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:
Mauritius’ net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2016 were 4,881 kilo tons carbon dioxide equivalent (ktCO2eq), including removals from Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF), representing less than 0.01 percent of global GHG emissions. However, the Republic of Mauritius is highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. The country submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributios (INDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat on 28 September 2015 ahead of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP-21) to the UNFCCC. The INDC was complemented by the NDC Action Plan prepared in February 2016. Mauritius’ commitments to combat climate change are ambitious given its national circumstances. This ambition is reflected in the mitigation and adaptation strategies and measures in which the Government of Mauritius has committed since the ratification of the Paris Agreement, and will continue to be engaged in.
Mauritius joined recently the NDC Partnership in April 2025. Since then, the country has requested support to update its NDC, as well as to develop an implementation plan and an investment plan for its NDC. The Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change of the Republic of Mauritius is seeking an embedded Facilitator to coordinate NDC Implementation with development partners and government agencies and support the various climate processes undertaken by the country. The In-Country Facilitator will actively contribute to the tracking of progress towards NDC implementation and engagement work with members of the NDC Partnership to mobilize support for priority NDC actions. The facilitator will report directly to the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist and will work closely with the Director of the Department of Climate Change of the Ministry.
The incumbent will serve as the NDC Partnership’s interface in the country and operate as a liaison between the country and other NDC Partnership members. The role is one of coordination and supportive facilitation. They play a key role in ensuring the smooth implementation of the Country Engagement Process, by supporting ongoing coordination efforts between the Support Unit of the NDC Partnership, the various partners of the Partnership, and the government of Mauritius.
The incumbent will support the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change. The incumbent will be responsible for strengthening national coordination in terms of resource mobilization and monitoring the implementation of the NDC. The Facilitator will support the focal point of the Partnership in their daily tasks of implementing the NDC and other forms of support for the NDC implementation.
The embedded facilitator will implement all tasks under the direct supervision of the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist and will work in close collaboration with the different ministerial offices. This is a retainer national vacancy / position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with the possibility of an extension for 20 twenty months.
* 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 Mauritius or have a valid residence permit in the Country.
*** Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.