Chief technical advisor climate change, energy and natural resource management

Background

Iraq has been experiencing severe droughts and increasing desertification in the last few years. Implications of water insecurity include reducing agricultural production, shortage of hydro power and other industrial uses, pervasive desertification, dust storms, loss of biodiversity (especially in the Marshlands), and the spread of water-borne diseases with the high possibility of leading to disturbing social cohesion and stability. Iraq, as a lower riparian country and thus receiving more than 85% from its water from the outside of the country is furthermore is challenged to explore diverse ways to interact with its neighbours who equally have made increasing demands on the water resources.

UNDP Iraq has been engaging with the GoI on a number of initiatives to strengthen water resource management, domestic water use, pollution and environmental management in the Marshlands.

In Iraq furthermore, some 600 million cubic feet of natural gas is flared off every day, without any technologies in place for its capture as a source of energy. Iraq is the fourth-worst offender in the world in this regard and consequently contributes to the depreciation of the country’s own environment and to the overall climate change. As one of the first steps in committing to become a responsible member of the international community on climate change, Iraq ratified the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in October 2009. UNDP therefore intends to address in partnership with the GoI the need to strengthen public management systems to ensure that they are adaptive, responsive, and effective in implementing complex inclusive climate-resilient and low carbon intensity measures.

UNDP Iraq has gained much experience within the electricity and energy sector dating from even before 2003. As such capacity building and training went hand in hand with the reconstruction of the energy utilities and power grid of Iraq. It is estimated that at least 230 MW were added to the power grid solely through UNDP’s efforts. As a result the Ministry of Electricity regards UNDP Iraq highly as a trusted partner who is able to deliver and with whom new areas can be explored.

In addition, Iraq faces serious challenges in coping with natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and landslides.With the exception of some preparedness training conducted by the Iraq Red Crescent Society, non-governmental agencies and the civil defense, risks from hazardous episodes receive scant or no attention. At the central government, several institutions created to respond to disaster do not work in synchronization.

These four areas, namely Climate Change, Energy, Water, and Disaster Risk Reduction, are the current focus of the Climate Change, Energy and Natural Resource Management (CCE & NRM) sub-cluster within Economic Recovery and Crisis Prevention (ERPA) Pillar of UNDP Iraq.

ERPA, established with the CO reorganization in September 2009, has within it four sub-clusters. They were created with the view to achieving increased synergy and coherence within the various initiatives and programmes to advance UNDP’s strategic position in Iraq and to improve responsiveness to emerging national and UNCT priorities. The four sub-clusters are:

- Climate Change, Energy and Natural Resources Management
- Inclusive Growth and Private Sector Development
- Area-based Development and Local Service Delivery
- Post-Conflict Recovery and Mine Action

The sub-clusters are provided with further programmatic, communication and operational support from the Policy, Strategic Programming and MDG Unit, the Programme Support Unit and the Communication, Information & Reporting Unit that work horizontally across the Pillar to ensure systematic and effective functioning of the Pillar.

The Chief Technical Advisor, will provide specific tasks for the set up of the Climate Change, Energy and Natural Resources Management sub-cluster, will report directly to the Head of ERPA and is expected to provide policy and strategic support. S/he will also advise the ERPA senior management team consisting of the Head of ERPA and Programme Managers collectively working towards the following objectives:

- Contribute to the initiation of the sector policy development relevant to ERPA- defined practice areas to contribute to the achievement of national objectives;
- Ensure effective internal coordination amongst each sub-cluster and across ERPA Pillar to achieve better synergies in addressing UNDP Country Office priorities.
- Ensure optimal coordination with donors and effective utilization of resource mobilization tools to strengthen partnerships and attract resources
- Ensure ‘rights-based’ programming of resources; and
- Facilitate Results-Based Management (RBM) and reporting.

The incumbent of this specific post (Chief Technical Advisor)is also expected to provide top quality technical advisory services to the Government counterparts, including the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Electricity, as well as others.

