Programme Officer, Kigali, Rwanda

Closing Date: Saturday, 17 December 2011

Job Title:PROGRAMME OFFICER, P4

Department/ Office

AFRICAN CLIMATE POLICY CENTRE

Duty Station

YAOUNDE; RABAT; NIAMEY; KIGALI; LUSAKA

Posting Period

17 November 2011-17 December 2011

Job Opening number

11-PGM-ECA FSSDD ACPC-21490-R-KIGALI

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Org. Setting and Reporting

This Vacancy Announcement is for 5 positions located in the Sub-regional Offices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) as follows: *Northern Africa Office-Rabat: 1 position, *Central Africa Office-Yaoundé: 1 position, *Southern Africa Office-Lusaka: 1Position, *Eastern Africa Office- Kigali: 1 position and *Western Africa Office- Niamey: 1position. When applying, candidates are required to indicate their preferred Duty Station and express their choices as (first, second and third) in the cover Note. This post is part of a team in the Africa Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) based in UNECA guiding and strengthening member States' policy and strategy for adaptation and sustainable response to the impact of climate change on their development including coordinating climate change actions and capacity building at sub regional and national levels. The ACPC is also an integral part of the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) Programme. The Regional Programme Officer reports to the Director of a Sub regional Office (SRO).

The Programme officer will work under the overall guidance of the Coordinator of the ACPC and direct supervision of the Director of one of the five sub-regional offices.

Responsibilities

Policy development, strategy setting and advocacy:

(i) identify and address current and emerging climate change issues in the respective sub-regions; (ii) work with relevant Regional Economic Communities (RECs), member States and Inter Governmental Bodies (IGOs) to conduct strategic policy analysis and develop policies, strategies and plans that address mitigation and adaptation needs of the respective sub-regions; (iii) monitor climate change in the sub-region and identify recurrent and emerging climate change related issues of concern to the major RECs of the sub region including vulnerability analyses assessment and other climate related issues; (iv) consensus building and advocacy to raise strategic awareness about climate change and its impact on development including supporting the ACPC advocacy and communication strategy for mainstreaming climate change adaptation by improving appropriate information and analysis; (v) Conceives, developes and maintains a data base on climate change related indicators for the sub region and (vi) facilitate the harmonization of climate change policies, strategies and plans within the context of improving development and reducing climate vulnerability of respective sub-regions.

Knowledge management and capacity building;

lead and support efforts in developing credible knowledge base, share experience and best practices in climate change adaptation including disaster risk management and early warning systems, and organize and participate in regional and national experts meetings and events to hold discussions including preparing reports and inputs for presentation to policy and business decision-makers in the sub region.

Build and manage multi-stakeholders partnerships:

build relationships between the sub regional office, ACPC, other divisions of UNECA, RECs, IGOs, private sector, research institutions and other stakeholders in the respective sub region to address climate induced challenges and other vulnerabilities to achieve desired outcomes as well as advance common goal, build and promote understanding of climate change and development; and design and implement stakeholders engagement and consultation processes for project development and technical assistance.

General:
(i) provide specialist and other support to the wider activities of ACPC and UNECA including strengthening inter-SROs as well as inter SRO-Headquarter Divisions in mainstreaming climate change in programme planning and implementation; and (ii) perform other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the delivery of the sub-regional office work.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

PROFESSIONALISM;
In-depth knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts, approaches and practices relevant to policy analysis and programme management as they relate to climate change adaptation and mitigation across all sectors ; excellent analytical skills and problem identification and solving skills covering climate change relevant methodologies for monitoring climate vulnerability, analyzing policies that have a bearing on climate change and development and climate appropriate practices that can be applied in the respective sub-region; and Practical understanding of programme/project development, management, monitoring and evaluation including incorporating gender perspectives.

TEAM WORK:
-Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals

-Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others

-Places team agenda before personal agenda

-Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position

-Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings

CLIENT ORIENTATION:

-Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to see things from clients' point of view

-Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect

-Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions

-Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems

-Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects

-Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in physical

geography, climate Science, environmental science or some other field related to climate

vulnerability or climate change adaptation. A first-level university degree in combination with

qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of working experience on policy and strategy development in government agency, multilateral agency or policy research institution with experience in climate for development related policy topics (e.g. climate change and agriculture , climate change and water, climate change and energy, CDM project, carbon markets, Green Economy, REDD, climate vulnerability assessment, climate change adaptation and mitigation issues ) . Experience in the policy landscape and understanding of the political process in delivering technical training and capacity building in African countries is desirable. Knowledge of and experience in the climate change challenges in a sub region would be an advantage.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For these posts, fluency in oral and written French or English is required. (Knowledge of the other is an advantage.

Assessment Method

Competency based interview and other assessment method

Special Notice

- Initial appointment for these positions is one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.

- Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

United Nations Considerations

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS