• Country: Kenya
• Vacancies No: N/A
  
• Salary: N/A 
• Organization: UNEP
• Gender: Both 
• Deadline: 2023-12-05

Duties and Responsibilities
Background and Organizational Setting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.

This consultancy is managed by UNEP’s Climate Services and Capacity Building Unit in the Early Warnings and Assessment Division. The Early Warnings and Assessment Division is responsible for analyzing the state of the global environment, providing early warning information, and assessing global and regional environmental trends to catalyze and promote international cooperation and action on the environment.

The consultant will report to the Head of the Climate Services and Capacity Building Unit of the Early Warnings and Assessment Division, UNEP. The consultant will deliver strategic partnerships, technical support, capacity building and programme development in the context of the Climate Science and Transparency Programme. the objective of the Programme is to enhance UNEP’s role in providing support for high-quality, credible, open, and disaggregated, climate and environmental data, information, statistics, and early warning, as well as scientific assessments and expertise while providing technical and financial support to countries in reporting under the UNFCCC.

Project Information:

As climate changes and climate extremes become more frequent and intense, countries require accurate, timely and actionable information and early warning on their local weather, climate, and ocean environments; and science-based advice on adaptation planning for longer-term climate change impacts. The Paris Agreement in Article 7, 7c stresses the need for “Strengthening scientific knowledge on climate, including research, systematic observation of the climate system and early warning systems, in a manner that informs climate services and supports decision-making”. This is also recognized by the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction, which highlights in “I, 14… there is a need to address existing challenges and prepare for future ones by focusing on monitoring, assessing and understanding disaster risk and sharing such information…and enhancing multi-hazard early warning systems…” and in III, 19g that “Disaster risk reduction requires a multi-hazard approach and inclusive risk-informed decision-making based on the open exchange and dissemination of disaggregated data…”. Climate information and early warning systems (CIEWS) are therefore vital as they increase the resilience and adaptive capacity of countries to respond to climate-related hazards, empowering vulnerable people, and governments to initiate timely and appropriate actions to reduce the impact of these hazards. Through its CIEWS portfolio, UNEP builds local capacities to establish data-driven climate information services and impact-based, people-centered early warning systems, which in turn underpin science-based policy-setting, preparedness and early action. UNEP’s CIEWS portfolio targets funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaptation Fund, Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) and others. The CIEWS projects contribute to the attainment of the goals and targets of the Paris Agreement, Sendai Framework, the UN Early Warnings for All Initiative, Alliance for Hydro met Development, Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP) and others.

In the context of the Climate Science and Transparency Programme, the project concept on “Strengthening Climate Information and Early Warning Systems for science-based climate solutions” aims to support countries to develop and use data-driven climate information services and impact-based, people-centered early warning systems, which underpin science-based climate action and resilience. It will fill critical gaps in basic weather and climate observations and build capacities at all levels to access and use climate science generated to develop evidence-based solutions. Through the project, UNEP will support countries to access climate finance at scale, prioritizing inclusive and participatory approaches to enhance accountability and ensure that international resources reach the most vulnerable populations.
The project will contribute to delivering the Science and Transparency programme by:
– Enhancing basic weather and climate observations, data generation and science-based analysis of climate change impacts, which are critical for increased transparency in adaptation and designing science-based solutions for more ambitious climate action.
– Brokering knowledge on climate information and early warning systems (CIEWS) and opportunities for science-based solutions that deliver on the adaptation and mitigation goals of the Paris Agreement
– Fostering strategic partnerships, technical support and capacity building with relevant experts and networks to promote and scale up climate science and early warning systems efforts, creating synergies and maximizing impact.

Specific tasks and responsibilities

Under the general supervision of the Head, Climate Services and Capacity Building Unit, in the Early Warnings and Assessment Division, the specific duties and responsibilities of the incumbent will be as follows:
• Analyze documents/communications/reports to determine baselines with regard CIEWS in the context of climate science and transparency in targeted countries.
• Identify and contribute to the enhancement of strategic partnerships, technical support and capacity building with regard CIEWS in the context of climate science and transparency.
• Contribute to the development of the project document on “Strengthening Climate Information and Early Warning Systems for science-based climate solutions”.
• Draft a variety of documents including reports, studies and results-based project documentation based on identified country needs related to CIEWS in the context of climate science and transparency and following applicable standards.
• Revise project documentation based on review comments from internal and external partners.
• Maintain an overview of the status of assigned project portfolio, issue alerts and propose remedial measures when necessary.
• Document lessons learnt in the implementation of the projects.
Qualifications/special skills
A 1st level degree related to Environment, Climate Change and International Studies is required. An advanced higher degree (Master’s or equivalent) related to sustainable development, environment and/or climate change is desirable.

At least 2 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level project design and climate services or other relevant programme is required. Experience in designing country projects related to hydro met strengthening and early warning systems is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

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