Myanmar is one of UNOPS’ leading offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for some of the largest development programmes in the country. In addition, UNOPS is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund in Myanmar and for the Global Fund’s regional artemisinin-resistance initiative targeting drug-resistant malaria in the greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS also provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of organizations in the country, including international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs. UNOPS plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Project Information

LIFT is embarking on a new strategic period for 2024-2028. The LIFT 2024-2028 Strategy builds on the achievements of LIFT’s experience as well as recent adaptations and learning in the face of a changing and dynamic context. The new Strategy outlines an approach to tackle structural drivers of poverty and vulnerability, while also considering immediate interventions to secure and maintain Myanmar’s previous development gains. LIFT has proven itself as a key delivery partner across Myanmar’s changing contexts – ranging from post-Nargis recovery, a time of political transition, and relief support during COVID-19. LIFT is managed by the United Nations Office for Projects Services (UNOPS) and has received funding from 16 international donors. The current donors are the United Kingdom, the European Union, Switzerland, Australia, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and Denmark.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Advisor (Food & Agricultural Development), the Programme Management Specialist (Climate Change) will lead the design, preparation, and execution of the Climate Change Strategy and work plan in line with LIFT POA 2024-2028. The incumbent in this position will also provide strategic and technical assistance to Climate Change assessments and be ready for deployment to support emerging needs.

The Programme Management Specialist (PMS) should also ensure efficient reviewing, monitoring, and evaluation of the Programme activities and implementation progress while promoting a client-oriented approach consistent with UNOPS rules and regulations. He/she will work in close collaboration with LIFT´s Programme Stakeholders to ensure successful planning and implementation of the Programme´s components.

The incumbent under this position should act as a trusted advisor to help LIFT´s stakeholders and projects get closer to achieving net zero by enabling results by applying ESG-updated practices and principles.

1. Project Delivery and Performance

• Support the Programme Management Advisor in aligning climate change interventions with LIFT’s 2024-2028 Strategy, ensuring that activities are technically sound and responsive to climate resilience needs.
• Implementation of relevant reviews and assessments, ensuring that appropriate methodologies are followed and that data collected is accurate and relevant to the program’s goals.
• Manage the maintenance of climate data tools and models, ensuring data integrity, quality, and accuracy for ongoing analysis and decision-making processes.
• Implement climate change, adaptation, and resilience activities, producing timely reports to inform strategic decisions and ensure alignment with the programme’s objectives.
• Prepare materials and reports related to climate change, ensuring that key findings are clearly presented and aligned with climate resilience strategies.
• Provide technical support to program teams on climate change-related issues, ensuring adherence to best practices, policies, and strategies in climate resilience, adaptation, and mitigation.
• Participate in field visits, as necessary, to support the implementation of climate change-related activities and gather firsthand insights for program refinement.

2. Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement

• Coordinate and engage internal and external stakeholders in climate change-related assessments, activities, and initiatives.
• Lead the organisation of meetings, workshops, and other climate change activities, ensuring effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders.
• Facilitate cross-team coordination within LIFT to ensure smooth execution of climate change activities, ensuring integration with agricultural development, food security and resilience efforts.
• Track and monitor the progress of climate change activities, flagging challenges and concerns to the Programme Management Advisor (Food and Agriculture Development) to ensure alignment with project goals and effective execution.

3. Monitoring and Reporting

• Prepare regular reports that integrate climate change data and analysis, ensuring alignment with project objectives and donor requirements.
• Significantly contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of climate change interventions, tracking key indicators and milestones, and ensuring that activities are on track to achieve desired impacts.
• Analyse climate change data related to interventions, assessing their effectiveness in building resilience and addressing climate-related risks, and ensuring accurate reporting of results.
• Provide timely updates to the Programme Management Advisor on the status of climate change activities and any emerging issues, ensuring continuous communication about progress and challenges.

4. Capacity Strengthening, Knowledge Sharing and Innovation

• Implement in capacity-building efforts for LIFT personnel and partners, ensuring that climate change adaptation and resilience practices are well understood and applied effectively across teams.
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing initiatives within internal teams and with external stakeholders, ensuring the integration of best practices and lessons learned from climate change interventions.
• Contribute to the development and dissemination of climate change tools and resources designed to enhance assessment and adaptation practices, ensuring they are practical and relevant.
• Maintain accurate records of activities, including reports, surveys, and meeting minutes, ensuring proper documentation for audits, reviews, and future program evaluation.
• Promote innovative approaches to climate change adaptation and resilience by collaborating with the Programme Management Advisor to incorporate new methods and technologies within the program’s framework.

Education:

• A Master’s degree, preferably in Environmental Management, Sustainability, Climate Change, Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Management, or other related fields is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s), preferably in the above professional fields with an additional two (2) years of relevant experience, could be considered in lieu of the Master´s degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in programme management, implementation, or technical advisory in the following thematic areas: Climate Change, Sustainability Management, ESG, Climate Mitigation, or similar is required.
• Experience in designing or implementing climate change initiatives or programs is required.
• Experience in managing diverse stakeholders is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (e.g. MS Office newer versions, Google Suite Applications) is required.
• Experience working with the UN or international organizations is highly desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Proficiency in Burmese is required.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA)
Contract level: Local ICA Specialist-10
Contract duration: Open-Ended (subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance)

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.
• This position is based in Yangon, Myanmar which is a non family duty station.

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.