NDC Partnership In-Country Facilitator (Partnership Specialist) - Cambodia - Retainer

WEC Background: 

The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support. 

WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements,  such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The NDC Partnership: 

The NDC Partnership is a global coalition of countries and institutions collaborating to drive transformational climate action through sustainable development. In 2015, the world endorsed the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Nations signal their commitments to the Paris Agreement through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - each country’s strategy to cut its own greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience against the negative effects of a changing climate. The Partnership advances the goals of the Paris Agreement by bringing together nearly 200 countries and institutions in new ways to accelerate NDC implementation and enhance ambition over time. The Partnership’s work through 120 partners supporting almost 80 countries produces many examples of impact, lessons learned and ideas for the future. The Partnership is governed by a Steering Committee, co-chaired by two country representatives. The Partnership’s work is facilitated by a Support Unit based at World Resources Institute in Washington DC and the UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn, Germany. UNOPS supports the NDC Partnership and its Support Unit through the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC).  

Country Context

Cambodia has been a member of the NDC Partnership since 2019. The country’s updated NDC seeks to decrease emissions by 41.7 percent from the business-as-usual scenario by 2030, with half of that reduction concentrated in the Forest and Land Use Sector (FOLU) and the rest primarily in the energy, agriculture, industry, and waste sectors. Cambodia’s updated NDC also has a strong adaptation component. The NDC update process was conducted with a bottom-up approach involving 16 line ministries and was supported by the NDC Partnership Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP) delivered in part by UNDP and the World Bank. The work’s outcomes led to the identification of 130 mitigation, adaptation, and enabling actions across all sectors - forming Cambodia's Partnership Plan - of which 119 were highlighted as priorities. A number of partners are supporting the implementation of the Partnership Plan, including FAO, Germany, GGGI, IRENA, IUCN, Japan, SNV, UNCDF, UNDP, UNESCAP, and UNICEF. Additionally, the World Bank and the UK supported the Government of Cambodia in developing a Long-Term Strategy for Cambodia's Carbon Neutrality (LTS4CN) linked to the NDC. The NDC Partnership continues to support Cambodia on its NDC implementation, including by supporting coordination and resource mobilization.

The incumbent will serve as the NDC Partnership’s interface in the country and operate as a liaison between the country and other NDC Partnership members. The role is one of coordination and supportive facilitation. He/she plays a key role in ensuring the smooth implementation of the Country Engagement Process, by supporting ongoing coordination efforts between the Support Unit of the NDC Partnership, the various partners of the Partnership, and the government of Cambodia.  

The roles and responsibilities will include:

1. Coordination and communication with key stakeholders 

   1. Ensure that communications relevant to NDC Partnership engagement are shared with relevant national, international, and local level stakeholders. 

   2. Facilitate periodic coordination and information exchange among partners in the country, with the aim of leveraging and mobilizing their respective advantages in support of the Partnership Plan. 

   3. Organize meetings to monitor and coordinate the implementation of the Partnership Plan with stakeholders.  

1. Facilitation of NDC Partnership Plan implementation 

   1. Collaborate with the NDC Partnership Support Unit and the Focal Points to manage and update the Plan and integrate it with Cambodia’s online NDC tracking tool, ensuring information remains up to date and accessible for key stakeholders. 

   2. Identify implementing and development partners, compile their contact details (name of focal point, email address, telephone number) and follow up with them regarding their contributions to the Partnership Plan. 

   3. Collaborate with the Support Unit to document changes in the operating context and provide support to the government and stakeholders in decision-making processes and new development with respect to the enabling environment. 

1. Mobilization of resources for implementation  

   1. Support the government in following up on and mobilizing partner financing to close its support gaps to allow for NDC implementation as per the Partnership Plan. 

   2. Update government needs and priorities for NDC implementation in the Partnership Plan.  

   3. Work with the Support Unit to produce an overview of support gaps to make available to partners. 

   4. Engage with partners, including at the local/subnational level, to link needs to services and resources in accordance with the Partnership Plan. 

   5. Assist the government in coordinating with key donors, partners, and funding mechanisms on aligning country programs and projects with the needs and gaps identified in the Partnership Plan. 

   6. Assist and provide guidance to International and Development Partners to align climate projects and programmatic objectives with the Partnership Plan.  

1. Tracking of Partnership Plan implementation progress  

   1. Monitor and assess implementation of the Partnership Plan and coordinate periodic progress tracking of partners to the NDC Partnership.  

   2. Prepare quarterly country update reports summarizing key insights and progress updates, challenges, and recommendations for the way forward. 

   3. Assess progress outcomes of the NDC Partnership in-country engagement and make recommendations for adjustments. 

1. Organize and support NDC-related meetings as needed  

   1. Following government guidance, support the organization of quarterly calls / in-person convenings with partners to discuss priorities and challenges related to NDC implementation.  

   2. If requested, facilitate national country specific multi-stakeholder NDC dialogues. 

   3. Support the government in preparing for NDC-related events such as COPs, regional climate weeks, national events, and other convenings relevant to showcase NDC progress and generate support for implementation of the NDC. 

   4. Organize coordination meetings between the Support Unit and the government as needed. 

1. Identifying lessons learned and results   

   1. Assist in tracking the progress of in-country engagement and provide periodic progress updates to the NDC Partnership Steering Committee, through the Support Unit.   

   2. Liaise with the Support Unit to access and/or feed into global knowledge products. 

   3. Assist the Support Unit in the identification and dissemination of information on best practices and lessons learned from in-country engagement.

• An advanced degree (Masters or higher) in business, finance, law, public policy, public finance, sustainable development, environment management, or a similar relevant field.

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline in combination with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Required

• At least 5 years of experience in public policy, climate/environment and sustainable development in Cambodia;

• Demonstrable experience working in climate change tasks in Cambodia, including, but not limited to, mitigation and adaptation action, government policy and legal frameworks, MRV, M&E systems, and results-based management;

• Demonstrated skills in managing and aligning diverse groups of stakeholders, including development agencies, non-state actors/civil society, financial institutions, the private sector, and others;

Asset

• Knowledge about the UNFCCC, the Paris Agreement, NDCs and SDGs;

• Experience in facilitating the implementation of NDCs;

• Experience in the design and implementation of climate change-related project 

• Experience working with government stakeholders in national and/or regional policy development and implementation in climate change activities.

• Proven ability to network and develop partnerships across a range of stakeholders and record of accomplishment in managing complex multi-stakeholder strategies and plans.

• Proficiency in English is required.

• Excellent language skills in Khmer in writing, speaking, and reading is required;

• Knowledge of another official UN language (Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Chinese Mandarin) is an asset.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.