NDC Partnership Economic Advisor - The Kingdom of Eswatini (Technical Specialist Environment) - Retainer Homebased

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 agree.

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

The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini joined the NDC Partnership in December 2018. The NDC process in Eswatini is led by the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs (MTEA) and Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD) who jointly coordinate its implementation. Through the NDC Partnership Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP) between 2019-2021, Eswatini revised her NDC to a more ambitious and enhanced one which was submitted to UNFCCC in October 2021. 

The Kingdom of Eswatini also developed a 5 year National Development Plan (NDP) that fully integrated the Eswatini NDC in terms of climate change mainstreaming and the 10-year NDC Implementation Plan, costed at $1.3 billion and the plan was launched on 3rd May 2023. Eswatini is now in the stage of Implementing the NDC Implementation Plan, of the Country Engagement process. To support the implementation of the revised NDP and  NDC as well as its coordinated implementation, the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development requested a re-engagement of an In country Climate Change Economic Advisor to be working with the ministry and oversee activities relating to NDP and NDC implementation, capacity building and climate finance mobilisation to enhance implementation.  This follows the lapse of the contract of the last Economic Advisor, who was in the country for a period of about 9 months. The government is envisaging the Economic Advisor to continue to assist MEPD, MTEA and other line ministries by providing strategic and technical guidance on mobilising climate finance so that civil servants and other stakeholders can build the capacity to draw on funds to support the implementation of the Eswatini NDC and other climate related projects, roll out the Eswatini NDP and the NDC Implementation Plan 2021-2030 through a participatory and integrated approach,  alongside full country engagement with the NDC Partnership. 

In support of the Kingdom of Eswatini in implementing climate action through the NDC in collaboration with MTEA and MEPD, the NDC Partnership seeks to engage a qualified climate change economic advisor. The advisor will work closely with NDC Focal Points in MTEA and MEPD.

* 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 Eswatini or have a valid residence permit in the Country. 

The Economic Advisor will be working closely with the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. He/she will strengthen climate finance resource mobilisation towards climate change interventions outlined in the NDC, national climate change documents, plans and strategies and sectoral level priorities. 

The economic advisor will report to the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist and Regional Manager and will work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs (MTEA) and the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD). The incumbent is expect to work from the MEPD’s offices in Mbabane. He/she will need to use his/her own laptop. This is a retainer national vacancy / position for twelve months, up to a maximum of 220 working days.

• Master degree or PhD preferably in finance, economics, climate change, public policy, international development, business development, or other relevant field of study.  
• Bachelor's degree in related discipline in combination with an additional 2 years (7 total) of relevant work experience is required.

Required

• 5 years relevant experience in environmental or climate change public policy fields with practical experience in climate change adaptation/adaptation/mitigation planning or implementation support. 

• Demonstrated experience in the development of concept notes, funding proposals and/or project pipelines targeting different donors at either national, regional or international level.  

Asset 

• Understanding of various financing instruments such as grants, blended finance, equity, impact investment, and familiarity with climate finance architecture at global level and in Eswatini.

• Good understanding of Eswatini’s climate change and environment policies and strategies, development issues, as well as national obligations on climate change issues

• Demonstrated ability to liaise and foster cooperation between agencies, including Government, private sector participants, NGOs and other stakeholders

• Strong networks with local, regional and/or international donors

• Familiarity with the Paris Agreement and NDC process is an advantage. 

• Experience in working with governments and national and international organizations in the Kingdom of Eswatini;

• Fluency in English is required.

• Knowledge of a Siswati is advantageous

Contract type: ICA / ICS 10 retainer
Contract level: Local ICA 10
Contract duration: 12 months, 220 days, with possibility of extension depending on performance and on availability of funds

• 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.