The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) unites the New York Portfolios, including the Peace and Security team (PSC); the Geneva Office; and the Vienna-based Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) teams, to maximize global impact, foster efficiencies and streamline global programmes. Leveraging our collective expertise and networks, GPO supports UNOPS' strategic priorities and the SDGs across over 130 countries. We deliver project management, fund management, advisory services, project implementation, and HR services, working closely with major global partners. Our thematic focus includes sustainable development, climate action, health, peace & security, and humanitarian action.

As part of the Global Portfolios Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR. The EU-UNOPS Lives in Dignity (LiD) Grant Facility is also based here.

WEC Background: 

The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support.  

WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The NDC Partnership:

The NDC Partnership is a global coalition, bringing together more than 250 members, including more than 130 countries, developed and developing, and more than 110 institutions to deliver on ambitious climate action that helps achieve the Paris Agreement and drive sustainable development. Governments identify their NDC implementation priorities and the type of support that is needed to translate them into actionable policies and programs. Based on these requests, the membership offers a tailored package of expertise, technical assistance and funding. This collaborative response provides developing countries with efficient access to a wide range of resources to adapt to and mitigate climate change and foster more equitable and sustainable development. The NDC Partnership Support Unit is jointly hosted by the World Resources Institute (WRI), the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the UN Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC). For this project, the Consultant will be contracted through UNOPS.

The incumbent will serve as the NDC Partnership’s interface in the country and operate as a liaison between the country and other NDC Partnership members. The role is one of coordination and supportive facilitation. They play a key role in ensuring the smooth implementation of the Country Engagement Process, by supporting ongoing coordination efforts between the Support Unit of the NDC Partnership, the various partners of the Partnership, and the government of South Africa. 

The incumbent will support the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and will be responsible for strengthening national coordination in terms of resource mobilization and monitoring the implementation of the NDC. The Facilitator will support the focal point of the Partnership in their daily tasks of implementing the NDC and other forms of support for the NDC implementation. 

The embedded facilitator will implement all tasks under the direct supervision of the Partnership’s focal point and day-to-day contacts, in close coordination with and support from the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist. The facilitator will collaborate with other sectoral ministries, development partners and other national stakeholders to mobilize, coordinate and engage on effective and efficient NDC implementation. 

*This is a retainer national vacancy / position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with the possibility of an extension depending on satisfactory performance and on availability of funds for the period of the second NDC. 

**This is a homebased position, meaning that the incumbent will not work from a UNOPS office but from the government facilities. Therefore, the incumbent will need to use his/her own laptop and software. 

***This is a local position; the incumbent must be a national of South Africa. 

****Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The incumbent will support South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in the implementation of the NDC and associated national legislation, The post will be located under the branch, headed by the Deputy Director General (DDG) of Climate Change and Air Quality who has delegated this responsibility under the Chief Directorate, International Climate Change Relations and Reporting. Accordingly, the incumbent will report to the Directorate Climate Change Developments and International Mechanisms, and work in close coordination with the NDC Partnership’s Country Engagement Specialist managing engagement with South Africa. 

The incumbent will coordinate the development of the recently-completed second NDC investment plan and its subsequent implementation, while preparing for the formulation of the next NDC and promoting coordination across government in connection with NDC development and implementation. 

1. Coordination and communication with key stakeholders

• Stakeholder ecosystem mapping
• Facilitate periodic coordination and information exchange among partners in the country in relation to the implementation of the NDC and Climate Change Act.
• Organize meetings to monitor and coordinate the implementation of the NDC and Climate Change Act as directed by the DDG, including within the DFFE, across government, and with stakeholders more broadly. 
• Develop and implement, as applicable, a project plan for implementing South Africa’s 2nd NDC, including identifying key funding sources and technical resources.
• Develop, as applicable, a project plan for developing South Africa’s 3rd NDC, including identifying key funding sources and technical resources.  

2. Tracking of Investment Plan implementation progress

• Monitor, assess and report on implementation of the Investment Plan, as required by the DDG.

3. Mobilization of resources for implementation

• Support the government in following up on and mobilizing partner financing to close its support gaps to allow for NDC implementation, working through and strengthening existing coordination mechanisms and working groups
• Work with the Support Unit to produce an overview of support gaps to make available to partners.

4. Organize and support NDC-related meetings as needed

• If requested, facilitate national country specific multi-stakeholder NDC dialogues.
• Support the government in preparing for NDC-related events such as COPs, regional climate weeks, national events, and other convenings relevant to showcase NDC progress and generate support for implementation of the NDC.
• Organize coordination meetings between the Support Unit and the government as needed.

5. Facilitation of NDC implementation

• Create an Annual Work Plan that sets out specific goals for the facilitator role in collaboration with the Country Engagement Specialist and Focal Point.
• Collaborate with the Support Unit and DFFE to document changes in the operating context and provide support to the government and stakeholders in decision-making processes.

Required

• An advanced degree (master's or higher) in public policy, development, climate change, natural resource management, environmental management, economics and development or any other relevant field of study OR  
• Bachelor's degree in related discipline with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience (7 total) may be accepted instead of an advanced university degree. 

Required

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in multilateral, national and grassroots governance and processes related to climate change, policy, and/or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
• Knowledge of the country’s context of policy frameworks, national plans and strategies related to climate change.

Desired

• Familiarity with UNFCCC processes, including Subsidiary Body and Conference of Parties (CoP), NDC, and past experience on government climate change process.
• Experience in fostering formal and informal networks to strengthen cooperation between agencies, including Government, private sector participants, NGOs and other stakeholders.  
• Direct experience in climate policy, NDC revision and update processes, NDC implementation and investment planning. 
• Experience managing national NDC processes.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.