Climate Change Adaptation and Institutional Arrangements Consultant

Result of ServiceThe objective of this consultancy is the establishment and operationalization of effective institutional arrangements that enable the successful implementation of Panama’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) within the framework of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Through a thorough assessment of existing structures and coordination mechanisms, the consultant will provide strategic recommendations to strengthen governance, enhance inter-institutional collaboration, and clarify roles and responsibilities across relevant stakeholders. The consultancy will also bolster capacity-building efforts and offer technical guidance to ensure institutions are equipped to integrate adaptation priorities into national planning processes. Work LocationPANAMA CITY Expected duration6 MONTHS Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 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. UNEP, through its Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LAC Office), located in Panama City, Panama works closely with the 33 countries of the region – including 16 small island developing States – with a population of about 588 million people. The office works to serve the needs of the region, and its activities are integrated into the work programs approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly of UNEP (UNEA). The office works towards the implementation of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the new Paris Agreement and the priority actions defined in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and National Adaptation Plans (NAP) of the region. In terms of supporting countries in the region attain the global commitments signed within the framework of the Paris Agreement, the Latin America and the Caribbean UNEP Sub-programme on Climate Change aims at strengthening the ability of countries to move towards climate-resilient and low emission strategies for sustainable development and human well-being. In this framework, the UNEP Sub-programme on Climate Change, through its Climate Change Unit, leads and supports several initiatives oriented at designing, promoting and implementing innovative mitigation and adaptation solutions at the national and subnational level, and strengthening the transparency framework of the countries. The expected accomplishment regarding climate change adaptation is that adaptation approaches, including the Nature based Solutions with an ecosystem-based approach, are implemented and integrated into key sectoral and national development strategies to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience to climate change impacts. Furthermore, the UNEP’s Sub-programme on Climate Change is also committed to ensure that cross-cutting issues such as gender equity and women empowerment are effectively integrated in the development of its tasks to guarantee an equitable development in line with its adaptation objectives. In this context, the Ministry of Environment of Panama and UNEP, have agreed on the implementation of the project Building capacity for the development of the National Adaptation Plan in the context of the NDCs adaptation themes in Panama, framed within the Readiness program of the Green Climate Fund. The project is aimed at building sustainable country capacity and strengthen stakeholder engagement to plan, finance, implement, monitor, and report strategic adaptation processes and communicate knowledge about climate change adaptation. The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process will cover ten adaptation themes in total, which are in accordance with Panama’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (presented to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - UNFCCC in 2020) to ensure alignment with national climate change strategies and priorities. The project seeks to achieve its components and objective through: • Adaptation planning governance and institutional coordination strengthened; • Evidence basis produced to design adaptation solutions for maximum impact; • Private sector engagement in adaptation catalyzed; and • Adaptation finance increased. To fulfill the objectives of the project, the UNEP LACO Office is recruiting a Climate Change Adaptation and Institutional Arrangements Consultant to bolster the Ministry of the Environment and UNEP in the implementation of the Green Climate Fund funded project as set in the funding proposal document. The Consultant will collaborate directly to the Adaptation to Climate Change Programme Office. Specific tasks and responsibilities The Specialist in Climate Change Adaptation and Institutional Arrangements will contribute to the effective implementation of the project by guaranteeing that the following tasks: Outcome 3.1 Adaptation planning governance and institutional coordination strengthened. • Output 3.1.5. A mechanism established to track adaptation progress, report advances and evaluate outcomes for future revision for the NDC adaptation themes. • Output 3.1.4. A national adaptation Research and Development programme to • better understand cross thematic risks and identify innovations, new technologies and approaches to address them. Associated project activities: Activity 1.1. Institutional arrangements, data collection and reporting protocols. Activity 1.2. Prepare indicator definition sheets for each NAP indicator which defines the indicator, the target(s), the metrics to be used to monitor the indicator and data sources, the frequency for data collection and any methodological notes for analyzing the data collected to inform progress and achievements against the indicator. Activity 1.3. In consultation with the working groups established and other stakeholders including private sector, civil and academic institutions, establish institutional arrangements and/or Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to ensure the effective sharing and collection over time of climate, environmental and development related data to feed the adaptation indicators part of the MRE framework. Activity 1.4. Analyze project performance and provide technical expertise to the coordination of synergies within the Project’s activities considering their relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact. Activity 1.5. Provide strategic guidelines to improve environmental governance and strengthened policy coordination with informed recommendations. Activity 1.6. Provide evidence-based information in the strategic and operative overview and coordination of meetings, workshops, training, events, trips, consultations and communications efforts. Undertake follow-up actions as needed to guarantee output’s accomplishment. Responsibility: The Climate Change Adaptation and Institutional Arrangements Consultant will facilitate the development and implementation of governance mechanisms and data systems to strengthen national adaptation planning under the NDC framework. This includes establishing institutional arrangements and MoUs for cross-sectoral data sharing, developing indicator definition sheets and reporting protocols, and contributing to a national adaptation R&D programme. The consultant will also provide technical analysis of project performance, offer strategic recommendations to enhance environmental governance and policy coordination, and facilitate stakeholder engagement through meetings, workshops, and consultations to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of adaptation efforts. Outcome 3.2 Evidence basis produced to design adaptation solutions for maximum impact • Output 3.2.1: Baseline established for adaptation progress in each NDC adaptation theme, against which to measure NAP progress. Associated project activities: Activity 2.1. Work in close coordination with MiAMBIENTE staff, UNEP and other partners and consultants, to provide technical inputs on potential partnership platforms and ensure the technical quality of the project outputs. Activity 2.2. Identify recurring gaps in existing