The consultant will be part of the Climate Change Unit of the UNEP Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. The main objective of the position is to provide technical support and to ensure operational effectiveness during the planning and implementation of the adaptation portfolio, mainly the Green Climate Fund Readiness National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) Portfolio, of the Climate Change Unit of UNEP Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Responsibilities include, inter alia:
1. Support the adaptation team in the implementation and monitoring of approved NAP projects, including:
– Provide technical inputs to the deliverables from project team members, consultancy firms, local partners, etc.
– Provide technical guidance and support to Projects Coordinators in the timely preparation and submission of project work plans, budgets, procurement plans, progress reports, etc.
– Follow up and Monitor progress of project activities and results and identify corrective measures to overcome challenges for project implementation.
– Guide Project Coordinators in project planning, execution and reporting
– Support the semestrial reporting of the projects to the donor (IPRs), including consistency with project's delivery, budget monitoring and identification of challenges and lessons learnt
– Facilitate consolidation of the Project Management Units (PMUs) where relevant, including the preparation of terms of reference and participation in the recruitment processes.
– Provide technical guidance to PMUs for the elaboration of Terms of Reference and related documents for the recruitment of individual consultants and for the procurement of consultancy firms and other goods and services, as relevant.
– Support the administrative assistants of NAP projects to solve queries about conducting procurement processes, including the evaluation and selection of individual consultants, consultancy firms and vendors, with the administrative teams of the office.
– Support the preparation of Project Steering Committee meetings and other relevant meetings, workshops, trainings, consultations, and communications efforts (as necessary)
– Maintain effective communication with national counterparts for the implementation of the projects.
– Guide and supervise the preparation of requests to the donor, such as requests for disbursements, budget reallocations, extensions of time, etc
– Develop legal agreements aimed to facilitate the project implementation (Project Cooperation Agreements-PCAs, Small-Scale Funding Agreements-SSFA, etc.), maintain an effective communication with partners and monitor the implementation of existing legal agreements.
– When necessary, support the Project Financial and Administrative Officer and the Project Management Unit in preparing purchase orders, travel plans and other administrative tasks.
– Prepare and participate in field missions when necessary to meet government officials and other stakeholders, including the private sector, prior consent of his/her supervisor and in accordance with UNEP rules and procedures.
– Prepare supporting materials such as Power Point presentations, briefing notes, and summary reports for project meetings, workshops, etc.
– Suggest corrective management actions (documenting them) to re-direct the project towards desired results.
– Prepare agendas and arrange appointments and meetings related to the project activities.
– Facilitate the intermediate and final evaluations of the projects.
– Manage information related to the projects in a manner that allows easy tracking, reference and retrieval.
– Draft and distribute correspondence on a variety of project related subject matters in both Spanish and English languages, attaching necessary background information, and ensuring that grammar, spelling, and format are correct.
– Translate or organize and oversee the translation of project documentation, deliverables and reports between Spanish and English, as relevant.
– Respond to information requests, arrange revisions, etc.
– Develop of reports, briefings and presentations. Organize meetings and prepare minutes. When necessary, the consultant will also support the general organization of virtual and/or in person events and/or trainings.
– Document lessons learnt from project implementation.
2. Support the adaptation team in the preparation of climate change adaptation proposals, in accordance with the requirements set out in the different Funds’ regulations, providing lessons learnt from the implementation of ongoing NAP Projects, and technical inputs to the deliverables from team members and partners, ensuring that they follow UNEP vision, particularly regarding sustainable development, gender equity and climate-resilience.
Perform other related duties as requested.
Initially home- based, then Panama City, Panama
12 months
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
UNEP, through its Latin America and the Caribbean Office (ROLAC) located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region - including 16 small island developing States -with a population of about 588 million people- to implement the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement and the priority actions defined in in countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The office works to serve the needs of the region and its activities are integrated activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).
In terms of supporting countries in the region attain the global commitments signed within the framework of the Paris Agreement, UNEP’s Latin America and the Caribbean Sub-programme on Climate Change aims at strengthening the ability of countries to move towards climate-resilient and low emission strategies for sustainable development and human well-being. In this framework, the UNEP Sub-programme on Climate Change, through its Climate Change Unit leads and supports several initiatives oriented at designing, promoting and implementing innovative mitigation and adaptation solutions at the national and subnational level, and strengthening the transparency framework of the countries.
The expected accomplishment regarding climate change adaptation is that adaptation approaches, including the ecosystem-based approach, are implemented and integrated into key sectoral and national development strategies to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience to climate change impacts. Furthermore, the UNEP’s Sub-programme on Climate Change is also committed to ensure that cross-cutting issues such as gender equity and women empowerment are effectively integrated in the development of its tasks to guarantee an equitable development in line with its adaptation objectives.
In this framework, the Climate Change Unit of UNEP Office for Latin America and the Caribbean is currently supporting countries in the region to develop proposals to access climate change funds and thus promote socioecological resilience for both men and women, and in particular in those most vulnerable to climate change. In addition, UNEP, as delivery partner, is in of charge of the supervision of the implementation of adaptation projects recently approved. To fulfill the objectives of the project, the UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office is recruiting two (2) professionals to provide Technical and management support for climate change adaptation planning in the LAC region.
The consultant will be supervised by the Adaptation Programme Officer. The consultant will work from Monday to Friday 40 hours per week, full time, with an initial period of Initially period home based, then UNEP ROLAC Office at Panama City, Panama, once the new UNEP office is open.
Academic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in climate change, natural resource management, conservation, environment, economics, sustainable development, or a closely related field is required.
- Post graduate studies in a closely related field is desirable.
Experience:
- A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in the fields of climate change, disaster risk, natural resources management, environment, sustainable development, or other closely related field is required. Focus on climate change adaptation or resilience is an asset.
- At least 3 years of professional experience in climate change adaptation project development, implementation, management, monitoring and/or reporting is required.
- Demonstrated professional experience in preparing project implementation plans, budgets, procurement plans and/or progress reports; developing terms of reference, conducting procurement processes and/or coordinating/supervising teams and consulting firms is required.
- Demonstrated experience with the successful formulation/implementation of climate change project proposals for at least one of the following funds: Adaptation Fund, Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility is required
- Demonstrated knowledge of climate change adaptation in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean is required.
- Previous work experience in Latin America and the Caribbean region is required.
- Experience with project management tools, including M&E, theory of changes frameworks, socioeconomic indicators is desirable
- Experience in working and collaborating within governments and international organizations is desirable
- Previous work experience related to the Green Climate Fund Portfolio, in particular the National Adaptation Plans (NAP), is an asset.
Language:
- Written and spoken fluency in English and Spanish is required.
Skills:
- Proficiency in MS Office (MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook) software applications, in the use of collaborative platforms (Teams, Google Drive) and other relevant software applications (Zoom, Webex, Menti).
- Relevant expertise integrating gender considerations, nature-based solutions and community-based adaptation frameworks into project formulation, planning and implementation, this includes the design of gender sensitive methodologies to collect and assess baseline data, evaluate outputs, and monitor project outcomes where applicable.
- Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily and to turn information from various sources into a coherent project document.
- Professionalism: Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., human resources, budget/work programme, database management, etc. Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. Shows pride in work and in achievements; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients bygaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions.
- Administrative and operational effectiveness: Ability to perform a variety of tasks related to administration and logistics management, e.g., human resources, database management, etc. Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial, and human resources rules and regulations in work situations.
- Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
- Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
- Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
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.