Senior Programme Manager [Adaptation]

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.

New York Portfolio 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.

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. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) of the United Nations to implement the activities of the Climate Action Team (CAT) Project.

There is less than a decade to prevent a climate breakdown. Without deep emissions cuts, the world is heading towards close to a 3 degrees Celsius of warming with catastrophic consequences. At current levels of warming the world is experiencing unprecedented climate impacts. An increase in global average temperature above 1.5 degrees would mean extreme weather and climate disasters increasing in frequency and intensity, putting billions of people at immediate risk with significant parts of Africa becoming unlivable and whole countries ceasing to exist. The Secretary-General’s call to all countries, cities, companies and institutions to go into emergency mode on climate is needed more than ever.

While climate change risks undermining the 2030 Agenda, as well as the social, economic, and environmental pillars of sustainable development, climate action also presents an opportunity. Green investments boost growth and jobs; just transitions are inclusive and help to eradicate poverty; and enhancing carbon sinks strengthen biodiversity and resilience. It will be essential to ensure that the transformation of economies and societies takes place to enable accelerated climate action in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during this decade of action.

The objective of the Secretary-General’s climate action strategy throughout his second term will be to accelerate the pathway towards a resilient, low carbon world, that keeps the 1.5 degrees goal alive, to secure the alignment of public and private finance, of technological transfers and capacity building to enable the necessary cooperation and support needed by developing countries, to significantly enhance the credibility and accountability of commitments taken by governments and non-state actors to reach the Paris Agreement goals.

COP28 has delivered a clear roadmap to COP30, where governments are expected to submit their next Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These new NDCs must be economy-wide, aligned with the 1.5 temperature limit and cover all greenhouse gas emissions. These new NDCs should also define national pathways for transitioning away from fossil fuels and how each nation will contribute to the global goals agreed to at COP 28 to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency. It is also essential that the political, economic and regulatory conditions are established over the next two years to ensure maximum ambition by all countries, especially the G20 and other significant emitters.

The voice, convening power and honest-broker role of the Secretary-General, as well as the expertise and capabilities of the United Nations system will need to be leveraged to support this effort. This is particularly relevant given the challenging geo-political environment as well as domestic political uncertainties in many key countries.

The Secretary- General’s Climate Action Team will focus on the following:

• Delivering on the commitment of the developed countries to double adaptation finance, implementation of the Early Warning Systems For All, Adaptation Pipeline Accelerator initiatives of the Secretary-General, and other similar country-led approaches to adaptation planning and implementation;
• Securing 1.5°C-aligned, whole of economy and all GHG emission Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with a particular focus on the G20.
• Working with UN system entities and other stakeholders to ensure that coordinated support is provided to developing countries to prepare and submit their new NDCs.
• Contributing to the reform of the international climate finance architecture and the multilateral development banks including through the full operationalization of the new Loss and Damage Fund.
• Delivering tangible results to scale up adaptation and resilience finance and projects in developing countries including through cooperative initiatives.
• Developing and implementing targeted strategies for fossil fuel phase-out and renewable energy scale-up including through the Just Energy Transition Partnerships and other cooperative initiatives.
• Strengthening and verifying short-term and longer-term commitments made by non-state actors to reach net zero by 2050 through the implementation of the guidelines recommended by the Secretary-General’s High-Level Group of Experts on Net Zero Commitments.
• Enhancing UN system support to countries to deliver on the climate and environment-related Sustainable Development Goals this decade.
• Providing up-to-date analytics and policy guidance for the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, UN leadership and Member States.
• Designing and executing a cross-UN global communications campaign and movement focused on SG and UN leadership on climate action at all levels, and messaging and storytelling to build political will, elevate local solutions and mobilize individual actions.

The incumbent of this position will be a staff member of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

In order to support the Secretary-General’s Climate Action Strategy, the Climate Action Team is recruiting a Senior Programme Officer [Adaptation].

Functional responsibilites:

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Director of Climate Ambition, the incumbent will provide substantive senior-level support on member state engagement. The responsibilities of the Senior Programme Manager [Adaptation] includes:

Strategies development and follow up

• Design and develop targeted strategies focused on countries or regions;
• Support implementation of the adaptation and resilience deliverables in the SG’s climate action strategy including
• Develop a strategy to secure new and more ambitious commitments
• Develop a strategy on priority adaptation and resilience areas including maintaining momentum for the SG’s call to commit 50% of climate finance to adaptation, broadening coverage of early warning systems, and working with the finance lead on adaptation finance;
• Lead on climate security, working closely with Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and the relevant Member States. Develop a strategy to ensure a clear SG position on the topic to guide CAT and other UN entity engagement;

Partnerships

• Build strong and diverse networks to support the execution of the countries’ strategies including with government, civil society, academia and private sector actors;
• Stay abreast of key Member State activity such as negotiated outcomes and formal meetings, identifying risks and opportunities to the SG’s climate action strategy;
• Support management of partnerships and coalitions including with Champions of Adaptation, Group of Friends on Adaptation and Resilience, Global Centre on Adaptation and the Adaptation Action Coalition among others, to secure progress on priorities;

Programme Management

• Lead on Member State Advisory Group meetings, developing concepts to increase their effectiveness and maintain engagement;
• Ensure successful follow-up delivery, growth and implementation of the highest impact initiatives launched at the 2019 Climate Action Summit on adaptation and resilience;
• Support development of recommendations, briefing notes, key messages and inputs into speeches for SG and DSG engagements with governments, the private sector, development finance institutions and other relevant partners, with a focus on achieving a breakthrough in adaptation and resilience;
• Monitor trends and innovations in adaptation finance and implementation;
• Perform other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent’s scope of services above.

Education/ Experience / Language requirements

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent), preferably in International Relations or Public Policy or other relevant fields with seven (7) years of relevant experience.

OR
First level university degree (bachelor or equivalent) with nine (9) years of relevant experience.

Required experience:

• Relevant experience is defined as professional experience in the field of climate change or a related field required with at least three (3) years of experience working in project management combined with policy research and analysis.
• Experience coordinating climate initiatives and coalition building.
• Experience effectively synthesizing and communicating technical and policy findings in a clear and concise manner to colleagues internally and to external non-technical audiences, including through producing briefing, speeches and strategy papers for seniors.
• Experience briefing and providing strategic advice to senior principals.

Desirable experience (the following experience is optional candidates who do not have it are welcome to apply)

• Experience in identifying, strengthening and leveraging relationships with Member States, UN system and non-State actors to help advance policy objectives.
• Strong familiarity with the Paris Agreement and UNFCCC negotiation processes and the UN development system.

Language requirements
Fluency in oral and written English is required.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Fixed Term
Contract level: P4
Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability’.

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