Job Title: Project Officer - Climate Change
Organization: United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
Host entity: UNDP
Assignment country: Kenya
Expected start date: 04/12/2023
Sustainable Development Goal: 13. Climate action
Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist
Type: Onsite
Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Nairobi
Details
Mission and objectives
UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate
poverty while protecting the planet. We help countries develop strong policies,
skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress The
primary and overarching objective of United Nations Development Programme in
Kenya is the eradication of poverty in the context of sustainable development,
including the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals, and promotion of
United Nations fundamental principles. A core dimension to the work of UNDP in
Kenya is on Democratic Governance given the national focus on governance
reforms. UNDP supports the country’s efforts towards achieving the Vision 2030
Political Pillar, which envisions a democratic system that is issue-based,
people-centered, results oriented and accountable to the public. This Political
Pillar gears to transform the country’s political governance across five
strategic areas; The Rule of Law, Electoral and Political Processes, Democracy
and Public Service Delivery, Transparency and Accountability, Security Peace
Building and Conflict Management. These strategic areas are anchored in the
Constitution, promulgated in August 2010 marking a major milestone in the
democratic journey of Kenya and set a new threshold in terms of people-centred
development.
Context
Working in 170 countries and territories to eradicate
poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, UNDP plays a critical role in
helping countries/territories achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
UNDP’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan emphasizes the critical links between
environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and
broader efforts to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement.
Climate change could drive an additional 100 million people into poverty by
2030. One of its key priorities for the next 10 years is to support
countries/territories accelerate ambitious action on climate change. Climate
change is the single greatest challenge currently facing humanity, threatening
water and food security, health, livelihoods, and the safety of billions of
people together with drastic negative impact on global ecosystem balance.
UNDP’s ambitious “Climate promise” supports over 120 countries/territories to
enhance their climate ambitions under the Paris Agreement, with focus on
greater emissions reduction and resilience building. The Climate promise is
currently scaling up its support to countries on the implementation of their
national climate pledges, or Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and
long-term planning to ensure inclusive climate action at the speed and scale
required to keep global temperature below 1.5°C. Achieving carbon neutrality in
the second half of the century by all countries/territories is a crucial
requirement set by the Paris Agreement to avoid irreversible global climate
change. Realization of this goal involves work on global, national, and local
levels, as well as the participation of all relevant stakeholders –
governments, businesses, MDBs, international organizations, NSOs. The path to
carbon neutrality should be just and leaving no one behind, while empowering
women, youth, indigenous people, and vulnerable groups of the population. UNDP
is well positioned to enable such work through cooperation on HQ, Regional and
Country Offices (CO) levels, forming an interconnected system of knowledge
exchange and expertise delivery enabling the cutting-edge climate policy
advocacy, development, and implementation. The Climate promise provides direct
financial and technical support to countries on NDC implementation in the
context of national development priorities. In Kenya the project aims to
support efforts to resolve systemic barriers that continue to hinder
sustainable tree growing and unmitigated biodiversity loss and land degradation
by particularly addressing the concerns related to clean cooking in urban and
ASAL areas of Kenya, while unlocking new livelihood /job opportunities for
women and youth. Climate promise is also supporting Government in the
development of policy and legal frameworks to accelerate implementation of the
country’s NDC.
Task description
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of
the team leader- ERU her designated mandated representative(s), the UN
Volunteer in the country office will be responsible for: 1) Knowledge
management and peer-to-peer learning •Collect inputs for knowledge generation,
analysis and codification in the Country, including analysis of regular
reports, extracting lessons learned, and tracking progress and results.
•Support coordination of peer-to-peer learning in the country and among climate
change programme countries including through webinars, knowledge exchange
workshops for sharing of information and experience. •Create knowledge products
on climate promise contribution to NDC implementation in the country that draws
on and showcases the results and experiences with a focus on benefits of the
projects for vulnerable groups of population and wider stakeholder involvement.
•Contribute to country outreach, visibility, and reporting requirements, as
requested by the regional and global climate change coordinators. 2) Country
delivery and support •Support implementation of climate change projects across
in the country and provide technical advice. •Support the timely delivery and
reporting of the country implemented climate change projects and provide
technical support as needed in the relevant climate change portfolio in the
country. •Support country office in preparation and development of concept
notes/ proposals for the mobilization of finance to scale the climate portfolio
in the country. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN
Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary
action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As
such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the
following suggested activities: •Strengthen their knowledge and understanding
of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external
publications and take an active part in UNV activities (for instance in events
that mark International Volunteer Day). •Be acquainted with and build on
traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. •Provide
annual and end-of-assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and
opportunities. •Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit
them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. •Assist
with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. •Promote or
advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant
local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service
whenever technically possible.
Eligibility criteria
Age
27 - 80
Additional eligibility criteria
This assignment is funded by the Government of the Republic
of Ireland and therefore specific criteria apply: - Only the following are
eligible to apply: Irish citizens or a European Economic Area nationals with an
unrestricted right to reside in Ireland or have a declaration of refugee status
from the Minister for Justice and Law Reform.
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the
country of assignment.
Donor priorities
-
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in conducting policy research and
analyses related to climate change. •Demonstrated knowledge on
inter-governmental processes on climate change such as NDCs, LTSs, NAPs etc.;
•Demonstrated experience in supporting with organizing or facilitating of
knowledge exchange events/workshops is. •Demonstrated experience in project
management, Excellent oral and written skills in English. •Knowledge and a
proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools; advanced knowledge on using
MS Excel is considered an asset. •Ability to work and adapt professionally and
effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a
multicultural team of international and national personnel. •Self-motivated,
ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.
•Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to
work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of teams and partners
Area(s) of expertise
Energy and environment
Driving license
-
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in climate change and
environmental science, international development, economics, and or related
fields
Competencies and values
•Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations
relevant to UNDP; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable
to UNDP procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and
tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise
and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior
positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and
ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide
responsibilities and ability to work independently under established
procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and
confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; •Integrity: demonstrate the
values and ethical standards of the UN and UNDP in daily activities and
behaviors while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue
political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the
organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases
of unprofessional or unethical behavior; does not abuse power or authority.
•Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across
organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish
and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a
multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and
respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender,
religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender
equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and
men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and
provide guidance or training to colleagues; •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.
•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; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of
different target groups; •Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and
work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical
hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments
for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and
to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary.
•Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which
includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance, and commitment
towards UNDP’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast
of East Africa, neighboring Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the
Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47
sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into
sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and
Judicial branches. Kenya’s population of more than 40 million is growing at an
annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita estimated at purchasing power
parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1%
annually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty
line of $1 per day. Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots
and tubers.” (FAO). Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic
goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and
banking services and educational facilities are readily available. The city is
widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many
up-country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly
attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN
HABITAT and UNEP. The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate
society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing
security conditions at the place of assignment is modest. The topographic and
climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical
climate. Link to the Entitlement Calculator: https://app.unv.org/calculator
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
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