Mitigation and Transparency Specialist

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.  With over 8,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, where they need it.  By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

The UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC) was established in early 2022. UNEP-CCC is programmatically guided by UN Environment (UNEP) and operationally supported by UNOPS. UNEP-CCC was established to ensure preservation and continuation of the experience and capacity established through a 30-year working relationship between UNEP, DTU, and the MFA, known as the UNEP DTU Partnership (UDP). 

UNEP-CCC is a leading international advisory institution on energy, climate and sustainable development. Its work focuses on assisting developing countries and emerging economies transition towards more low carbon development paths and supports integration of climate-resilience in national development. UNEP-CCC is actively engaged in implementing UN Environment’s Medium-Term Strategy by delivering technical assistance and analytical work to emerging markets and developing countries in context of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. The Centre is an integral part of a new Climate Change Division working closely with UNEP colleagues in Nairobi and Paris. 

The Mitigation Analysis and Data Management Section (MA&DM) is one of five sections at UNEP-CCC. MA&DM works on supporting countries in identifying and implementing cost-effective mitigation policies and actions in different sectors, as well as strengthening countries´ capacities to use tools and establish national frameworks to assess climate actions in the context of their NDCs and report on their progress. In addition, MA&DM promotes sharing experience and raising awareness globally on climate change mitigation through the compilation of key GHG data and through the development of global mitigation assessments such as the UNEP Emissions Gap report.

Background information – Job Specific

MA&DM section is involved in several projects that support the Centre strategy in the areas of mitigation policy planning and transparency. MA&DM seeks to recruit a Mitigation and Transparency Officer. The successful candidate will primarily be part of the team implementing projects related to the Enhanced transparency framework, such as the Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) and  - its Global Support Programme (CBIT- GSP). This is a Global Environmental Facility’s (GEF) funded project, implemented by UNEP and executed by UNEP-CCC. The successful candidate would also be part of the wider mitigation and transparency team in UNEP-CCC, developing and implementing other transparency projects such as under the umbrella of the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT), other GEF projects, etc. The candidate is expected to strengthen the visibility of the section’s mitigation work in international fora and contribute to analytical work and publications.

The main responsibility of the candidate will be to perform science-based analysis on the identification and analysis of mitigation policies and actions as well as on the assessment of needs and implementation of climate transparency systems primarily at a national level with global and sub-national elements. The successful candidate is expected to work on a varied portfolio of activities, including project management and coordination, partnership development, data generation, quantitative and qualitative analysis, as well as contributing to fundraising, and proposal development in collaboration with other Centre staff as well as other relevant colleagues across UNEP.

Specific areas of work for the Mitigation Analyst will include:

• Contribute to the work and strategic discussion of the MA&DM Section by providing technical inputs to the climate transparency and accountability area.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the strategy of the UNEP-CCC in particular in the area of climate transparency and accountability.

• Support the provision of guidance and technical inputs on the establishment of GHG emissions scenarios in context of NDC/BTR.

• Support the provision of guidance and technical inputs on the design and establishment of Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification frameworks for mitigation under UNEP-CCC projects to support the implementation of the Enhanced Transparency Framework of the Paris Agreement, ensuring coordination across relevant sections and with relevant units in UNEP. 

• Support the development of knowledge products for Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification frameworks for mitigation under the Enhanced Transparency Framework, ensuring coordination among projects and with other activities in the strategy area of climate transparency.

• Support the organization, development, and delivery of workshops, training, e-learning, webinars, and other events, including agendas, presentations, and learning material organized by UNEP-CCC under climate transparency-related projects.

• Support the development and maintenance of an online knowledge-sharing platform, generating and updating content including about activities, project progress, and results to facilitate coordination and information sharing among users;

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The process will be based on performance evaluation including the following:

• Successful completion of project management tasks that will be assigned to the staff, including timely submission of corresponding deliverables, in particular under the UNEP-CCC’s transparency-related projects and initiatives.

• Successful and timely maintenance of the online knowledge-sharing platform, the CBIT-GSP Platform

• Contribute to the strategic discussions as part of the MA&DM section

Education 

• A master’s degree preferably in Engineering / Economics or a related field, with a thesis related to climate change mitigation is required.  

• A first level university degree (bachelor or equivalent) with two (2) additional years of professional experience will be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.

• A PhD degree preferably in Engineering / Economics or a related field, with a thesis related to climate change mitigation will be an asset.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in the climate change mitigation area with proven experience in climate transparency is required.

• Experience working with international and ,multilateral organisations will be an asset.

• Experience of working with emerging markets and developing countries is an asset.

• Experience of working in areas such as energy is an asset.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required, with an emphasis on both speaking and writing skills.

• Fluency in Spanish and/or French is an asset.

Contract type: International ICA
Contract level: IICA 2
Contract duration:12 months initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. 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.