Urban Climate Change Specialist (based in New Delhi, India)

Result of Service Outputs:

1. Effective local ESCAP liaison with the project implementing partners in India (GIZ India, NIUA and TERI) including in the co-design, implementation and monitoring of all project activities, as well as participate in the national steering committee for the project (throughout contract) Deliverables: One monthly progress report detailing results based on outputs to ESCAP

2. Review and approve project deliverables (throughout contract) Deliverables: Coordination of project National Steering Committee partners;

3. Monitor issues related to multi-level climate governance (MLGC) and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern in India in coordination with national and other regional implementing partners (throughout contract) Deliverables: Liaison with MoHUA for review and approval of project deliverables, including city climate finance national report

4. Promote integration of climate change 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 India’s domestic context with GIZ, MoHUA and the project’s national implementing partners (throughout contract) Deliverables: Develop urban climate assessments, rigorous strategic planning frameworks and innovative analytical approaches to MLGC

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

6. Coordinate the organization of forums, trainings, workshops and expert consultations at the national (India) level to support consensus building and cooperation for MLCG with government officials in India, UCLG-ASPAC and other project partners or stakeholders (such as the All-India Institute of Local Self Government) (throughout contract); Deliverables: Coordinate local, national and regional workshops, trainings and policy advocacy events, including coordination of partners;

7. Coordinate with the Urban-ACT India team in developing training modules and its dissemination on suitable channels (throughout contract); Deliverables: Develop training modules for cities related to MLGC.

8. Coordinate along with the India team, the project partners, states and cities to access various sources of climate finance (throughout contract): Deliverables: Have access to various sources of climate finance.

Outputs to be delivered:

• All outputs are to be delivered to the project manager by email in MS word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint to produce technical documents.

• Consultations with stakeholders and workshops would be delivered in a form appropriate under the local circumstances taking into consideration any COVID-19 protocols.

  Work Location New Delhi, India

  Expected duration 1 June 2023 - 31 May 2024

  Duties and Responsibilities 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 Asian 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 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 practice, capacity building and technical support for a transboundary pilot, capacity building 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 level across key areas including: national framework conditions, climate-sensitive urban planning, innovative climate action, access to finance, and regional exchange and learning.

In India, the Urban-Act project implementation is coordinated by GIZ India under the political leadership of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Urban-Act national implementing partners are India’s National Institute for Urban Affairs (NIUA) and The Energy Resources Institute (TERI). Urban local bodies (ULBs) and States being supported by the Urban-Act project in India are: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh; Panaji, Goa; and Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. To support the implementation of the Urban-Act project in India, ESCAP is seeking a national consultant / Urban Climate Change Specialist, who will fulfill the following duties and responsibilities under the direct supervision of ESCAP’s Subregional Office for South and South West Asia (in New Delhi), as well as the ESCAP Sustainable Urban Development Section (based in Bangkok) through its’ Project Coordinator.

Responsibilities / objectives of the Urban Climate Change Specialist:

Within the direct supervision of the ESCAP Project Coordinator (EDD/SUDS) and overall supervision of the Head of the ESCAP Subregional Office for South and South West Asia, the Urban Climate Change Specialist will provide substantive support to the implementation of the Urban-ACT project and other relevant activities in India, as follows:

• Serve as the local ESCAP liaison with the project implementing partners in India (GIZ India, NIUA and TERI) including in the co-design, implementation and monitoring of all project activities, as well as participate in the national steering committee for the project;
• Provide expert advice to ESCAP staff in the Subregional Office for South and South West Asia and the Environment and Development Division with the MoHUA as the political partner for Urban-Act in India to review and approve project deliverables co-led by ESCAP;
• Monitors issues related to multi-level climate governance (MLGC) and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern in India in coordination with national and other regional implementing partners such as GIZ and UCLG-ASPAC;
• Promotes integration of climate change 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 India’s domestic context with GIZ, MoHUA and the project’s national implementing partners;
• Designs and conducts research, studies and technical documents with academic partners to support MoHUA and partner state and cities under the Urban-ACT project to address climate change through a ‘whole of government and society’ approach, including in areas of climate policies, planning, financing, data and capacity building 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;
• Coordinates the organization of forums, trainings, workshops and expert consultations at the national (India) level to support consensus building and cooperation for MLCG with government officials in India, UCLG-ASPAC and other project partners or stakeholders (such as the All-India Institute of Local Self Government);
• Coordinates with the Urban-ACT India team in developing training modules and its dissemination on suitable channels;
• Close coordination with Urban-ACT India Team with regard to national and international events;
• Coordinates along with the India team, the project partners, states and cities to access various sources of climate finance;
• Attends regional and national meetings to hold discussions with representatives of Government of India, UN entities, subregional intergovernmental organizations, academic institutes, private sector and civil society;
• Participates in ESCAP undertakings of broader concern to represent the views or interests of the organizational unit;
• Performs other related duties and ad hoc tasks as required for the final delivery of the work unit’s service;

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

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

At least 7 years’ experience in sustainable urban development related research and technical assistance in India. Experience in working with national and subnational governments on climate change related policies, including on enabling city access to climate finance, required.

Knowledge of urban development trends, challenges and policies, including on urban data and research as well as urban climate change frameworks at the national and subnational levels in India would be a distinct advantage.

Languages Fluent in English in both writing and speaking. Proficiency in Hindi and/or Tamil languages an advantage.

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.