Consultant Specialist in Adaptation

Result of ServiceThe Consultant Specialist in Adaptation will conduct the alignment among the National Determined Contributions (NDC), the ongoing National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, other relevant government documents (BTR and National Communication), as well as other UNFCCC documents submitted by the Government of El Salvador, conducting the following: Results/outputs: 1. Assessment on climate change adaptation component in national documents. 2. Analysis of developed climate change adaptation measures. 3. Mechanism of communication and coordination within NAP Coordination Platform (NAP CP). 4. Strategic document outlining national, subnational and sectoral goals for the development of the vision and objectives for adaptation in NDC 3.0. 5. Chapter on adaptation within BTR and NC. 6. Roadmap for the NAP preparation process that operationalizes the adaptation commitment established in the NDC. The Consultant Specialist in Adaptation will contribute to the effective implementation of the project by conducting the following deliverables: Product 1 Assessment on adaptation component in the national climate change documents submitted by El Salvador to the UNFCC: involves conducting a comprehensive analysis of how climate change adaptation policies and implementation are represented at the national level. Product 2 Analysis of developed climate change adaptation measures: a concise analysis of climate change adaptation measures, planning and/or implemented in El Salvador, emphasizing the interconnection between mitigation and adaptation efforts, trade-offs and alignment with global frameworks. Product 3 Mechanism of communication and coordination within NAP Coordination Platform (NAP CP): it involves the development of institutional frameworks to enhance stakeholder collaboration and streamline information sharing; and the activities to be included in the NAP CP workplan. Product 4 Strategic document outlining national, subnational, and sectoral goals for the development of the vision and objectives for adaptation in NDC 3.0: aligned with the ongoing NAP process, including consultation and validation workshops reports and its feedback improving the adaptation goals. Product 5 Chapter on adaptation within BTR and NC: developing and sharing information that each section of the chapter on adaptation could or should include about background information and adaptation priorities and barriers. Product 6 Roadmap for the NAP preparation process that operationalizes the adaptation commitment established in the NDC: the consultant will contribute a basis for starting and framing a NAP process, using adaptation goals and priorities set out in the NDC and the other UNFCC documents. The main objective of the Consultant Specialist in Adaptation is to provide technical expertise to the Project Management Unit of the NAP project and the MARN, concerning the detail-specific measures that lead to synergies of NAP El Salvador with NDC 3.0 and other UNFCCC documents. Specific tasks and responsibilities The Consultant Specialist in Adaptation will contribute to the effective implementation of the project by developing the following tasks: Product 1: Assessment of the adaptation component in climate change national documents. 1. Develop the methodology for collecting information to identifying relevant information on climate change adaptation. The consultant must collect the documents that serve as input to the products that are officially submitted to the UNFCCC, such as the NDC and national communications. For example, national risk assessment reports, public policies and planning documents, adaptation progress reports (reports generated by the monitoring and follow-up system that reviews progress in the implementation of the submitted documents), vulnerability analysis and others. 2. Conduct the state of art of adaptation planning and implementation in the country. This includes vulnerability analysis and results that were considered in national documents, as well as which actions and activities are foreseen to address these. Also, realize a qualitative and/or quantitative analysis to identify the adaptation goal/vision, adaptation types, adaptation policies, adaptation priorities and targets that are not directly linked to adaptation priorities, adaptation efforts achieved, and barriers to implementing adaptation, among others. Product 2: Analysis of developed climate change adaptation measures. 3. Conduct a qualitative and/or quantitative analysis that shows the link between mitigation and adaptation measures: identify adaptation and mitigation co-benefits and vice versa, opportunities and trade-offs for both, and processes with consequences for both, including maladaptation. 4. Monitor, identify and track links of the developed adaptation measures with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAP). 5. Provide guidance about addressing gaps and barriers, institutional arrangements, and coordination for implementing adaptation activities. Product 3: Mechanism of communication and coordination within NAP Coordination Platform (NAP CP). 6. Handle dialogue and communication mechanisms among stakeholders at different levels (national, subnational, inter-institutional, inter-agency, and cross-government), through the encouragement of a unified governance structure led by an appointed coordination for reducing redundancy in stakeholders’ consultations, reporting and planning processes. 7. Prepare graphical documentation needed for the successful delivery of the meetings and be in constant communication with the leading entities of the government. 8. Design a workplan for the NAP CP that includes NDC tasks. Product 4: Strategic document outlining national, subnational and sectoral goals for the development of the vision and objectives for adaptation in NDC 3.0.. 9. Develop substantive technical inputs to align the NDC adaptation component with the outputs and results of the NAP project ongoing based on the information previously identified. Some inputs are vision, objectives, and goals (national, sub-national, and sectorial); strategies, priorities, and plans for supporting this component. 10. Planning, organizing, and attending national, regional, and local meetings, as well as preparing materials to discuss and validate the adaptation goal for NDC. 11. Prepare a report on the systematization of the participatory processes carried out in the adaptation component, which will include events, dates, format, summary of contents, participants, main results of the process, and graphic evidence of the process. Product 5: Chapter on adaptation information on BTR and NC. 12. Develop substantive technical inputs for structuring the climate change adaptation chapter of BTR and NC. Includes national circumstances, institutional arrangements, and legal frameworks; impacts, risks and vulnerabilities; adaptation priorities and barriers; adaptation strategies, policies, plans, goals and actions to integrate adaptation into national policies and strategies; progress on implementation of adaptation; cooperation, good practices, and experience and lessons learned; among others. 