Technical specialist - climate change
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Background
UNDP Indonesia's mission is to be an agent for change in the human and social development of Indonesia. We aim to be a bridge between Indonesia and all donors as well as a trusted partner to all stakeholders. We work in four key areas of development: Governance Reforms, Regional Development and Poverty Reduction, Conflict Prevention and Recovery, and Environment and Energy Management, with the overarching aim of improving human development in Indonesia. In addition to the four priority areas, UNDP Indonesia also works on a variety of crosscutting initiatives such as HIV/AIDS, gender equality and information and communication technology for development
Organizational Context
Climate change poses an additional threat to the achievement of MDGs. Comprising more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia is especially vulnerable to rising sea levels and floods, while erratic weather patterns are expected to result in more frequent and extreme floods and droughts, impacting rural and urban livelihoods, agricultural production, especially among small scale farmers, fishermen, and urban slum dwellers. In addition, comprised of more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels. Indonesia is also a major emitter of Green House Gases (GHGs), largely caused by deforestation and the burning of peat lands. These practices contribute to global warming and threaten livelihoods, biodiversity, peace and stability. Indonesia is facing the major challenge of rapidly developing its capacity especially at the decentralized level to increase its climate resilience and reducing its emissions, while keeping its socio-economic development on track.
Climate change will be one of the largest challenges Indonesia is facing in the coming decades, both in terms of mitigation and adaptation. Indonesia is a significant emitter of greenhouse gases. Although there are considerable uncertainties about the exact amount of Indonesia’s emissions, it is undeniable that deforestation and peat land degradation are substantial and need to be reduced. Reducing emissions from these sources will not only have a global impact but will also provide opportunities to strengthen ongoing efforts to protect Indonesia’s vast biodiversity. Indonesia also needs to rapidly adapt to climate change as it is already experiencing the impacts. These impacts are putting pressure on Indonesia’s ability to meet its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Indonesia has made considerable progress towards meeting MDGs but major gaps remain on MDGs 4, 5, 6 and 7, which are under threat if climate change continues at its current rate. If action is not taken to mitigate and adapt to climate change risks then MDG achievements will be seriously jeopardized. UNDP in collaboration with key-stakeholders has started various initiatives to assist government and communities with adapting to climate change.
At the UNDP Indonesia Country Office, various initiatives are ongoing including the Indonesia Climate Change Trust Fund, UN-REDD, the Third National Communication to the UNFCCC, the REDD+ project under the Indonesia –Norway 1billion USD partnership. To assist with further designing and implementing the growing portfolio on climate change, the UNDP Country Office (CO) Environment Unit seeks to hire a Technical Specialist - Climate Change.
Under the supervision of the Head of Unit/ ACD, and working closely with and with guidance from the Climate Change Advisor, the Technical Specialist supports the development and management of the UNDP Environment Unit Climate Change portfolio. The main role is to provide key guidance to project managers and other relevant stakeholders, forge new partnerships with development partners and the private sector to strengthen the climate change programme, while also managing the climate change programme including project assurance, providing technical assistance to projects when required and overall monitoring and other relevant operational issues.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions
- Formulation of programmes and projects related to climate change, REDD+ and relevant financing schemes;
- Creation of strategic partnerships with key stakeholders including development partners and private sector, and implementation of resource mobilization strategies on climate change and REDD+ programmes / projects;
- Manage implementation of the UNDP Indonesia CO climate change portfolio.
• Formulation of programmes and projects related to climate change, REDD+ and relevant financing schemes
- Provision of programmatic support to the development of the UNDP Environment Unit climate change programme portfolio, focusing on climate change adaptation and mitigation, innovative financing schemes, and REDD+;
- Map out currently active development partners, donors and private sector actors in the field of climate change and REDD+ in Indonesia, conduct gap analysis, identify opportunities;
- Develop relevant programme/project proposals in line with the overall UNDP support to climate change, including all the necessary preparation such as consultations, liaising with the Government, facilitation of inputs from relevant advisors and consultants, legal documentation etc.
- Participate in various policy and partnership fora, as well as relevant international conferences and meetings on climate change to keep abreast of the sector and facilitate programme development;
- Provide support to the Head of Unit and Climate Change Advisor in identifying new climate change programme/project ideas through consultation with the Government, other donors, UN agencies and NGOs.
