Local Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Established in 1972, UNEP has grown to become a key player in international environmental governance, with a mission to encourage sustainable development through sound environmental practices. UNEP operates in over 150 countries, employing thousands of staff and collaborating with various stakeholders to address pressing environmental issues. The Climate Change Division is a crucial part of UNEP, focusing on climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts globally, and works closely with member states and partners to support a just transition towards sustainable development.

Job Overview:
The Local Consultant will undertake a part-time assignment to act as a liaison between the public sector in Fiji and the UNEP project team. This role is pivotal in leveraging the consultant's extensive local network to engage public and private stakeholders effectively. The consultant will be responsible for facilitating the local data gathering process, which will rely heavily on their connections and efforts to conduct interviews, gather documents, and compile databases. Additionally, the consultant will provide technical inputs to various deliverables, ensuring that the project aligns with Fiji's climate mitigation and adaptation needs. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UNEP Project Manager and will coordinate project activities in Fiji over a period of nine months, including stakeholder consultations, data gathering, and workshop planning and implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Local Consultant will be responsible for several key outputs throughout the project duration. These include:

• Inception Report: Conducting a desktop analysis to understand the process and outcomes of the Climate Finance Snapshot from 2016-2019, identifying lessons learned and areas for improvement.
• Stakeholder Engagement Plan Report: Producing a stakeholder mapping exercise and engagement plan, developing a workplan, finalizing the Snapshot Template, and presenting findings to the Climate Change Department and Ministry of Finance for validation.
• Climate Finance Snapshot: Organizing a multi-stakeholder kickoff meeting to clarify responsibilities and timelines, gathering data from various stakeholders, drafting the Climate Finance Snapshot for 2020-2024, conducting a validation workshop, and finalizing the content for presentation to stakeholders.
• Learnings and Recommendations Report: Holding a lessons learned exercise with relevant stakeholders and developing a report that includes recommendations for future snapshots.
• Capacity Building: Delivering a workshop for up to 20 participants on identified capacity gaps related to climate finance tracking and data management. The consultant is expected to submit three deliverables in a timely manner, ensuring quality and adherence to UNEP standards.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Master’s Degree or equivalent in environmental engineering, finance, economics, development studies, business, management, administration, or a related field. Additionally, candidates must have a minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience with a bachelor’s degree or at least 5 years with a master’s degree. Experience should include development project implementation and collaboration with national public institutions, the private sector, and academia. Candidates must demonstrate experience advising Fiji public organizations on climate change mitigation and adaptation, with a deep understanding of Fiji's specific climate priorities. An expert understanding of the impacts of climate change on Fiji's economy is essential, supported by relevant publications or consultancies. Significant experience in climate finance and familiarity with the climate finance landscape in Fiji is also required.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s Degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as environmental engineering, finance, economics, development studies, business, management, or administration. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of climate finance and environmental policy, which are central to the role of the Local Consultant.

Experience:
The position requires substantial experience in the field, specifically a minimum of 7 years with a bachelor’s degree or 5 years with a master’s degree. This experience should be relevant to development project implementation and include work with national public institutions, the private sector, and academia. Candidates should have a proven track record of advising on climate change issues, particularly in the context of Fiji, and should be familiar with the local climate finance landscape.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. This proficiency is essential for effective communication with stakeholders, preparation of reports, and participation in workshops. While English is the primary language required, knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly stated as a requirement.

Additional Notes:
The position is part-time and involves a contract duration of nine months. The consultant will be expected to work closely with the UNEP team and local stakeholders in Fiji. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring that applicants are not required to provide any financial information or pay any fees related to their application.