partnerships for Project implementation and propose strategies to reduce those gaps. Activity 2.3. Analyze relevant information including current capacities related to implementation of policies, strategies, plans, and projects on climate change adaptations in all levels. Activity 2.4. Design and conduct focus group discussions with relevant key stakeholders from the local and regional government, the private sector, academia, civil society, to assess implementation experiences and effectiveness, document successes, challenges, and lessons learned, and develop recommendations for improvement. Responsibility: The Climate Change Adaptation and Institutional Arrangements Consultant will contribute to establishing a robust evidence base to guide impactful adaptation solutions by contributing to the development of baseline assessments for each NDC adaptation theme. This includes coordinating closely with MiAMBIENTE, UNEP, and other partners to ensure technical quality and identify strategic partnership opportunities. The consultant will analyze existing capacities and gaps in climate adaptation efforts across all levels, propose strategies to strengthen partnerships, and lead stakeholder engagement through focus group discussions. These efforts aim to document implementation experiences; extract lessons learned and generate actionable recommendations to enhance adaptation planning and execution. Outcome 3.4 Adaptation finance increased. • Output 3.4.1. NAP priorities mainstreamed into public sector budgets. Associated project activities: Activity 3.1. Develop climate change adaptation public and institutional expenditure review (CPEIR), comprising the following steps: I. Develop coding protocol II. Develop national adaptation relevant expenditure estimates III. Review the institutional arrangements and coordination mechanisms for climate finance, budgeting and planning IV. Assessing the capacity of national and local governments to raise and allocate budgets for climate related actions. Activity 3.2. Identify new and innovative stakeholders to enhance technical, institutional, and managerial capacity for adaptation planning at the national and subnational levels. Activity 3.3. Develop guidelines to encourage alignment of subnational-level priorities for climate change adaptation. Activity 3.4. Identify opportunities for scaling up partnerships and stakeholder participation, in order to mainstream climate change adaptation considerations in investment planning processes. Activity 3.5. Determine the current interaction, information sharing and working relation among the levels of government institutions) on climate change adaptation in Panama. Activity 3.6. Liaise with stakeholders to facilitate collaborative and consultative processes. Suggest operative mechanisms and channels for dissemination of information to reach local stakeholders. Responsibility: The Climate Change Adaptation and Institutional Arrangements Consultant will contribute to the efforts to increase adaptation finance by mainstreaming NAP priorities into public sector budgets. This includes leading the development of a Climate Public and Institutional Expenditure Review (CPEIR), assessing institutional arrangements, and evaluating the capacity of national and local governments to mobilize and allocate climate finance. The consultant will identify innovative stakeholders to strengthen technical and managerial capacities, develop guidelines to align subnational adaptation priorities, and explore opportunities to scale up partnerships. Additionally, they will facilitate stakeholder engagement and propose mechanisms to enhance coordination, information sharing, and dissemination across government levels and local actors. The Climate Change Adaptation and Institutional Arrangements Consultant will operate under the overall supervision of the Regional Subprogramme Coordinator for the Climate Change Unit in UNEP LACO. The incumbent will work from Monday to Friday, 20 hours per week, half time and will be located in the Ministry of Environment, Project Management Unit in Panama City, Panama. Additionally, he/she will work in close collaboration with the UNEP’s Adaptation team, the Directorate of Climate Change of the Ministry of Environment in Panama, other national consultants and government and non-governmental counterparts. Travel might be needed for consultation processes. Qualifications/special skillsACADEMIC • Bachelor’s degree in law, environmental management, environmental sciences, social sciences, political sciences, engineering, development, international relations, or a closely related field is required. • Master’s degree in climate change, geography, natural resource policy, management, political science or a related field is desired. PROFESSIONAL • Two (2) years of relevant working experience in environmental law, climate change adaptation, development and/or coordination of natural resources projects, institutional arrangements, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, technical support for adaptation projects is required. • Knowledge experience in the design or implementation of national policies and planning frameworks, related to climate change and/or natural resource management is desired. • Experience in engaging with key stakeholders including government agencies, private sector and/or civil society in policy analysis, interinstitutional dialogue or policy development is desired. • Demonstrated experience working with national institutions in climate change and/or natural resource management and planning in the coordination of activities at the national, subnational and/or sectoral level is desired. • Technical knowledge related to the design, development, and tracking of NDCs and related reports is desirable. • Demonstrated experience in inter-institutional and governmental work on climate change in Panama is desirable. • Demonstrated experience in the development and execution of inter-institutional capacity building strategies is desirable. LANGUAGE: • Fluency in Spanish is required. • Basic English is desirable. SKILLS: • Demonstrated knowledge of the scope of the sectorial NAPs of Panama is desirable. • Demonstrated experience in the elaboration of reports and official documents from technical and high-level meetings is an asset. • Demonstrated experience in systematizing and developing final reports of the results of adaptation projects and adaptation components in other projects at the national level is an asset. • Ability to communicate with a wide range of actors including decision makers. • Experience with international organizations is an advantage. · Demonstrate ability to build partnerships, facilitate dialogues, and work in multicultural settings. · Familiarity with key concepts, frameworks, and international agreements related to climate change adaptation. · Demonstrated understanding of the link between gender and climate change adaptation and other social categories. · Strong ability to analyze data and policies from an intersectional gender lens approach. · Ability to provide guidance on a gender intersectional approach for climate change adaptation. · Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products. · Ability to communicate complex and technical ideas to a lay audience. · Ability to build strong working relationships with people from different functions in a multicultural environment. COMPETENCIES: • Professionalism: Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. He/she shows pride in work and in achievements; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. • Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • Teamwork: Is able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team to achieve organizational goals and to take leadership when appropriate; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; 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; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. • 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. LanguagesNot available. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.