• Creation of strategic partnerships with key stakeholders including development partners and the private sector, and implementation of resource mobilization strategies on climate change and REDD+ programmes / projects
- Maintain strategic and innovative partnerships with key-development partners and the private sector for climate change programming at the UNDP Country Office in Indonesia;
- In coordination with the Head of Unit and Climate Change Advisor, strengthen coordination with key stakeholders, particularly development partners, private sector, and the government to identify opportunities for collaboration, formulate joint initiatives to maximize impacts and efficiency, and minimize duplication of efforts;
- Strengthen the communication of the climate change programme in order to facilitate resource mobilization for climate change and REDD+ projects from various sources such as global trust funds/funding mechanisms on climate change and environment, bilateral donors, and the private sector;
- Promote information sharing and facilitate dialogue within the donor community by initiating and/or participating in consultative meetings; - Actively mobilize resources from potential donors such as from the private sector, bilateral donors and GEF.
• Manage implementation of the UNDP Indonesia CO climate change portfolio
- Manage the implementation of national and regional programmes and projects related to climate change, including relevant GEF projects;
- Implement the programme and all relevant projects with sound project assurance and accountable financial management, including M&E and overseeing audits;
- Monitor climate change programme and projects to ensure they are progressing according to plan. This includes assisting project authorities in problem-solving and implementing corrective measures requiring undertakings of frequent monitoring visits to assigned projects;
- Efficiently scope, prioritize, plan, and follow-up project activities;
- Carry out specific network and liaison functions with Government institutions, academic/research institutions, NGOs, UN organizations and other development partners in order to coordinate the overall implementation of the climate change programme as well as to obtain possible cost-sharing/co-financing of programmes and projects;
- Liaise with the Climate Change Advisor of the Environment Unit to further strengthen strategic programme orientation and optimize programme relevance;
- Respond to inquiries relating to the climate change programme from UNDP Headquarters, GEF, UN agencies and others for information assistance, reporting, reviews, project briefs, etc;
- Arrange for and facilitate missions, seminars and workshops as well as drafting and preparing for circulation of materials and documents;
- Provide substantive and financial oversight of projects, identify operational and financial problems, develop solutions.
The incumbent will also perform other tasks as required by the Head of the Environment Unit and UNDP Senior Management.
Impact of Results
The key results have an impact on the quality of climate change programme management, thus contributing to effective and efficient programme implementation and delivery. The incumbent will significantly contribute to UNDP’s strategic positioning and interventions on addressing climate change and environmental challenges in Indonesia. With climate change being a cross-cutting issue, the results will also contribute to integrating climate change in the broader UNDP Country Office Programme. Results are also expected to serve as important inputs to UNDP’s work on climate change at the regional and global level.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- 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.
Functional Competencies
• Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda: Analysis and creation of messages and strategies
- Creates effective advocacy strategies;
- Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.
• Development and Operational Effectiveness
- Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
- Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources;
- Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, and oversee transactions, financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery;
- Good knowledge of the Results Management Guide and Toolkit;
- Good ICT skills, knowledge of Atlas;
- Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioural/ attitudinal change.
• Results-Based Programme Development and Management: Contributing to results through provision of information
- Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration;
- Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
- Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals;
- Participates in the formulation of project proposals.
• Building Strategic Partnerships: Identifying and building partnerships
- Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda;
- Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
- Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings.
• Innovation and Marketing New Approaches: Developing new approaches
- Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
- Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
- Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
- Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.
• Resource Mobilization: Implementing resource mobilization strategies
- Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
- Identifies and compiles lessons learned;
- Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level.
• Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Developing tools and mechanisms
- Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
- Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.
• 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 good oral and written communication skills;
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
• Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise: In-depth knowledge of environment and climate change
- Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
- Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
- Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
- Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignment;
- Prince2 training and certification, knowledge of Results Management Guide (RMG) desirable.
• Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals: Analysis and creation of messages and strategies
- Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
- Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level.
• Client Orientation: Contributing to positive outcomes for the client
- Anticipates client needs;
- Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
- Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective;
- Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.
Required Skills and Experience
Education
- A Master’s degree or higher in relevant science such as in environmental policy, international development
Experience
- 5 years of relevant experience including analytical work, programme/project development in the areas of environment, development and climate change;
- Working experience working in the private sector, experience in the financial sector on environmental issues, carbon trading etc will be highly desirable;
- Working experience on REDD+ at the international level, related work in developing country context highly desirable Experience working in UN/UNDP highly desirable.
Language Requirements
- Fluency in both written and spoken English;
- Working knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia is a strong asset. Knowledge of another UN language desirable.