NDC Partnership - National NDC Coordinator – Republic of the Marshall Islands (Partnerships Specialist) - 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 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).  In the Pacific, the NDC Partnership works in close coordination and collaboration with the Regional Pacific NDC Hub. 

Country Context

The Republic of the Marshall Islands submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution to the UNFCCC Secretariat on 21 July 2015 - becoming the first country in the world to do so. No further revisions were undertaken and the same document was endorsed and submitted as the First Nationally Determined Contribution on 22 April 2016. Following this, the RMI revised and enhanced its NDC, becoming the first country in the world to submit a second NDC on 22 November 2018 ahead of the COP24 in Katowice, Poland.

The Republic of Marshall Islands has an ambitious commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to at least 32% below 2010 levels by 2025 and further to at least 45% below 2010 levels by 2030. These targets progress beyond RMI's Copenhagen Pledge and are based on the more rigorous data from RMI's upcoming Second National Communication.RMI is also the only country to have committed to a gender-responsive and human rights based approach in all NDC related planning, programming and implementation.

The incumbent will closely support the Ministry of Environment - Climate Change Directorate (CCD), and serves as the NDC Partnership’s interface and liaison between the country and the NDC Partnership Support Unit and membership. The role is one of coordination and supportive facilitation. He/she plays a key role in ensuring the smooth implementation of the Country Engagement Process. 

He/she will employ a whole of government and whole of society approach to NDC coordination - meaning they will coordinate across all Government agencies, civil society, academia, private sector and other stakeholder groups. He/she will be responsible for strengthening national coordination in terms of coordination mechanisms, communication, resource mobilization and monitoring the implementation of the NDC. He/she will support the country’s nominated Focal Point and nominated Day to Day Contact to the Partnership in his/her daily tasks of implementing the NDC and other forms of support for the NDC implementation.  He/she will also support the Government’s engagement with the Regional Pacific NDC Hub. 

The National NDC Coordinator will implement all tasks under the supervision of the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist based in Fiji (aligning with a work plan approved by both the NDC Partnership and the Ministry of Environment - Climate Change Directorate) and will work in close collaboration with the different ministerial offices and in-country stakeholders. The candidate is expected to work as an embedded facilitator, working within government facilities with officials on a day-to-day basis.

* This is a Home-based position, meaning the incumbent will be expected to work from government offices in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and not work from a UNOPS office or from home.     Additionally, the incumbent will need to take their own laptop, equipped with all the relevant software, to government facilities. 

**This is a retainer national vacancy / position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days.

***  As this is a Local position, in order to be eligible, the incumbent should be a national of Republic of the Marshall Islands or have a valid residence permit in the Country.

The following responsibilities are part of the embedded incumbent role:

Coordination and communication with key stakeholders

1. Support with stakeholder mapping and management of a stakeholder and contacts database. 

2. Support with Government-led dissemination of information to stakeholders. 

3. Ensure that communications about the NDC Partnership's engagement in the country are shared with relevant stakeholders (local, national, and international). 

4. Facilitate periodic coordination and information exchange among partners in the country, with the aim of leveraging their respective advantages and mobilizing them in support of NDC implementation and utilizing a whole of government and whole of society approach. 

5. Assist and advise international and development partners to align climate projects with programmatic goals.

6. Strengthen coordination mechanisms for the whole of government and whole of society coordination for issues relating to NDCs. 

NDC Implementation

1. Under the supervision of the Focal Point and in close collaboration with partners and the NDC Partnership Support Unit, support the development and implementation of the NDC. 

2. Engage with in-country partners, including at the local/subnational level, to identify and align priorities and needs.

3. Collaborate with the Support Unit to document changes in the operating environment and provide support to government and stakeholders in decision-making processes and new developments.

4. Utilize the NDC Partnership’s Knowledge Portal, tools and guidelines and disseminate information to relevant stakeholders. 

5. Utilize the NDC Partnership’s Gender Strategy and Youth Engagement Plan and related country-led plans and strategies to inform implementation and national and sub-national levels. 

6. Support in the delivery of multi-stakeholder trainings, coordination meetings and workshops where necessary. 

Monitoring the progress of country engagement

1. Monitor the progress of in-country engagement and provide periodic updates to NDC Partnership members.

2. Utilize the NDC Partnership’s Online Partnership Plan Tool and/or Government-owned tools where appropriate. 

3. Prepare quarterly country update reports summarizing key insights and progress, challenges and recommendations for the future. 

4. Evaluate the results of the NDC Partnership's engagement in the country and make recommendations for improvement.

Organizing and assisting with NDC-related meetings as needed by the Focal Point 

1. If necessary, facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues on NDC at the national level. 

2. Support the government in preparing for NDC-related events such as COPs, regional climate weeks, national events and other relevant gatherings to showcase NDC progress and garner support for NDC implementation. 

3. Support NDC Partnership and Hub related country missions or visits.

Required

• At least 2 years’ experience in public and/or private sector with a focus on climate change, project management, stakeholder and donor engagement or preparation of cross-cutting workplan/proposal development;

• Knowledge of the country’s context of policy frameworks, national plans and strategies related to climate change is required.

Asset 

• Experience in multilateral, national or grassroot governance and processes related to climate change, policy, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs);

• Demonstrated experience in fostering networks with senior leaders and high-level audiences along with other key state and non-state stakeholders

• Experience of other national contexts that indirectly contribute to climate change is desirable

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

• Proficiency in English is required. 

• Working knowledge of Marshallese is an asset.

Contract type: Local ICA Retainer
Contract level: LICA 09 / ICS 09
Contract duration: 12 months, max 220 working days, with possibility of extension subject to budget and 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. 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.