Duties and Responsibilities

General Duties:

Under direct supervision of the Head of ERPA, the Chief Technical Advisor will be required to provide leadership and coordinate the setting up of the sub-cluster's activities within 7 months. Additionally, he/she will:

- Set up the management of the sub-cluster team, consisted of programme advisors, technical and programme specialists and support staff
- Prepare project proposals for National Communication to the UNFCCC, the Management for the Salinization of the Marshlands and RECP programmes within the Climate Change, Energy and Natural Resource Management sub cluster, including strategies to build partnerships and mobilize resources.
- Prepare a resource mobilization plan for the project proposals.
- Prepare proposal for procedures to ensure that the sub-cluster’s overall technical direction is maintained and flexibly adapted to meet the challenges experienced during implementation of the programmes and projects under the sub-cluster, remaining responsive to opportunities and promptly addressing externalities;
- Develop the sub-cluster’s mandate outlining its key practice areas. Draft sub-cluster strategy/ position paper and prepare presentation in line with the developed mandate to present to a variety of audiences.
- Will propose ways to incorporating and applying HRB/ RBM/ MDGs approaches as well as addressing cross cutting themes (i.e. environment, employment, human rights, gender mainstreaming) in all sub-cluster plans and programming exercises.
- Will engage as the primary interlocutor between the ERPA Pillar and the Government of Iraq counterpart officials and institutions (public and private) partnering on Climate Change, Energy and Natural Resource Management on the programmes being prepared
- Provide technical expertise for his/her area of competence as and when required
- Coordinate and work with the other sub-cluster heads to ensure complementarity/harmonization with the activities and plans of the other sub-clusters.
- Coordinate and build partnerships with UNCT members, for the enhancement of technical strength and programmatic synergies in the area of Climate Change, Energy and Natural Resource Management.
- Will propose a plan for the overall monitoring and evaluation of all programmes/projects in the sub-cluster portfolio and reporting on progress to the ERPA Pillar management team.
- Coordinate with the ERPA Pillar Communications, Information and Reporting unit to ensure proper visibility programmes' activities and timely reporting to donors.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

Within the context of working in support of the strategies and values as set forth in the UNDP corporate policies, with full commitment and engagement in the realization of the UN Millennium Development Goals, the Senior Technical Advisor will prepare a management plan for the sub-cluster,. He/she will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Provision of technical advisory services

- Provide advice to Ministry of Environment, Ministry of State for the Marshlands, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Electricity and other relevant Government institutions with focus on establishment of policies, plans, frameworks, mechanisms in relation to climate change, efficient use/management of energy, disaster risk reduction, and natural resource management in function of the project concepts in preparation.

2. Establishment of overall management systems and structures

- Set up the management plan that will guide the work of the sub-cluster team (set up of programme advisors, technical and programme specialists and support staff)
- Review sub-clusters' portfolio projects and suggest necessary programmatic changes/ amendments to reflect HRB/ RBM/ MDGs approaches in addition to ensuring the proper incorporation of cross cutting themes (i.e. environment, employment, human rights, gender mainstreaming).
- Further finalize the new initiatives and programmes in the areas of Climate Change, Energy and Natural Resource Management
- Prepare sub-cluster work-plans, ensuring complementarities and coordination with other sub-clusters and present work plans to the management team.
- Ensure timely and well-sequenced execution of approved work plans and programmes.
- Advise on staffing requirements and administer recruitment processes in collaboration with the ERPA Programme Support Unit (PSU).
- Prepare staffing tables, job descriptions for advertisement and ensure effective and consistent administrative and operational support to the Head of ERPA.
- Participate as required on staff recruitment and consultancy procurement panels;
- Represent the sub-cluster at all meetings with the ERPA senior management team as well as with donor coordination meetings related to the sub-cluster thematic areas.
- Coordinating across the Pillar to develop joint programmes and seeking technical and programmatic partnerships from other sub-clusters. In line with the former; to actively participate in regular Pillar programmatic and management meetings.
- Advise the ERPA senior management team regarding deliverables as well as constraints on implementation of the sub-cluster work plans, and seek support from the other sub-clusters team leaders and Head of ERPA to resolve obstacles and bottlenecks;

3. Monitoring and Evaluation

- Establish the oversight of progress made towards achieving all outputs and outcomes as stated in the sub-cluster work plan.
- Work with Programme Management Support Unit to develop M&E plans and implement them
- Establish maintenance of risks and issues logs of each programme/project within the sub-cluster, manage and mitigate the risks and issues appropriately, and raise them to senior management as required
- Prepare progress tracking indicators in consultation with the PMSU.

