Policy Advisor, Climate Change and Energy

UNDP’s development efforts are defined by the Strategic Plan 2008-2011 (and its extension 2011-2013), which has established four development focus areas: (i) poverty reduction and the achievement of the MDGs, (ii) democratic governance, (iii) crisis prevention and post-conflict recovery, and (iv) environment and sustainable development. The environment and sustainable development focus area consists of four key result areas, which are to assist countries to: (i) mainstream environmental considerations into national development planning, (ii) catalyze environment finance, (iii) adapt to climate change, and (iv) expand access to environmental and energy services for the poor.

UNDP seeks to develop country capacities to manage the environment and natural resources in such a way as to benefit the poor and integrate environmental and energy dimensions into poverty reduction strategies and national development frameworks. Energy and environment are essential for sustainable development. The poor are disproportionately affected by environment degradation and lack of access to clean, affordable energy services. UNDP helps countries strengthen their capacity to address these challenges at the global, national and community levels, seeking out and sharing best practices, providing innovative policy advice, technical assistance and support to implementation, and linking partners, amongst other, through pilot projects, all with the major goal of helping poor people build sustainable livelihoods.

The Environment and Energy Group (EEG) within the Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) leads UNDP in these efforts. EEG is composed of several units including the Global Environment Facility Unit, the Montreal Protocol Unit, and the Drylands Development Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. All together the group has more than 200 staff and is responsible for disbursements in the area of environment and sustainable development on the order of $400 million per year.

EEG is led by a Director who reports to the head of BDP and collaborates extensively with other Practice Directors within BDP, Regional Bureau Directors and their staff, other UN agencies countries and civil society organizations.

Strategic Portfolio Advice and Guidance: The Policy Advisor will further develop the strategic vision for the Climate Change and Energy clusters in line with the changing external setting (e.g. UNFCCC, the Secretary Generals Sustainable Energy for All Initiative).  The Advisor will provide high level technical advice on climate change negotiations, including technology transfer and financial mechanisms internally in UNDP as well to external stakeholders.  He/she will oversee the global development activities in all regions by providing direction, planning and guidance to all team members.  He/she will ensure that the portfolio is closely aligned with UNDP’s core mandate and strategic priorities. A critical role will be identifying opportunities for promoting interlinkages across the focal areas, and for ensuring that the programme results can be used for mainstreaming environment into UNDP and UN country programming.  The Advisor will oversee the implementation of EEG global programmes in climate change, energy and other focal areas as appropriate.  The Advisor will be responsible financial decisions that have implications for this portfolio.

Coaching, mentoring, and team building:  The Advisor will have human resource responsibility for all team members.  A large portion of the Advisor’s time will be devoted to supporting team members in carrying out their work, including at country level.  He/she will ensure that staff has the skills, knowledge and information to do their jobs effectively.  The Advisor will support staff in their functions of policy analysis and programme management, knowledge management and capacity development. As appropriate, he/she will liaise with BDP staff in Regional Service Centers. The Advisor will work with each staff member on the development of his or her workplace and Results and Competency Assessments (RCAs).  He/she will be responsible for ensuring that staff members follow their learning plan and that succession management is in place.

Policy Dialogue, External Relations and Partnerships:  The Advisor will lead the Climate Change Team and Energy Team and represent these before the UNFCCC Secretariat, UNFCCC member countries, UN Agencies’ teams, relevant donor groups and other external working relationships, professional groups and partnerships. 

Internal Relations and Partnerships:  The Advisor will take the lead in enhancing the collaboration in the area of climate change and sustainable development, with staff within EEG, UNDP Country Offices, Regional Bureaux, BCPR and other relevant HQ units and programmes, as well as with other UN agencies.

Ensuring Portfolio Impact:  The Advisor will ensure that the EEG policy and portfolio in Climate Change and Energy is having the desired impact and that this impact can be effectively measured, documented, and communicated. He/she will also oversee the publication of programming kits, and other knowledge products and ensure that these products are disseminated through the digital workspace. 

Functional Competencies

Communication: 

• Communicates effectively with staff at all levels of the organization and is comfortable in handling external relations at all levels; 
• Demonstrates sensitivity, tact and diplomacy in internal as well as external relations in his/her role as Adviser for the Climate Change and Energy Cluster. 
• Able to draft clearly, concisely, and quickly in English, with the ability to edit and clear correspondence, speeches, briefings, etc.

Professionalism: 

• Capable of working in a highly pressured environment with extreme deadlines, 
• Managing many tasks simultaneously; 
• Able to handle a large volume of logistical details, accurately and thoroughly, with great attention to detail; 
• Exercises the highest level of responsibility and is able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
• Ideally versed in conflict mediation skills;
• Provide authoritative advice on the development of policy which will affect a range of programmes and activities .

Technical Competencies

• Strong policy analytical skills that can be applied to the development and application of methods and tools for climate change and energy;
• Ability to translate scientific climate information into policy and practical guidance for non-technical audience;
• Understanding of political issues under international climate negotiations and energy agenda;
• Skills and knowledge to build linkages between poverty reduction, MDGs, macroeconomic policies, environment, energy, climate change and sustainable development.
• Able to draft clearly, concisely, and quickly in English, with the ability to edit and clear correspondence, speeches, briefings, etc. French and/or Spanish is a distinct asset.

Product-oriented:

• Ability to advise on problems carefully and logically, leading to fact-based and practical recommendations;
• Ability to produce high-quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client needs;
• Ability to focus on impact and result for UNDP and/or the recipient country or institution.

Building External Partners and UNDP Representation: 

• Represents the organization in the development of projects and programmes at the country and sub-regional levels, central to UNDP’s mission;
• Builds partnerships with the Executive Secretary of the Climate Change Convention, UNFCC, members of the UN’s Initiative Sustainable Energy for All, among others.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and capacity to build strong relationships with partners;

 Teamwork

• Ability to lead, manage complexity and contribute effectively to team work.
• Ability to write and speak clearly and convincingly, including strong presentation skills;
• Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks to create an enabling envrionment;
• Focuses on results for the client and responds positively to feedback.

Core Values

• Demonstrate commitment to the UN’s core values; respect for individual, gender and cultural differences in dealing with others and to achieving the goals of UNDP as a whole.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Self-development, initiative-taking
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Informed and transparent decision making

• Master's degree in the Physical or Environmental Sciences, Sustainable Development or related areas, doctorate strongly preferred.

• 15 years of extended specialized experience in scientific, policy and financing negotiations in Multilateral Environmental Agreements, specifically in Climate Change. Experience in Sustainable Energy global policy processes, programmes and projects;
• Proven ability to lead a team composed of people from a wide range of background and affiliations in a fast-paced and challenging environment;
• Experience in programme management; knowledge on project design, evaluation and implementation on capacity development and policy frameworks in developing countries;
• Proven ability to make policy decisions that concern UNDP’s reputation at inter-governmental environmental meetings, including the UNFCCC Conference of Parties, and its Subsidiary Bodies, Sustainable energy for All meetings, Rio +20, and inter-agency meetings.

• Fluent in English and high level of proficiency in at least one of the following languages: French, Spanish.