Result of Service
The Consultant will contribute with the Climate Ambition and Transparency (CA&T) Team to achieve these main goals:
- Strengthen overall understanding of adaptation and loss and damage issues in the context of transparency and climate ambition within the Climate Change unit.
- Better coordination and cooperation between teams in the Climate Change unit for project development and implementation, especially those regarding climate adaptation and other intersecting and complementary topics.
- Countries of the LAC region are informed about the type of issues and progress made on cross-cutting issues such as gender, just transition, and Loss and Damage in the context of the UNFCCC.
Responsibilities and Activities:
Under the direction of UNEP’s Programme Management Officer for Climate Ambition and Transparency of the¿Climate Change Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean Office, the consultant shall perform the following activities:
• Timely delivery of Deliverables 1-4
• Provide technical advice and guidance to the CA&T team on issues related to the consultancy
• Collecting, compiling, and reviewing essential resources and coordinating the information gathering regarding adaptation and loss and damage for the Unit as well as national stakeholders
• Analyze the information and develop recommendations and action points for key stakeholders in the region to provide them with tools to develop the capacity in climate action for minimizing and addressing loss and damage
• Ensure coordination with relevant national institutions and government ministries to ensure that activities are distinct and fully complementary to other national initiatives
• Liaison with national stakeholders, local climate change entities, and relevant civil society organizations to collaborate on different issues and move forward with UNEP’s mandate
• Contribute with the CA&T team in the execution of tasks for all relevant issue themes
Outputs
Output 1.
Strengthening of capacities and understanding of cross-cutting issues such as gender, climate transparency, and Loss and Damage in the context of the Enhanced Transparency Framework of the Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC is improved within the unit and for relevant stakeholders in the region.
Deliverables
Product No.1
Event Summary Report and reference material compiling lessons learned, and the state of knowledge on the relevant topics for the Climate Change Unit, aligned with the Route to COP28 and The Forum of Ministers series of events with specific recommendations for different stakeholders
Product No.2
A technical report outlining lessons learned, tools, and recommendations based on capacity-building activities or peer-to-peer exchanges on topics that countries had previously expressed their interest and could help strengthen regional capacities related to the implementation and application of the Enhanced Transparency Framework.
Attached to the report, a Power Point presentation, event Concept note, and/or Toolkit can be included.
Product No.3
Policy Brief highlighting expectations and needs of the LAC region leading up to COP28 regarding topics such as the Loss and Damage Fund, Climate Adaptation, and/or NDC implementation. Information can be gathered from previous events such as:
- Panels
- Online webinars
- Forum of Ministers of the Environment Decisions
- Regional Climate Weeks
- Other exchanges and informal conversations with relevant stakeholders
Product No. 4.
A draft Concept Note outlining a project proposal on Loss and damage with a gender-focus that could be implemented by the Unit in the future. This document can include : - Theory of change and paradigm shift
- Deliverables and activities expected
- Terms of reference for different experts and specialists to implement the respective components of the project
- Risk reduction and monitoring and evaluation targets and indicators
- Timelines
- Implementation arrangements
- Cost estimates for its implementation (budget).
Work Location
Home-based
Expected duration
6 months
Duties and Responsibilities
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.
The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)
Throughout the work that UNEP engages in, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change marks a turning point to an emerging climate regime that brings all the states and the actors together to a new global platform to address the growing risks to our planet. Actions under the agreement calls for the establishment of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to achieve Paris Agreement long-term goals of limiting global temperature rise well below 2 degrees °C above pre-industrial levels; and to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 °C. The Paris Agreement calls upon countries to review their NDCs every five years and raise mitigation and adaptation ambitions to help put the world on track to achieve neutrality by 2025.
The Paris Agreement also recognizes, under its Article 8 paragraph 1, the importance of “averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage (L&D) associated with the adverse effects of climate change”. While there is no agreed definition for L&D, it is usually understood that countries can avert L&D through mitigation action and minimize through adaptation action. As member states, especially the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, start paying more attention to L&D, there will be a growing need to develop innovative ways to respond to, report, monitor and track losses and damages. For instance, strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems was highlighted as a priority in countries’ updated NDCs to implement robust adaptation plans for different sectors and reduce climate risks. Given these concerns, the Climate Ambition and Transparency Team (CA&T) is looking for a specialist in climate adaptation and Loss and Damage to work in the context of Transparency, and support the region in analyzing and better understand the current challenges related to L&D and progress in adaptation, given the existing finance gap in the region.
The UNEP has a mandate to help member states with technical capacity building support, taking a science-based approach to knowledge and capacity development. In the areas of adaptation and loss and damage, many solutions relevant to the LAC region have been proposed such as but not limited to improving M&E systems which ensure climate transparency, implementing multi-hazard early-warning systems (MHEWS) and other proven solutions for adaptation such as ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) that integrates nature-based solutions (NbS). Supporting countries in the implementation of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) is also part of the CA&T mandate. These topics and initiatives are being tackled within the Climate Change Unit and directly respond to UNEP’s medium-term strategy 2022-2025 for tackling climate change, biodiversity, and nature loss.
These initiatives that will help reduce risks and eventually address irreparable L&D, will need regional and transnational collaboration based on principles of international solidarity. Additionally, EUROCLIMA+ was designed in response to international and regional mandates on climate change and has an interest to support Latin American countries in their adaptation endeavors to realize their climate ambition.
In this sense, the incumbent will be supervised by UNEP’s Programme Management Officer for Climate Ambition and Transparency of the¿Climate Change Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean Office and will be home-based.
Qualifications/special skills
ACADEMIC:
- Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, international/global affairs, political science, or other areas related to social sciences, sustainability and/or development (required)
PROFESSIONAL:
- A minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in areas related to climate action, climate change and/or sustainability is required
- Minimum one (1) year of previous experience working in gender, just transition, social and/or climate justice issues (desirable)
- Experience working with public and private sectors in areas related to climate change, sustainable development, corporate sustainability, or other relevant environmental issues (desirable)
- Previous experience with planning and executing capacity-building sessions and/or workshops (desirable)
- Experience handling projects and initiatives in areas related to climate education and communication (desirable)
- Demonstrates experience strengthening and creating partnerships between different actors (desirable)
- Familiarity with the UN system and environmental governance processes (desirable)
- Experience working with Latin American governments and actors (desirable)
LANGUAGE
- Fluent in Spanish (required)
- Fluent in English (desirable)
- Fluent in French (desirable)
SKILLS:
PROFESSIONALISM
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
- Excellent understanding of global and national climate change commitments.
- Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to climate change mitigation and adaptation planning.
- Ability to identify issues, analyse and participate in the resolution of issues/problems.
- Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities.
- Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter.
- Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results.
- Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns.
- Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges.
- Remains calm in stressful situations.
TEAMWORK:
- Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals.
- Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise.
- Is willing to learn from others; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position.
- Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
PLANNING AND ORGANIZING:
- Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies.
- Identifies priority activities and assignments.
- Adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work.
- Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning.
- Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary.
- Uses time efficiently.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
