Climate Change Specialist - UN Volunteers

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Programme Management Specialist and the with the overall and technical supervision of the LoCAL Programme Manager or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer International Climate Change Specialist will oversee the day-to-day implementation of selected activities related to Result 1 “Local economies are stimulated and short-term job opportunities for youth, women and returnees are created through green and climate resilient investments”.

• Ensuring the timely and effective management of the activities as scheduled;
• Provide policy, regulatory and technical advice on climate change issues and environmental sustainability to government counterparts at national and sub-national levels;
• Provide technical advice and capacity building support (“learning by doing”) for the piloting and establishment of a national local information system for local climate risk and vulnerability assessments (including projections and mapping) addressing hazards, vulnerabilities and exposure of MMDAs and communities in relation to climate change including desk review, data collection, preliminary design of the system, analytical writing, piloting, consultation and validation and gradual deployment of the local climate information system;
• Provide technical advice and capacity building support (“learning by doing”) for the integration of environment and climate change issues in the local government development and investment plans and budgets that foster job creation, gender equality and green and climate resilient local economies;
• Provide technical advice and capacity building support for the adequate integration of environment and climate considerations (e.g. specifications) in the investments delivered in the context of the programme;
• Contribute to the preparation and timely submission of comprehensive technical and financial reports in line with contractual agreements including semi-annual reporting;
• Identify key knowledge constraints and organize learning, knowledge exchange, training, workshops, etc. to build the awareness and capacities on relevant themes (i.e. climate change, local climate risk assessments, environmental sustainability, mainstreaming, in support of women and youth employment, etc.);
• Contribute to the implementation of the Communication and Visibility Plan of the Programme, in collaboration with Project team, partners and technical consultants;
• Identify, collect and disseminate best practices and lesson learned from the Programme in areas of specialty;
• Maintain close working relationships with the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Environmental Protection Agency and other key stakeholders at various levels in order to support the quality of the execution of the PBCRG and its key results areas, to expand the mechanism in Ghana;
• Organize consultative meetings, seminars and workshops to drive analytical and policy work of the Programme in area of specialty;

• Other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required degree level: Master degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

• A Master’s degree in environmental science and management, climate science, geographic studies, international development, economics, statistics, or a related field.

Required experience: 48 Months

Experience remark:

• A minimum of four years’ experience in in the field of climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental management and/or climate science applied to development;

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 25 years old. Nationals of the country of assignment are not eligible, except the assignments in Headquarters duty stations.

Language Skills

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent

Area of expertise: Climate change mitigation and mechanisms for technology transfer, Sustainable natural resources management and climate change adaptation, Other energy, environment and climate change related experience Area of expertise details:

• A minimum of three (3) years’ experience related to environmental assessments, climate risk and vulnerability assessments, climate modelling, geographical information system (GIS) and/or risk mapping, in particular at the local level is required;
• A minimum of three (3) years’ experience working on policy, regulatory and technical advisory services with national and local counterparts, preferably in Africa, will be considered as an asset;
• Work experience with local governments, local stakeholders, local communities, and with addressing gender equality as project objective and/or cross-cutting issue in developing countries;
• Knowledge of current developments in local economic development for the most vulnerable (women and youth) is desired;
• Strong networking capabilities and ability to associate him/herself with a range of actors (inter alia central and local governments; policy makers; national statistics office and donors, local communities, women and youth) with a view to building relations and facilitating links;
• Experience with a UN organization/agency is desirable;
• Experience with ATLAS and UNDP Procurement Processes is desired, but not a requirement.
• Language skills: Fluency in spoken and written English is required; Working knowledge of another UN language is considered an asset.

Driving license: No

Competencies values:

Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams