UN Environment is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UN Environment Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
Background
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) promotes increased knowledge, investment and action in climate change adaptation, with a focus on incorporating ecosystem based approaches, through three main areas of work: i) catalysing country level action by accessing international finance for adaptation on behalf of developing country governments and supporting governments to execute Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) projects, ii) distilling evidence for normative policy and programming guidance to catalyse more action on climate change and iii) by strengthening networks and dialogue processes between people and groups engaged in adaptation, in particular on EbA. In so doing, UNEP promotes actions to improve the scientific basis of policy and planning processes particularly in relation to finding solutions to adaptation through the natural environment.
Under the Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) 2022-2025, Climate Action is one of UNEP’s three strategic objectives. The expected 2030 outcome of this UNEP strategic objective is that government and non-government development action are compatible with the long-term mitigation and resilience goals of the Paris Agreement.
UNEP has a mandate to work on EbA which comes from Resolutions passed by member states at UNEP Assembly (UNEA) 1/8 and 2/6. The UNEA 2 Resolution on the Paris Agreement requests the Executive Director, within the mandate of the UNEP and in collaboration with other relevant organizations and stakeholders, to strengthen collaboration between UNEP, relevant United Nations bodies and other relevant stakeholders on work related to adaptation, mitigation and the transition to a sustainable future; and to accelerating support to countries to build national readiness capacity to implement the Paris Agreement, implementation capacity and capacity to access finance and technology.
The promotion and dissemination of adaptation knowledge, science and practice at UNEP is steered by the Global Adaptation Network (GAN). Founded by UNEP and partners in 2010, the GAN provides a worldwide platform to distribute and exchange climate change adaptation knowledge in a variety of ways. As an umbrella organization spanning most continents, the GAN compromises of regional networks and partners, each of which provides knowledge services in their respective regions. This GAN is a thriving network community that provides considerable benefits to member states and partners. The GAN Secretariat is composed of seven staff, consisting of Global, Regional, Communication and Administrative staff hosted by the UNEP.
This assignment will contribute to advancing the key outcomes of the UNEP Medium Term Strategy 2022-2025, specifically enhanced assistance to capacity building, technology, and finance in support of the Paris Agreement.
Objective of this assignment
The individual contractor will provide technical assistance to member states and GAN partners on knowledge, awareness and dissemination of best practices on adaptation to climate change. The individual contractor will support UNEP with design and delivery of policy roundtables, sessions and trainings targeting member states and partners through regular contact with national counterparts and GAN regional nodes.
- Backstopping to the coordination of Global Adaptation Network (GAN), including the organisation of virtual and in-person sessions, consultations, meetings, preparation of documents and reports, and liaising with key internal and external stakeholders.
- Design and support UNEP’s knowledge and outreach events on adaptation, including making links to stakeholders, a communications/influencing strategy/framework, proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
- Capturing, codifying, synthesising lessons and stimulating the uptake of best practices and knowledge, including the development of resource kits and other knowledge materials from UNEP’s portfolio of adaptation initiatives.
- Support to the delivery of the CCAU project document results framework working closely with Regional Offices, including timely bi-annual reporting.
- Performs other duties as required.
- Master’s degree in resource management, forestry, environment, economics, development, development studies, international relations, public relations, Climate Change or a closely related field is required.
- Experience: at least 7 years of practical adaptation to climate change or international development experience working at the policy level is required.
- Experience in working and collaborating with multi-stakeholder partnerships is desirable.
- Working with organising policy roundtables and knowledge networks is desirable.
- Demonstrated experience in preparing, conducting and documenting is stakeholder engagement including surveys/interviews is desirable.
