In April 2024, UNDP launched a 5-years Green Energy Recovery Programme in Ukraine, which is an integrated initiative designed to diversify the country’s energy mix and address the impact of the war on its outdated energy systems. Developed through extensive consultations with the Government of Ukraine, local and regional authorities, the Programme aims to respond urgently to targeted attacks on the energy sector and support its green energy recovery.

The Programme supports the National Energy Strategy of Ukraine, contributing to energy security and independence, promoting a green recovery and transition of the energy sector, and facilitating further synchronization with the EU energy markets. This effort builds on UNDP’s engagement in energy system reconstruction and recovery, leveraging partnerships and lessons learned from the “Winterization Support to Ukraine” project.

Aligned with the UN Ukraine Transitional Framework 2023 and UN Winterization plans, UNDP is providing immediate support to national and local governments to repair energy infrastructure, ensuring critical services to war-affected populations. The Programme focuses on distributing generation sources, decentralizing the power system, and increasing the share of renewable energy sources to reduce reliance on coal generation and reduce CO2 emissions.

The Programme will enhance access to energy from decentralized renewable sources, foster economic empowerment, and improve public governance in the energy sector. These outputs will contribute to Ukraine’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs) towards the Paris Agreement, aimed at reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

The activities of the Programme are implemented in close coordination with the Ministry of Energy in order to ensure the Programme is in line with Government priorities in the energy sector.

As a result of March-May 2024 attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, critical energy facilities were dramatically damaged – almost 80% of energy generation, transmission and distribution assets were damaged or destroyed, impacting the lives of millions of Ukrainians.

To address this crisis and prepare for the winter 2024-2025, UNDP will support the Ministry of Energy by establishing the Emergency Energy Crisis Technical Headquarters (EECT HQ). In this context, UNDP is recruiting an Environmental and Green Recovery Expert to ensure that energy restoration projects are environmentally sustainable, integrating renewable energy solutions and adhering to best practices and regulatory standards.

The Environmental and Green Recovery Expert will perform the following tasks:

1. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA):
   • Conduct comprehensive EIAs for energy restoration projects to assess potential environmental impacts.
   • Develop mitigation measures to address identified environmental risks.
2. Green Recovery strategy:
   • Develop and implement a green recovery strategy that integrates renewable energy solutions into energy restoration projects.
   • Ensure the strategy aligns with national and international sustainability goals.
3. Sustainability reports:
   • Produce regular reports on the environmental impact and sustainability of energy restoration projects.
   • Highlight progress, challenges, and areas for improvement.
4. Policy recommendations:
   • Provide actionable recommendations to support environmental and green policies in energy restoration efforts.
   • Advise on policy adjustments to enhance sustainability outcomes.
5. Stakeholder engagement:
   • Facilitate engagement with key stakeholders, including government bodies, NGOs, local communities, and industry stakeholders.
   • Gather and incorporate stakeholder feedback into project planning and execution.
6. Technical advisory support:
   • Provide expertise and advice on best practices for integrating renewable energy sources (RES) into energy restoration plans.
   • Ensure technical solutions are feasible and sustainable.
7. Environmental regulations and compliance:
   • Stay updated on environmental regulations and ensure compliance with applicable laws and standards.
   • Monitor project activities to ensure adherence to environmental regulations.
8. Guidelines and protocols:
   • Develop guidelines and protocols for sustainable energy restoration practices, focusing on environmental considerations and green recovery principles.
   • Ensure guidelines are accessible and implementable by project teams.

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

conducting comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments for large-scale projects.
• Ability to identify potential environmental impacts and develop effective mitigation measures.
• Expertise in developing and implementing green recovery strategies that integrate renewable energy solutions.
• Knowledge of sustainable energy practices and technologies.
• Experience in providing actionable policy recommendations to support environmental and green policies.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with government bodies, NGOs, local communities, and industry stakeholders.
• Experience in facilitating stakeholder consultations and incorporating feedback into project plans.

The contract lasts for the period indicated in the vacancy with the possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. This is a full-time contract.

Allowances:
• Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) USD 2076 (equivalent in UAH) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost of living expenses. This includes Well-Being Differentials for the period while the ICSC applies hardship classification to duty stations in Ukraine as “E”.
• USD 400 entry lump sum, one-time payment.

Medical and life insurance:
• Medical insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible PFU dependents will receive UNV provided medical insurance coverage. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins from the Commencement of Service and normally ceases one month after the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract date.
• Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment. If a UN Volunteer dies during the UN Volunteer assignment, the eligible designated beneficiaries will be entitled to receive a life insurance lump sum.

Leave entitlements:
• Annual leave:  UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of Annual Leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave up to a maximum of 30 days is carried over in case of a contract extension within the same UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave may not be carried over in case of reassignment or a new assignment.
• Learning leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period.
• Certified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle.
• Uncertified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers receive seven days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. This amount will be reset at the established interval period.