Climate change impact, data collection and analysis expert

Background

UNDP is launching a US$ 92.1 million Climate Change Adaptation Programme for the African continent, titled “Supporting Integrated and Comprehensive Approaches to Climate Change Adaptation in Africa”(hereafter called the Programme). Under this Programme supported by the Government of Japan, UNDP will assist 21 countries across the African continent in incorporating climate change risks and opportunities into national development processes to secure development gains under a changing climate.

The Programme aims to achieve the following key outcomes:

- Countries have introduced dynamic, long-term planning mechanism to cope with the inherent uncertainties of climate change
- Countries have built leadership and developed institutional frameworks to manage climate change risks and opportunities in an integrated manner at the local and national levels
- Countries are implementing climate-resilient policies and measures in priority sectors
- Financing options to meet national adaptation costs have been expanded at the local, national, sub-regional and regional levels
- Knowledge on adjusting national development processes to fully incorporate climate change risks and  opportunities is being generated and shared across all levels

The Inter-Regional Technical Support Component ($8.96 million) will assist in the early analysis, design and implementation of national projects. The Component has the following key outputs:

- Access to the best available data and information on climate variability and impacts is facilitated to support dynamic, long-term national planning and decision-making mechanism
- Support is provided to institutional and leadership development in a manner responsible to the unique circumstances and needs of each country
- Best practices, experiences and technologies are identified and exchanges among countries on implementing climate-resilient policies in priority sectors
- Innovative financing options are identified and key partnership are facilitated at the national, sub-regional and regional levels

Region-wide knowledge and learning mechanism are established to raise awareness, engage stakeholders, inform decision-makers, and promote exchange and cooperation between countries.

Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions:

The Climate Change Impact, Data Collection and Analysis Expert is responsible for leading strategic thinking on climate change impact, data collection, analysis and application, and providing strategic guidance to participating countries. S/he will assume the following key responsibilities: (1)Strategic Guidance; (2) Development and Application of Tools;
(3) Technical Support to Participating Countries; and (4) Knowledge Management.

Organizational Context
- S/he will report to the Programme Manager. S/he will coordinate closely with other project staff.

Functions / Key Results Expected
Within the framework of the project document and under the overall guidance of the Programme Manager, the Climate Change Impact, Data Collection, and Analysis Expert is responsible for the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Strategic Guidance
- Develop a long-term strategy for climate change impact, data collection and analysis, in close coordination with relevant initiatives such as the National Communications (NCs) and the National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs).
- Lead strategic thinking on climate change impact, data collection and analysis, including the application of climate information in decision making processes and procedures.
Key result: Client countries have strategic visions on development of capacities for climate change impact, data collection and analysis. The Inter-Regional Technical Support Component acts as a knowledge source for the latest thinking of climate change impact, data collection, analysis and application.

2. Development and Application of Tools
- Develop an inventory of existing tools and methodologies to support application of climate change information.
- Establish strategic partnerships with centres of excellence at the national, regional and global levels for climate change information.
- Develop tools and methodologies, as needed, to support the application of climate change information, in partnership with centres of excellence.
Key Results: The Inter-regional Technical Support Component assists the quality development and implementation of national-level activities through the provision of tools and methodologies.

3. Technical Support to Participating Countries
- Provide technical support to countries on the accessing of climate change data, including historical data and climate change modelling at the global, regional, national, and sub-national levels.
- Provide substantive support to analyzing climate change data for target sectors/systems/locations.
- Provide substantive guidance on applying climate change information for policy decision-making procedures.
- Provide technical guidance on the development of TORs for tasks related to climate change impact, data collection and analysis, wherever requested.
- Provide technical support to countries for developing capacity development strategies in the areas of climate change impact, data collection and analysis.
Key Results: Inter-regional Technical Support Component supports countries to produce high quality, technically robust ouputs, based on access, analysis and application of climate change information.

4. Knowledge Management
- Keep abreast of cutting-edge studies on climate change impact, and provide participating countries with access to methodologies and tools relevant to the Programme. Coordinate closely with other relevant initiatives such as the National Communications Support Programme (NCSP).
- Contribute to global learning by documenting and disseminating lessons learned through online platforms on climate change impact, data collection and analysis.
Key result: Knowledge and experiences of climate change impact, data collection and analysis are enhanced and shared with a broad audience.

Required Selection Criteria
Competencies

Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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.
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:
- Highly advanced technical knowledge of the science of climate change and its impacts.
- Demonstrates competence in accessing, analyzing and modeling climate change impacts.
- Demonstrates ability to inform and advise developing countries on strategic policy making and planning in regard to climate change and its impacts.
- Sound knowledge and experience in how organizations and individuals learn and change.
- Demonstrates ability to research, analyze, synthesize and generate quality tools and methodologies.
- Demonstrates intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with broader policy and operational objectives.

Leadership and Self-Management
- Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
- Good team player, self starter, has ability to work under minimum supervision.
Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example

Education/Experience/Language

Education
- Master’s degree (or preferably PhD) in climate science, environmental modelling, GIS or closely related field.

Experience
- A minimum of 7 years of progressive relevant experience in the field of climate change impact analysis, including the provision of policy advice, technical support, guidance and training to developing countries.
- Experience with analysis and information technology for data and information management.
- Experience in training an asset.
- Strong knowledge of computer-based analysis and databases.
- Experience working within the UN system an asset.
- Previous experience in the region is desirable.
- Experience in working and collaborating with governments an asset.
- Excellent knowledge of English, including writing, presentation, and communication skills. Fluency in French is an asset.