Job: LEAD TECHNICAL SPECIALIST - NATIONAL ADAPTATION PLANS

Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Deadline: Friday, 06 September 2013 

Description

LEAD TECHNICAL SPECIALIST - NATIONAL ADAPTATION PLANS

Location :

Bangkok, THAILAND

Application Deadline :

06-Sep-13

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Post Level :

P-4

Languages Required :

English  

Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)

16-Oct-2013

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year extendable based on performance and budget availability

Background

As the UN system's development programme and a GEF Implementing Agency since 1991, UNDP supports countries in addressing development, climate, and ecosystem sustainability in an integrated manner. As a GEF Implementing Agency, UNDP-GEF offers countries highly specialized technical services for eligibly assessment, programme/project formulation, due diligence, mobilization of required co-financing, project implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management. UNDP-GEF’s Green, Low-emission, Climate-resilient Development Strategies team works to support countries to attract and direct public and private investment towards catalyzing and supporting sustainable economic growth through initiatives focused on integrated Climate Change Strategies, Advancing Cross-sectoral Climate Resilient Livelihoods and Strengthening Climate Information and Early Warning Systems for Climate Resilient Development.

Recently, the UNDP-GEF, in partnership with UNEP and in collaboration with the GEF Secretariat, UNFCCC Secretariat and several partners (including the WHO, UNITAR, FAO, IFAD, GIZ and others) launched a Global Support Programme to assist Least Developed Countries with their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). The programme is a response to a call for assistance by Parties to the UNFCCC that established the NAP process under the Cancun Adaptation Framework (CAF). As per decisions made by the Conference of Parties in Doha (2012), the NAPs will enable Parties to formulate and implement national adaptation plans (NAPs) as a means of identifying medium- and long-term adaptation needs and developing and implementing strategies and programmes to address those needs. It is a continuous, progressive and iterative process which follows a country-driven, gender-sensitive, participatory and fully transparent approach.

This UNDP-UNEP programme, financed by the LDCF, will set up a support mechanism around three main pillars: institutional support, technical support and knowledge brokering. The programme will support LDCs that request assistance to strengthen institutional and technical capacities for iterative development of comprehensive NAPs that are country-driven, and based on existing national development priorities and strategies and processes. The programme goal and objective will be achieved by: i) developing operational and flexible NAP papers and implementing training to advance medium- to long-term adaptation planning processes in the context of LDC national development strategies; ii) making tools and approaches available to LDCs to support key steps in the NAP process; and iii) exchanging lessons learned and knowledge through South-South and North-South Cooperation.

This position is for the Lead Technical Specialist who will be entrusted to lead a team within the Global Support Program. This position will be overseen by UNDP-GEF’s Green, Low-Emission and Climate-resilient Development Strategies team, and will be initially based in Bangkok, Thailand although it may be periodically re-deployed in accordance with capability and due process to a different regional center as needed. Other members of the GSP team include a Project Officer financed and overseen by UNEP.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

The LTS will be primarily responsible for providing high quality technical support, as well as knowledge and capacity development services, to partner countries in coordination with UNDP country offices and UNEP. S/he will work with UN agencies, governments, inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, donors, and the private sector in accordance with the objective and outcomes of the LDCF Council approved UNDP project document, in alignment with the LDCF Council approved UNEP project document and in full alignment with UNDP’s key results as outlined in the corporate strategy. The work of the LTS will be undertaken in full compliance with UNDP’s Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures including on gender, environmental safeguards, etc. The work of the LTS will be overseen by UNDP-GEF.

Specifically the LTS will be expected to deliver results in the areas of:

Innovation, Strategic Leadership, Dialogue and Advocacy (50%)

