Result of Service

– The UNEP assigned climate change mitigation projects in the Africa, Europe and Central Asia regions are successfully managed, and new projects are designed in alignment with Global Environment Facility (GEF) 8th cycle programming strategy responding to country specific needs and priorities and to UNEP’s Mid-term Strategy and Programme of Work. – The Climate Mitigation Unit dashboard and the UNEP management tools are always up to date and enhanced to provide quarterly management reports.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

9 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority. It 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. This consultancy is in UNEP’s Climate Change Division, GEF Climate Mitigation Unit, Mitigation Branch, Europe and Central Asia team, and will be home based. UNEP’s Climate Change Division works with a portfolio of Global Environment Facility (GEF) medium-size and full-size climate change mitigation projects in Europe and Central Asia. The projects, which are in different stages of development (concept, design, implementation, closure), are executed by different partners (Ministries, NGOs, etc.). The Climate Change Division, in its role as implementing agency, provides oversight and ensures adherence to GEF guidelines. Under the supervision of the Task Manager for Africa, Europe and Central Asia for GEF mitigation projects, and in coordination with the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) mitigation team, The consultant’s assistance is needed to provide project cycle management functions to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) portfolio of Climate Change Mitigation (CCM) projects, mainly for projects and programs of Europe and Central Asia (ECA) and the Africa (AFR) regional portfolios and in other regions on an as-needs-basis. Specific tasks and responsibilities The consultant will undertake the following duties: • Oversee and manage project development in ECA, AFR and other regions that need ad-hoc support: o Coordinate requests for assistance from country governments with UNEP’s GEF Climate Mitigation Unit (CMU), ensuring alignment with available support. This includes liaising with relevant UNEP units and external partners to identify resources and support, as well as developing project concepts to assist countries in achieving their climate mitigation goals. The role requires facilitating partnerships, mobilizing technical and financial resources, and ensuring the effective implementation of support in response to country needs. o Provide technical guidance and oversee project development with stakeholders inside UNEP (e.g., Sustainable Mobility Unit, Cities Unit, UNEP-CCC, Regional Offices) and external partners (e.g., beneficiary government, international organizations and project stakeholders). o Undertake missions for project development coordination and participation in project consultation workshops as needed. o Oversee the drafting and review of GEF 8 CAG concepts, project concepts (PIFs) and documents for submission to UNEP’s project review committees and the GEF Secretariat. o Conduct Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption calculations, addressing feedback from review processes. o Complete drafts of Project Identification Forms (PIFs) and Concept Notes as needed. o Prepare internal project review packages for UNEP and GEF, addressing feedback from review committees (CAG, UNEP Review Committee, GEF Secretariat). o Oversee the internalization of approved concepts and projects within UNEP. • Oversee the implementation of assigned projects in the ECA and AFR regions, providing ad-hoc support to other regions whenever required: o Provide technical guidance and coordinate project implementation with stakeholders inside UNEP (e.g., Sustainable Mobility Unit, Cities Unit, UNEP-CCC, Regional Offices) and external partners (e.g., beneficiary government, international organizations and project stakeholders). o Prepare and participate in Inception Workshops and Steering Committee Meetings. o Undertake missions to participate in project events and meetings and for ad-hoc assistance to projects implementation. o Providing technical input related to climate change, energy, and climate Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems. o Lead the 2025 PIR process for assigned projects. o Monitor the implementation of the Risk action plan defined in the 2024 PIR process for ECA projects. o Plan and prepare mid-term and terminal evaluations / reviews whenever applicable, responding to evaluation feedback in a timely manner. o Ensure projects are implemented efficiently and effectively, adapting strategies as necessary. • Contribute to UNEP Project Management and Reporting: o Report on project progress to UNEP’s Integrated Planning, Monitoring, and Reporting (IPMR) system and the GEF Coordination Office. o Provide necessary input to UNEP project management tools and reporting mechanisms for the overseen projects. • Develop and improve the CCM Unit’s tools for project and portfolio management. o Develop a standard approach for Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) project development, including Theory of Change, Project Results Framework, and CBIT Project Preparation Grant (PPG) templates. o Develop or improve methodologies, templates, and tools as required to support project and portfolio management on an ad-hoc basis.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Economic, Environmental Policy, Law or in a related field is required; • A first level degree with additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree; • Two (2) years of experience in working with managing international environmental projects, focused on Climate Change Mitigation is required. • Experience in working with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) or a similar fund is required. • Ability to review critically project design and revision/drafting of project concepts and documents; work plans and budgets is required. • Experience in working with developing countries and/or international organizations is desirable

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French or Spanish is desirable

Additional Information

Not available.

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.