Knowledge & Research Consultant

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

 ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.

The result of the consultant’s services will support the development of key knowledge products including programme documents, reports, graphs and other visualizations, and knowledge sharing publications on climate technology transfer, and cross-sectoral areas, so that the initiative’s know-how, information and experience is shared inside and outside the organization with clients, partners, and stakeholders. The consultant’s services will also result in analysis and communication of CTCN M&E results for communication and reporting purposes and knowledge generation purposes.

The selected consultant shall carry out the following activities:

• Working with a cross-organizational, multi-country team, coordinate the gathering of inputs to knowledge products. 

• Assist in the development of CTCN flagship reports on Climate Technology

• Review and conduct analysis of CTCN service outputs and impacts to identify lessons learned and trends; 

• Draft CTCN briefs by summarizing CTCN technical assistance, capacity building, knowledge sharing and networking activities from each of the CTCN’s regions 

• Through desk research and the use of online/in-person interviews, identify barriers to technology transfer, deployment and diffusion among the CTCN’s intended beneficiaries as well as climate technology providers and financiers

• Consolidate existing information on key themes and trends in various climate technology sectors, technology cycles; and geographic regions

• Conduct analysis of CTCN monitoring and evaluation data and information, with respect to reporting and communication 

• Support development of M&E visualizations to communicate outcomes and impact of CTCN operations

• Convey data through graphs and other visualizations as requested by the CTCN Director or CTCN Knowledge and Communications Manager

• Provide content updates on climate technologies, technical assistance summaries, and relevant issues for the CTCN website

• Draft presentations, documents and tools as requested 

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The Consultant will act under the direct supervision of the Knowledge and Communications Manager

Objective 1: Coordinate the gathering of inputs to CTCN knowledge products 

Outputs: Support for the development of CTCN knowledge products with inputs from CTCN Secretariat and partners

Objective 2: Assist in the development of CTCN flagship reports on Climate Technology

Outputs: CTCN flagship reports are drafted with inputs from CTCN Secretariat, partners and stakeholders 

Objective 3: Review and conduct analysis of CTCN service outputs and impacts to identify lessons learned and trends;

Outputs: Support analysis, knowledge products and development of CTCN regional briefs summarizing CTCN technical assistance, capacity building, knowledge sharing and networking activities from each of the CTCN’s regions 

Objective 4: Convey data through graphs and other visualizations as requested by the CTCN Director or CTCN Knowledge and Communications Manager;

Outputs: Data, graphs and other visualisations based on CTCN activities, using M&E framework and CTCN online dashboards as source, are compiled for communication and reporting purposes

Objective 5: Through desk research and the use of online/in-person interviews, identify barriers to technology transfer, deployment and diffusion among the CTCN’s intended beneficiaries as well as climate technology providers and financiers;

Outputs: Consolidated information on barriers, key themes and trends in various climate technology sectors, technology cycles and geographic regions is gathered and disseminated through knowledge products;

Objective 6: Provide content updates on climate technologies, technical assistance summaries, and relevant issues for the CTCN website 

Outputs: CTCN website information including climate technology descriptions, technical assistance summaries, and other relevant information are up todate 

Objective 7: Support implementation of CTCN M&E framework with respect to data analysis for reporting and communication 

Outputs: Reporting on the CTCN's outcomes and impact of CTCN operations is conducted, through draft presentations, documents and visualizations.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in environmental studies/law, engineering, international development, sustainable development, or other relevant field. 

Work Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience related to environmental, climate change, technology or sustainability knowledge work and/or content writing

• Experience/Familiarity with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its bodies

• Experience in developing country climate change needs

Desirable

• Experience in reporting on organizational or program impacts considered an asset

• Experience working in an international organization will be considered an asset

Languages

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.