• Support countries participating in the GSP NAP programme to reactivate and update national teams (e.g. working groups created for the NAPAs and/or national development plans) on supporting the NAP process, including identification of a champions and other key stakeholders;
• Guide and review country activities focused on stocktaking of on-going and completed initiatives of relevance to informing and contributing to the NAP process;
• Guide country level consultations to identify the scope and direction of the NAP process and expectations for advancing medium- to long-term planning for adaptation as part of the on-going planning and budgeting processes at national and sub-national levels;
• Conduct and/or review and comment on gap analysis conducted on key institutional and technical capacities to fully embark on medium- to long-term planning and budgeting for adaptation linked and aligned to national development priorities (conducting capacity assessments to identify strengths that should be capitalized on and weaknesses that need to be strengthened) in a select number of countries (10-15);
• Maintain a strategic understanding of, and engagement with, the substantive technical issues, institutions, and processes within the countries served of relevance to the NAP process, including establishing contact with and developing strategic partnerships with other agencies, donors, NGO’s, the private sector, and scientific institutions etc. as they relate to advancing key elements of the NAP process;
• Provide policy advisory support to national partners including key Ministries (especially in finance, planning and other relevant line Ministries) and other stakeholders, on the importance of medium- to long-term planning and budgeting for adaptation;
• Support the development of specific policy analysis and development tools and guidance;
• Coordinate with UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisors supporting adaptation programming with multiple sources of finance, well as others both within and outside of UNDP, especially in Africa, Asia and Pacific on substantive issues of relevance to NAPs;
• Ensure UNDP staff are informed of progress with the NAP process in LDCs, especially those that request support from the GSP, via quarterly newsletters and other effective means of communication.

Development Impact (20%)

• Facilitate partnerships for South-South and North-South transfer of technical and process-orientated information on experiences, good practice, lessons and examples of relevance to medium- to long-term national, sectoral and local plans and planning and budgeting processes;
• Assist inception, contracting and start-up of programmes/projects including establishment of indicators, benchmarks and work plans, annual status and financial reports and carry out other Project Board directives;
• Identify and source technical expertise and support including assisting with the preparation of TORs, identification and evaluation of experts and reviewing reports;
• Lead efforts to ensure that project activities are integrated and coordinated with the established operations of both UNDP and UNEP within their comparative advantage and their areas of work;
• Support UNDP country offices in liaising with national partners on NAP related issues;
• Develop and maintain close linkages with relevant agencies, stakeholders, key donors of UNDP-UNEP-GEF, NGOs, civil society, international organizations, and implementing partners of the project;
• Supervise, coordinate and lead the overall UNDP-UNEP NAP project team in discharging their duties at an optimum level through ensuring efficient and effective resources utilization;
• Ensure that UNDP rules and procedures are fully met in the course of the project implementation including procurement.

Learning, Knowledge Management and Self Development (30%)

• Coordinate with UNEP and partner with relevant stakeholders to formulate technical guidance tools and policy materials, guiding principles, case studies on lessons and good practices, and ensure that these are made accessible to all LDCs as they commence NAP processes;
• Facilitate training in the use of the tools and approaches to advance to medium- to long-term adaptation planning and budgeting in partnership with UNEP; 
• Evaluate, capture, codify, synthesize lessons and stimulating the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of resource kits and other knowledge materials; 
• Respond to queries on programme/project progress, impacts and lessons;
• Develop and carrying out a personal learning plan (5%).

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to contribute to strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting
• Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects
• Ability to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
• In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP.

Client Orientation

• Maintains relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Effective leadership, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.

Management and Leadership

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Effective mentoring, as well as, conflict resolution skills;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Excellent inter-personal, communication and negotiating skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Proven networking, team-building, and organizational skills.

Core Competencies:

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
• Building support and political acumen;
• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Building and promoting effective teams;
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in Climate change and development, Development Studies, Environmental Economics, Energy, Environmental Law, Social Sciences or a closely-related field.

Work Experience:

• At least 7 years of experience in related areas such as policy analysis and inter-sectoral issues; providing knowledge services, and support to institutional capacities for planning and strategic advocacy to governments and other partners;
• Sound understanding of climate change, sustainable human development, environmental management issues adaptation, vulnerability and impact, and other related sustainable human development issues;
• Sound understanding of national and local development planning processes;
• Extensive contacts with international experts and organisations involved in international studies on climate change and natural resource management in a changing climate;
• Previous work experience in a UN Organisation; 
• Demonstrable skills in computer use including Word processing, Spread sheets, PowerPoint.

Other:

• Ability and willingness to travel.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent knowledge of the English language, with exceptional writing, presentation and communication skills;
• Proficiency in other UN languages is an asset.

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UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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