NDC Partnership - National NDC Coordinator – Vanuatu (Partnerships Senior Officer) - 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).  In the Pacific, the NDC Partnership works in close coordination and collaboration with the Regional Pacific NDC Hub. 

Country Context

Vanuatu submitted its initial NDC to the UNFCCC on 21st September 2016. The main mitigation contribution under the initial submission was to achieve the outcomes and targets under the National Energy Road Map (NERM) and Second National Communication (SNC) extended to 2030. The Vanuatu Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Climate Change has been beneficiary to the support of the NDC Partnership through the Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP). The support had seen Vanuatu develop its first ever enhanced NDC in 2020. Vanuatu also developed its Implementation Road Map to roll out its NDCs within different sectors. In August 2023, the Vanuatu Government through the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards , Environment and Energy and NDMO submitted a list of requests for the development support and assistance from the NDC Partnership. Part of the request is to support strengthening the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Climate Change through the Department of Climate Change as the focal point for coordinating, monitoring and tracking the implementation of Vanuatu’s NDC. Thus, the recruitment of the Vanuatu National NDC Coordinator.

The incumbent will closely support the Ministry of Climate Change and serves as the NDC Partnership’s interface and liaison between the country and the NDC Partnership Support Unit and membership. 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. 

He/she will employ a whole of government and whole of society approach to NDC coordination - meaning they will coordinate across all Government agencies, civil society, academia, private sector and other stakeholder groups. He/she will be responsible for strengthening national coordination in terms of coordination mechanisms, communication, resource mobilization and monitoring the implementation of the NDC. He/she will support the country’s nominated Focal Point and nominated Day to Day Contact to the Partnership in his/her daily tasks of implementing the NDC and other forms of support for the NDC implementation.  He/she will also support the Government’s engagement with the Regional Pacific NDC Hub. 

The National NDC Coordinator will implement all tasks under the supervision of the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist based in Fiji (aligning with a work plan approved by both the NDC Partnership and the Ministry of Climate Change) and will work in close collaboration with the different ministerial offices and in-country stakeholders. The candidate is expected to work as an embedded facilitator, working within government facilities with officials on a day-to-day basis.

* This is a Home-based position, meaning the incumbent will be expected to work from government offices in Vanuatu and not work from a UNOPS office or from home.   Additionally, the incumbent will need to take their own laptop, equipped with all the relevant software, to government facilities. 

**This is a retainer national vacancy/position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days. Extension is subject to performance. 

***  As this is a Local position, in order to be eligible, the incumbent should be a national of Vanuatu or have a valid residence permit in the Country. 

• A Bachelor degree preferably in public policy, development, climate change, natural resource management, environmental management, engineering, social sciences, administration or other relevant field of study is required 

• A Master's degree in one of the relevant fields would be a strong advantage.

Required

• At least 4 years’ experience in the public and/or private sector with a focus on climate change, project management, stakeholder and donor engagement or preparation of cross-cutting workplan/proposal development;

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

Asset 

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

• Demonstrated experience in fostering networks with senior leaders and high-level audiences along with other key state and non-state stakeholders

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

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

• Proficiency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of Bislama and French is an asset.

Contract type: Local ICA Retainer
Contract level: LICA 09 / ICS09
Contract duration: 12 months, max 220 working days, with possibility of extension.

• 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.