NDC Partnership Senior Climate Change Policy Adviser (Partnership Specialist) - Kazakhstan (Retainer Homebased) Re-Advertisement

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

In June 2023, Kazakhstan submitted their First NDC to the UNFCCC Secretariat. The country’s NDC conveys their commitment to contribute to the global efforts to limit the rise in global average temperature to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. Our NDC sets an unconditional target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 15% below 1990 levels by 2030 and a conditional target of 25% below 1990 levels by 2030, subject to the provision of international support.

Kazakhstan became a member of the NDC Partnership in May 2023 and submitted a request for support list (RSL) in November 2023, requesting support for two climate change specialists, and 9 other wide-ranging request items, from MRV to capacity building, GHG inventory to regional water resource protection. The RSL reflects the country's ambition and commitment to enhance its climate action and align it with its long-term development goals.

As part of Kazakhstan’s effort to implement their NDC, NAP, and LT-LEDS, the government has requested for an Senior Climate Change Policy Adviser (hereinafter referred as “Adviser”) to support the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR) for:

1. Supporting day-to-day operations related to technical assistance for based on NDC, NAP, and LT-LEDS extending any other support needed by MENR to coordinate with development partners. identifying further needs for Technical Assistance for priority based on NDC, NAP, and LT-LEDS

2. Overseeing the coordination, tracking, and monitoring of the support provided by development partners on the above points; and populating and regularly updating Kazakhstan’s monitoring/reporting tool for climate finance.   

3. Supporting the coordination of the development and preparation of projects and concepts for potential funding by donors

4. Identifying new opportunities for technical assistance and other types of support that will enhance the government’s enabling frameworks and capacities for coordinating the implementation of the country’s NDCs;

5. Extending any other advisory support needed by MENR to coordinate development partners on NDC related matters.

Facilitation Model

The Adviser will be embedded in the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR). As the leading entity of the national climate agenda, MENR coordinates activities related to the fulfillment of climate commitments, including the NDC. 

The Adviser serves as the NDC Partnership’s interface in the country and operates as a liaison between the country and other NDC Partnership members. The Adviser’s role is purely one of coordination and supportive facilitation. Working on behalf of the partner government, the Adviser plays a key role in ensuring the smooth implementation of the Country Engagement Process, by supporting ongoing coordination efforts between the Support Unit, the various partners in the NDC Partnership and MENR.

This involves working with the Cabinet of Ministries of Kazakhstan to refine its objectives for support over time coordinating the implementation of the NDC, NAP, TNA and LT-LEDS; and serving as an anchor to assist the NDC Partnership in communicating and coordinating services at the country level. The Adviser will also liaise with the NDC Partnership Support Unit for vertical information-sharing, including contributing to and accessing knowledge products. 

• A master’s degree preferably in public policy, development, climate change, natural resource management, environmental management, engineering and any other relevant field of study. 

• Bachelor's degree in related discipline with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience (7 total) may be accepted instead of an advanced university degree.

Required

• With a Master Degree, at least 5 years of experience in public policy, climate/environment and sustainable development in Kazakhstan;

• Demonstrable experience working in climate change tasks in Kazakhstan, including, but not limited to, mitigation and adaptation action, and modeling expertise with results-based management; 

• Demonstrated skills in managing and aligning diverse groups of stakeholders, including development agencies, non-state actors / civil society, financial institutions, the private sector, and others;

• Experience in facilitating the preparation and implementation of NDCs and similar public policy frameworks

• Familiarity with UNFCCC processes including Subsidiary Body and Conference of Parties (CoP), NDC and past experience on government climate change process.

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.