Project Officer

Project Officer CFN and GCCF-III

Assignment country: Nepal
Expected start date: 15/01/2024
Sustainable Development Goal: 13. Climate action
Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist
Host entity: UNDP
Type: Onsite
Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments: 1
Duty stations: Kathmandu

Details
Mission and objectives

UNDP in Nepal
VISION STATEMENT

UNDP 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 works to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities through the sustainable development of nations, in more than 170 countries and territories. The Regional Bureau of Asia and Pacific (RBAP) has the responsibility to guide and support 24 Country Offices in achieving the above objectives. RBAP’s Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH) supports countries and UNDP Country Offices in the Asia-Pacific region on various development issues, including the governance of climate change finance.
UNDP with the support of Government of Sweden (Sida) is in process of putting in place the inception phase of Strengthening the Governance of Climate Finance to Promote Inclusive Climate Resilience in Asia Pacific. This will be the 3rd phase of Governance of Climate Change Finance (GCCF). As it builds on the achievement and lessons learnt in the past two phases, the focus will be on the sector ministries to assist in gender inclusive climate integrated budgeting, ensuring accountable climate finance and assistance in mobilizing alternate sources of finance. The programme will combine the expertise of UNDP and UNCDF, working closely with ICIMOD and UN-Women and other partners, to ensure targeted capacity building support to five countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. It builds on earlier and/or ongoing climate finance programmes implemented by the partnersTo respond to the growing demands and imperatives, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH) has also established the Climate Finance Network (2022-2028) to collaboratively support countries to ensure not only increased financing and budgets to address climate change, but to do so in ways that are gender-responsive and socially inclusive. The project has a regional component covering the Asia-Pacific region, and a country component focusing on 18 countries in Asia Pacific. The work of the CFN is be organized around 6 workstreams namely:

• Climate aligned planning and budgeting
• Tax and innovative climate finance
• Access to international climate finance
• Gender and social inclusion
• Transparency and accountability of climate finance
• Modelling impact of climate change on economic growth

GCCF-III strives to ensure complementarity with the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)-funded Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) programme’s support to the Climate Finance Network (CFN), supporting the same outputs, and with the LoCAL Facility, supported by Sweden, EU and other partners, addressing the vertical integration of NDCs and NAP processes, across planning, financing, implementation and MRV.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the overall supervision of Climate Finance Analyst and overall guidance of Programme Analyst – Climate Change and Resilience, the UNV Specialist will:

• Support in the preparation of programs and workshops’ concept note, invitation letter, participants list and work plan, project briefs, terminal reports and background papers.
• Support to ensure project resources, aligned with overall project resources are effectively used to achieve set project outputs and outcomes.
• Support in development of terms of reference for experts and consultancy firms as well as management of their contracts.
• Process, format and proof-read documents, publications, and correspondence related to the work of the Country Office (CO) from draft texts.
• Support to formulate targets and key performance indicators for GCCF and CFN in collaboration with UNDP CO and UNDP regional and global teams.
• Arrangements for meetings, seminars, and events: implement logistics, prepare meeting minutes, correspondences, compile and distribute documents, administrative arrangement support during field mission.
• Support in drafting, translation, transcription of correspondence, letters, invitations and minutes;
• Support Programme Analyst – Climate Change and Resilience towards resource mobilization particularly for vertical funds – GCF, GEF and others for project formulation including programmatic and logistics support and coordination with government line agencies and partner agencies
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

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 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.

As an active UNDP team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNDP in coordination with Climate Finance Analyst and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• Track progress and prepare progress reports on the Climate Finance Network and GCCF-III
• Coordinate in preparation of TORs in the field of climate finance.
• Facilitate the Capacity Assessment to achieve Gender responsive targets
• Develop ToRs as appropriate in line with the technical assessments to be prepared as part of CFN and GCCF projects.
• Coordinate with MOF (Ministry of Finance), MoFE (Ministry of Forests and Environment) /CCMD (Climate Change Management Division) towards implementation of annual work plan of CFN and GCCF projects,
• Coordinate with PA and planning and implementation of learning dialogue
• Facilitate engagement with media and cover stories to highlight urgency of climate finance
• Support to publish knowledge products to develop success stories
• Contribute to articles/blogs on climate initiatives and activities implemented under CFN and GCCF-III

Eligibility criteria:

Age: 27 – 80
Nationality: Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements
Required experience

• 3 years of experience in Environment, Climate change, or other relevant programmes; experience in coordination with stakeholders 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 deadlines.
• Sound security awareness.
• Have affinity with or interest in Environment volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Area(s) of expertise: Energy and environment , Natural and life sciences
Driving license: –

Languages

Nepalese, Level: Fluent, Required
English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Environment Sciences, Natural Resource Management, Forestry, climate change, Climate Finance, Environmental Economics – or science related field of studies

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 behaviours 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 behaviour; 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

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 humid during the monsoon period, mid-June to end September. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.
As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National 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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