13. Planning, organizing, and attending national meetings as well as preparing materials to discuss with the responsible or people in charge of BTR and NC. Product 6: Roadmap for the NAP preparation process that operationalizes the adaptation commitment established within the NDC. 14. Conduct a NAP focused on operational planning considering NDC 3.0’s adaptation goal and contributions to the adaptation section of BTR and NC. 15. Provide guidance to clarify the logic of the interventions and understand how it´s affecting change, using the Theory of Change (ToC) approach to help achieve the Global Goal on Adaptation. 16. Planning, organizing, and attending national, regional, and local meetings, as well as preparing materials to discuss and validate outcomes, outputs and activities of NAP. 17. Prepare a report on the systematization of the participatory processes carried out for the NAP process, which will include events, dates, format, summary of contents, participants, main results, and graphic evidence of the process. 18. Collaborate in identifying training needs for a capacity-building program that meets the objectives and vision of the NDC and NAP. Work LocationHOME-BASED Expected duration11 MONTHS Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. 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. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region, and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). In terms of addressing climate change, UNEP aims to support countries in compliance with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the priority actions defined in the countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions. The overall objective of UNEP´s Sub-programme on Climate Change is to strengthen the ability of countries to move towards climate-resilient and low-emission strategies for sustainable development and human well-being. The expected accomplishment regarding climate change adaptation is that adaptation approaches, including 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 ensuring that crosscutting issues such as gender equity and women empowerment are effectively undertaken in the development of its tasks to guarantee equitable development in line with its adaptation objectives. In this context, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) and UNEP have agreed on the implementation of the project “Agreements, processes, and tools to move towards a climate-resilient society in El Salvador” framed within the Readiness program of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The project aims to strengthen institutional engagement and capacities to plan, finance, implement, monitor, and report strategic adaptation processes, considering stakeholders at multiple levels. The project seeks to achieve its objective through four components: • Adaptation planning governance and institutional coordination strengthened. • Evidence basis produced to design adaptation solutions for maximum impact. • Private sector engagement in adaptation catalyzed. • Adaptation finance increased. To fulfill the objectives of the project, the UNEP LACO is recruiting a Consultant Specialist in Adaptation to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in the alignment of NDC measures and the National Adaptation Plans, as well as to provide technical advice to the National Project Coordinator and the Project Management Unit in the delivery of several activities related to aligning the adaptation component of National Determined Contributions (NDC) and other UNFCCC documents (Biennial Transparency Reports- BTR, National Communications- NC) with the ongoing National Adaptation Plan (NAP). These are important as technical and scientific documents that feed into high-level adaptation priorities at the national level, but equally important indicate consensus and national ownership that can be built on, to avoid over-burdening countries with entirely new consensus-building processes. The Consultant Specialist in Adaptation will operate under the overall supervision of the UNEP Sub Coordinator of Climate Change at LACO, in coordination with MARN. The incumbent will work home-based. Additionally, he/she will work in close collaboration with UNEP´s Adaptation team, the MARN in El Salvador, other national consultants, and government and non-governmental counterparts. Travel might be needed for consultation processes. Qualifications/special skillsACADEMIC: • Bachelor's degree in environmental management, environmental sciences, social sciences, political sciences, engineering, development, law, international relations, or a closely related field is required. • Master’s degree in project management, climate change, natural resource management, conservation, environment, international cooperation, sustainable development or a closely related field is desirable. PROFESSIONAL: • At least seven (7) years of relevant working experience in development and/or natural resource management, and/or climate change adaptation or closely related field is required. • Demonstrated experience in design, development, and/or tracking global instruments (National Adaptation Plan, NDC under the Paris Agreement, SDGs, Disaster Risk Reduction under the Sendai Framework, and/or National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan at the national level is desirable. • Experience in engaging with key stakeholders including government agencies, private sector, and/or civil society in policy analysis, interinstitutional dialogue, or policy development is desirable. • 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. • Demonstrated experience in the elaboration of reports and official documents from technical and high-level meetings is an asset. • Experience with international organizations is an advantage. LANGUAGE: • Fluency in Spanish is required. • Confident level in English is an asset. SKILLS: · Demonstrate ability to build partnerships, facilitate dialogues, resolve conflicts and work in multisectoral settings. · Familiarity with key concepts, frameworks, and international agreements related to climate change adaptation under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). · Strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills, including the 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 and multi-level 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 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: Can 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 under 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.