Consultant for EmPower: Women for Climate-Resilient Societies

Job Posting Organization:
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda and promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system. Established to provide leadership and encourage partnerships in caring for the environment, UNEP aims to inspire, inform, and enable nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UNEP’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, located in Bangkok, serves 41 countries across the region, working closely with key stakeholders including governments, the private sector, civil society, and other UN agencies. The organization has a mission to advocate for the global environment and to implement sustainable development solutions across various sectors.

Job Overview:
The consultant will work under the supervision of the Programme Management Officer in the Finance Unit of the Mitigation Branch, Climate Change Division. The primary focus of this consultancy is to strengthen the capacity and network of women-led renewable energy entrepreneurs in the South and Southeast Asia sub-regions under the EmPower program. This program aims to integrate gender equality and human rights into climate change, renewable energy, and disaster risk reduction initiatives. The consultant will be responsible for enhancing the knowledge and skills of regional, national, and subnational climate change actors regarding gender and human rights, connecting women entrepreneurs and marginalized individuals with renewable energy business initiatives, and exploring future opportunities for new initiatives. The expected duration of the consultancy is four months, and the work will be home-based, with performance evaluated based on the efficient completion of deliverables as stipulated by UNEP.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will include: 1) Delivering training and capacity-building sessions for regional, national, and subnational actors on gender and human rights in the context of climate change and renewable energy. 2) Facilitating connections between women entrepreneurs and initiatives that promote renewable energy businesses. 3) Documenting and exploring future opportunities for building new initiatives that advance gender-responsive climate action. 4) Collaborating with various stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and private sector partners, to promote the integration of gender equality in climate finance and renewable energy sectors. 5) Monitoring and evaluating the impact of the consultancy's activities on the targeted communities and stakeholders. 6) Reporting on progress and outcomes to UNEP and other relevant parties.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced degree or certification equivalent in a relevant field such as Environmental or Climate Change studies, law, sustainable development, or a related discipline. An academic background in renewable energy and/or climate finance is desirable. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with five additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. The consultant must have a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience, preferably in international settings focused on developing network-building programs for entrepreneurs from underrepresented or marginalized communities, particularly in renewable energy or clean technology sectors. Experience in providing training on gender and human rights to renewable energy actors is essential, as is experience working in Asia-Pacific countries or Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Excellent written and oral communication skills are required, and experience working with the UN, social enterprises, and NGOs is considered an asset.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree or equivalent certification in fields related to Environmental or Climate Change studies, law, sustainable development, or a closely related discipline. A background in renewable energy and/or climate finance is highly desirable. In cases where candidates hold a first-level university degree, they must also have five additional years of qualifying experience to be considered for the position.

Experience:
The consultant is expected to have at least 10 years of relevant experience in fields related to climate change, renewable energy, or gender and human rights. This experience should preferably include work in international settings, particularly in developing network-building programs for marginalized communities. Experience in providing training and capacity-building on gender and human rights issues in the context of renewable energy is crucial. Familiarity with the Asia-Pacific region or SIDS is highly desirable, as is experience working with UN agencies, social enterprises, and NGOs.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Vietnamese is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of other UN official working languages is considered an asset, enhancing the consultant's ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders across the region.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for four months and will be conducted on a home-based basis. The position does not involve any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, as the United Nations does not charge applicants for applications, interviews, or training. The organization emphasizes that it does not require information regarding applicants' bank accounts.