Just Transition Specialist (Partnerships Specialist), Antigua and Barbuda

UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO)

The Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) is part of the UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Region (ECR). Specifically, AUMCO aims to enable achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement through global programmes and tailored interventions in the Balkans, South Caucasus, and Central Asia, focused on:

• Infrastructure

• Procurement 

• Project Management (full service, back on track)

• HR and Transactional Services

• Grants Management 

• Technical and Advisory Services

• Project Information

WEC Background: 

The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio under the UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office has built strong partnerships and has effectively been managing a portfolio of 490 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

Antigua and Barbuda submitted its first NDC in 2016 and its updated NDC in 2021. To advance with its NDC objectives, The NDC Partnership received a request for support for a Just Transition Specialist from the Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB) through its Department of Environment (DOE) to support the government in the economic Just Transition. The request relates to the preparation and implementation of the country’s Just Transition programme, as well as relevant activities under its Nationally Determined Contributions Implementation Plan, Sectoral Adaptation Plans, its Green Climate Fund Country Programme, and the DOE’s current project portfolio and project pipeline. The In-country Just Transition Specialist will be expected to coordinate and implement relevant activities under these plans, programmes, and projects.

Antigua and Barbuda has undertaken baseline studies to inform the framework for the Just Transition based on the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) principles of decent work, green jobs and sustainable development. While the initial work focuses on the emission intensive sectors, the intention is to introduce a whole economy Just Transition that focus on the impacts of developing a new energy sector and the impacts of climate change.

Antigua and Barbuda is currently engaging and has collaborated with various partner organizations, national agencies, civil society organizations and training institutions to advance its efforts for the Just Transition. It has also benefited from technical assistance from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), International Labour Organisation (ILO), NDC Partnership’s Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP) Initiative, UNDP Climate Promise Initiative and SIDS Lighthouse Initiative.

The country envisions that the just transition will be accomplished via institutional and regulatory reforms, training, and retraining programmes, employment schemes, technology transfer initiatives and economic diversification. The country’s just transition approach will target those employed in affected fossil fuel-dependent industries (like energy, and transportation) but support will be given to other sectors to transition. Just transition must also be considered in light of proposed climate actions to mainstream climate change adaptation for the building sector into public and private financial, insurance and banking sectors as part of resilience building programmes. 

Interventions will ensure that affected employees are supported and protected to guarantee that they have viable livelihoods throughout the transition period, and beyond. Additionally, this approach can also promote the creation and expansion of decent work and quality jobs through the process of building resilience to climate change. It is anticipated that courses will be in place at relevant national training institutions and be made available to people in the entire Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) region. Achieving this transition will also require investments in capital and institutional development in the energy sector, public awareness, and a clear path on how the transition can be beneficial to the people of Antigua and Barbuda

Summary of Functions

1. Coordination and Reporting on Just Transition Activities
2. Stakeholder engagement
3. Coordinate Activities for NDC Implementation
4. Resource Mobilization
5. Planning and organization

The Just Transition Specialist shall be assigned tasks related to the just transition initiative being designed, implemented, and monitored.

 I. Coordination and Reporting on Just Transition Activities

• Perform technical reviews and analysis of all just transition works, relevant documents, studies and deliverables from contributing projects and programmes, including those produced by implementing partners
• Review the socio-economic impacts of new environmental and climate change policies and give recommendations for future social, education and employment policies.
• Analyze policies, strategies, and approaches that support government priorities as it relates to the just transition
• Identify opportunities and challenges as well as define just transition in the Antigua and Barbuda context
• Establish the role of the sectors and stakeholders in contributing to, or in interacting with efforts to promote a just transition and an energy transition in Antigua and Barbuda
• Identify relevant development issues to be linked with just transition initiatives such as gender and youth, entry points and potential sectors for interventions
• Provide guidance and implement just transition initiatives including designing a Just Transition Framework and relevant action plans
• Develop practical tools and guidelines for just transition based on just transition products and research, Antigua, and Barbuda’s climate change strategies
• Establish and maintain partnerships and networks with relevant stakeholders and partners, including participating in a working group on supporting a just transition
• Coordinate the creation of an enabling environment for private sector entities, non-governmental organizations and micro, small and medium enterprises (SMMEs) to transition
• Contribute to the development of skills training and retraining opportunities (curriculum revision, course certifications, etc.) as well as those capacity building initiatives introduced by partners and training institutions to address capacity gaps and to equip the current and future labour force
• Collect data and analyze data and contribute to reporting

II. Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with the Behaviour Change Communications Specialist to coordinate and communicate with key stakeholders
• Lead the coordination of communications with a Just Transition Working Group
• Organize at least three knowledge sharing sessions/workshops to facilitate dialogue with ministries, workers, sectoral stakeholders, vulnerable groups, gender and youth and small, medium, and micro enterprises, private interest groups and NGOs on the just transition
• Prepare six knowledge product(s) that are needed for the green transition and the just transition of sectors and the workforce for dissemination
• Ensure that communications related to NDC focal areas are shared with relevant national, international, and local level stakeholders

III. Coordinate Activities for NDC Implementation

• Provide support to NDC focal points and key government officials in decision-making processes and new developments with respect to the enabling environment for the energy and just transitions
• Popularize an existing NDC Tracking Platform to increase knowledge sharing to internal and external stakeholders

IV. Resource Mobilization

• Support the government in following up on and mobilizing partner financing to close its support gaps to allow for NDC implementation as per the NDC Implementation Plan
• Update government needs and priorities for NDC implementation
• Engage with partners, including at the local/subnational level, to link needs to services and resources in accordance with the NDC Implementation Plan
• Support the government in coordinating with key donors, partners, and funding mechanisms on aligning country programmes and projects with the needs and gaps identified in the NDC Implementation Plan.
• Provide guidance to align climate projects and programmatic objectives with the NDC Implementation Plan

V. Planning and organization

• Organize and support NDC-related meetings
• Coordinate national country specific multi-stakeholder NDC dialogues
• Organize meetings to monitor and coordinate the implementation of the NDCs with stakeholders
• Support the government in preparing for NDC-related events such as Conference of the Parties (COPs), national events, and other convenings relevant to showcase NDC progress
• Generate support for implementation of the NDC

• Master’s degree in Gender studies, social development, social studies or related subject areas.

• Bachelor's degree in 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 climate change, environmental, development cooperation and related fields.

• Demonstrated experience on environmental issues and Antigua and Barbuda adaptation and mitigation activities

• Experience in developing a Just Transition Roadmap and Action Plan and/or national level plans and strategies

Asset

• Experience in facilitating the implementation of NDCs is an asset

• Experience in the design and implementation of climate change related projects

• Experience in conducting stakeholder engagements and delivering training to workers and other sectoral stakeholders, SMMEs, and NGOs 

• Skills and experience leading the design, creation of materials for, and implementation of behavior change communication campaigns in a variety of settings.

• Ability to read, write and speak fluent English.

• Language skill in Spanish is an advantage

Contract type: ICA

• 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.