| Description |
CHIEF TECHNICAL ADVISOR - ARAB CLIMATE RESILIENCE INITIATIVE
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| Location : |
Amman, JORDAN |
| Application Deadline : |
22-Apr-13 |
| Additional Category |
Environment and Energy |
| Type of Contract : |
FTA International |
| Post Level : |
P-5 |
Languages Required :
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Arabic English French |
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) |
20-May-2013 |
| Duration of Initial Contract : |
one year |
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Background
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Current climatic variability within the Arab region indicates a trend towards an increase in surface air temperature and a decrease in rainfall. Hotter and drier conditions will likely exacerbate the frequency of extreme climate events, such as sand and dust storms, droughts and heat waves and will hamper agricultural production, particularly rain-fed agriculture. Resultant accelerated desertification rates will have direct negative effects on food security and income streams. These negative impacts are likely to jeopardize hard-won development progress across multiple sectors in all countries of the Arab region unless timely and integrated adaptation and mitigation interventions are implemented. To date, adaptation interventions have been implemented in the absence of a coordinated strategy/approach. Furthermore, cross-sectoral policies to address climate change impacts within the context of sustainable development strategies need to be developed.
Responding to these challenges and the development needs of the countries of the Arab region, the Regional Bureau for Arab States of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP-RBAS) conducted extensive consultations in order to develop the Arab Climate Resilience Initiative (ACRI).
ACRI has been developed following a series of regional consultation meetings held on the priority climate change impacts and challenges in the countries of the region, namely on water security, drought and desertification, sea level rise, energy efficiency and renewables, the territorial based approach to climate change adaptation.
Through this consultative process the countries of the Arab region agreed on 3 key programming areas;
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Supporting institutional capacity to address the impacts of climate change;
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Supporting local approaches to climate change adaptation;
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Enhancing resilience in the three priority areas of water and food security, sea-level rise and coastal erosion, and sustainable energy
The overall objective of ACRI is to build the foundations of a regional platform to provide support for climate change resilience in countries of the Arab region. It will assist these countries to:
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Build knowledge related to climate change priorities
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Develop capacity to implement strategic programmes and policies in the 3 identified priority areas;
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Establish partnerships to undertake joint work to address these local, regional and global challenges
Under the direct supervision of UNDP/RBAS Chief of the Regional Programme and in close coordination with the related Practices of the Regional Center in Cairo (RCC), the CTA is responsible for the day-to-day management and timely delivery of ACRI and associated outputs in accordance with agreed timelines, standards and budget.
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Duties and Responsibilities
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Summary of key functions:
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Guide, support and facilitate the work of the project manager in project implementation
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Substantive and advisory support
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Coordination Partnership Building. Guide, support and facilitate the work of the project manager in project implementation
The ACRI CTA will be responsible for project implementation and achievement of project results. The CTA will provide leadership and guidance to the project management and support team.
The CTA will lead the planning for the project’s activities and guide and support the project manager to ensure timely allocation and utilization of resources through approved budgets and with observance of appropriate financial and budget controls. The CTA will review resource allocation in the light of the project’s strategic goals and outcomes and identify opportunities to attract or leverage resources. The CTA will ensure the identification of all significant risks and appropriate action including the implementation of a risk management strategy.
Substantive and advisory support
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Lead and manage ACRI technical delivery with focus on results;
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Act as a lead resource person for the project in the field of climate change resilience in the Arab region ensuring UNDP’s credibility in delivery on a highly visible programme;
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Provide guidance and policy advisory services to the project signatory Governments and other national and regional partners (Private sector, NGOs, etc.) on climate resilience issues.
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Lead and engage national and regional partners in joint programming and policy dialogue on climate resilience issues with the advisory support from the Project Technical Support Group (TSG).
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Lead the review and clearance of information and communication materials, supporting the adaptation of relevant documents and tools, and promote a broad inter institutional collaboration and networks of expertise;
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Provide guidance, coordinate and capitalize on the tools in other practices in order to ensure a cross-practice approach. Provide advice to the project signatory countries through the respective COs in shaping their climate resilient development strategies, policies, norms and standards.
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Advise Regional Programme management on matters of strategic coordination with project stakeholders including beneficiaries and partners, and undertake related action as needed.
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Provide substantive and managerial leadership for all ACRI personnel.
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Lead the advocacy process for ACRI in line with the UNDP related global policies, norms and standards around climate change, as well as sharing best practices in the region.
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Support the development of a knowledge management system in conjunction with the TSG and in close coordination with the Knowledge Management Practice.
