Job Title : Technical Specialist - Climate Change Adaptation (Retainer Contract)
Location : Pakistan
Company : United Nations Pakistan
Salary :
Open Date : 2023-10-08
Close Date : 2024-02-08

Background Information - Job-specific

Climate change is impacting communities in every country, across every continent. Rising sea levels. Extreme weather events. Disrupted economies. Food and water insecurity. Resource scarcity. Conflict. Nowhere is the impact more evident than in Pakistan, with the 2022 floods being one very recent example of the crisis ahead.

UNOPS Strategic Plan for 2022-2025 outlines how the institution will contribute to expanding implementation capacity for countries to achieve Sustainable Development Goals amid the COVID-19 crisis and the climate emergency. Particularly, climate action is outlined as a cardinal point for UNOPS to address in order to support the achievement of the SDGs and Paris Agreement goals while leaving no one behind.

UNOPS Pakistan is supporting the Government of Pakistan in combating climate change impacts through its expertise in resilient infrastructure and procurement. Additionally, the RCO has recently established a New Living Indus Initiative Team that will be leading this important agenda together with, and based in, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC). However, there is a need to consolidate and strengthen the expertise that UNOPS has to leverage the most efficient and effective climate adaptation programming. Hence, UNOPS Pakistan is seeking a Technical Expert for Climate Change Adaptation to contribute to and steer the process.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment;

Primary Objectives

Develop and deliver effective and efficient climate adaptation projects by leveraging the mandate, strength and capacity of UNOPS.

Secondary objectives include:

• Work with the senior management team to identify a clear strategic way forward for UNOPS Pakistan in terms of Climate Change Adaptation programming, drawing upon and contributing to global experience to assist one of the countries most exposed to the impacts of climate change;
• Establish clear synergies with the Living Indus Initiative (LII), and identify and create linkages between UNOPS service lines and LII.
• Establish clear synergies with the Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) and its Sindh Housing Recovery and Reconstruction Platform (SHRRP), and the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF), identify and create linkages between UNOPS service lines and SPHF-SHRRP and NDRMF, particularly in the S3i resilient housing initiative.
• Establish clear lines closely linked to WASH Department current and future scope of work and strategy, including key stakeholders to contact and lines of potential collaboration with them.
• Review current projects strategy/scope/designs and explore with them any climate change inclusion potential considerations and adaptations that could be included in the project.
• Articulate a domain of technical expertise within the UN and develop collaboration with key UN agencies on Climate Change Adaptation and infrastructure in Pakistan and globally: UNOPS CCA and construction, UN-Habitat CCA and urban development, UNEP CCA policies and targets, UNIDO CCA markets and economies, and RCO on the New Living Indus initiative. In line with the UN Pakistan Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027;
• Move UNOPS from a provision approach to an enabling approach based on increasing technical capacity, and public awareness, in partnership with authorities, and technical and academic stakeholders in order to achieve large-scale implementation of improvements and people-centric climate adaptation.

Functional Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Country Manager, The Technical Specialist - Climate Change Adaptation will work in close coordination with the UNOPS Senior Management Team to carry out the following activities in collaboration with the project team:

Technical expertise

• Provide technical expertise and advisory services in addressing climate adaptation and resilience infrastructure needs in Pakistan to ensure compliance with the SDGs, the Biodiversity convention, and the Paris Agreement targets.
• Advise on the mainstreaming of climate resilience and adaptation actions in technical documents of infrastructure projects, papers, and corporate communication materials.
• Conduct an assessment of the potential risks that project implementation may cause to the vulnerability of human populations and natural systems to climate variability and change, and/or to contribute to maladaptation, in particular for complex and/or risky projects.
• Review, improve, and recommend Climate Risk Management Plans (CRMP) for the implementation of proposed measures to reduce climate-related risks and adapt to climate change.
• Provide advice and expert inputs in the development of strategies, regulatory frameworks, and guidelines, and enabling the environment to promote climate adaptation and resilience in infrastructure sectors, in accordance with UNOPS Climate Strategy.
• Provide technical climate adaptation advice to project teams and partners at any life cycle stages of infrastructure project development in compliance with UNFCCC climate adaptation guidelines.
• Provide climate adaptation inputs and represent UNOPS at events and meetings with stakeholders and partners.
• Collaborate with environmental scientists, economists, and engineers across UNOPS to design and implement high-quality analysis and technical solutions for infrastructure projects.
• Promote data collection and conceptualize new technological tools and mechanisms oriented to enhance resilience and climate change adaptation standards of the UNOPS project portfolio.
• Work collaboratively with UNOPS experts in the area of climate change mitigation and others (when requested), to achieve comprehensive infrastructure solutions aligned with the SDGs and with Paris Agreement targets.

Business development

• Advise UNOPS Pakistan on opportunities for resilient infrastructure development in addition to sharing with clients institutional and industry knowledge of climate adaptation options in infrastructure.
• Provide expert climate adaptation advice and support in the formulation of new initiatives, projects and programs related to sustainable and resilient inclusive infrastructure
• Support the conceptualization of strategies aimed at improving UNOPS climate change adaptation actions and serve as a technical contributor for business development activities through technical approaches, teaming strategies, and partner negotiations.
• Present results from in-depth technical research and analysis on key infrastructure sectors to support business development and thought leadership such as on climate resilience, nature-based solutions, market systems, private sector participation, financing, and others.

Specific Deliverables

• Carry out, a detailed review of the Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) ecosystem in the country
• Conduct comprehensive relevant stakeholder mapping and analysis and consultations on the Government needs, priorities, and donor trends. Identify the key stakeholders and approach strategy per UNOPS area of work: WASH, resilient housing, etc
• Provide technical expertise and advisory services in identifying and addressing the key climate challenges in the country
• Advise and report on potential Climate adaptation activities/considerations to be included in the current implementing activities, especially in the infrastructure projects implemented by the UNOPS Pakistan office.
• Make presentations to the senior management team summarizing the state and status of climate change adaptation and its implications for UNOPS programming in Pakistan, summarizing the main thrust of the proposed consultations and areas for further exploration and confirmation.
• Suggest adaptation measures and prepare pre-feasibility studies and cost-benefit analyses of the proposed adaptation models
• Validate adaptation options and measures based on the scope agreed upon during stakeholder consultations.
• Support the preparation of concept notes/proposals under the climate change adaptation theme for UNOPS Pakistan
• Create a strategy for resource mobilization for projects linked with the Living Indus Initiative

Impact of Results

• During the Project, the following are indicative targets (subject to resource availability):
• Provide strategic guidance document to the senior management team for aligning Climate Change Adaptation within the existing and proposed projects
• Prepare and submit 3 climate change adaptation projects to donors according to identified needs and trends

Longer-term targets:

Climate Change Adaptation is mainstreamed in UNOPS Pakistan programming

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