Careers

Background
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the focus of the political process to address Climate Change. The secretariat supports the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement through a range of activities, including substantive and organizational support to meetings of the Parties.

The Mitigation Division leads developing and implementing innovative approaches to enhance engagement and effectiveness of action to mitigate climate change and drive sustainable development. The Mitigation Division operates four key streams of work: (i) the regulatory framework for the cooperative approaches that are part of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and for the three Kyoto mechanisms – the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Joint Implementation (JI), and International Emissions Trading (IET); (ii) the intergovernmental and stakeholder interaction in relation to mitigation matters; (iii) the implementation of the National Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long Term-Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDs), and (iv) the constituted bodies and data services such as the CDM Executive Board and the CDM Registry.

The Regional Collaboration Centres (RCCs) support national climate action through capacity-building, technical assistance and strategic networking – sourcing know-how and resources to drive clean development. They were established to spread the benefits of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which spurs investment in sustainable development by rewarding projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since the adoption of the Paris Climate Change Agreement in December 2015, the RCCs have had the broader task of supporting implementation of countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions under the agreement.

UN Climate Change and its partner organizations operate six RCCs around the world, of which RCC MENA and South Asia facilitates climate action in 30 countries. RCC MENA and SA was established in February 2019 with the signing of an MoU between UN Climate Change and the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), with the support of the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

The UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub (UGIH) is an initiative launched at COP26, originated under the regulatory framework stream of work of the Mitigation Division. The UGIH supports the 1.5oC Paris Agreement target with the aim of expanding the innovation space to respond to current core human needs by enabling transformative solutions. The first phase of the project is to launch a call to find out the ‘core needs’ of in urban areas; the second phase the project is to identify potential solutions to address those needs and the third phase, is to fill the gap by creating a space where demand, financing and supply of climate solutions can meet.

The relevant goal of the UGIH connected to this consultancy work is to facilitate the use of technology (a digital collaboration platform launched at COP27) to better understand the global demand for innovative solutions- including technologies, policies, business models, financial mechanisms, etc – and then facilitate the matching the demand with tools, services, processes, funding, etc. that can accelerate the pace of innovation in addressing climate change. This involves collecting data from governments and organizations around the world and making sense of that data to identify gaps, trends and opportunities that will support the matching and identify new value chains.

Location and Duration
The assignment is for the period of 6 months, full time (40 hours a week). Preference to be located at RCCs (remote working is possible, e.g. home-based in Middle East and North Africa region). Travel in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia Pacific region will be required as deemed necessary to deliver the outputs.

Supervision
The expert will work under the direct supervision of the RCC Team Lead including for performance and administrative issues, and under the overall guidance of the Team Lead of the Coordination Unit of the UN Climate Change secretariat in Bonn, Germany. The specialist will be contracted by the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), the RCC MENA and South Asia host organization, and will therefore be under WGEO’s employment terms and hence is not an employee of the UN Climate Change secretariat.

Travel in the region and beyond will be required as deemed necessary to deliver the outputs. The expert will receive the required administrative support from the respective RCC partner.

Objectives of the Assignment
The innovation specialist will support innovation-related research, capacity building and offer technical assistance activities in the region. The specialist be either based in the office of the RCC or work remotely from the region. The specialist will support the work of RCC MENA and SA – Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. (Note: the consultancy may also cover specific tasks in Asia/Pacific as and when requested. Arabic language skills may be an asset).

The key functions are:
RCC MENA and SA is looking for candidates with strong analytical and communication skills. Specific deliverables and dates will be discussed with the incumbent upon commencement of the assignment and a workplan will be drawn up which may include inter alia:

1. Support Parties to develop and implement innovation-oriented nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by:

