Urban Climate Change Specialist (based in Jakarta, Indonesia)

Result of Service Outputs:

1. Effective local ESCAP liaison with the project implementing partners in Indonesia (GIZ Indonesia and UCLG ASPAC) including in the co-design, implementation, and monitoring of project activities primarily related to enabling access of cities to climate finance, as well as participating in the national steering committee for the project. (throughout contract)

Deliverables: - One monthly progress report detailing results based on outputs to ESCAP. - Coordination of project National Steering Committee partners;

2. Review and provide quality assurance to project deliverables in Indonesia. (throughout contract)

Deliverables: Liaison with BAPPENAS for review and approval of project deliverables, including the city climate finance national report and related materials

3. Monitor issues related to multi-level climate finance identifying recurrent and emerging issues of concern in Indonesia in coordination with national and other regional implementing partners. (throughout contract)

Deliverables: Liaison with partners and provide expert advice

4. Promote the integration of climate change financing into the design, planning, and execution of all project activities through employing climate assessments, rigorous strategic planning techniques, and developing innovative analytical approaches to providing solutions for delivering sustainability in Indonesia’s domestic context with GIZ, BAPPENAS and the project’s national implementing partners. (throughout contract)

Deliverables: Develop urban climate finance assessments within rigorous strategic planning frameworks, and innovative analytical approaches to financing MLGC

5. Design and conduct research, studies, and technical documents with academic partners to support BAPPENAS and partner cities under the Urban-ACT project to address climate change financing through a ‘whole of government and society’ approach, as well as capacity building across relevant sectors such as transport and mobility, spatial planning, biodiversity, waste management, energy, urban green space, energy-efficient buildings and so on. (throughout contract)

Deliverables: Prepare research, studies, and technical documents in areas of urban climate financing as well as across relevant sectors such as transport and mobility, spatial planning, biodiversity, waste management, energy, urban green space, energy-efficient buildings and so on;

6. Coordinate the organisation of forums, trainings, workshops and expert consultations at the national (Indonesia) level to support consensus building and cooperation for stronger enabling environment for city climate finance with government officials in Indonesia, UCLG ASPAC, and other project partners or stakeholders. (throughout contract)

Deliverables: Coordinate local, national, and regional workshops, trainings, and policy advocacy events, primarily in support of city climate finance deliverables including coordination of partners;

7. Coordinate with the Urban-ACT Indonesia team in developing training modules and their dissemination on suitable channels, namely on enabling access to city climate finance. (throughout contract)

Deliverables: Develop training modules for cities related to enabling subnational access to climate finance in Indonesia.

8. Coordinate with the Indonesia team, the project partners, and cities to access various sources of climate finance through matchmaking activities with domestic instruments, national development banks and special purpose funds as well as international climate funds and multilateral financial institutions. (throughout contract)

Deliverables: Have access to various sources of climate finance

Work Location ¿¿Jakarta, Indonesia

Expected duration 15 Jul 23 -14 Jul24

Duties and Responsibilities Purpose:

Project Context

The mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote sustainable and inclusive development and regional connectivity in the Asia and Pacific region. ESCAP’s role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership with policy-oriented research and analysis, normative support and technical assistance, and capacity building, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asian and Pacific region.

The purpose of the Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon and Resilient Cities (Urban-Act) project is to strengthen multi-level climate governance (MLCG) across five (5) programme countries: China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand. The focus of the four-year project is on enhancing the capacities of city governments to meaningfully engage in climate change dialogue and implementation. MLCG describes a vertically integrated, ‘whole-of-government’ approach for integrated climate action that is based on effective partnerships for aligning policies and practices between different levels of government and across sectors.

Urban-Act is financed by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) under the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and delivered through a broad consortium of partners including amongst others GIZ, ESCAP, United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC), the University of Stuttgart and TU Dortmund University. The role of ESCAP is to support regional dialogue and the collaboration of national government agencies for vertical integration of climate action in cities, climate-sensitive urban planning best practices, capacity building and technical support for a transboundary pilot, and in climate finance, knowledge exchange, and regional advocacy.

