Pacific GX Energy Policy Specialist

Job Description

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a leave no one behind approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP Is The Frontier Organization For Sustainable Development In The UN Development System And Serves As The Integrator For Actions At Regional, National, And Local Levels To Achieve The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Across Asia And The Pacific, UNDP Helps Countries Formulate And Implement Their Own Solutions To Address Urgent Development Challenges. It Implements The UNDP Strategic Plan (2022-2025) In The Region Through The Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH), Various Country Offices (COs), And The Global Policy Network (GPN) Which Provides Policy And Program Advice To Ensure Alignment Of Country Programs With Regional And Global And Corporate Priorities. Several Integrated Solutions Are Identified In The Strategic Plan Which Includes The Following

• Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience
• Environment and Energy
• Poverty and Inequality
  
  

In the ambit of the above signature solutions, UNDP launched a USD $37.53 million project , approved for funding by the Government of Japan in February 2023. It will support four Pacific Island Countries (Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu) with a Green Transformation of their economies that will reduce reliance on fossil fuels, drive sustainable economic growth and help them cope with the impacts of climate change. The two-year project, titled Promoting Green Transformation in the Pacific Region towards Net-Zero Emissions and Climate-Resilient Development will support investments in clean energy, more efficient management of natural resources, and strengthened coping capacity in the face of extreme weather events linked to climate change. UNDP's multi-country implementation modality will be followed for this project. BRH, together with the four Country Offices in the Pacific Region lead the implementation of the project with strong engagement of the Environment team within the GPN based in BRH.

UNDP's Environment team within the GPNs together with the Regional Bureau of Asia and Pacific lead the implementation of the project. The Environment team works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment, and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UN's largest portfolio of in-country programming on the environment, climate change, and energy. This extensive body of work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning. The Environment team assists Country Offices and partner developing countries to develop and implement projects that combine and sequence resources from a wide range of global environment and climate funds and from bilateral funding windows.

BRH is recruiting a Pacific GX Energy Policy Specialist for the Project for Promoting Green Transformation in the Pacific Region toward Net-Zero and Climate Resilient Development.

Under the direct supervision of the Environment and Energy Team Lead, the Energy Policy Specialist is responsible for ensuring that capital investment in renewable energy through the Pacific GX project in PNG, Samoa, Timor Leste, and Vanuatu will lead to policy transformation that accelerates the green transformation of those countries. The Specialist is expected to provide policy support to the beneficiary country governments, UNDP country offices, project management unit, and other parties and teams. The specialist is expected to bring in expertise from UNDP's different sections and initiatives including but not limited to the Sustainable Energy Hub (SEH), Climate Hub, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, and Finance Sector Hub. Working to ensure that quality and coherent policy advisory services are provided in the listed countries, the Specialist will ensure alignment with the Strategic Plan and the Regional Just Energy Transition Strategy for Asia and the Pacific. The Specialist is expected to travel to the project countries on a regular basis to ensure continued support to the governments and project teams.

Duties And Responsibilities

Policy advisory support to the governments to accelerate green transformation.

• Work closely with country offices, countries PMUs, and the regional PMU to map the policy advisory needs of the beneficiary governments.
• Analyze the opportunities and bottlenecks in each country's context to come up with strategies to scale up the project interventions through the creation of a necessary enabling environment.
• Engage and collaborate with government institutions to provide direct policy advice, identify legislative and regulatory gaps, define capacity-building needs, and work with the project teams to identify intervention points and opportunities.
• Work closely with countries PMUs in accompanying and reviewing works of consultant firms contracted to deliver country assessments, strategies, and policies under the various projects activities relevant to green transformation.
• Work closely with the regional PMU, countries PMUs, and UNDP country offices to define policy advisory gaps, define mitigation actions, and support implementation.
• Work closely with the regional PMU and countries PMUs to identify capacity gaps in the project countries, develop training programs, and support implementation.
• Support the regional PMU, countries PMUs, and UNDP country offices to develop policy documents on sustainable energy and green transition.
• Work closely with policy teams in BRH and SEH to advance research, testing, and roll-out of newly commissioned policy/business development initiatives.
• Contribute to UNDP's global and regional strategies on energy with Pacific perspectives, priorities, and experiences.
• Contribute to the policy analysis and policy position papers, technical notes, internal briefing notes, and knowledge products in relation to the Project.
• Undertake regular missions to project countries to fulfill the above-stated tasks.
• Contribute to partnerships mapping and resource mobilization efforts to accelerate green transformation in the four countries as and when required.
  
