In Country Facilitator (Home based Retainer) - Apia, Samoa

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

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 advancing the Paris Agreement by strengthening capacity and collaboration for country-owned climate and development action. 

With over 270 members, including over 140 countries and more than 120 institutions, the NDC Partnership aligns partner support behind country priorities, builds shared knowledge and generates evidence to inform effective NDC implementation, sustained investment and higher ambition that drives sustainable development. Working through a country-driven model, countries set the agenda by identifying their NDC priorities, and partners deliver coordinated, high-impact support that increases efficiency and reduces duplication.

The NDC Partnership has unmatched insight into on-the-ground climate realities, drawn from diverse expertise and collaborative learning across its membership. Grounded in country action, these insights shape the global climate agenda.

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).

Samoa is a member of the NDC Partnership, and submitted its Second NDC to UNFCCC in July 2021. Samoa also launched its NDC Implementation Roadmap and Investment Plan in 2021, which is used as the guiding document for implementation and resource mobilization. Samoa has submitted several requests for support through the NDC Partnership, receiving support from members of the Partnership as well as through the Partnership Action Fund. In December 2023, Samoa requested support for embedded coordination/facilitation support – through the recruitment of an In-Country Facilitator.

The National NDC Coordinator will implement all tasks under the supervision of the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist based in Fiji (aligning with a work plan approved by both the NDC Partnership and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) and will work in close collaboration with the different ministerial offices and in-country stakeholders. The candidate is expected to work as an embedded facilitator, working within government facilities with officials on a day-to-day basis.

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

• This is a Home based 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. 

• As this is a Local Position, in order to be eligible, the incumbent should be a national of Samoa or have a valid residence and work permit in Samoa.

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The incumbent will closely support the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and serves as the NDC Partnership’s interface and liaison between the country and the NDC Partnership Support Unit and membership. The role is one of coordination and supportive facilitation. He/she plays a key role in ensuring the smooth implementation of the Country Engagement Process.

He/she will employ a whole of government and whole of society approach to NDC coordination - meaning they will coordinate across all Government agencies, civil society, academia, private sector and other stakeholder groups. He/she will be responsible for strengthening national coordination in terms of coordination mechanisms, communication, resource mobilization and monitoring the implementation of the NDC. He/she will support Samoa’s nominated Focal Point and nominated Day to Day Contact to the Partnership in his/her daily tasks of implementing the NDC and other forms of support for the NDC implementation. He/she will also support the Government’s engagement with the Regional Pacific NDC Hub.

1. Coordination and communication with key stakeholders

• Support with stakeholder mapping and management of a stakeholder and contacts database.
• Support with Government-led dissemination of information to stakeholders.
• Ensure that communications about the NDC Partnership's engagement in the country are shared with relevant stakeholders (local, national, and international).
• Facilitate periodic coordination and information exchange among partners in the country, with the aim of leveraging their respective advantages and mobilizing them in support of NDC implementation and utilizing a whole of government and whole of society approach.
• Assist and advise international and development partners to align climate projects with programmatic goals.
• Strengthen coordination mechanisms for the whole of government and whole of society coordination for issues relating to NDCs.
• Under the supervision of the Focal Point and in close collaboration with partners and the NDC Partnership Support Unit, support the development and implementation of the NDC.
• Engage with in-country partners, including at the local/subnational level, to identify and align priorities and needs.
• Collaborate with the Support Unit to document changes in the operating environment and provide support to government and stakeholders in decision-making processes and new developments.
• Utilize the NDC Partnership’s Knowledge Portal, tools and guidelines and disseminate information to relevant stakeholders.
• Utilize the NDC Partnership’s Gender Strategy and Youth Engagement Plan and related country-led plans and strategies to inform implementation and national and sub-national levels.
• Support in the delivery of multi-stakeholder trainings, coordination meetings and workshops where necessary.

2. Monitoring the progress of country engagement

• Monitor the progress of in-country engagement and provide periodic updates to NDC Partnership members.
• Utilize the NDC Partnership’s Online Partnership Plan Tool and/or Government-owned tools where appropriate.
• Prepare quarterly country update reports summarizing key insights and progress, challenges and recommendations for the future.
• Evaluate the results of the NDC Partnership's engagement in the country and make recommendations for improvement.

3. Organizing and assisting with NDC-related meetings as needed by the Focal Point

• If necessary, facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues on NDC at the national level.
• Support the government in preparing for NDC-related events such as COPs, regional climate weeks, national events and other relevant gatherings to showcase NDC progress and garner support for NDC implementation.
• Support NDC Partnership and Hub related country missions or visits.

Required

• Master's degree or equivalent preferably in public policy, development, climate change, natural resource management, environmental management, or any other relevant field of study with 5 years of relevant experience.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in related discipline with 7 years of relevant experience.

Required

• At least 5 years’ experience in public and/or private sector with a focus on climate change, project management, stakeholder and donor engagement and/or preparation of cross-cutting workplan/proposal development or any related field.
• 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 of other national contexts that indirectly contribute to climate change.
• Ability to foster formal and informal networks to strengthen cooperation between agencies, including Government, private sector participants, NGOs and other stakeholders.
• Experience in supporting NDC development and/or implementation and/or expertise in any of these sectors: energy, adaptation, waste, AFOLU, transport, marine, or agriculture;
• Experience in data management and coordination specifically related to electricity, energy, GHG emissions, social, and economics (note: this is specific to technical data for various sectors, compiling, organising, preparing the raw data as inputs for NDC tracking);
• Experience with systems modelling or similar (note: this is specific to NDC GACMO tracking);
• Experience and/or familiarity with UNFCCC processes related to the Paris Agreement, ETF, CBIT, BTR, IPCC, Global Stocktake;
• Experience in developing national-level project proposals and concept notes.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• 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. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• 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. 
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• 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.