UNDP is looking for a Policy Specialist – Climate and Security Risk: APPLY NOW!

Policy Specialist – Climate and Security Risk at United Nations Development Programme

Apply Before: 19/02/2024, 06:59

Agency

UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)

Grade: P4

Policy Specialist – Climate and Security Risk Job Description

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, United Nations Development Programme invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains supporting the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau guides UNDP’s corporate crisis and fragility-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response, and recovery. The Bureau is responsible for support to prevention, crisis response, resilience, recovery, and peacebuilding work under the auspices of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Crisis Bureau staff provide global strategic advice to UNDP management and technical advice to Regional Hubs and Country Offices; advocate for UNDP corporate messages, represent UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, and engage in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.

As part of the Global Policy Network (GPN), the Crisis Bureau works in an integrated manner with UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), ensuring that issues are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. Peace outcomes are delivered in a coherent manner, working across the GPN includes the Governance team in Bureau of Policy and Programme Support. 

Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions

The Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions (CPPRI) Team covers the following thematic/programming areas as part of the GPN:

• Conflict prevention and peacebuilding
• Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE)
• Core government functions, including local governance in transition, conflict, and fragile settings
• Climate security

Policy Specialist – Climate and Security Risk Position Purpose:

The Policy Specialist – Climate and Security Risk – New York will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Policy and programming
2. Partnerships
3. Resources and funds mobilization
4. Communications and advocacy

Policy Specialist – Climate and Security Risk Duties and Responsibilities

Policy and programming:

• Supports the implementation of the UNDP’s offer on climate, environment, peace and security with other teams in the GPN
• Supports UNDP’s work under the joint DPPA-UNDP-UNEP-DPO project, “Strengthening the UN’s capacity to address climate-related security risks”
• Backstops climate security regional programmes/ initiatives, project management and operations
• Through provision of authoritative, substantive guidance supports the implementation, acceleration and scaling up of the Climate Security Mechanism field initiatives in the region.
• Guides Country Offices in mainstreaming climate security and environmental peacebuilding approaches into national and local policy, strategy and planning processes, including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), peace processes, UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs) and Common Country Assessments (CCAs).  
• Monitors overall implementation based on programmatic indicators, as well as on corporate reporting and evaluation requirements.
• Provides inputs to analysis and assessments of climate-related security risks, analytical reports and papers, including to the General Assembly, Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission, etc., making use of the UN Climate Security Mechanism Toolbox, as appropriate.

Partnerships:

• Develops and maintains partnerships, and provides support on climate, environment, peace and security with Member States, international and regional organizations, Special Political Missions and Peacekeeping Operations, the research community and civil society in support of UNDP’s climate security initiatives in the region.
• Maintains close contact with relevant UN focal points working on climate security in the region.
• Participates in conferences, seminars and academic fora related to his/her assigned area of expertise.
• Drafts notes, background papers, talking points, speeches and other correspondence for senior UN officials.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Resources and funds mobilization:

• Analyzes trends and identifies opportunities for resource mobilization, conducts donor mapping and contributes to resource mobilization strategies and ensures alignment with corporate and regional goals
• Supports the preparation and submission of concept notes and project proposals on climate security, and advises on regional and country pipelines.
• Ensures compliance with partner’s requirements, including monitoring, narrative and financial reporting, and evaluation. 
• Prepares presentations, updates and project briefs for as per donor’s requirements

Communications and advocacy:

• Supports UNDP’s climate-security communications and advocacy efforts.
• Guides and coordinates cross-regional exchange of knowledge by collaborating with policy teams in the Regional Hubs to research, develop and share knowledge-based tools and guidance to help influence/advance policy dialogue in the thematic area and present such material at various fora.
• Supports UNDP knowledge generation, lessons, innovations, policy developments, programmatic offers and practice experiences on climate security in the region.
• Drafts notes, background papers, talking points, speeches and other correspondence for senior UN officials.
• Provides up-to-date information to senior officials regarding substantive political matters and country or regional issues with a focus on climate-related security risks.
   

Policy Specialist – Climate and Security Risk Competencies

Core:

Achieve Results:

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively:

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously:

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility:

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination:

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner:

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management: UNDP People Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical:

2030 Agenda: Peace – Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions:

• Sustaining Peace (including financing) peace building and transitions

2030 Agenda: Peace – Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions:

• Conflict Analysis and conflict sensitivity

Business Management – Project Management:

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Partnership Management – Relationship Management:

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

2030 Agenda: Peace – Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions:

• Conflict Prevention
        

Policy Specialist – Climate and Security Risk Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in Political Science, Conflict Studies, Political Economy, Climate, Environment, or other related Social Sciences or
• A Bachelor’s university degree with additional two years of experience will be given consideration in lieu of an advanced degree

Experience:

• Minimum of seven years with Master’s Degree or nine years with Bachelor’s Degree of progressively responsible experience in the areas of climate security, climate change, environment, conflict prevention and/or peacebuilding;.
• Experience working with the UN/UNDP and/or other international institutions on climate security, climate change, environment, conflict prevention and/or peacebuilding is required;
• Experience in climate change, environment, conflict prevention and/or peacebuilding programmes in is desired;
• Experience in conflict and political analysis, and strategy development required;
• Programme design and management, and results monitoring experience within the United Nations system in climate security, climate change, conflict prevention, peacebuilding will be considered an asset;
• Proven policy, advisory and advocacy experience, and track record of engagement with senior officials in the UN, government and external partners is desired.

Language:

• Fluent written and spoken English is required.
• Fluent French or Spanish is desirable.
• Knowledge of other UN languages is a plus.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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