Country Lead - RESIslands Initiative

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) is a regional arm of the United Nations established in 195

• Its mission is to promote the economic and social development of its member states, foster regional integration, and enhance the capacity of African countries to address their development challenges. UNECA operates in multiple countries across Africa, with a focus on providing policy advice, technical assistance, and capacity-building support to governments and regional organizations. The organization employs a diverse workforce of professionals and experts dedicated to advancing sustainable development in Africa.

Job Overview:
The Country Lead for the RESIslands Initiative will play a crucial role in the effective and well-coordinated implementation of RESIslands activities at the national level. This position requires strong stakeholder engagement, alignment with national priorities, and the strengthening of institutional capacity. The Country Lead will serve as the in-country focal point for all RESIslands activities, ensuring that project objectives are met while facilitating stakeholder engagement and the smooth execution of consultations, workshops, trainings, and meetings. The role is essential for supporting institutional strengthening, capacity building, and ensuring the continuity of project outcomes. The Country Lead will also provide local data and input for knowledge products and research activities, contributing to the overall success of the initiative.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Country Lead will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Stakeholder Engagement: Organizing and convening national-level workshops, consultations, and training events; liaising with the NDA, AISCC NFP, and relevant ministries; facilitating meetings with local governments, civil society, and academia.
• Implementation: Providing technical assistance for country-level project deliverables, preparing local field visits, conducting vulnerability assessments, and facilitating logistics for activities.
• Reporting & Monitoring: Elaborating timely technical progress reports and documentation for UNECA and the NDA; monitoring outputs to ensure alignment with work plans and budgets.
• Knowledge Management: Collecting data for use cases and KM tools; facilitating the dissemination of best practices and lessons learned.
• Sustainability & Institutional Ownership: Engaging national stakeholders for the preparation and validation of deliverables; ensuring post-project uptake of platforms and toolkits.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s level) in Climate Science, Environmental Policy, Project Management, Economics, Social Sciences, Geography, Geoinformatics, or related fields. Additionally, a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in climate resilience, institutional development, or project coordination is required. Experience leading donor-funded climate or development projects and working with governments is desirable, as is prior engagement at the national or regional level in climate, environment, or risk management. Familiarity with qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis, and reporting will be considered an asset.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree (Master’s level) in relevant fields such as Climate Science, Environmental Policy, Project Management, Economics, Social Sciences, Geography, Geoinformatics, or related disciplines. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of climate resilience and institutional development.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 5 years of professional experience in areas related to climate resilience, institutional development, or project coordination. Experience in leading donor-funded climate or development projects and working with government entities is highly desirable. Additionally, prior engagement at the national or regional level in climate, environment, or risk management will be beneficial for this role.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Portuguese is required for this consultancy position. Knowledge of French would be considered an advantage, as it may facilitate communication with a broader range of stakeholders and partners involved in the project.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is a full-time position that requires professional exclusivity during the contract period. It is open only to nationals and residents of Cabo Verde. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. Furthermore, the organization does not request information regarding applicants' bank accounts.