Climate Mitigation Senior Analyst (Retainer, Multiple position) - re-advertisement, Multiple positions

UNOPS Corporate Retainer Pool

UNOPS is managing a pool of Corporate Retainers to meet the need for temporary, short-term ad-hoc support to UNOPS business units across the globe in several expertise areas identified by the HQ business units and in consultation with the regional offices. The Corporate Retainer Pool (CRP) covers a wide range of expertise areas. The CRP is coordinated by the Portfolio Support team in the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG) however the Business Unit leading the expertise area supervises each position as relevant.

** IMPORTANT INFORMATION **

Retainer positions are not full-time positions. They constitute a contract whereby the Retainer may be requested to provide a specific output/deliverable within a specified period of time, on short notice. When holding a retainer contract, individuals may receive ad-hoc requests from the UNOPS project teams or country offices, and the quantity of requests will vary depending on the current needs. UNOPS shall have no obligation to obtain any minimum quantity of services from the Individual Contractor during the duration of the retainer ICA. It is possible to have multiple consultancy contracts with or outside UNOPS, as long as it is declared to the UNOPS Ethics Office. Read more about the ICA retainer modality here. 

Working within the Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG), the Infrastructure Climate Mitigation Senior Analysts(Retainer) will be expected to provide expert climate mitigation technical advice and guidance for various infrastructure sector programmes and projects globally (with a focus on energy, transport and buildings), in all offices where UNOPS operates. 

The functions/responsibilities/key results of this job description are generic and may not always be applicable, nor be comprehensive, for all missions under this job title. The specific tasks and deliverables for each retainer assignment may vary and will be detailed in the terms of reference developed for each assignment by the requesting office/unit, while the SI team will exercise an oversight function. Under this contract type, the assignments will vary in scope and duration - ranging from short term assignments of a few hours at a time to longer blocks of time (e.g. several weeks or months full time, and up to a year). Work may also vary with regards to the time zone / location. Whilst most assignments can be delivered working from home, some may require presence in HQ and/or international travel on occasion, including to remote or post-conflict environments. The successful incumbent should be able and willing to ensure a degree of time overlap with the teams ordering the retainer’s services. 

While the contract modality for this Vacancy Announcement is an ICA retainer contract on project or assignment basis, UNOPS may offer on a need basis full-time employment for a specified consecutive period of time (up to one year maximum), in the context of technical surge capacity - with the possibility to go back and forth between the two contract modalities.

All retainer assignments will be handled via the UNOPS online retainer management tool, including the request for the retainer’s services and the provision of feedback for each assignment. 

Purpose and scope of the assignment 

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Strategic Initiatives, the Retainers will provide climate mitigation technical advisory and supervision in the conceptualization and implementation of infrastructure projects (mainly in the energy, transport and buildings sectors)  in different countries in at least one of UNOPS’ regions, and aligned with the general guidelines and strategies on climate change adaptation and mitigation to be generated by UNOPS over time. The Retainers will provide technical knowledge and will contribute to processes and decisions to add value and to facilitate green infrastructure development and activities such as data collection and analysis, procurement, design, construction, operational guidelines, and the provision of all climate mitigation support and services to different UNOPS partners and client countries. The Retainers will provide technical guidance on all aspects of climate mitigation to inform effective project design,  programming, management and partnerships. In addition, he/she is expected to provide  technical climate mitigation expertise in support of ongoing infrastructure  projects in other UNOPS regions as may be needed.  As needed, they will provide climate mitigation oversight on program design and management, working closely with stakeholders to  mainstream climate mitigation actions in projects.  

The specific tasks for each assignment may vary one assignment to another. Under the overall guidance and oversight of the Strategic Initiatives Unit and direct supervision of the designated Supervisor within the requesting office, the Senior Analyst will work on a retainer contract and will be called upon for specific projects to fulfill one or more of the following key tasks: 

Technical expertise

• Provide support in addressing decarbonisation and low carbon infrastructure needs in developing countries  to ensure compliance with the SDGs, Biodiversity and the Paris Agreement targets.

• Support the development of strategies, regulatory framework, guidelines, and  enabling environment to promote climate mitigation and decarbonisation actions in infrastructure sectors.

• Support the mainstreaming of climate mitigation actions in technical documents of infrastructure projects, papers and corporate communication materials.

• Provide technical climate mitigation support to project teams and partners at any life cycle stages of infrastructure project development in compliance with UNFCCC climate mitigation guidelines. 

• Provide climate mitigation inputs and support at events and meetings with stakeholders and partners.

• Promote data collection and conceptualize new technological tools and mechanisms oriented to enhance climate change mitigation standards of the UNOPS project portfolio.

• Work collaboratively (when requested) with UNOPS experts in the area of climate change mitigation and others, to achieve comprehensive infrastructure solutions aligned with the SDGs and with Paris Agreement targets.

Capacity development and training

• Contribute to the design, development and / or implementation of Infrastructure climate mitigation training programmes and capacity building initiatives for both internal and external participants. 

• Support the delivery of training tools and techniques to mainstream climate mitigation in UNOPS infrastructure and project management services.

Practice contribution and Knowledge Sharing

• Ensure climate mitigation best practice guidance is disseminated and communicated throughout the relevant programmes and country offices and departments. 

• Contribute to UNOPS knowledge management by capturing case studies and best practice examples of climate mitigation in infrastructure projects/programmes throughout UNOPS. 

• Provide substantive contribution to UNOPS Climate Change practice focusing on continuous improvement of climate mitigation and decarbonisation; support the development of policy, guidance and tools.

• Create and strengthen technical support mechanisms for the dissemination of best practices to governments and other clients in the area of climate change mitigation.

Business development

• Support UNOPS country offices on opportunities for low carbon infrastructure development in addition to sharing  with clients institutional and industry knowledge of climate mitigation options  in infrastructure.

• Provide expert climate mitigation support in formulation of new initiatives, projects and programmes related to sustainable and inclusive infrastructure. 

• Provide expert climate mitigation support to enable the delivery of low carbon Infrastructure projects and provide support to UNOPS project teams and partners in line with the climate aspirations in the UNOPS corporate strategy.

• Provide climate mitigation technical support to further UNOPS position as a climate change thought leader and value add partner to governments and other clients.

Education

• A Master’s Degree or equivalent in energy planning/economics, Engineering, Climate Change, Sustainable Development, International Development or a related field from an accredited university. 

• Applicants with a Bachelor’s Degree with additional 2 years of relevant working  experience may also be considered in lieu of the Master’s Degree. 

Experience

Required Experience:

• A minimum of two (2) years experience of climate mitigation in the infrastructure sectors preferably in one or more of the  following sectors: energy, transport and buildings sectors. 

• Deep experience in the mainstreaming of climate mitigation measures in infrastructure projects.

• Experience with renewable energy projects plus their linkages to national or transnational energy systems and energy efficiency optimization is required.

Desired experience:

• Experience in resource efficient design and delivery of green buildings. 

• Experience in mainstreaming climate mitigation actions in transport projects. 

• Experience in advising the structuring and compliance of NDCs in developing countries is highly desirable. 

• In-depth knowledge of the Paris Agreement and its framework for action will be an asset.

• Experience working with IPPs and leading PPP negotiations would be considered an asset.

• Experience in mainstreaming climate mitigation actions in other sectors of infrastructure e.g Water, Digital development, waste management, etc.

• International experience in developing countries is highly desirable.

• Previous assignments with the UN system will be an added advantage. 

• Experience working with Multilateral Development Banks and other Donors would be considered an asset.