Documentation Associate

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

This project “Localizing Data Science for Climate Change Adaptation” aims at creating a model of climate change adaptation action that takes into consideration local knowledge that is further informed by the scientific information on climate change impacts. The premise being that local knowledge need to be better understood and evidenced throughout the adaptation process for better representation of the needs of small-scale producers. Hence, this project is designed to leverage capacities of local climate research community and involve them in the decision-making process for Climate Adaptation outcomes. The advanced and localized climate science to be integrated with local knowledge base –would be made available by the National Centre of Excellence on Climate Change Adaptation. The Localizing Data Science for Climate Change Adaptation would work on a hub and spoke model, to demonstrate an exemplar for India and in turn, the region, that will enable interaction of various knowledge systems to develop robust and locally relevant climate adaptation recommendations for policy and program.

More specifically, the expected outcomes are:
1. Mechanisms to facilitate integrating climate science with local knowledge for planning development programmes in agriculture and NRM sectors institutionalized.
2. Climate Risk informed Livelihoods (farm and non-farm) mainstreamed at State/Regional level with improved empirical evidence and technical capacities.

Ultimately, the project aims to strengthen policies and decision-making through the integration of science and local knowledge, demonstrating a successful adaptation model for India and the region.

Under the direct supervision of State Project Manager, the UN University Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Assist in review of project documents, review of literature and prepare a study design and work plan with the support of the State Project Manager.
• Support in collecting local climate data with the support of the local NGO engaged in the project and conducting basic analysis to identify trends and impacts in the project area.
• Work closely with local communities especially women to document the agricultural practices and understand their adaptation strategies to climate change.
• Support in organizing focus group discussions with farmers, especially women farmers, to understand their specific needs and challenges in agriculture.
• Support in undertaking in-depth interviews of different stakeholders in the project area including the local administration to understand their perception on climate change and its impact of agriculture.
• Assist in data analysis and interpretation, preparing case studies with photographs and drafting the report.
• Support in preparing report on “Role of Women in Agricultural Practices in the Changing Climate Context in Puri District, Odisha”

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.