Afghanistan: Climate Operations Officer

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organization Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. 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. UNEP’s Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI) works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental law and policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This post is located in the Post-conflict and Disaster Management Branch (PCDMB) of UNEP/DEPI, in Kabul, Afghanistan.

This position is based in the UNEP/Afghanistan programme’s Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) Unit, which includes teams on climate change, biodiversity, chemicals and waste, and institutional coordination. The main purpose of this position is to lead the UNEP/Afghanistan MEA Unit’s programme of work on climate change in order to strengthen capacity in Afghanistan to fulfil its obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including developing National Communications. Within this programme of work, the Climate Operations Officer will work with international partners, national authorities, technical and sectoral ministries, universities, and non-governmental actors, as well as represent UNEP in relevant national and provincial level coordinating mechanisms. For more information about the UNEP programme in Afghanistan visit: http://www.unep.org/afghanistan/.

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Afghanistan Country Programme Manager, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

Institutional Coordination and Capacity Building

a) Coordinate with government and non-government stakeholders on climate change research and policy development.
b) Strengthen inter-ministerial coordination mechanisms to address the country’s climate change needs, including the National Climate Change Committee (NCCC).
c) Ensure that the NCCC holds regular meetings to facilitate coordination of climate change awareness and actions across government institutions.

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d) Promote the integration of climate change science and knowledge into development and humanitarian programming.
e) Build government capacity to take a strong lead in international climate negotiations.
f) Develop strategic regional and international partnerships to facilitate capacity development and regular exchanges of data for climate change risk assessment, prediction, and monitoring.

National Reporting Functions

a) Ensure Afghanistan effectively implements and complies with the reporting obligations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
b) Coordinate UNEP and NEPA joint activities for the development of the Second National Communication (SNC) and Biennial Update Report (BUR) under the UNFCCC, including leading several thematic national working groups for research and compilation of the SNC and BUR reports themselves.

d) Promote, develop, and strengthen national mechanisms and systems for sharing of environmental and climatological data, to be used in the SNC, BUR, and future reporting needs. e) Engage with UNEP global partners, including the UNFCCC, to build linkages and assist Afghanistan to participate more actively in submitting data and information to national, regional, and global climate change networks.

Knowledge Management and Outreach

a) Develop a climate change communication, training, and outreach strategy in order to build awareness and capacity across a wide range of stakeholders to understand and address urgent climate change needs.
b) Develop awareness-raising knowledge products on climate change, such as factsheets, posters, brochures, guidance charts, etc.

c) Document lessons learned and best practices on climate change adaptation initiatives in the country, leading to the creation of various knowledge products as well as environmental data records.
d) Prepare 2-3 short technical papers/policy briefs on topics relevant to climate change in Afghanistan, such as early warning systems, ecosystem-based adaptation, etc.

e) Develop and deliver at least one modular training package on climate change to be delivered to key government stakeholders and decision-makers.
f) Provide technical support and inputs to Kabul University to develop university-level curriculum on climate change.

g) Establish a technical climate change reference library, together with NEPA, and housed in Kabul University.
h) Assess relevant tools for the distribution of lessons learned across national, regional, and international networks (GAN, APAN, CDKN, WeAdapt, etc.) and establish long-term knowledge exchange structures with neighbouring and regional countries.

MEA Climate Team Management

a) Provide leadership and strategic guidance on climate change, both within the MEA Unit and across the UNEP/Afghanistan programme, to build synergies and connections as relevant.
b) Oversee the execution of joint UNEP-NEPA enabling activities under the UNFCCC, including on the development of the SNC and BUR.

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c) Lead overall management of the SNC and BUR projects, including strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, project archiving, progress reporting, risk identification and mitigation, and quality control of activity outputs.
d) Ensure the quality and regular progress of all deliverables under the SNC and BUR.
e) Ensure that national climate change study teams meet regularly, have clearly defined tasks and responsibilities, and meet deadlines for research and submission to project teams of inputs for the SNC and BUR reports.

f) Mentor junior team members on project management and climate change to build the capacity of the overall UNEP-NEPA climate change team.
g) Travel periodically to key provinces to ensure sub-national dissemination of climate change activities, knowledge, and partnerships.

Competencies

Professionalism – Excellent knowledge of climate change and environmental management tools. Knowledge of the structure and policies of national environmental authorities and climate change governance in Afghanistan. Knowledge of United Nations and UN humanitarian and development framework. Knowledge of Afghanistan, its history, political setting, and environmental challenges. Ability to identify strategic issues, opportunities and risks.

Planning and organizing – Proven ability to work under pressure and to use limited resources effectively, conducting risk analysis and applying contingency measures to adjust plans and resources effectively.

Teamwork – Ability to operate effectively across organizational and country boundaries; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic work environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; Proven ability to collaborate with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Excellent interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to lead and gain assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavour.

Communication – Excellent communication skills (written and spoken), including demonstrated experience and ability in developing written proposals, work plans, trainings, workshops, speeches, and presentations.

Leadership – Skills to establish and maintain relationships with a broad range of individuals and institutions to understand needs and gain support. Ability to take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives into substantive work and commitment to the goal of achieving gender balance in staffing.

Education

Advanced university degree in environmental or social sciences or related field. A first university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

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Work Experience

At least 5 years of relevant and progressive leadership experience in international environmental projects, with some years in climate change governance. Experience with difference aspects of project management including development, planning, implementation, evaluation, supervision of environmental experts and donor relations.

Languages

English and French are the official languages of the UN Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English, as well as at least one of Afghanistan’s national languages (Dari/Pashto), are required. Knowledge of other official UN languages is an asset.

Assessment Method

Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include a substantive assessment, which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Need Help?” link.

United Nations Considerations

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.