Organization: UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
Location: Bangkok | Dakar | Panama City | Istanbul
Grade: Level not specified – Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
Environment
Meteorology, Geology and Geography
Security and Safety
Climate Change
Project and Programme Management
Closing Date: 2024-10-09
Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.
Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau guides UNDP’s corporate crisis and fragility related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response, and recovery. The Bureau has the responsibility for support to prevention, crisis response, resilience, recovery, and peacebuilding work under the auspices of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Crisis Bureau staff provide global strategic advice to UNDP management and technical advice to Regional Hubs and Country Offices; advocate for UNDP corporate messages, represent UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, and engage in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. As part of the Global Policy Network (GPN), the Crisis Bureau works in an integrated manner with UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) ensuring that issues are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. Peace outcomes are delivered in a coherent manner, working across the GPN that includes the Governance team in Bureau of Policy and Programme Support.
The Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions (CPPRI) Team covers the following thematic/programming areas as part of the GPN:
Conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE).
Core government functions, including local governance in transition, conflict, and fragile settings.
Climate security.
Position Purpose
As a member of the Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions Team (CPPRI) and the Regional Hubs in Bangkok, Dakar, Istanbul and Panama, the Programme Specialist – Climate and Security Risk will provide technical guidance on climate, environment, peace, and security. S/he works with teams in the Crisis Bureau, as well as across UNDP’s Global Policy Network (GPN) particularly with NCE, the Regional Hubs, Country Offices and Global Policy Centers, supporting the development of substantive approaches, products, and tools on responsive, accountable, and effective institutions to support policy and programming services to UNDP Country Offices.
The Programme Specialist – Climate and Security Risk will have dual reporting lines, respectively to the Regional Hubs for Bangkok, Dakar, Istanbul, or Panama and to Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding & Responsive Institutions/ Climate Security Team (CPPRI/CS).
Duties and Responsibilities
The Programme Specialist – Climate and Security Risk for Africa/ Asia and the Pacific/ Europe and Central Asia/ Latin America and the Caribbean will be responsible for the following duties:
Policy and programming
Partnerships
Resources and funds mobilization
Communications and advocacy
Policy and programming
Plays a leading role in the implementation of the UNDP’s offer on climate, environment, peace, and security with other teams in the GPN.
Ensures alignment of the climate security offer with the prevention offer, the Climate Promise, and UNDP’s other corporate offers, including on fragility, governance, stabilization, human mobility, and risk-informed development.
Provides oversight to climate security regional programmes/ initiatives, project management and operations.
Through provision of authoritative, substantive guidance supports the implementation, acceleration and scaling up of the Climate Security Mechanism field initiatives in the region.
Guides Country Offices in mainstreaming climate security and environmental peacebuilding approaches into national and local policy, strategy and planning processes, including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), peace processes, UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs) and Common Country Assessments (CCAs).
Monitors overall implementation based on programmatic indicators, as well as on corporate reporting and evaluation requirements.
Provides inputs to analysis and assessments of climate-related security risks, analytical reports, and papers, including to the General Assembly, Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission, etc. in the region, making use of the UN Climate Security Mechanism Toolbox, as appropriate.
Partnerships
Develops and maintains partnerships, and provides support on climate, environment, peace and security with Member States, international and regional organizations, Special Political Missions and Peacekeeping Operations, the research community and civil society in support of UNDP’s climate security initiatives in the region.
Maintains close contact with relevant UN focal points working on climate security in the region.
Participates in conferences, seminars and academic fora related to his/her assigned area of expertise.
Drafts notes, background papers, talking points, speeches, and other correspondence for senior UN officials.
Performs other related duties as required.
Resources and funds mobilization
Analyzes trends and identifies opportunities for resource mobilization in the region, conduct donor mapping and contributes to resource mobilization strategies and ensures alignment with corporate and regional goals.
Supports the preparation and submission of concept notes and project proposals on climate security and advises on regional and country pipelines.
Ensures compliance with partner’s requirements, including monitoring, narrative and financial reporting, and evaluation.
Prepares presentations, updates, and project briefs for as per donor’s requirements.
Communications and advocacy
Leads UNDP’s climate-security communications and advocacy efforts in the region.
Guides and coordinates cross-regional exchange of knowledge by collaborating with policy teams in the Regional Hub to research, develop and share knowledge-based tools and guidance to help influence/advance policy dialogue in the thematic area and present such material at various fora.
Supports UNDP knowledge generation, lessons, innovations, policy developments, programmatic offers, and practice experiences on climate security in the region.
Drafts notes, background papers, talking points, speeches, and other correspondence for senior UN officials.
Provides up-to-date information to senior officials regarding substantive political matters and country or regional issues with a focus on climate-related security risks.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
Competencies
Core:
Achieve Results:
Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
Think Innovatively:
Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
Learn Continuously:
Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
Adapt with Agility:
Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
Act with Determination:
Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
Engage and Partner:
Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
Cross-Functional & Technical:
2030 Agenda: Peace – Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions
Conflict Analysis and conflict sensitivity.
2030 Agenda Peace – Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions
Community engagement for prevention, response, and social cohesion.
2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness – Strategic Policy Engagement
Horizon-scanning and future of development.
Business Management: Portfolio Management
Ability to select, prioritise and control the organizations programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment.
Partnership Management: Strategic Engagement
Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives.
Partnership Management: Resource Mobilization
Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.
Business Direction and Strategy: System Thinking
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Political Science, Conflict Studies, Political Economy, Climate, Environment, or other related Social Sciences. OR
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
Minimum of 7years of progressively responsible experience in the areas of climate security, climate change, environment, conflict prevention and/or peacebuilding; candidates in possession of only a first level university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) require a minimum of 9 years relevant work experience.
Experience working with the UN/UNDP and/or other international institutions on climate security, climate change, environment, conflict prevention and/or peacebuilding is required.
Experience of climate change, environment, conflict prevention and/or peacebuilding programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean is desired.
Experience in conflict and political analysis, and strategy development required.
Programme design and management, and results monitoring experience within United Nations system in climate security, climate change, conflict prevention, peacebuilding will be considered an asset.
Proven policy, advisory and advocacy experience, and track record of engagement with senior officials in the UN, government and external partners is desired.
Language:
Fluent written and spoken English is required.
Fluent written and spoken Spanish is required.
Knowledge of other UN languages is a plus.
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Disclaimer
Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters.
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination.
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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