Policy Specialist

Policy Specialist (Climate and Biodiversity)

Assignment country: Nepal
Expected start date: 01/10/2024
Sustainable Development Goal: 13. Climate action
Volunteer category: International UN Volunteer Specialist
Host entity: UNDP
Type: Onsite
Duration: 24 months
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Kathmandu

Details
Mission and objectives

UNDP in Nepal works with the people and Government of Nepal, and other development partners to pursue equitable and sustainable human development goals through eradication of poverty, increase in livelihood opportunities, improvement in community resilience against conflict, disasters and impact of climate change, while laying down strong foundations for a society based on rule of law with an inclusive and participatory democracy.

Context

UNDP Nepal continues to support the Government of Nepal to align the ambition of the government to international commitments on the Paris Agreement (climate change) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (biodiversity) . Technical support was extended to the government in the preparation of Nepal’s revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) that affirms Nepal’s ambition to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and a long-term strategy for net-zero emissions by 2045 while NDC Implementation Plan was also approved by the Government that provides clear implementation plan by sectoral ministries achieve the NDC targets by 2030. In this regard, UNDP’s programmatic component of Climate Promise (CP), Climate Finance Network (CFN), Scaling up Climate Ambition on Land Use and Agriculture through Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans (SCALA) aims to support the government on the implementation of the NDC. Our support, thus very much aligns to support national and sub-national governments on climate-change adaptation and mitigation efforts, including through implementation of the aforementioned frameworks and plans and includes strengthening capacities for risk and disaster management systems, considering the national ambition to promote green, resilient and inclusive development.

In addition, UNDP continues to engage and support government’s ambition on biodiversity sec-tor by prioritizing on access and mobilization of conservation finance and on the policy discourse on the government’s commitment to revise the ‘National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan’ under Articles 3, 6, 20, and 21 of the Convention to align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Bio-diversity Framework (hereafter GBF). In addition, UNDP Nepal’s access to vertical funds i.e. Green Climate Fund and Global Environment Facility is crucial to strengthen institutions and community planning capacity for integrating biodiversity, forestry and watershed management in planning and budgeting; and for livelihood improvement through sustainable forest management, including non-timber forest products, ecotourism, circular economy and sustainable production and consumption. With the recent approval of a new Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBF Fund) to mobilize and accelerate investment in the conservation and sustainability of biodiversity, UNDP Nepal will continue to work with the government to facilitate access and mobilize financing in line with the GBF Fund Programming ambitions.

Thus, the IUNV’s assignment will be to support the Resilience and Environment Portfolio in providing technical support services on climate change and biodiversity to ensure quality of the outputs along with ensuring synergy of the programmatic on climate resilient pathways, climate finance and biodiversity.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Portfolio Manager, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
1. Provide technical assistance and advisory services;

• Provide technical oversight and guidance on synergy of project activities of Climate Promise, Climate Finance Network and SCALA Projects;
• Support in organizing consultative dialogues and planning processes supported at national and provincial level on NDC priorities and Nepal’s Net-Zero Pathways’ in co-ordination with the Project Coordinators for Climate Promise and Climate Finance Network;
• Coordinate in organizing training and institutional capacity building on climate change, climate finance and biodiversity;
• Work closely with Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) and the UNDP CO team to ensure that all reports, documents and other outputs prepared by service providers are of high quality and are targeted towards achieving Country Programme (CP) objectives as planned;
• Technical review the reports of the consultants and consulting firms involved in the projects

2. Coordination and strategic partnerships

• Work in close collaboration and under guidance of the Policy Advisor and in coordination with Programme Analyst to contribute to the new strategic programming opportunities under the ecosystems, biodiversity and climate change themes for the vertical environmental funds.
• Conduct research and analysis on relevant topics, trends, and best practices in these areas, and provide inputs for policy development and decision-making processes;
• Support in providing innovative ideas to build and strengthen partnership with relevant stakeholders to achieve the CP results.
• Support UNDP CO to coordinate the activities of the partners in the programme to ensure harmonization and avoid redundancy.
• Work closely with UNDP CO to provide logistical and organizational support for in-country coordination meetings, capacity-building workshops and training sessions.

3. Support in monitoring, evaluation, reporting and communication of the progress.

• Support to formulate targets and key performance indicators for project outcomes and outputs in collaboration with UNDP CO and UNDP regional and global teams;
• Support to prepare reports and contribute information on project progress of the work-plan, key milestones and other relevant information to the global project team when requested (annual report, mid-term and terminal evaluations);
• Provide regular updates on the project’s progress as requested by UNDP CO and UNDP regional and global teams;
• Participate in meeting, training, workshops and events organized by project partners;
• Coordinate with the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Specialist of CO to ensure that the GESI-related results are well captured in all project initiatives / efforts;
• Contribute to showcase and reflect on the learning on gender equality and social inclusion;
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Eligibility criteria
Age: 27 – 80

Additional eligibility criteria

This assignment is funded by the Government of France, therefore the following specific criteria will apply:

• Candidates may apply to a maximum of three assignments per advertisement and indicate the order of preference in the ‘Additional remarks’ section (please include country and title of assignment).
• Only French nationals are eligible to apply.
• In addition to the requirements of the DOA, candidates must have obtained a Master II certificate.
• Candidates must be between 27 and 35 years of age at the time of the application and have at least 3 years of professional experience.
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews with the UN Host Entity.
• The assignment is scheduled to start in October 2024, after the Journée d’Accueil organized by MEAE in September 2024.

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 or biodiversity at the national and/or international level;
• Prior experience working with government and CSO is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization;
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• 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;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight dead-lines;
• Have affinity with or interest in volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Area(s) of expertise: Natural and life sciences, Development programmes

Driving license: –

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Master degree or equivalent in the field of climate change, natural resource management, forestry, rural development or related fields; a first-level university degree or Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 5 years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree;

Competencies and values

• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Commitment and Motivation
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Communication
• Creativity
• Ethics and Values
• Integrity
• Knowledge Sharing
• Planning and Organizing
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity
• Self-Management
• Technological Awareness
• Working in Teams

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

The selected candidate is expected to report to the duty station as per Nepal’s and UNDP’s travel advisory. The duty station is Kathmandu, Nepal with travels as required to project sites. Nepal is a unique and diverse country and UNDP is supporting the Government of Nepal to achieve different development goals including SDGs. This provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable.

Living conditions in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, are good. In Kathmandu, comfortable inexpensive flats (furnished and unfurnished) are available. Imported and local food and clothing are abundantly available. Water is in somewhat short supply and not safe to drink without treatment. Public transport is easily available and generally reliable. Kathmandu has a temperate climate with coldest temperature reaching just above zero at the night during the winter and mild but hu-mid during the monsoon period, mid-June to end September. As this is an international UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. International UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.

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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