NDC Partnership In-Country Facilitator (Partnerships Specialist) – St. Lucia (Retainer, Homebased)

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

In April 2016, Saint Lucia communicated what is now known as its NDC to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC), with interventions built on existing initiatives within the energy, electricity generation and transport sectors. The interventions, if implemented as proposed, would result in a reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions to the tune of 16% by 2025 and 23% by 2030. 

Saint Lucia joined the NDC Partnership shortly after the first NDC submission in October 2016. In December 2017, Saint Lucia submitted a formal Request for Support Letter to develop a project pipeline of strategic interventions to promote a low-carbon and resilient economy. To that end, a Partnership Plan to guide NDC implementation was developed and approved by the Cabinet in June 2019. 

Saint Lucia received support for its NDC revision and enhancement process from the NDC Partnership´s Climate Action Enhancement Package in 2019. Saint Lucia’s NDC revision efforts culminated with the submission of its updated NDC in January 2021. The updated NDC built largely on the sectoral priorities and targets from the first NDC, pledging to reduce GHG emissions in the energy sector by 7%, relative to 2010 emissions, by 2030. 

The NDC Partnership Support Unit supports Saint Lucia’s Department of Sustainable Development through an in-country NDC Facilitator to facilitate the implementation and resource mobilization for Saint Lucia’s updated NDC. 

The Facilitator will work as an embedded NDC in-country Facilitator within Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training. The consultant will support the NDC Partnership Focal Point with planning, coordination and resource mobilization for the implementation of Saint Lucia’s NDC and its NDC Partnership Plan (NDCPP). The consultant will engage with sectors, donors, implementing agencies and other key stakeholders to ensure alignment between country priorities and needs for NDC implementation, and international support initiatives and finance.

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 St. Lucia.

The incumbent will support the Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training. He/she will be responsible for strengthening national coordination in terms of resource mobilization and monitoring the implementation of the NDC. He/she will support the focal point of the Partnership in his daily tasks of implementing the NDC and other forms of support for the NDC implementation.  

The embedded facilitator will implement all tasks under the direct supervision of the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist and will work in close collaboration with the different ministerial offices. He/she will need to use his/her own laptop and software. This is a retainer vacancy / position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with the possibility of an extension for two additional years depending on performance and the availability of funds.

* This is a Homebased position, meaning that the incumbent will not work from a UNOPS office but from the government facilities. Therefore, the incumbent will need to use his/her own laptop and software. 

** Nationals as well as international candidates willing to work from St. Lucia are eligible for this position. However, in order to be eligible, the incumbent should be a national of St.Lucia or have a valid residence permit in the Country or for the CARICOM region. UNOPS will cover the relocation costs if the person is hired from outside St.Lucia. 

*** Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

****  The contract modality (Local ICA or International ICA) will be evaluated based on the nationality of the preferred candidate.

• A Master’s degree preferably in public policy, development, climate change, natural resource management, environmental management, business administration, social sciences, and any other relevant field of study. 

• Bachelor's degree in related discipline with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience (7 total) may be accepted instead of an advanced university degree.

Required

• At least 5 years’ experience in public and/or private sector with a focus on climate change, project management, stakeholder and donor engagement and/or preparation of cross-cutting workplan/proposal development or any related field;

• Experience in multilateral, national and grassroot governance and processes related to climate change, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), or policy-making

Asset 

• Knowledge of the country’s context of policy frameworks, national plans and strategies related to climate change is an asset.

• Familiarity with UNFCCC processes including Subsidiary Body and Conference of Parties (CoP), NDC and past experience on government climate change process. 

• Experience in facilitating the implementation of NDCs is an asset.

• Experience of other national contexts that indirectly contribute to climate change is desirable.

• Ability to foster formal and informal networks to strengthen cooperation between agencies, including Government, private sector participants, NGOs and other stakeholders.

• Proficiency in English is required

Contract type: ICA
Contract level:  Local ICA 10 / International ICA 2.  The contract modality (Local ICA or International ICA) will be evaluated based on the nationality of the preferred candidate. 
Contract duration: One year, max of 220 working days, with a possibility of extension subject to performance and budget. 

• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. 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.