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Be responsible for the timely preparation and quality control of all substantive technical reports, progress reports, briefs and other required documents, including those required for the project board meetings;
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Supervise outsourced research and dissemination of research findings. In line with the project work plans, prepare technical specifications and ToRs for and recruit and manage the activities of the consultants and experts hired through the Result 1 of project; ensure coordination of the work of these consultants/experts with that of other responsible agencies.
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Mobilize advisory support from the Regional Service in Cairo, as necessary for the project’s implementation.
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Ensure timely production and submission of all partial and/or progress reports by all members of the project team, contractors and project partners.
Coordination
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Coordinate and collaborate with the Regional Center in Cairo (RCC) related Practice leaders and policy advisors to ensure a synergetic support to country offices providing advisory services in the areas of climate change adaptation, mitigation, governance, capacity development, public awareness raising, as well as gender mainstreaming.
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Coordinate with UNDP COs to support the implementation of ACRI activities at the national level, with the coordinated advisory support of the Technical Support Group (TSG) for both COs and national entities.
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Organize and lead the preparations for the project board, project review and/or evaluation meetings; follow-up on the implementation of the project board decisions and recommendations;
Partnership Building
Partnership Building
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Provide advice on the development and mobilization of resources and partnership building with international, regional and local institutions and agencies working in climate-related sectors and fields (e.g. water, agriculture and food security, sustainable energy, urban planning, coastal infrastructure, tourism, etc.) under the supervision of the Chief RPD and in close coordination with the RBAS Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Advisor.
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Manage strategic project relations through liaising with individuals and institutions including government officials, UN agencies, international organizations, civil society, media, the private sector, and private foundations, under the supervision of the regional programme management and in close coordination with the RBAS Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Advisor.
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Identify sub-regional and inter-country development and integration opportunities and incorporate them into capacity development initiatives to address cross border issues and collaboration.
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Serve as the key public advocate for the project in international fora and with civil society and the private sector.
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Identify and nurture key strategic alliances as well as identify opportunities to attract or leverage resources;
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Support resource mobilization efforts/strategies for the project;
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Ensure timely and adequate reporting to donors.
Impact of Results
The key results have impacts on the overall success of the Regional Programe for Arab States. And the delivery of the Results Framework as foreseen in the Regional Programe Document. In particular, the key results have ipact on the design, operation and programming activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets in relation to the critical programme area of energy and environment. The results would also guide the country offices for supporting their national counterparts for collaboration across the region on cross-country issues such as climate change.
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Competencies
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Corporate:
- Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Functional:
- Strong substantive knowledge of climate change and development issues and ability to link knowledge to UN/UNDP global policies, treaties, processes and frameworks;
- Capacity to interact with senior officials and credibly influence senior decision makers in UNDP Programme countries and other international development organizations;
- Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality reports and knowledge products.
Leadership:
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to provide credible leadership;
- Demonstrated intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic overview and corporate vision;
- Demonstrated flexibility in leadership by perforing and/or overseeing the analysis/resolution of complex issues;
- Strong managerial/leadership experience and decision-making skills with proven track record of mature judgements;
- Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision fro the spectrum of developent experience;
Managing Relationships:
- Demonstrated well developed people management and organizational management skills;
- Strong ability to manage teams; creating an enabling environment, mentoring and developing staff;
- Excellent negotiating and networking skills with strong partnerships in academia, technical organizations and as a recognized expert in the practice area;
- Strong resource mobilization and partnering skills and ability to accept accountability for management of large volume of financial resources
Managing Complexity:
- Ability to address global development issues;
- Substantive knowledge and understanding of developent cooperation with the ability to support the practice architecture of UNDP and inter-disciplinary issues;
- Demonstrated substantive leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives;
- A sound global network of institutional and individual contacts
Knowledge Management and Learning:
- Ability to strongly promote and build knowledge products;
- Promotes knowledge managment in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
- Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP;
- Provides constructive coaching for innovation and creativity in providing strategic policy advice and direction
Judgement/Decision Making:
- Mature judgement and iniative;
- Proven ability to provide strategic direction to the project implementation process;
- Independent judgeent and discretion in advising on handling major policy issues and challenges, uses diplomacy and tact to achieve result
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Required Skills and Experience
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Education:
- Post graduate degree in a development related field of study, preferably with a focus on environmental science and/or climate change.
Experience:
- A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in programme management, project oversight and preferably partnership building in the UN, or other international inter-/governmental or non-governmental organisations at the regional and national level.
- Extensive knowledge of the Arab region and its climate change and development related challenges and priorities
- Relevant professional experience and knowledge about environment and sustainable development issues at the global and/or regional levels
- A track record of national and regional working experience with increasing managerial responsibilities in the development arena and UNDP’s practice areas and the ability to link to global policy development for UNDP
Language:
- English (required); Arabic (Asset); French (Asset)
FC: 04250
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