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).
Country Context
As part of its commitment to the global goals of the Paris Agreement, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) updated and published its revised NDC in 2021, with an ambitious plan to accelerate climate action. This comprehensive NDC entails a 20% reduction in emissions compared to the Business-As-Usual (BAU) projection by 2030. With international backing, the ambition is higher, 47% compared to BAU, an increase from the previous 45% target set in the 2015 NDC. Through this process, the FGN coordinated with a range of partners through the NDC Partnership, with active coordination and guidance of the Partnership’s focal points: the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) and the International Economic Relations Department (IERD) in the Federal Ministry of Finance.
To implement the NDC, Nigeria has developed an NDC Implementation Framework (NDC IF) with an estimated cost of approximately US$ 189 billion for the seven-year period of 2023-2030. The water, energy, and AFOLU sectors alone will require an estimated US$ 173 Billion. Out of the total estimated cost, 37% is allocated towards adaptation measures, 35% is for mitigation measures, and roughly 28% covers co-benefits measures (measures with adaptation and mitigation co-benefits). The Framework has been aligned to all key climate and development policies and targets and is linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This NDC Implementation Framework would be a central tool by which to mobilize development partners and coordinate multiple stakeholders towards the collective tracking and reporting on the goals of the NDCs. In addition, the FGN will ensure the alignment with other commitments including the Climate Change Act, LT-LEDS, National Development Plan, Energy Transition Plan, and the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan. The responsibility for the effective implementation of the NDCs rests on the secretariat of the National Council on Climate Change under the Climate Change Act 2021.
To strengthen resource mobilization for climate change and technical capacity on climate finance, the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) and the International Economic Relations Department (IERD) in the Federal Ministry of Finance have requested the NDC Partnership to provide a Climate Finance Expert to work alongside the International Economic Relations Department (IERD) in the Federal Ministry of Finance.
This is a retainer national vacancy / position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days with the possibility of extension for an additional year based on performance. The incumbent is expected to work from the government offices in Abuja, Nigeria.
* This is a Homebased position, meaning that the incumbent will not work from a UNOPS office but from the government facilities. Therefore the incumbent will need to use his/her own laptop and software.
** As this is a Local Position, in order to be eligible, the incumbent should be a national of Nigeria or have a valid residence permit in the Country.