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CONSULTANCY JOB OPENING

(Issue date:25/11/2014)

VACANCY NOTICE NO.: / NA-14-125
ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION: / UNEP/DEPI/CCAU
DUTY STATION: / Nigeria
FUNCTIONAL TITLE: / Consultant
DURATION: / 6 Months
CLOSING DATE: / 03 December 2014

Organizational Setting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. 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. This consultancy post ishome based but with regular intervals of time based in Nairobi within UNEP DEPI Climate Change Adaptation Unit (CCAU).

UNEPCCAU has pioneered the Climate Change adaptation agenda globally, focusing largely though not exclusively, on Ecosystems based Adaptation (EbA) as a valuable approach to addressing climate change. UNEP intends to expand its global portfolio of work to include climate change adaptation in urban areas. UNEP recognizes that a broad urban adaptation agenda is needed for urban populations to be provided the opportunity to adapt to climate change, and for urban and city wide processes to be in place that enable and promote adaptation actions to easily occur.The Adaptation Fund (AF), established under the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is designed to finance concrete climate change adaptation projects and programmes based on the priorities of developing countries. Vulnerable developing countries that are Parties to the Kyoto Protocol may seek Direct Access to the funds resources by having an accredited National Implementing Entity (NIE). The option of direct access allows developing countries to access AF financing and implement projects through a national legal entity that attains accreditation as an NIE. This post is located in Nigeria.

This consultancy assignment responds to the recommendations produced by the accreditation panel of Adaptation Fund Board (AFB) concerning Nigeria’s NIE, which is the Bank of Industry (BoI), and their application for accreditation as a National Implementing Entity with the Adaptation Fund (AF). Based on the AF feedback, this assignment focuses on delivering policy and procedural documents that are needed to be in place within the operations of the BoI in order to meet the AF accreditation panel requirements.

The overall objective of the consultancy is to support Nigeria with its National Implementing Entity accreditation process to the Adaptation Fund, so that if Nigeria become accredited it can directly access climate finance from the Fund. The adaptation Fund panel have reviewed Nigeria’s accreditation application and have requested that the NIE, which is the Bank of Industry (BoI), provide evidence on the existence and implementation key policy and procedural compliance.

The required policy and framework documents will enable BoI to lead projects and programmes for adaptation to climate change projects, mindful of the social and environmental facets of development. The AFB feedback on the BoI application is understood as evidence that the frameworks are required and that the BoI will have a functional internal process for project implementation. As such, it is understood that for the BoI to play the NIE role it needs to be enabled to implement projects and programmes in conjunction with social, environmental, and project frameworks. The support provided by UNEP under this assignment is not to implement the required policy and procedures, but rather to work with BoI to draft the documents. As such the UNEP consultant will work in close collaboration with BoI, to draft the following documents:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall supervision of the Chief, Climate Change Adaptation and Terrestrial Ecosystems Branch (CCATEB), the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks and responsibilities. The consultant will work in close collaboration with BoI to draft the following documents;

  1. Social and Environmental Safeguards Policies and Frameworks
  2. Risk Assessment
  3. Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects and Programmes
  4. Project Closure Format
  5. Project Selection Procedures / Quality at Entry Procedures

COMPETENCIES

The selected consultant should demonstrate:

Professionalism: Demonstrated excellence in clear, concise and convincing writing and communication skills. Demonstrated experience with design of UN Programmes including building UN partnerships and country ownership as part of the design process. Experience working with an international organization or working with governments is essential

Communication: Ability to clearly communicate and work towards objectives with diverse stakeholders; speaks and writes clearly, concisely and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify perceptions, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates proactivity and openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues across institutions to achieve organizational and strategic goals; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda;Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Considers outputs achieved according to effectively delivery, as opposed to the amount of time given to tasks.

COMPETENCIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

  • Advanced degree or Master’s Degree in environmental science, natural resources management, social sciences or related discipline;

•Strong understanding of climate change adaptation and environmental related issues;

  • Experience working with organizations to strengthen internal business processes and operations

•Knowledge and experience of working with developing country governments;

  • Knowledge of, and experience with the Adaptation Fund is required;
  • Ability to carry out work (written and verbal communication) in English is essential.

Experience:

  • At least three years of experience in providing consultant services related to the assignment;
  • Experience in financial management, including the use of international fiduciary standards;
  • Experience in undertaking organizational / institutional capacity assessments related to financial integrity
  • Proven experience in evaluating organizational operational systems;
  • Proven experience in the logical framework approach and other strategic planning approaches,
  • IT competencies in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Internet

Preference will be given to equally qualified women candidates.
All applications to be sent to the following address on or before the deadline of 03/12/2014 Applicants should send a completed United Nations Personal History form (available at or Personal History Profile together with a covering letter of one to two pages summarizing how they meet the requirements of the job to:
e-mail:
copy to:
UN staff members must submit scanned copies of their two latest Performance Appraisal System (e-PAS) reports at the time of application to the email address above.
PLEASE QUOTE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NO. NA-14-125
(Applications without Correct Vacancy Number will not be Considered)
The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.

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