Urban-Act will result in an improved enabling environment for accelerating coherent, evidence-based, and inclusive urban climate action and access to finance in line with national climate policy frameworks and the SDGs. The enhanced enabling environment will lead to communities, cities, and urban regions that benefit from improved low-carbon and resilient urban development. The multidisciplinary consortium will achieve its results through deep engagement at the local, national, and regional levels across key areas including national framework conditions, climate-sensitive urban planning, innovative climate action, access to finance, and regional exchange and learning.

In Indonesia, the Urban-Act project implementation is coordinated by GIZ Indonesia under the political leadership of the Ministry of National Development Planning of the Republic of Indonesia (BAPPENAS). UCLG ASPAC serves as a national implementing partner of the project in Indonesia. The cities being supported by the Urban-Act project in Indonesia are Padang and Medan. To support the implementation of the Urban-Act project in Indonesia, ESCAP is seeking a national consultant / Urban Climate Change Specialist, who will fulfill the following duties and responsibilities under the direct supervision of the ESCAP Sustainable Urban Development Section (based in Bangkok) through its Project Coordinator.

Responsibilities of the Urban Climate Change Specialist:

Within the direct supervision of the ESCAP Project Coordinator (EDD/SUDS) the Urban Climate Change Specialist will provide substantive support to the implementation of the Urban-ACT project and other relevant activities in Indonesia, as follows:

• Serve as the local ESCAP liaison with the project implementing partners in Indonesia including in the co-design, implementation, and monitoring primarily of project activities focused on enabling subnational climate finance, as well as participate in the national steering committee for the project;
• Coordinate regular engagement of ESCAP staff with BAPPENAS (political partner for Urban-Act in Indonesia) to review and approve project deliverables co-led by ESCAP;
• Monitor issues related to multi-level climate governance (MLGC) with respect to international and domestic climate finance and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern in Indonesia in coordination with national and other regional implementing partners such as GIZ and UCLG ASPAC;
• Promote the integration of climate change financing strategies into the design, planning, and execution of all project activities through employing climate assessments, rigorous strategic planning techniques, and developing innovative analytical approaches to providing solutions for delivering sustainability in Indonesia’s domestic context with GIZ, BAPPENAS and the project’s national implementing partners;
• Design and conduct research, studies, and technical documents with academic partners to support BAPPENAS and partner cities under the Urban-ACT project to address effective financing of climate change at the subnational level through a ‘whole of government and society’ approach, as well as across relevant sectors such as transport and mobility, spatial planning, biodiversity, waste management, energy, urban green space, energy-efficient buildings and so on;
• Coordinate the organisation of forums, trainings, workshops, and expert consultations at the national (Indonesia) level to support consensus building and cooperation for enabling cities access to climate finance within the MLCG framework with government officials in Indonesia, UCLG ASPAC, and other project partners or stakeholders;
• Coordinate with the Urban-ACT Indonesia team in developing training modules and their dissemination on suitable channels specifically in areas concerning climate finance;
• Close coordination with Urban-ACT Indonesia Team with regard to national and international events;
• Coordinate with the Indonesia team, the project partners, and cities to access various sources of climate finance through matchmaking activities with domestic instruments, national development banks and special purpose funds as well as international climate funds and multilateral financial institutions;
• Attend regional and national meetings to hold discussions with representatives of the Government of Indonesia, UN entities, subregional intergovernmental organisations, academic institutes, private sector, and civil society;
• Participate in ESCAP undertakings of broader concern to represent the views or interests of the organisational unit;
• Perform other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s service;

• Undertake on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.

  Qualifications/special skills Advanced degree in economics, finance, urban planning, climate change, environmental science, sustainable development, social sciences, or related discipline.

At least 7 years of experience in sustainable urban development-related research and technical assistance in Indonesia. Experience in working with national and subnational governments on climate change-related policies, namely enabling the city’s access to domestic and international climate finance, is required. Knowledge of urban development trends, challenges, and policies, including urban climate change financing frameworks at the national and subnational levels in Indonesia would be a distinct advantage.

Languages Fluent in English and Bahasa, in both writing and speaking.

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.