Energy sector guidebook development expert

​​Requisition ID: 4407 
Grade: ISA-Specialist 
Country: Home Based 
Duty Station: Home Based 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Application Deadline: 4-Sep-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)  

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS) oversees the Organization’s normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Division of Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP) assists Member States in the emergence, deployment, and large-scale up-take of solutions for low-carbon and climate resilient industrialization. The division promotes system innovation approach to achieve transformational change in climate change by innovating across key levers of change including technology, finance, policy, and regulation. The Division is responsible for the dual mandate of accelerating innovation and building climate innovation ecosystems to promote low-carbon and climate-resilient industrialization; and planning, developing and implementing interventions to facilitate compliance with the Montreal Protocol and, in particular, its Kigali Amendment and to support countries in achieving their NDCs. In addition, the Division is responsible, in close collaboration with other relevant entities of the Organization, for facilitating the transfer of innovative low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions and building markets to ensure their widespread use by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience in recipient countries. It collaborates closely on relevant and converging issues with TCS/CEG, TCS/ECA and IET/CTP.

This position is located under the UNIDO’s Climate Technology Innovation Unit (TCS/CMP/CTI), which is responsible for supporting Member States in fostering innovation across technologies, finance, policy and regulation to promote the emergence, deployment and large-scale up-take of low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions and business practices. In addition, the Unit is responsible, in close collaboration with other relevant entities in the Organization, for facilitating the transfer of and establishing markets for low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions, ensuring wide use by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate mitigation, adaptation and building resilience in recipient countries. The Unit positions UNIDO strategically in the global discourse on climate technology innovation support and acts as the focal point in UNIDO for partnership with the UNFCCC.

The consultant also closely works with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and United Nations Environment Programme Copenhagen Climate Centre.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the focus of the political process to address climate change. The UNFCCC secretariat supports the Convention, its Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement by a range of activities, including substantive and organizational support to meetings of the Parties. The overall purpose of the Means of Implementation (MOI) division of the UNFCCC secretariat is to support, the mobilization of financial resources, international cooperation on technology development and transfer, and capacity-building to enable enhanced action by Parties related to climate change. Specifically, the objective of the MOI’s Technology sub-division is to support and enhance cooperation among Parties and relevant organizations on the research, development, demonstration, deployment, diffusion, and transfer of technologies for adaptation and mitigation (Articles 4.1(c) and 4.5 of the Convention). The sub-division also supports the work of the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) in performing its functions. The TEC and the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) are, respectively, the policy and implementation components of the Technology Mechanism, established in 2010 by Parties to the UNFCCC.

With the Technology Mechanism serving the Paris Agreement, the TEC is playing a key role in supporting countries to identify climate technology policies that support them to achieve the Agreement’s objectives. To support the implementation of its workplan, the TEC is engaging various stakeholders, by inviting participation of representatives from admitted observer organizations and UNFCCC constituency groups in its task forces, and through partnerships and collaborations with interested institutions and organizations.

With the Joint Declaration as well as the Letter of Agreement signed between UNIDO and UNFCCC, UNIDO supports implementing the rolling workplan of the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) for 2023-2027.

United Nations Environment Programme Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC) is a leading international advisory institution on energy, climate and sustainable development. Its work focuses on assisting developing countries and emerging economies transition towards more low carbon development paths, and supports integration of climate-resilience in national development. UNEP-CCC implements the Technology Needs Assessment Project to help developing countries determine their technology priorities for mitigating and adapting to climate change. For the implementation of the project, UNEP-CCC works with regional centres in each of the regions (Latin America & Caribbean, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia) to support countries during the Technology Needs Assessment process and to create a greater awareness about technology needs of the countries at the regional level.

PROJECT CONTEXT

As per 1/CP.16 para 121(g), one of the TEC’s function is to catalyse the development and use of technology road maps or action plans at the international, regional and national levels, through cooperation between relevant stakeholders, including the development of best practice guidelines as facilitative tools for action on mitigation and adaptation. Workstream 3 under the TEC rolling workplan (2023-2027) includes technology needs assessment and technology planning tools to support NDC implementation. At the TEC twenty-eighth meeting in April 2024, it was agreed to prepare a TNA guidebook on energy sector, in collaboration among TEC, UNEP CCC and UNIDO.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the close supervision of the UNIDO TCS/CMP/CTI Project Manager as well as the UNFCCC Team Lead of the Support and Implementation Unit of the Technology Sub-Division and UNEP CCC Head of Section on Technology Transitions and System Innovation, the consultant will carry out the main duties of the assignment which are summarised below.

Main duties:

1. Research and prepare a first draft of TNA guidebook on energy sector, based on the outline (see attached Annex I)

Measurable outputs to be achieved:

• First draft of the TNA guidebook on energy sector. Expected deadline: 2 October 2024
• Revised first draft: After UNIDO, UNEP-CCC and UNFCCC review the first draft and provides comments by 9 October, the consultant prepares and presents a revised draft of the TNA guidebook on energy sector. Expected deadline:14 October 2024

2. Prepare second draft of TNA guidebook on energy sector

Measurable outputs to be achieved:

• Second draft of the TNA guidebook on energy sector: After the TEC activity group reviews revised first draft and provides comments by 22 October, the consultant prepares and presents a second draft of the TNA guidebook on energy sector. Expected deadline: 29 October 2024

3. Prepare final draft of TNA guidebook on energy sector

Measurable outputs to be achieved:

• Final draft of the TNA guidebook on energy sector: After the TEC activity group reviews second draft and provides comments by 4 November, the consultant prepares and presents a second draft of the TNA guidebook on energy sector. Expected deadline: 7 November 2024

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in engineering, environmental science, or a related field is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least five (5) years of progressive and professional experience in an international organisation with sound drafting and analytical skills is required;
• Broad knowledge of energy needs, technologies and systems in developing countries to guide applicants toward this particular area of experience and expertise;
• Experience in analysis and research, content creation, report drafting and editing is required;
• Excellent conceptual and writing skills, capable of producing high-quality written content.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language and/or relevant in the local project context languages is an asset.

REQUIRED VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Core values:
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key competencies:
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.