4. Communications and Reporting

- In close cooperation with the Communications and reporting unit, the team leader will be responsible for the following:
- Prepare a plan that regular reporting is provided to the UNDG Trust Fund, donors, Government stakeholders and UN counterparts, that satisfy the need for informative, clear and transparent reporting that places on record all significant events, progress and outstanding issues, and that monitors the drawdown of the Programme’s resources.
- Regularly update the Pillar events calendar for information sharing purposes within the sub-cluster and the Pillar as a whole. And ensure the regular updating of information and files on the shared drive.
- Coordinate with the Pillar strategic programming cell on resource mobilization through identifying projects which donors can potentially be interested in funding, and subsequently through developing Project Concept Notes. Support advocacy efforts directed to donors to fund Pillar sector priority activities
- Development and maintenance of strategic partnerships and support to resource mobilization, identification of possibilities for joint programming

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

- Organizational Awareness - Developing and Empowering People / Coaching and Mentoring - Working in Teams - Communicating Information and Ideas - Self-management and Emotional Intelligence - Conflict Management / Negotiating and Resolving Disagreements - Knowledge Sharing / Continuous Learning - Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making

Functional Competencies:

- Advocacy / Advancing Policy Oriented Agenda
- Results-based Programme Development and Management
- Building Strategic Partnership
- Resource Mobilization
- Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
- Job Knowledge and Technical Expertise
- Organizational Leadership and Direction
- Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals
- Conceptual Innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise
- Adaptation and Application of Knowledge / Innovations in Different Contexts
- Promoting Organizational Change and Development
- Client Orientation
- Strategic planning, ability to think on one’s feet, identify entry points for targeted interventions for maximum benefit and leveraging of - Programme resources;
- Ability to manage multi-disciplinary team
- Diplomatic communication skills, mature judgment and ability to lead a team effort harmoniously;
- Ability to prioritize of work activities to meet organizational goals and organize and oversee work processes efficiently to achieve quality results.
- Remote management.

Required skills and experience

Education:

- Master's degree or equivalent in management, natural resource management, social science or related field.

Experience:

- Minimum 10 years of experience in any area of the following: natural resource management, energy, environment, agriculture or climate change, preferably working in post conflict or conflict countries.
- Proven experience in senior management positions for at least 5 years.
- Proven ability to direct multi-disciplinary teams in a multilateral work environment.
- Track record with of successful programme management preferably with 7 years minimum within the UN, WB or international donor community.
- Experience with and knowledge of UNDP policies and procedures is a must.
- Experience with UN or international organization working in Iraq would be an advantage.
- Experience in usage of computers, office software packages (MSWord, Excel, Power point, Internet). Technical skills required:
- Knowledge of strategic planning processes, programming
- Knowledge of fund raising, project and programme document drafting;

Language Requirements:

- Articulate proficiency and command of the English language, both written and oral.
- Knowledge of Arabic language would be a strong asset.

Previous UN Experience:

- UNDP experience is preferred

Other requirements:

- Possessing of the appropriate degree of experience and maturity, with the corresponding communication skills so as to effectively interact with Ministers, Ambassadors, senior UN officials and stakeholders.
- Willingness to undertake regular field visits and interact with different stakeholders in Iraq is a must.
- Ability to maintain managerial and operational goals in a fluid environment.
- Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
- Knowledge of Prince2 and other Results Based Management software would be an asset.
- Knowledge of PeopleSoft software (ATLAS) is also an asset.