  

Monitoring support to measure the implementation progress, and defining options to overcome key bottlenecks

• Work closely with the regional PMU and country PMU teams for the design, development, and implementation of an effective country-based monitoring system.
• Ensure risks are monitored and managed across the project countries.
• Provide policy-level guidance to improve the effectiveness of the project, based on the monitoring results.
• Work closely with beneficiary governments to identify their potential policy responses to scale up green transformation impacts, based on the monitoring results and the project implementation effectiveness.
• Align with BRH and SEH teams and experts to internalize regional and global monitoring needs of UNDP related to green transformation.
• Contribute to UNDP's regional and global initiatives in terms of providing quality data and content.
  
  

Knowledge development, knowledge management, and south-south cooperation opportunities

• Support the regional PMU, countries PMUs, and UNDP country offices in advocating and enabling south-south cooperation on information exchanges and experiences, and knowledge sharing.
• Provide technical advice to the regional PMU, countries PMUs, and UNDP country offices on mobilizing and fostering external partnerships in and across regions.
• Work with government organizations to promote and trigger south-south cooperation in the context of sustainable energy and green transformation.
• Represent UNDP in the project countries on partner engagements and interagency coordination in sustainable energy policy areas.
• Develop and strengthen linkages between the regional PMU and sustainable energy Communities of Practice regionally and globally.
• Manage the building of strategic alliances and partnerships, especially with key think tanks and non-governmental organizations in the region and beyond.
• Provide technical expertise in identifying tools, developing methodologies, and producing knowledge management products linked to sustainable energy and green transformation policies.
• Support the regional PMU and countries PMUs with continuous analysis, documentation, and codification of regional results/lessons learned.
  
  

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities

• Supervision, management, performance management, and development of personnel and consultants required.
  
  

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
  
  

People Management

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found on the dedicated site
  
  

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

• 2030 Agenda: Planet | Nature, Climate, Energy | Energy: Energy Access
• 2030 Agenda: Planet | Nature, Climate, Energy | Energy: Energy planning, Derisking energy investment and financial appraisal
• 2030 Agenda: Planet Nature, Climate, Energy Energy: Renewable Energy
• Business Development | Integration within the UN | Ability to identify, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.
• Business Direction and Strategy | System thinking | Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
• Business Management | Results-based Management | Ability to manage programs and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results.
• Business Management | Communication | Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.
  
  

Education


Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in energy, climate change, international development, law, international affairs, business administration, development economics, or other relevant fields is required.
• A first-level university degree (Bachelors degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Masters degree.
  
  

Experience, Knowledge, And Skills

• A minimum of 7 years (with Masters degree) or 9 years (with Bachelors degree) of relevant experience in either the public (national or multilateral, including UN) or private (academia, non-governmental sector, corporate) energy sector, with an increasing level of responsibility.
• Technical/advisory experience in the UN System related to climate change and energy desirable.
• Experience in providing policy advisory support to the government is an asset.
• Proven successful experience in mobilizing support from a wide range of partners (public, private, academic, civil society, and business community leaders) is an asset.
• Proven experience in management and resource mobilization is required.
• Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) working experience is highly desirable, particularly within Small Island Developing States.
• Experience in energy policy analysis or energy finance is an asset.
• Excellent knowledge of the English language, with exceptional writing, presentation, and communication skills.
  
  

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (Green Card holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant Information About UNDP Rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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