| Description |
UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. With offices in 166 countries, UNDP works with national level partners to seek solutions to global and national development challenges. With climate change recognized as an imminent threat on the achievement of Millennium Development Goals, UNDP has developed a strategy to address pressing needs of vulnerable communities, including on those relating to promoting adequate adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change.
In line with UNDP’s strategy on adaptation to climate change, the Climate Change and Development – Adapting by Reducing Vulnerability (CC DARE) Programme is funded by DANIDA and implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The CC-DARE Programme provides an opportunity for institutions in Sub-Saharan African countries to access funding for implementing prioritized nationally based initiatives that contribute towards integrating climate change risks into development planning and decision-making frameworks. Outcomes to be achieved include: (1) Enhanced knowledge, skills and partnerships in mainstreaming climate change issues into development planning frameworks, including cross-sectoral efforts that are critical to dealing with climate change in a systematic manner; (2) Stronger technical and institutional capacities for identifying, prioritizing and implementing cost-effective adaptive measures that are consistent with national development goals and priorities; (3) Materials documenting the experience and knowledge gained so that experts in other countries can benefit from the evolving body of best practices; (4) Refined or strengthened national adaptation plans and policies that are better integrated with mainstream development activities, and (5) Enhanced regional cooperation on climate change issues.
CC-DARE will receive support from the UNEP Risø Centre on Energy, Climate, and Sustainable Development, UNEP Collaborating Centre on Water and Environment. The programme is currently projected to be implemented over a 3 year period (2008-2011) with an initial focus on a select number of target countries (Tanzania, Uganda, Burkina Faso and Senegal) prior to expansion to the entire Sub-Saharan African region.
The UNDP Policy Specialist will be an international expert hired by UNDP. The Policy Specialist will be responsible for providing and leading UNDP’s technical advisory services on integrating climate change risks into national development planning frameworks. This will be done by leveraging and in coordination with other relevant ongoing UNDP led activities at the national and UN-wide levels (UNDAF, CCA, MDGs, PRSPs, etc) as well as with other bilateral initiatives that support climate change adaptation in Africa such as those of the Denmark, United Kingdom and Canada. While the CC-DARE Programme will be managed by a UNEP-based Project Coordinator, the UNDP Policy Specialist, together with key counterparts at UNEP, will be expected to contribute towards the governance of the programme. The UNDP Policy Specialist will also liaise with the relevant staff within the network of UNDP Country Offices, Regional Bureau for Africa, Regional Coordinating Centres in Pretoria and Dakar, HQ as well as counterparts at UNEP and other relevant organizations.
The UNDP Policy Specialist will report to the Principle Technical Advisor on Climate Change Adaptation at BDP/EEG. | Duties and Responsibilities | 1. Strategic Programme Guidance (25%): - Responsible for contributing towards the strategic direction, planning, implementation and monitoring of the CC-DARE Programme, with particular reference to integrating climate change into national development planning frameworks, the Policy Specialist, in coordination with the CC-DARE Programme Manager at UNDP/HQ and the CC-DARE Project Team (based at UNEP- Paris), will develop and oversee the programme activities and work plan:
- Contribute towards the coordination of programming of resources for climate change adaptation (in liaison with other relevant UNDP and UNEP staff);
- Support the development and implementation of a strategy for accessing and programming additional finances for climate change adaptation.
- Contribut towards the development of guidance and lessons learned on integrating climate change risk reduction strategies and policies into national planning frameworks.
2. Technical Support (50%): - Provide technical guidance in support of CC-DARE funded activities. This will include leading and sourcing capacity development activities as well as preparation of guidance materials;
- Provide technical assistance to senior level government officials on mechanisms for integrating climate change risk reduction strategies into national development and investment decisions;
- Provide technical guidance on training and technical activities for building the capacity of national experts;
- Review, screen, and recommend to the programme team, national proposals that meet CC-DARE eligibility criteria;
- Provide technical guidance on climate change risk management and economic costing of adaptation options to teams implementing CC-DARE funded initiatives;
- Conduct initial screening of climate change risks imposed on UN/UNDP activities in countries, including risk screening of UN and UNDP programming documents (e.g. Common Country Assessment (CCA), United Nations Development Assistant Framework (UNDAF), Country Programme Document (CPD) and/or UN and UNDP projects;
3. Supervision of Consultants (15%): - Contributing towards delivery of overall outcomes and any adjustments needed to ensure efficient implementation of the programme. This will include:
- Review terms of references for activities to be contracted out, identification of suitable consultants/institutions, and reviewing outputs;
- Review, together with national counterparts, the workplans and deliverables of consultants working on CC-DARE activities;
- Contribute to the preparation of progress reports on CC-DARE activities for submission to DANIDA through UNEP;
- Evaluate impacts of, and make adjustments to, CC-DARE’s technical assistance strategy to address emerging national needs and priorities;
- Develop indicators to help countries measure the impacts of CC-DARE led activities at the country level, and guide their implementation;
- Provide detailed annual report on the CC-DARE Programme, including assessment of performance and success;
4. Professional development (5%): - The incumbent will design and implement a professional development programme in agreement with the supervisor.
| Competencies | Core Competencies - Demonstrated commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Functional Competencies - Strategic thinking cognitive ability
- Demonstrated negotiating, cultural sensitivity and diplomatic skills
- Demonstrated well-developed people management and organizational skills
- Team-building and team membership skills
- Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision from the spectrum of development experience
- Capacity to organize information, tools, and resources to support achievement of strategic objectives
- Designs and implements policies and procedures for planning and acting effectively
- Strong international, communication and presentation skills
| Required Skills and Experience | - A Masters degree in climate change, development, environmental economics or management.
- 7 years of professional experience in environment or development
- Demonstrated increasing responsibilities in a field related to sustainable policy development, technical support and capacity development.
- Sound expertise in international programmes on climate change risk management at the technical level.
- Substantial experience in Government and in interdepartmental procedures.
- Excellent managerial, organizational, diplomatic, networking, conflict resolution and communication skills.
- Fully proficient with computer and professional office software packages.
- Able to travel.
- Excellent written and oral skills in English and French. Knowledge of other UN languages is an assest.
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