climate change adaptation or any other related field is required. ¿ Demonstrated experience in working with national institutions and other relevant stakeholders involved in climate change and/or natural resource management and planning in the coordination of activities at the national and/or subnational and or sectoral level is desirable. ¿ Demonstrated experience in the elaboration, preparation, and design of reports and official documents for technical and high-level meetings is required. ¿ Experience working with multi-actor, interinstitutional and intersectoral platforms is desirable. ¿ Experience in engaging with local stakeholders including government agencies, private sector and civil society is required. ¿ Work with Indigenous people will be valued. ¿ Demonstrated knowledge of Honduras environmental legislation is highly desirable. ¿ Experience in the organization and facilitation of small to medium size workshops, meetings and forums is an asset. ¿ Ability to communicate to a wide range of actors including decision makers and members from the civil society and the private sector will be an asset. ¿ Knowledge around climate change adaptation and environmental issues in Honduras will be an asset. ¿ Experience with international organizations will be an advantage, as will be knowledge of UNEP policies, procedures, and practices.

LANGUAGE:

¿ Fluency in Spanish is required. ¿ Confident in English is an asset.

SKILLS:

¿ Excellent political, advisory and facilitation skills. Ability to facilitate technical discussions and participatory processes with multiple stakeholders in multicultural environments. ¿ Demonstrated understanding of development planning and the ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations. ¿ Excellent technical leadership and understanding of climate change adaptation concepts, principles, and policies. Ability to provide guidance on climate change adaptation, especially as it relates to development planning.

COMPETENCIES:

¿ Professionalism: Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial, and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. He/she shows pride in work and in achievements; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. ¿ Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style, and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. ¿ Teamwork: Is able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team to achieve organizational goals and to take leadership when appropriate; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. ¿ Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

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.