Consultant (CTC)

UNU Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)

Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵

Job description

About UN University (UNU)

The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge, furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.
For the past four decades, UNU has been a go-to think tank for impartial research on human survival, conflict prevention, sustainable development, and welfare. With more than 400 researchers in 12 countries, UNU’s work spans the 17 Sustainable Development Goals’ full breadth, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU maintains more than 200 collaborations with UN agencies and leading universities and research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit http://unu.edu

About Office/Institute

UNU-IAS is one of 14 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-IAS is a UNU institute based at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo. The mission of UNU-IAS is to serve the international community through policy-relevant research and capacity development focused on sustainability, including its social, economic and environmental dimensions. Through its postgraduate education programmes UNU-IAS develops future international leaders with interdisciplinary understanding and skills needed to advance creative solutions to problems of sustainability. UNU-IAS builds on a strong tradition of UNU research and capacity development in Japan, undertaken in collaboration with a global network of professionals and scholars, particularly in Africa and Asia. For more information, please visit http://ias.unu.edu

The Strategic Programme (SP) is a flagship programme implemented by the Strategy and Management Office (SMO) in collaboration with Units of Thematic Programmes of the Institute and UNU-IAS partners under the Strategic Period 2020-2024. The Strategic Programme implements a research project on the Governance for Climate Change and Sustainable Development, focusing on synergies between climate change and sustainable development, budgeting, and monitoring & evaluation system for SDGs. The SP, in collaboration with other units and partners of the UNU-IAS, is developing and implementing policy-oriented capacity building and educational programmes such as Post Graduate Degree Specialisation on the Paris Agreement. The SP also promotes outreach activities on the knowledge of UNU-IAS through the channel of Global Environment Outreach Centre (GEOC). The GEOC was jointly established by the Ministry of Environment of Japan and UNU; its mission is to foster partnership between various stakeholders, such as international agencies, national governments, local governments, companies, nonprofit organizations and citizens, to create a sustainable society. GEOC’s main activities include: (i) international partnership building, (ii) partnership building in Japan, and (iii) information sharing and communication.

In coordination with the research areas of the Governance for Climate Change and Sustainable Development, UNU-IAS conducts research work focusing on possible requirements and guidance to operationalize monitoring and evaluation of climate change adaptation.

Responsibilities

In close consultation with the Director of the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) and the Head of Programme and Administration, the Consultant will perform the following assignments:

1.  Conduct research in climate change adaptation focusing on monitoring and evaluation

• Collect and analyse information of the monitoring and evaluation on climate change adaptation implemented by national and local governments, international organizations and stakeholders including the private sector and civil societies;
• Provide technical input for developing effective monitoring and evaluation on climate change adaptation implemented by national and local governments, international organizations and stakeholders including the private sector and civil societies; and
• Collect and analyse key information of monitoring and evaluation in relevant areas including climate change mitigation, disaster risk reduction and other matters related to environmental management.

2.  Provide technical support for the expert working groups for developing the guidelines on monitoring and evaluation on climate change adaptation

• Engage in the expert working group meetings for developing the guidelines on monitoring and evaluation system on climate change adaptation of the International Standard Organization through participation in the relevant meetings (meetings with a drafting group, secretariat, and other experts. Approximately 4 times of 2 hours meeting during the contracted period), communications and coordination with international experts and the secretariat of relevant organizations;
• Provide assistance for proceedings of the above expert working group meetings on the reviewing and consideration of requirements and guidance for developing guidelines on monitoring and evaluation on climate change adaptation;
• Support reviewing comments submitted by member states and keeping tracks of the consideration and reflections of technical matters on which consensus have been reached by the expert working group on the draft, including revisions, amendments, additions and deletions;
• Communicate the above-mentioned draft guidelines with member states and stakeholders through participation in various meetings (meetings with a drafting group, secretariat, and other experts. Approximately 4 times of 2 hours meeting during the contracted period) and exchange of email;
• Participate in meetings with the Head of Programme and Administration, other members of the Programme and external organizations to keep them informed of progresses of the work as well as key trends and issues relevant to the research activities above and discuss way forwards as necessary (approximately 8 times of 1 hour meeting during the contracted period); and
• Provide support and contribution to outreach activities to deliver the knowledge materials produced through the research activities above.

3.  Perform other duties as required by the Director and the Head of Programme and Administration

Key performance indicators

  • Quality expert advice and inputs to the research activities of the programme
  • Timely and quality achievement and submission of deliverables
  • Quality engagement with UNU-IAS and other researchers and students
  • Contribution and engagement in the programme outreach activities

Competencies

Values:

  • Inclusion — take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity
  • Integrity — act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards
  • Humility — demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others
  • Humanity — act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet

Behaviours:

  • Connect and collaborate — build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN
  • Analyse and plan — seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action
  • Deliver results with positive impact — hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves
  • Learn and develop — pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others
  • Adapt and innovate — demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways

Qualifications

1) Education and certification

– PhD in Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Social Science or another relevant field.

2) Required skills and experience

  • At least three years of practical and or research experience in the area of climate change adaptation is required;
  • Experience in contributing to the international inter-governmental science policy community, including contribution to reports in the area of climate change adaptation is an asset;
  • Familiarity with international negotiation processes on climate change in particular on the issues of adaptation is an advantage is an asset; and
  • Good team player with strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

3) Language Requirements

  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Fluency in Japanese is preferred.

Duration

7 months (from the contract start date to 31 March 2025)

Remuneration

Payment schedule and conditions:  

Daily fee: JPY 30,800

Payment, inclusive all of fees, will be made based on a daily rate and the number of actual working days in the beginning of the following month upon satisfactory completion of the contract with submission of the time sheet and a brief activity report.
You are reminded that UNU is not liable for any taxes that may be levied on the remuneration you receive under this contract. Payment of any such taxes remains your sole responsibility.
The Consultant is expected to work in total 12 days during the contract period.
The consultant must have the necessary work permits.

Total amount : JPY 369,600 (maximum)

Expected start date

September 2024

How to Apply

To apply to UNU, you will not need an account. Instead, we ask that you:

  • Apply via the apply link;
  • fill out the UNU P11 Form (please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organisations);
  • provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form); and
  • answer a few questions that are tailored to the position.

You may wish to refer to the UN Values and Behaviours Framework for more information.

Application Deadline

28th August 2024 (UCT)

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a desk review and/or a competency-based interview, background checks and references.

Special notice

UNU does not sponsor a working visa for this position.

Consultants do not hold international civil servant status nor are they considered a “staff member” as defined in the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations.

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply. Applications from developing countries, and from women are strongly encouraged.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

If you have supervisory function you need to have awareness on gender related issues.

Travel considerations

Should “mission travel” be required, UNU will pay for travel. However, this will be subject to the following prerequisites: Medical Clearance, Security Clearance through the Travel Request Information Process (TRIP) system, completion of the BSAFE online course, travel Visa, and liability waiver. Trip prerequisites will be met at the expense of the consultant.

Travel cost will be calculated based on economy class travel, regardless of the length of travel. Costs for accommodation, meals and incidentals must not exceed applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rates, as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC at http://icsc.un.org).

Information about UNU rosters

UNU 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 UNU.

Scam warning

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POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

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