Consultant: Technical specialist – climate change

Background

UNDP Ghana, Environment and Energy unit, is collaborating with the Government and civil society partners to ensure that poverty reduction strategies implemented by Ghana are based on good environmental management, while realizing the full potential of natural resources to contribute to poverty reduction. UNDP considers capacity building of related Ministry and governmental agencies vital to achieving better environmental governance. In this regard, UNDP is working to support the formulation and implementation of national strategies, including legal frameworks for environmental protection and energy conservation.

In the areas of climate change, UNDP provides coherent capacity development support to the Government and ensure effective contribution to Ghana in the global process. In particular, UNDP is assisting the Government of Ghana to effectively prepare for the Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC (COP15) in Copenhagen in December 2009 with the following activities:

1. Support to Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and the Environmental Protection Agency as well as the National Climate Change Committee, to hold national consultations and to coordinate national consensus in developing and agreeing on national positions

2. Support the identification of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA) consistent with low emission development growth plan for Ghana, building on the findings of the TNA report and field-testing of new TNA Handbook.

3. Develop sectoral policy briefs on climate change for sector level stakeholders engagement and capacity building

4. Hold national forum on climate change to create the awareness and solicit inputs into the Copenhagen discussions

In addition, UNDP supports the Government to expand financing options which will lead to creating conditions that allow markets to provide effective solutions for sustainable development by i) developing markets to support environmental protection and access financing through carbon markets and ii) attracting and driving direct private and public investment to promote technology transfer leading to lower carbon economy.

The Climate Policy Specialist is responsible for providing and leading technical advisory services and support to the activities towards Copenhagen as well as other emerging activities related to technology transfer and carbon finance. The incumbent will work in close collaboration with the Government and other stakeholders as well as with the programme staff in the UNDP Country Office and relevant HQs units and under the direct supervision and guidance of the Head of Environment and Energy unit.

Duties and responsibilities

Technical support (60%)

- Provide timely quality information and technical advice on climate change issues and policies to the Country Office, UNDP HQ, the Government and other partners.
- Provide support and monitoring implementation of on-going projects in climate change.
- Support the Government ongoing and emerging activities towards Copenhagen, and ensure synergies and coherence with other ongoing UNDP Environment projects.

Monitor and assess the progress of the climate change activities and results achieved.

- Identify and analyze trends, sources of funding, patterns, risks and strategies and advise on emerging issues, and develop concept and strategy papers, briefings, and documents related to UNFCCC activities, technology transfer, carbon finance, and other related matters.
- Provide policy advisory services and strategic thinking on policy issues relating to climate change and UNDP work, particularly as they relate to the climate change negotiations.
- Follow up and provide strategic advice for strengthening UNDP’s position to address climate change through participation and work relations with relevant meetings.
- Engage with UNDP regional and global networks and initiatives on climate change.
- Support efforts to strengthen cooperation on climate change with UN and other development partners, NGOs and stakeholders.
- Support the Head of Environment and Energy to undertake other tasks and assignments.

Planning (20%)

- Support the Government strategic planning for the activities towards Copenhagen, particularly as it relates to the climate change negotiations, including the development of work plans and a corresponding budget planning with clearly stated milestones contributing to the achievement of outputs.
- Oversee the preparation of agendas, background material and reports for the activities towards Copenhagen and advise on their appropriateness and timeliness.

Knowledge management (20%)

- Contribute to knowledge management, ensuring that relevant outputs, best practices and lessons learned on climate change are shared with national stakeholders and UNDP, complying with the quality requirements.
- Maintain close contacts with multilateral and bilateral partners to promote information and policy coherence of UNDP climate change activities, particularly as it relates to the climate change negotiations.

Research and share knowledge based tools, such as policy positions/practice notes/concept papers and other research papers to help influence /advance policy dialogue on climate change

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.

Functional competencies

- Familiarity with UNDP’s 2008-2011 Strategic Plan, particularly regarding the Environment and Sustainable Development Focus, and with UNDP’s Climate Change Strategy.
- Demonstrated managerial skills, development and operational effectiveness.
- Demonstrated solid knowledge and relevant experience in climate change policy and international climate negotiation processes.
- Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
- Ability to apply theory to the specific policy context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations.
- Good oral communication skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors.
- Good written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports.
- Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high ranking members of national institutions, government and non-government, and agencies.

Knowledge management and learning

- Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example.
- Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP.

Leadership and self-management

- Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
- Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
- Good team player, self starter, has ability to work under minimum supervision and maintain good relationships.

Required skills and experience

Education:

- Masters degree in environment, energy, economics, or a closely related field.

Experience:

- Excellent knowledge of international climate negotiations, particularly from the developing country perspective.
- At least of 7 years relevant work experience including climate change related projects.
- Excellent knowledge of all thematic areas of climate change (adaptation, mitigation, technology transfer, and financing).
- Work experience in an international organization and knowledge of UNFCCC and UNDP policies and procedures is highly desirable.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, commitment to team work and to working across disciplines.
- Experience in working and collaborating with governments.

Language requirements:

- Excellent knowledge of English, as well as writing, presentation and communication skills.
- Fluency in other UN languages is an asset.