Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Expert-retainer

The risks and impacts associated with long-term climate change poses significant challenges to the people and economy of Sudan. Already burdened with recurrent droughts, food insecurity, water problems, malaria outbreaks and high poverty levels, Sudan's development efforts have struggled even with current climatic change and variability. Moreover, predicted climate change shows an amplification and increase in the frequency of many of the climate related hazards affecting the country and especially the livelihoods of more than 60% of the population that is dependent on traditional, rain-fed agriculture and pastoral practices. Climate change is therefore threatening to reverse progress towards development through negatively impacting lives and livelihoods, either directly or as a compounding factor towards existing vulnerabilities.

One of Sudan’s most vulnerable region that is severely impacted by climate change induced hazards (droughts and floods) is the White Nile State especially the western region of the state. As indicated in Sudan’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA-2007) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP-2016), small holder rainfed farmers and pastoralists in the White Nile State are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to inappropriate and unsustainable agricultural practices, insufficient water and land management and lack of alternative non-agricultural and non-pastoral income generating activities. Most notably, increasing temperatures, decreasing trends of annual precipitation as well as increased variability, are causing a gradual shift of arid ecological zones from north to south. As a result, climate change impacts in White Nile State have already been manifested in declining crop and animal productivity, loss of grazing resources and rangeland valuable species, land degradation, increased frequency of human, animal and crop diseases, loss of livelihoods and human migration in search for jobs and alternative livelihoods.

Outcome 1:       Improved and strengthened technical capacity of local, state and national                                     institutions to plan, implement and upscale ecosystem-based adaptation.

Outcome 2:       Reduced vulnerability of local communities to climate change impacts in the                                 White Nile State.

Outcome 3:       Strengthened information base and knowledge on ecosystem-based adaptation                           and its cost-effectiveness are readily available for various uses.

Implementation of the Sudan ecosystem-based adaptation project will therefore support restoration and conservation of ecological structure and functioning in order to ensure sustainable supply of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help human and natural systems in White Nile State to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. In turn, this will result to multiple environmental, social, economic, and cultural co-benefits for local communities and therefore enhance their resilience to climate change impacts, protection of their livelihoods, poverty alleviation and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions among other benefits.

Specifically, the expert will undertake the following activities:

• Develop a template protocol that outlines the standard procedure and guidelines to identify/verify sites to carry out specific ecosystem-based adaptation interventions and guide the implementation process of the interventions in targeted villages based on climate change predictions.
• Develop a template community-based ecosystem-based adaptation intervention management and monitoring plans and a strategy for the long-term sustainability and maintenance of the project’s ecosystem-based adaptation activities to generate long-term benefits.
• Train the Project Management Unit and State Technical Committee on the application (including piloting) of template protocol, template community-based ecosystem-based adaptation intervention management and monitoring plans as well as a strategy for the long-term sustainability and maintenance of the project’s ecosystem-based adaptation activities to generate long-term benefits.
• Develop training materials/modules on implementation, maintenance, monitoring, and coordination of ecosystem-based adaptation and climate-resilient land/water management techniques.

The Ecosystem-based Adaptation Expert will be responsible for ensuring a timely and satisfactory completion and submission of the deliverables listed below. The deliverables should be in English but will later be translated into Arabic version. Once deliverables are approved, payment will be made as follows:

• Advanced University Degree in Climate Change Adaptation, Ecosystem Management, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science/Studies or other relevant discipline is required. 
• University Degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) Degree in Climate Change Adaptation, Ecosystem Management, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science/Studies or other relevant discipline with 2 additional years of experience.    

• Demonstrated thorough understanding of Ecosystem-based Adaptation with at least 7 years of professional experience in Climate Change Adaptation. Experience in spearheading climate change adaptation initiatives is required. Using Ecosystem-based Adaptation approaches will be an added advantage;
• Minimum of 5 years of  professional experience in development of protocols management and monitoring plans related to climate change adaptation using Ecosystem-based Adaptation approaches;
• Experience in development of training materials and facilitation of trainings on climate change adaptation for a variety of stakeholders is an advantage;
• Experience in working in arid and semiarid ecosystems in Africa will be an added advantage;
• Good analytical problem solving skills is an asset;
• Proven writing, analysis and presentation skills is an advantage;
• Flexibility and ability to operate in different cultural settings and with a variety of stakeholders as well as institutions and agencies such as government, civil society, international organizations, donors etc is an asset. 
• Previous experience of working in the Horn of Africa Region especially Sudan.
   

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of Arabic will be considered an asset

Contract type: International Individual Contract Agreement
Contract level: IICA 3
Contract duration: 2 years retainer position 

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  
• its a family duty station. 

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.