• Supporting the effective implementation of a UGIH digital collaboration platform. The platform was launched at COP27 and is designed and built to meet core human needs alongside climate and sustainability goals. The platform is a tool for collating government entities demand for climate and sustainability solutions. Activities by the incumbent include, collecting, maintaining and updating the UGIH database of core needs and potential solutions in participating cities. Data collection includes the use of protocols designed by UGIH in face-to-face or remote interviews with officials from the cities participating in the research. The planning of these activities will be carried out in coordination with the UGIH team in Bonn and the results will be reported dusing a UGIH report template;
• Undertaking research on key innovation gaps in Parties NDCs and Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) and provide recommendations. Innovations can focus for example on clean energy, ways to make the construction sector more sustainable and ways to make food supply chain resilient to climate shocks and low carbon intensive. This research may also include analysis on key innovation priorities, for example by analysing current challenges in the innovation process in the respective regions;
• Supporting the effective implementation of pilot projects on matters relating to digital for climate for example on digital twin transition, blockchain technologies and digital with purpose initiatives;
• Providing support to various innovation-oriented initiatives in the targeted regions, for example by participating in missions and pitching the UGIH initiative as and when required;
• Supporting the development of surveys and preparation of reports on innovation and climate;
• Facilitate collaboration between key innovators and investors who have a demand for climate and sustainability solutions (CSSs) and mapping out of relevant regional initiatives and networks on innovation for climate;
• Support organization of regional events on Innovation such as events organized during the Regional Climate Weeks for example in the form of roundtables or side events to advance the UGIH work programme;
• Liaising with other teams in the Mitigation Division and across the secretariat to coordinate activities related to UGIH.

2. Performs any other job-related activities required to achieve the objectives of the RCC and the UGIH.

Outputs
The below list includes some of the deliverables to be met by the Innovation Specialist:

• Individual reports of interviews on core-human needs (innovation demands) using the UGIH protocols and the UGIH digital collaboration platform with approximately fifteen participating cities;
• Individual reports on research undertook on key innovation gaps as defined in Parties NDCs and LT-LEDS and recommendations for a minimum of five countries. These reports includes finding on the key national innovation priorities.
• At least one regional workshop is organized for example at the margins of the regional climate weeks, and multiple external presentations are made by utilizing research materials for delivering knowledge and good practices and/or enhancing capacity building activities in the region.
• A monthly report on information gathered on the achievement of the work mandated by the UGIH and the RCC is prepared.

Your Qualifications

a. Education background
Required: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) degree in Environmental Studies, Environmental engineering/management, Environmental policy and management, and/or related fields is required. A Bachelor’s degree in addition to Master degree. A first-level university degree in combination with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

b. Experience
Required: At least two (2) years progressively responsible professional experience supporting research-related work, including collecting, researching and synthesizing data across various areas of climate change, sustainable development, innovation or related areas as well as writing summaries and notes, and preparing information packages and presentations.

c. Assets
Experience related to research on climate change issues. Work experience at multicultural or international settings is an asset.

d. Language skills
Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English, including the ability to write summaries, notes and drafts. Knowledge of other languages is an asset. A working knowledge of other UN languages e.g. Arabic is desirable.

e. Specific professional knowledge or skills

• Knowledge of research methodologies, data collection and maintenance;
• Proficiency in managing spread sheets and databases, including development of databases and/or information systems;
• Ability to interact with various stakeholders including governments, international organizations, research institutions, private sector and NGOs.

Competencies
Applying professional expertise: Demonstrates expertise of subject matter and the transferable skills required for the function; Shows the capacity to apply knowledge to deliver results based on acquired background and experience; Seeks opportunities to apply own technical skills across related disciplines, Keeps abreast of new developments and technologies in the field of expertise, Actively seeks to expand the existing level of job knowledge and expertise.

Communicating with impact: Speaks clearly and directly and is able to express views in an understandable, credible and persuasive manner; Writes in a well-structured and logical manner, in keeping with established UN standards; Openly shares information and keeps people informed; Uses appropriate communication tools to disseminate information; Listens carefully to understand other’s views and responds appropriately; Seeks feedback and adjusts language, tone, style and format to match the audience.

Being responsive to clients and partners: Fosters a good rapport and seeks regular feedback from internal and external clients and partners; Regularly consults with clients understand and respond to changes they encounter; Takes action to resolve conflicts with individuals and groups within and outside the organization to achieve win-win solutions; Works across organizational boundaries and overcomes obstacles to enhance cooperation, Establishes networks and leverages partnerships to achieve results.

Delivering results: Conducts a critical analysis of situations to develop sound goals and work plans; Consults with others to develop integrated, consistent and harmonized plans; Allocates and uses time efficiently, and monitors own performance against timelines and milestones; Foresees risks, plans for contingencies, and adapts to take account of changing circumstances; Perseveres to deliver projects and pursues results despite obstacles and setbacks; Manages competing demands and focuses on priorities to deliver results.