NDC Partnership In-Country Facilitator (Tanzania) - Partnership Specialist Retainer

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 of countries and institutions collaborating to drive transformational climate action through sustainable development. In 2015, the world endorsed the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Nations signal their commitments to the Paris Agreement through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - each country’s strategy to cut its own greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience against the negative effects of a changing climate. The Partnership advances the goals of the Paris Agreement by bringing together nearly 200 countries and institutions in new ways to accelerate NDC implementation and enhance ambition over time. The Partnership’s work through 120 partners supporting almost 80 countries produces many examples of impact, lessons learned and ideas for the future. The Partnership is governed by a Steering Committee, co-chaired by two country representatives. The Partnership’s work is facilitated by a Support Unit based at World Resources Institute in Washington DC and the UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn, Germany. UNOPS supports the NDC Partnership and its Support Unit through the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC).  

Country Context

The United Republic of Tanzania submitted the revised NDCs to the UNFCCC in July 2021 committing to abate its GHG emissions by 30-35% by 2030 relative to the business-as-usual scenario. The updated NDC offers mitigation and adaptation actions on climate change covering different sectors. The revised NDC is anchored on Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar Development visions, climate change strategies, the national development five-year plan and sectoral plans/strategies. Tanzania has a draft Implementation Plan which further aggregates sectoral information from Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar with the budget split between the two and aligned with the NDC targets.

To implement the NDC, Tanzania has a defined governance structure for climate change with the Vice President’s Office (VPO) taking lead at union level and Tanzania Mainland whereas the First Vice President’s Office (FVPO) takes lead in Zanzibar. This is because climate change impacts in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, an archipelago, are specific to the region. Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Local Government Authorities (LGAs), and non-state actors are involved in the implementation of climate change interventions. An NDC specific Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) will be developed. 

To strengthen the technical capacity and coordination on climate change, VPO has requested the NDC Partnership for a Strategic NDC in-country facilitator. The facilitator will work with VPO under the climate change and environmental assessment sector. The incumbent will provide high level technical support to VPO on climate change matters, coordinate NDC Implementation Plan operationalisation with other sectors, strengthen partnerships with implementing partners and collaborate with the Climate Finance Advisor of the Ministry of Finance.

The Strategic facilitator will provide high-level technical support to the Vice President’s Office on climate change matters, coordinate NDC Implementation Plan operationalisation with other sectors and ministries, strengthen partnerships with implementing partners and collaborate with the Climate Finance Advisor of the Ministry of Finance. The core role is to facilitate the government’s efforts to address climate change impacts through the implementation of Tanzania's NDC implementation plan to achieve the NDC targets commitments to the Parish Agreement.

The Facilitator will report to the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist and Regional Manager and will work closely with the Vice President’s Office (VPO) as NDC Partnership Focal Point and collaborate with the Ministry of Finance. 

The facilitator will serve as the NDC Partnership’s interface in the country and operate as a liaison between the country and other NDC Partnership members, ensuring the smooth implementation of the Country Engagement Process, working closely with the Support Unit of the NDC Partnership. 

He/she will need to use his/her own laptop. This is a retainer national vacancy / position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days with possibility of extension depending on performance and on availability of funds.

• A master’s degree in climate change, natural resource management, environmental policy, international development, public policy, or other relevant field of study.

• Bachelor degree in related discipline in combination with additional  2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

• Possession of a PhD would be an advantage.

• 5 years’ experience and above working in the public sector e.g. with the government of the United Republic of Tanzania as well as other relevant implementing and development partners, private sector and research institutions on climate change.
• Good understanding of United Republic of Tanzania climate change challenges, environment, policies and strategies and development issues as well as national obligations towards the UNFCCC.
• Demonstrated ability to liaise and foster cooperation between agencies, including Government, private sector participants, NGOs and other stakeholders. 

• Familiarity with UNFCCC processes including Subsidiary Body and Conference of Parties (CoP) and NDC is an advantage. 
• Proven experience with program and partner management, negotiations, coordination and ability to foster and grow multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Demonstrated successful leadership in the design and execution of projects related to the field of climate change.
• Excellent communication (Written and Oral) Skills and knowledge of Microsoft suite in particular work, PowerPoint and excel.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with minimal supervision.

Contract type: ICA / ICS 10 retainer
Contract level: Local ICA 10
Contract duration: 12 months, 220 days, with possibility of extension depending on performance and on availability of funds.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• 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.

Terms and Conditions 

• 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. For more information on a retainer contract 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.