NDC Partnership In-Country Facilitator (Partnerships Specialist) - The Kingdom of Eswatini (Retainer Homebased)

WEC Background: 

UNOPS Water and Energy Cluster (WEC) supports the design and management of multi-stakeholder initiatives by providing services in financial and grant management, procurement, human resources, and project management. The cluster has supported projects in the areas of water resource management, climate change adaptation, mitigation and transparency, energy access and distribution, and environmental conservation under the Paris Agreement. The WEC has also supported operations and financial management services, in Vienna, the rest of the ECR region, and beyond. The main partners include UN agencies, bilateral agreements (with the Nordics, Germany, and Italy), the Green Climate Fund, and several NGOs (such as CIFF and CWF). 

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:

The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini joined the NDC Partnership in December 2018. In Eswatini, NDC work is spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs (MTEA) and theMinistry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD). Eswatini received support through Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP) between 2019-2021 which was delivered through development partners; UNDP under the Climate Promise fund, UNEP, COMESA, Commonwealth Secretariat, World Resources Institute, IRENA and FAO. Through this support a number of analytical studies and assessments were done which helped Eswatini revise her NDC to a more ambitious and enhanced one which was submitted to UNFCCC in October 2021. On 3rd May 2023 Eswatini launched its NDC Implementation Plan.

In support of the Kingdom of Eswatini implementing her climate action through the NDC and NDC Implementation Plan in collaboration with MTEA and MEPD, seeks to engage a qualified NDC Partnership In-Country Facilitator (National Facilitator). The facilitator will work closely with NDC Focal Points in MTEA and MEPD.

The Facilitator will report to the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist closely working and coordinating with the MTEA and MEPD.

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. He/she plays 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 The Kingdom of Eswatini. 

The incumbent will be embedded in the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs (MTEA). He/she will be responsible for strengthening national coordination in terms of resource mobilization and monitoring the implementation of the Partnership Plan. He/she will support the focal point of the Partnership in his daily tasks of implementing the Partnership Plan and other forms of support to the NDC implementation.  

The embedded facilitator will implement all tasks under the direct supervision of the NDC Partnership Focal Point and will work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs (MTEA) and the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD).

He/she will need to use his/her own laptop. This is a retainer national vacancy / position for twelve months, up to a maximum of 220 working days. 

• A master’s degree or PhD in natural resource management, environmental policy, climate change, international development, public policy or public finance management or other relevant field of study.  

• Bachelor’s degree in related discipline in combination with additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree

Required

• At least 5-years relevant experience in environmental public policy fields with practical experience in climate change adaptation/adaptation/mitigation planning and implementation support. 

• Demonstrated experience in the design and execution of projects related to the field of climate change. 

• Demonstrated ability to foster multi-stakeholder partnerships and foster cooperation between agencies, including Government, private sector, civil society and development partners. 

• Good understanding of Eswatini’s environment, policies and strategies and development issues as well as national obligations towards the UNFCCC including the NDC Process and Paris Agreement

• Familiarity with low carbon, climate resilient development methodologies and approaches 

Asset 

• Negotiation and conflict resolution; 

• Familiarity with the Paris Agreement and NDC process is an advantage.

• Proficiency in English is required.

• Knowledge of Siswati is an asset.

• 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.