Job Title: Nature and Climate Specialist
Organization: United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
Host entity: UNDP
Assignment country: Sao Tome and Principe
Expected start date: 01/08/2023
Sustainable Development Goal: 13. Climate action
Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist
DoA reserved for persons with disabilities: No
Accessibility measures in place: -
Type: Onsite
Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Sao Tome
Reasonable accommodation: No
Additional accessibility info: -
Details
Mission and objectives
Update
Context
Sao Tome and Principe (in short, STP) is an African Small
Island Developing State (SIDS) and a Least Developed Country (LDC). A former
Portuguese colony that achieved independence in 1975, STP is Africa’s
second-smallest country, after the Seychelles and has the smallest economy of
Africa’s sovereign states. Thanks to its rich biodiversity, both on land and in
the sea, it qualifies as one of the few net-sink countries in the world, as
reported in the Country’s reports to UNFCCC. The inaccessibility of much of the
primary forest that covers more than one fourth of the land mass makes it one
of the richest and most diverse forest ecosystems in Africa and a haven for
endemic and threatened species ecosystems in Africa and a haven for endemic and
threatened species. The geographical location of the two main islands Sao Tome
and Principe, surrounded by an Exclusive Economic Zone that is 160 times the
land surface, explains the country’s geostrategic importance. Today, the
country’s population stands at about 222,000 and the Human Development Index
(HDI) of STP rose from 0.56 to 0.62 between 2010 and 2019, placing the country
close to the average for countries in the medium human development group
(0.63). The economic model of the country has been largely based upon tourism,
particularly related to nature and beaches, and its related services sector in
restauration and wholesale/retail, as well as agriculture which mostly consists
of subsistence farming but accounts for 70% of rural employment. STP faces
development challenges that are typical of small and insular states, imprinted
in its structural multi-dimensional vulnerabilities. Its remoteness increases
production costs and its size and ability to reach production scales curbs the
diversification of its economy, making it more vulnerable to external shocks,
including those resulting from climate change and environmental degradation. In
this context, UNDP is implementing – in collaboration with the Government and
with CSO- an increasing portfolio of Nature, Climate and Energy (NCE) projects,
aimed at enhancing biodiversity conservation, reducing climate-induced
vulnerabilities and accelerating the implementation of the updated Nationally
Determined Contribution (NDC) the Country submitted in 2021.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor
(CTA), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: 1. Delivery,
monitoring and reporting of Climate Promise 2 and Liqueza Tela Non (“Enhancing
Biodiversity Conservation”) projects •Support the CTA and national authorities
in the implementation of the Liqueza Tela Non and Climate Promise 2 projects.
•Review and revise workplans and budgets and provide inputs to the preparation
of results-based work plans. •Coordinate day-to-day implementation of nature,
climate and energy strategic efforts led by UNDP in the country. •Support the
preparation of project progress reports and related presentations, briefings,
knowledge products and relevant documents as required. •Support the quality
assurance of the portfolio through the substantive and financial monitoring of
projects, including through field visits, to identify operational bottlenecks
and develop recommendations for effective solutions. •Support the recruitment
of consultants and service providers and the administration of contracts
through drafting TORs, finalizing advertisements, screening, long and short
listing, interviews. •Provide strategic support to all aspects of the climate
and environment portfolio through anticipatory action, proactive monitoring,
data mining, production of studies and processes supporting the alignment of
the portfolio targets with the UNDP CO Country Programme Document (CPD) and
Business Plan. •Assess the programmatic impact and oversee the appropriateness
and the accuracy of methods use to verify progress and the results. II. Ensure
guidance and capacity building and facilitation of knowledge building and
sharing •Identify capacity building needs on climate change and nature issues
to the different national stakeholders, including the national Government and
the regional Government in Principe, and develop training programmes and
support their implementation. •Contribute to knowledge building and sharing
related to the current and emerging trends in the fields of sustainable
development, climate change, biodiversity, blue economy, energy, circular
economy; special focus will be given to sharing trends and successful actions
from other SIDS in those fields. •Contribute to the compilation and
dissemination of best practices and lessons learned through relevant knowledge
platforms including the UNDP Global Community of Practices related to Energy,
Climate and Environment. •Identify and synthesize of best practices and lessons
learnt. •Keep well-informed of new developments and innovative
approaches/solutions in the areas of climate change and environmental
management and actively contribute to the office learning process and corporate
knowledge tools. III. Ensure creation of strategic partnerships and support the
implementation of resource mobilization •Support the coordination and
management of communications with donors, implementing partners, and other
cooperation agencies. •Liaise and build relationships with government
counterparts, other United Nations (UN) agencies, international
non-governmental organizations (I/NGOS), academia, private sector, civil
society, and other relevant stakeholders. •Support the establishment of
strategic partnerships and management of external relations. •Conduct analysis
and research of information on partners and donors for the preparation of
substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of
cooperation opportunities.
Eligibility criteria
Age
27 - 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the
country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in climate change and nature and
conservation projects, preferably in the context of developing countries.
Previous experience in project development, planning, implementation, and
monitoring is highly valued.
Area(s) of expertise
Development programmes, Energy and environment , Natural and
life sciences
Driving license
-
Languages
Portuguese, Level: Fluent, Required English, Level: Working
knowledge, Desirable
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Environmental Science,
Biology, Ecology, Geography, Economics, International Relations, or related
fields
Competencies and values
•Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in
area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy,
personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide
responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures
in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion,
impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively,
accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented. •Accountability:
mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules
and regulations. •Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness
to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise;
ability to adapt to changes in work environment. •Planning and organizing:
effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a
large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish
priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work
under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent
projects/activities. •Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate
effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain
effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural,
multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;
•Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written
communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports;
ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely;
ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and
empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel,
volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse
backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the
staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer
information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
•Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate
independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for
protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and
including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness
to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be
necessary; •Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement,
which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and
commitment towards the UN core values.
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
Officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe,
is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western
equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two archipelagos around the
two main islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about 140 kilometres (87
miles) apart and about 250 and 225 kilometres (155 and 140 miles),
respectively, off the north-western coast of Gabon. At sea level, the climate
is tropical—hot and humid with average yearly temperatures of about 27 °C (80.6
°F) and little daily variation. The temperature rarely rises beyond 32 °C (89.6
°F). At the interior's higher elevations, the average yearly temperature is 20
°C (68 °F), and nights are generally cool. Annual rainfall varies from 5,000 mm
(196.9 in) on the southwestern slopes to 1,000 mm (39.4 in) in the northern
lowlands. The rainy season is from October to May.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme
that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to
achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part
of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to
combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and
individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender
identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability,
pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be
subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2
(Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy
0 comments:
Post a Comment