Project/Research Assistant

1. General Background of Project / Assignment

UNEP is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnerships in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. In Indonesia, UNEP in partnerships with ICRAF (the recipient in this Agreement), BNP Paribas and ADM Capital has established the Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility (TLFF) since 2016. As a Government of Indonesia supported initiative, TLFF provides long-term funding at scale, largely for rural smallholder livelihood and renewable energy projects for marginalized communities. The TLFF is intended to bridge the gap between the government, private sector and communities, coordinating cross-functionally to bring about large-scale positive change. TLFF responsibilities are currently under UNEP.

The Global Affairs Canada (GAC) is supporting UNEP/TLFF through its TLFF Grant Fund (TLGF) window to disburse conventional grants to potential applicants, which will help them become bankable and facilitate the mobilization of investment capital. It will be closely link with the objectives of FIAP and Canada’s feminist approach to climate finance by demonstrating the business case for investments at the nexus of gender and climate change and building a market for gender responsive climate projects. The ultimate outcome of this project is ‘to improve rural livelihoods in Indonesia with a focus on women’. This ultimate outcome will be facilitated through intermediate outcomes which are: (i) increased longer term (>5yr) investment in climate smart agricultural and forestry practices in Indonesia, (ii) reduced or avoided GHG emissions from the agricultural sector in Indonesia, and (iii) enhanced access to employment opportunities for women in climate-smart agricultural and forestry supply chains in Indonesia. The project scope is within Indonesia and closely affiliated and shares its objectives to the Land Use Finance Unit and UNREDD Program.  As such, it is fully aligned with UNEP’s Climate Change sub-programs and contribute to the Government of Indonesia’s Medium-Term Plan Strategy.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

To support implementation of the TLFF Grant Fund and expansion of TLFF, it is important to accelerate the development of project pipeline   The overall objective of research assistant post is to support research and TLGF project pipeline development be effective and efficient in meeting deadlines. The Assistant will be based in Jakarta and work under the direct supervision of TLGF Specialist and Investment Associate. 

Summary of Key Functions:

1. Project Delivery and Performance
2. Technical Function
3. Stakeholder management
4. Personnel Management
5. Knowledge management 

1.Project Delivery and Performance

• Undertaking research to support TLGF platform’s investment pipelines
• Provide and prepare data sources from government archives and online
• Conducting interviews with stakeholders to gather information on various topics within Indonesia landscapes
• Providing support in data analysis and presentation using quantitative and qualitative tools 
• Support TLFF management on proposal development 

2.Technical Functions:

• Facilitate the access to data sets necessary for TLGF project pipelines and preparation and finalization of data sharing agreement(s) if necessary.
• Prepare agendas and arrange internal travel in Indonesia, appointments and meetings both internal and external related to TLGF pipeline development 
• Prepare minutes of meeting and compile it to TLGF system.
• Support compilation and preparation of presentation materials
• Maintain reporting and records template as delegated by Supervisor
• Support to TLFF-hosted activities and dialogues

3. Stakeholder Management:

• Collaborate and liaise with a wide array of partners and their advocacy/outreach focal points in the field of forestry and environment, sustainable development, university, research agency, NGOs including with a view to joint event implementation, facilitating newsletter contributions, information gathering every month 
• Setup and coordinate meetings with related partners and other stakeholders. 
• Assist in any other TLFF tasks

4. Personnel Management: 

• Promote teamwork, collaboration, and diversity by actively engage on office activities, 
• Foster a positive work environment, respectful of both men and women, and ensure that the highest standards of conduct are observed.

5.Knowledge Management:

• Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice
• Actively interact with other team members and/or other UN and INGO’s officials to share case studies, lessons learned and best practice on the Knowledge System.
• Consolidate TLFF documentation, including minutes, events and consultant reports and contact list
• Actively towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills. 

Core Values and Principles:

• Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at workplace
• Champion and communicate project’s sustainability aspects with key stakeholders

• Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts

• Strive to build strong partnerships and effective coordination among relevant project actors (e.g. United Nations, governments, and non-governmental organizations or other relevant partners) 

• The project management processes are designed to deliver maximum accountability, transparency and results. 

• Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability and quality. 

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• His/her performance will be reviewed by the Head of TLFF Secretariat

• A diploma in forestry, environment, and related field.   A bachelor’s degree would be an asset.

b. Work Experience 

• Minimum of 1 year relevant practical experience in assisting researches/projects.
• Experience in coordinating events/activities with various international organizations, partner institutions and stakeholders is an asset.
• Experience in utilizing social media effectively and efficiently for research and data collection is desirable.
• Knowledge on climate change, sustainability, and development issues in general including an understanding of relevant policy and regulation related field in Indonesia is desirable.

c. Language

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English and Bahasa is required. 

d. Other Skills 

• Good analytical skills, fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications. (A GIS software analysis would be considered an advantage)
• An understanding of relevant policy and regulation related field of forestry, peatland, mangrove and climate change
• Familiarity with the UN system is an asset

e. Functional competencies:

• Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural hazards and humanitarian crisis).
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to manage, organize, plan and implement work assignments
• Cope effectively with competing demands and work under pressure of frequent and non-negotiable deadlines.

• Contract type: ICA
• Contract level: LICA 5
• Contract duration: 12 months with possibility of extension

• 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. 
• Family duty station.
• 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.