Job: Climate Change Specialist

Location: Washington, DCEmployer: Global Environment FacilityDeadline: Thursday, 08 August 2013

Description

Background / General description:

The Global Environment Facility (GEF), a multilateral financial mechanism established in 1991. It provides grants to developing countries for projects and programs that protect the global environment. GEF grants support projects related to six focal areas: biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants.

Since its inception, the GEF has committed close to $11 billion in grants in more than 160 developing countries and transitional economies. Resources for the GEF Trust Fund, which finances the GEF's programs and projects, are replenished every four years. Pledged funding for GEF activities in the period 2010-2014 is $4.25 billion (fifth replenishment period).

The GEF is open to universal membership, and currently 182 countries are members. It is governed by a Council comprising 32 Members appointed by constituencies of GEF member countries. An Assembly of all member countries meets every four years at the ministerial level.

Ten agencies are principally accountable for the execution of GEF projects: the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP), U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank (IBRD/IFC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the U.N. Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The Climate and Chemicals team is responsible for GEF's strategic and technical work in the issue areas of climate change. The GEF Climate Change Mitigation (CCM) cluster, led by a CCM Cluster Coordinator, is one of the three clusters within the Climate and Chemicals team and takes responsibility of supporting projects in climate change mitigation.

The GEF is now implementing its fifth replenishment (GEF-5) for the period from July 2010 to June 2014. Available funding for GEF-5 is approximately $4.3 billion, of which $1.4 billion is pledged to the CCM focal area.

The programming areas of the CCM cluster include technology transfer; energy efficiency; renewable energy; sustainable transport; and management of land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF). The climate change cluster also supports enabling activities to help countries meet their UNFCCC obligations.

The incumbent will manage energy-related portfolio, particularly those related renewable energy and energy efficiency. He/she will also be expected to contribute to multifocal and multi trust fund program/project development.

The incumbent will be supervised by the Team Leader for Climate Change and Chemicals, and report on a day to day basis to the CCM Cluster Coordinator.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The main expertise brought by the incumbent will be in the field of sustainable energy management.

Specific duties are to:

1. Manage the GEF climate change portfolio on energy-related activities, including reviewing project proposals, monitoring project status, and developing performance indicators, in consultation with senior managers.

2. Coordinate with other GEF focal areas on multifocal and multi trust fund program/project development and review.

3. Contribute to the development of innovative programming concepts related energy with synergies across other GEF focal areas, including the engagement with the private sector.

4. Develop GEF climate change policies, strategies, and guidelines. In particular, contribute to the development and implementation of the GEF climate change strategy for the sixth replenishment period (GEF-6).

5. Represent the GEF at international forums and technical workshops on climate change, sustainable energy, and related issues, and promote regular and informed communication within all relevant stakeholders.

6. Maintain productive relationships with the UNFCCC, GEF agencies, national governments, and other stakeholders to promote the role of GEF on the international climate change agenda.

7. Contribute to the preparation of Council papers and reports to the UNFCCC on related issues.

8. Administer tools, methodologies, and instruments for project management, operations, implementation, and other relevant policies.

9. Undertake other assignments within the mandate of the GEF and, in particular, those that contribute to the responsibilities of the Climate and Chemicals Team.

Selection Criteria:

COMPETENCIES

General Economic Knowledge and Analytical Skills - Possesses a demonstrated track record of working with economic and sectoral data and analytical tools and models to conduct economic analyses and produce user-friendly written outputs; understands underlying statistical concepts.

Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Understands policy making process; distills operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients.

Policy Dialogue Skills - Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders.

Integrative Skills - Working to develop an integrated view across all facets of current sector.

Environmental Policy, Strategy and Institutions - Familiarity with environmental policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations.

Environmental Sciences - Depth in at least one area: soil science; water; ecosystems; conservation; agriculture concerns, etc.

Climate Change - Experience in climate change mitigation; climate change adaptation; carbon financing and other funding mechanisms, etc.

Environment / Climate / Carbon Finance - Working knowledge of a range of financing alternatives; can conduct a range of environmental financial client Orientation - Takes personal responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or overall success.

Drive for Results - Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results, and has the personal organization to do so.

Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team's work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view.

Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Actively seeks knowledge needed to complete assignments and shares knowledge with others, communicating and presenting information in a clear and organized manner.

Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Analyzes facts and data to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others' work.

Other Selection Criteria:

1. Advanced degree in energy/environmental/natural resource management, economics, and policy, or a closely related field.

2. Minimum 5 years of directly relevant national and international experiences.

3. Demonstrated detailed knowledge on climate change, particularly on issues related renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable energy, energy access, as well as relevant international negotiations on these issues. Knowledge of cross-cutting areas, such as climate adaptation, ecosystem management, biodiversity, and/or water resource management. Knowledge about Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA), National Communications, and Biennial Update Reporting would be an advantage. Broad understanding of the practical, scientific, economic, social, and political dimensions of climate change, and broad state-of-the-art knowledge of sector issues related to climate change.

4. Extensive national and international experience in project management. Experience working with developing countries and in dealing with a range of stakeholders, international organizations, development agencies, scientific and technical bodies, developing country counterparts, and NGOs would be an advantage.

5. Ability to think analytically, strategically, and programmatically.

6. Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to administer in project management tools and methodologies in line with institutional policies.

7. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically with peers, managers, and external partners in written and spoken English. Knowledge of French or Spanish would also be an advantage.

8. Ability to work across disciplines and function as a member of a Team.

9. An understanding of GEF's policies and operations would be an advantage.