WEC Background

The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support.

WEC effectively operationalizes partners’ agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.

The NDC Partnership

The NDC Partnership is a global coalition of countries and institutions collaborating to drive transformational climate action through sustainable development. In 2015, the world endorsed the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Nations signal their commitments to the Paris Agreement through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – each country’s strategy to cut its own greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience against the negative effects of a changing climate. The Partnership advances the goals of the Paris Agreement by bringing together nearly 200 countries and institutions in new ways to accelerate NDC implementation and enhance ambition over time. The Partnership’s work through 120 partners supporting almost 80 countries produces many examples of impact, lessons learned and ideas for the future. The Partnership is governed by a Steering Committee, co-chaired by two country representatives. The Partnership’s work is facilitated by a Support Unit based at World Resources Institute in Washington DC and the UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn, Germany. UNOPS supports the NDC Partnership and its Support Unit through the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC).

Country Context

In April 2020, Chile presented its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Update, which was built through a process that involved stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society, both at the national and subnational levels. The NDC incorporates several goals for 2030 in terms of GHG mitigation and short-lived climate pollutants, adaptation and resilience, highlighting water security, oceans, circular economy, forests, peatlands and ecosystems; all this to move towards an integrated and synergistic vision in the design and implementation of Chile’s climate action. The diversity of commitments assumed by Chile in its NDC corresponds to intermediate goals towards the goal of carbon neutrality and resilience to be achieved by 2050 at the latest, according to what has already been defined by the country based on science.

With the purpose of moving as a country towards that goal, the NDC incorporated an unprecedented social pillar on just transition and sustainable development, which establishes as a priority to maximize synergies between climate commitments with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which, through its 17 goals and 169 targets, seeks to achieve a balanced and integrated development in the economic, social and environmental dimensions.

On the other hand, the Long-Term Climate Strategy (LTS), presented by Chile at COP26 in order to comply with the provisions of Article 19 of the Paris Agreement, is the instrument that defines the general long-term guidelines that the country will follow in a cross-cutting and integrated manner, considering a 30-year horizon, to face the challenges posed by climate change. The objective is to move towards a low greenhouse gas emissions development, until reaching and maintaining the neutrality of greenhouse gas emissions; to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience to the adverse effects of climate change; and to comply with the international commitments assumed by the State of Chile in this matter. Among its most relevant contents are the definition of a national greenhouse gas emissions budget for the years 2030 and 2050, sectoral mitigation goals (emission budgets for each sector) and adaptation indicators and goals. Additionally, it contains guidelines on adaptation to climate change, as well as risk assessment, considering the vulnerability of each specific sector.

* This is a Homebased position, meaning that the incumbent will not work from a UNOPS office but from the government facilities. Therefore, the incumbent will need to use his/her own laptop and software. The incumbent is expected to work in person at the offices of the Ministry of Environment, with the possibility of hybrid work upon agreement with the Ministry focal point.

** As this is a Local Position, in order to be eligible, the incumbent must be a national of Chile or have a valid residence permit in the Country.

*** FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Education

• Master’s degree preferably in public policy, sustainable development, environmental management or governance, international cooperation, finance, planning, control and monitoring, banking, or related fields.
• Bachelor’s degree in related discipline in combination with additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

Required

• 5 years of relevant experience with national and/or international cooperation agencies and project formulation and budgeting.
• Experience and knowledge of Chile’s environmental institutions and climate change legal framework, complemented by knowledge of economic and financial instruments, in particular related to climate finance.

Asset

• Experience working with stakeholders in Chile’s public sector, private sector and civil society.
• Demonstrated experience working with MRV, M&E, and results-based management tools and systems.
• Familiarity with UNFCCC processes including Subsidiary Body and Conference of Parties (CoP), NDC and past experience on government climate change process.
• Experience in facilitating the implementation of NDCs is an asset.

• Proficiency in Spanish is required.
• Fluency in English language is an advantage.

Language Requirements

• Proficiency in Spanish is required.
• Fluency in English language is an advantage.

Contract type: ICA / ICS 10 retainer
Contract level: Local ICA 10
Contract duration: 12 months, 220 days, with possibility of extension depending on performance and on availability of funds

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.