Engagement and Partnership Specialist (Environment and Local Action- Part-time) [Retainer]

*** THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION FOR WHICH ONLY APPLICANTS WHO POSSESS THE NATIONALITY OR A VALID RESIDENCE AND WORK PERMIT IN JAPAN ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION *** 

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

The New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management. The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York. SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) is implemented by UNDP on behalf of the GEF Partnership and executed by UNOPS. The SGP forms a central part of the UNDP Nature Hub.

SGP grantmaking supports community-based innovation in addressing global environmental issues and improved, more sustainable livelihoods through initiatives led by civil society and community organizations, with special consideration for indigenous peoples, women, youth and persons with disabilities. SGP has supported over 28,000 community-based projects in 127 countries aimed at biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable land management, protection of international waters, and sound chemicals and waste management. Over the last 30 years, SGP has developed extensive partnerships at global, national and local levels. See http://sgp.undp.org for further background information. 

The Nature Pledge is UNDP's commitment to provide accelerated and upscaled support to over 140 countries to reach their ambitious targets under the historic Global Biodiversity Framework. The Nature Pledge is a pathway to transform our global systems necessary to protect and restore our planet, eradicate poverty, reduce gender and other inequalities, protect human rights, and accelerate overall progress on our global goals. It is a multi-year, high ambition, corporate commitment to accelerate global environmental action at scale for the benefit of people, planet, peace, and prosperity.

The Nature Hub within the UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) in New York exercises strategic, technical and fiduciary oversight for all of its GEF activities, including the SGP. Within the Nature Hub, the SGP Central Programme Management Team (CPMT), provides overall global management of the SGP, including strategic, thematic, and operational guidance and support to the Country Programmes. As the responsible Executing Agency for the SGP, UNOPS provides services to UNDP for human resources, administrative, financial and legal aspects of grantmaking and country operations.  

The Community Development and Knowledge Management for The Satoyama Initiative (COMDEKS Phase 4) is a partnership programme under the GEF Small Grants Programme.

COMDEKS Phase 4

The Community Development and Knowledge Management for the Satoyama Initiative Programme (COMDEKS) was launched in 2011 as a flagship programme of the Satoyama Initiative, a global effort to promote the sustainable use of natural resources in landscapes and seascapes with local communities. The COMDEKS programme provides small-scale finance through the GEF SGP directly to local communities, Indigenous Peoples and civil society to implement locally led projects that enhance livelihoods and well-being, conserve biodiversity, address climate change, and support local cultures and traditional practices. COMDEKS offers a critical pathway for people to effectively manage natural resources and live in greater harmony with nature. The programme also collects and disseminates knowledge and experiences from successful local initiatives to facilitate broader adoption by other communities throughout the world.

At the 15th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal, Canada, the Japan Ministry of Environment (MOEJ), Keidanren Nature Conservation Council (KNCC), UNDP and other partners launched COMDEKS Phase 4, with funding to total an expected one billion Japanese Yen across six years. The programme will support relevant community-based initiatives through integrated approaches for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes around the world, in 15 developing countries over the period 2023 to 2027.

The Engagement and Partnership Specialist is a part-time position for 12 months based in Tokyo, Japan (with regular office presence). The consultant will support partner engagement and development for the SGP Programme in particular COMDEKS and will work under the direct supervision of the SGP Global Manager and under the direction of the UNDP Nature Hub Director. As an integral member of the Nature Hub, he/she will also be expected to collaborate with UNDP Nature Hub senior leadership and other UNDP teams as appropriate. He/she will be expected to take on additional tasks assigned by the direct supervisor and senior management, as necessary.

In order to strengthen partnership building and communication with Japanese COMDEKS donors and partners, and the UNDP Tokyo Representative Office (TRO), the Engagement and Partnership Specialist will be based in Tokyo with regular office presence at the UNDP TRO. The consultant will work in close coordination with colleagues from the UNDP Nature Hub, SGP CPMT and UNDP TRO. 

The specialist will have dual reporting lines and will report to the SGP Global Manager, and the Deputy Director of the UNDP TRO under the overall direction of the Director, Nature Hub. The Consultant’s main functions will be to act as the COMDEKS and Nature Hub focal point based in Tokyo, Japan. Key responsibilities include liaison, communication, coordination and partnership building with COMDEKS donors, partners and the UNDP TRO; new partnership development for nature-local action related programming; support on knowledge management; overall programme implementation; monitoring and reporting; administrative and operational tasks.

The Engagement and Partnership Consultant will be responsible for assisting with the following key areas:

COMDEKS Partnership management  (40%)

• Maintain strong and effective communication with COMDEKS donors (Ministry of Environment and the Keidanren Nature Conservation Council) and other key Japanese -based partners (e.g. UN University, International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative etc.) to support the implementation of COMDEKS Phase 4, creating synergy with TRO’s partnership-related initiatives. 

• Arrange meetings with stakeholders and partners in Japan, including Government officials, other UN agencies, private sector, research institutions, academia, NGOs and civil societies, to promote COMDEKS and local action agenda of the Nature Hub. Take notes and prepare reports on meetings, events etc.

• Provide regular updates to COMDEKS donors and participate in COMDEKS board meetings and other partnerships meetings and coordination activities.

• Collect inputs from SGP country teams, and support the preparation of donor reports and other reporting documents as requested by the donors and partners.

• Provide advice and guidance to country offices on COMDEKS implementation as needed.

• Plan and manage the organization of events, meetings and workshops on COMDEKS- globally and in Japan.

Partnership Development and Resource Mobilization (40%)

• Support the Nature Hub and TRO on partnership development in support of upscaling local action for environmental management and implementation of the Nature Pledge.

• Support development of funding proposals for implementation of the Nature Pledge  for donors and related engagement activities. 

• Support on any other engagement and partnership development activities relevant to UNDP, including internal and external events, meetings, partnerships and communication activities. 

Knowledge management and communications (20%)

• Develop communication and knowledge products on COMDEKS.

• Coordinate with the SGP CPMT and UNDP TRO teams to translate COMDEKS content, stories and knowledge products.

• Support CPMT, donors, partners and SGP country teams with reviewing materials in Japanese and English. 

• Support on engagement with Japanese media as needed and manage general inquiries about the Nature Pledge and COMDEKS.

• Contribute to and support  knowledge product and communication campaigns of the Nature Hub which amplifies partnerships in Japan and globally.

Education 

• Advanced university degree (master or equivalent) in development, international relations, communications, environment, or related fields. A Bachelor’s degree in combination with an additional two/three years of experience is acceptable.

Contract type: Retainer Contract modality clearly states that a contract is issued for a period of time during which the services of the individual contractor are required intermittently. The individual contractor agreement on retainer basis will specify a “unit price” per day worked. For budgetary purposes, a monetary cap will be determined when the contract is awarded and issued. Please note that the retainer contract will not provide for a minimum, and payment will be made only after completion of work.

• Contract level: LICA 10 (ICS-10).

Equipment Provided
To help you perform your best, we will provide:

• A work-performance computer (laptop/desktop).
• Necessary software and tools.
• Any other equipment, such as monitors, headphones, etc if needed. 
• Remote working tools, if applicable.

• 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.