NDC Partnership - Country Engagement Specialist (Partnerships Development Officer) - Asia, Pacific & East Europe

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 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 (SU) 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 and Energy Cluster (WEC).  

Under the overall guidance of the Director and Deputy Director of Country Engagement, the incumbent will support the Country Engagement Team within the NDC Partnership in Asia, Pacific and Eastern Europe regions. As part of the Partnership’s Country Engagement process, you will engage directly with Government counterparts and other stakeholders to assess climate-related needs and identify opportunities for collaboration around these needs across sectors, regions, and international partners. You will provide targeted and coordinated technical assistance, along with members of the Partnership to support countries. For example, policy and strategy formulation for NDC mainstreaming, development of NDC implementation plans and associated resource mobilization efforts, NDC revision and enhancement, /or green economic recovery.

1. Research, Analysis & Engagement 
2. Reporting/ad hoc 
3. Communications & Administrative 

• Master's degree in international relations, international development, economics, finance, engineering or a related field is required.
• Bachelor degree in related discipline in combination with 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 and natural resource management, development cooperation and related fields.

• At least 4 years of relevant regional or in-country experience in two or more countries in Eastern Europe and/or Central Asia

Asset

• Experience with other bilateral and multilateral donors, consulting, research institutions, private sector, think tanks and other civil society actors is an advantage.

• Good knowledge of international climate policy and of national climate policy making.

• Demonstrated skills in building effective relationships with government officials from both developed and developing countries and navigating the complexities of working across the whole of government, including in countries with limited institutional capacity.

• Experience in the origination, design, management and/or implementation of climate/development programs and projects as a strong asset.

• Experience in communication and management of complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.

• Fluent proficiency in written and spoken English is required. 

• Fluent proficiency in Russian (in writing and speaking) is required.

• Knowledge of another official UN language (French, Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese Mandarin) is an asset.

Contract type: ICA
Contract level: ICSC-10, IICA-2
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

• 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.