Posting Title: Innovation & Climate Action Consultant
Department/Office: United Nations Human Settlements Programme
Duty Station: NAIROBI
Posting Period: 14 September 2020 – 28 September 2020
Job Opening Number: 20-United Nations Human Settlements Programme-140421-Consultant
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Result of Service
The Ultimate service of the consultancy is the successful delivery of a UN-Habitat-led I4C conference in 2021.
Work Location
Brussels
Expected duration
12 months
Duties and
Responsibilities
BACKGROUND OF UN-HABITAT
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. For close to forty years, UN-Habitat has been working in human settlements throughout the world, focusing on building a brighter future for villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. One of the four focus area under the new Strategic Plan 2020-2023 is Strengthened Climate Action and Improved Urban Environments. UN-Habitat’s Global Solutions Division is overseeing the Agency’s operational work as well as the institutional and programmatic relationship with climate initiatives and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
BACKGROUND OF CONSULTANCY
UN-Habitat supports countries and cities address the climate challenge in many ways, through (i) advisory services and policy support, (ii) climate action planning, and (iii) technical assistance, and (iv) support mobilizing climate finance for investments into urban and human settlement focused climate action in three focus areas:
- Reduced greenhouse emissions and improved air quality
- Improved resource efficiency and protection of ecological assets
- Effective adaptation of communities and infrastructure to climate change
The Climate Team is leading several workstreams under the subprogramme area, among them: UN-Habitat climate flagship programme ‘RISE-UP: Resilient Settlements for the Urban Poor’ aims to mainstream pro-poor climate resilience in national and city climate policies, plans and commitments, enhanced capacity among all levels of government and core partners to effectively coordinate action towards building the resilience of the urban poor in order to leverages large scale investment to build urban adaptation and climate resilience in the global hotspots of vulnerability. At the same time, it addresses issues of poverty, spatial inequality and resilient settlements.
The Cities and Climate Change Initiative (CCCI), launched in August 2008, is the umbrella for UN-Habitat’s efforts supporting small- and medium-sized cities in developing countries to address the climate challenge, become more resilient to climate change and embrace low-carbon development. The flagship project under the initiative is the multi-year Accelerating climate action through the promotion of Urban Low Emission Development Strategies (Urban-LEDS) project. This project supports the development of city-level urban mitigation strategies in developing and emerging countries. Since 2013, the project is working on helping cities integrate climate change mitigation into urban development, and in the current second Phase (2017-2021) working in 8 countries, in partnership with ICLEI, and funded by the European Commission.
CCCI also is the vehicle for UN-Habitat’s engagement in several global level multi-stakeholder initiatives (i.e. the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and so on). CCCI national and local engagements also supports our portfolio development with multi-lateral climate and environmental funds, particularly the Adaptation Fund and the Green Climate Fund (to which we are currently applying for accreditation).
The climate team also oversees the mainstreaming of climate change into the agency’s normative and operational work of other sections. For more information, visit: unhabitat.org/topic/climate-change
Objectives
UN-Habitat is currently expanding its climate finance portfolio and partners have successfully co-organized the first ever cities-focus science conference (CitiesIPCC Conference) that led to the development of the Research and Action Agenda and informs potential research and products under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in the upcoming cycles. As part of UN-Habitat’s engagement with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM), partner have explored a continuation of the conference format and development of a Science and Innovation focused conference series and workstream in 2020/2021. Innovation is a key cross-cutting theme in UN-Habitat’s new Strategic Plan 2020-2023.
The main objective of the consultancy is to successfully prepare and deliver the UN-Habitat-led I4C conference format, and provide focal point support to the Programme Development Branch to lead UN-Habitat’s efforts to engage in this climate focused Innovate4Cities conference (I4C).
Duties and responsibilities: The consultancy is located in the Programme Development Branch and anchored in the Brussels Office of UN-Habitat. Under the overall guidance of the Branch Coordinator and direct supervision by the Programme Management Officer, Climate Change, and in close liaison with Brussels-based colleagues, the consultancy will involve the following typical main duties leading to the ultimate requested outputs:
- Develop key milestones towards planning and delivery of the Innovate4Cities conference
- Facilitate group meetings with GCoM secretariat and members, and other potential partners for a successful conference preparation and delivery.
- Develop work streams on Climate Change Research and Innovation, including the representation in the GCoM research and Innovation working group, mission Innovation and other relevant fora;
- Facilitate fundraising for the Innovate4Cities event, work streams and the Research & Innovation work.
Qualifications/special skills
Academic Qualifications:
- Minimum advanced university degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in relevant field for innovative urban climate change action, i.e. Urban/Regional Planning, Environment Studies, International Development, Climate Change, or similar relevant backgrounds is required.
Experience:
- A minimum of five years of experience in urban climate change mitigation and adaptation, ideally gained at the local, national and international level is required. At least one year of that professional experience should be in (or working for) Non-Annex II countries.
- Experience working with international multi-partner initiatives and projects, demonstrating experience delivering events and outcomes with diverse set of partners and governments is desirable
- Experience in fundraising and organising events is an added advantage
Language
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is required. Fluency in other UN languages is considered an advantage.
Additional Information
Competencies
- Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to urban planning and design or sustainable development particularly to the Urban Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Sustainable Urban development, Urban Climate Change Action and Clean Air Action Planning
- Communication: Excellent written and oral presentation skills in English. Excellent capacity to produce and manipulate graphic documents and drawings. Good presentation skills. Ability to communicate complex interventions in a clear language and convincing narratives. Sketching capabilities to effectively communicate in workshop settings and teams.
- Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve agreed goals.
- Planning and Organizing: Ability to prioritize activities and assignments and to easily switch between different projects. Management: Ability to manage smaller project teams, divide workload and sustain efficiency
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
More Information
- Job City Nairobi, Kenya
