About the position

Background

UNDP Cambodia Country Office works in partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC), nongovernment organizations, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, multilateral agencies, bilateral donors and private sector to support the progress towards the Cambodia SDGs. To support the implementation of the Country Programme 2019-2023, the Policy and Innovation Unit plays an important role within the Country Office to develop high level policy and technical advisory support to the government, as well as provide technical assistance for implementation of portfolios/projects. Its work is guided by three sets of strategies: 1) research, policy and innovation, 2) advocacy and 3) programming.  The Unit is expected to contribute to as well as deliver results under three main programmatic pillars: 1) Prosperity, 2) Planet and 3) Peace and Participation.

Over the past two decades Cambodia has realized exceptional rates of economic growth averaging over 7% prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with persistent declines in poverty and rapid improvements in human development. Yet Cambodia faces several development challenges. Pressures stemming from Cambodia’s rapid progression as a Middle-Income Country (MIC) have tended to be resource and carbon intensive, resulting in environmental challenges and natural resource depletion. Moreover, the country is facing the impact of climate change. As Cambodia is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are opportunities for a more sustainable and resilient development pathway.

UNDP Cambodia has been playing an important role in supporting the development and implementation of environment and climate change related policies and strategies of the RGC. The current priorities of the Nature, Climate and Energy (NCE) programme include: 1) turn climate commitments into action; 2) increase access to electricity and promote sustainable energy solutions; 3) promote nature-based solutions to enhance natural resource management and reduce deforestation; and 4) advance Cambodia’s transition to a circular economy.

One of the relevant projects under the NCE portfolio is the UNDP-Sida global Programme on Environment and Climate Change, whose main objective is to support UNDP Cambodia in ensuring environmental sustainability through an integrated, coherent approach to the environment and climate-related parts of the Strategic Development Plan and to strengthen UNDP Cambodia’s capacity to address key environmental challenges.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Environment and Climate Change Officer will be supervised by the Environment Policy Specialist (Sustainable Financing and Natural Resource Management). S/he will be based in the Policy and Innovation Unit, but will work closely with personnel in the Programme Unit. S/he will regularly liaise with colleagues within the Country Office, consultants, and partners. The position may also be required to take on other initiatives within the scope of TOR depending on workload at the time.

The Senior Environment and Climate Change Officer will perform the following key functions:

• Provide technical advice, inputs and other support to the implementation of the environment/nature/climate portfolio or cluster of projects.
• Coordinate and lead the processes of policy dialogue, consultation and formulation related to environmental issues with government and development partners.
• Contribute to programming and pipeline formulation as well as partnership building for the environment/nature/climate portfolio or cluster of projects
• Support enhancement of UNDP’s visibility and promote knowledge management.

Provide technical advice, inputs and other support to the implementation of the environment/nature/climate portfolio or cluster of projects

• Provide technical support to the design of roadmaps and annual work plans of activities in the nature/environment/climate portfolio across various thematic areas such as natural resource management, biodiversity, sustainable consumption and production (circular economy), chemicals management, sustainable financing, green economy.
• Provide technical support to the implementation of activities in the nature/environment/climate portfolio, such as review of TORs for activities/meetings/consultants, technical review of relevant documents produced as part of project implementation, participation in field missions to monitor status of project implementation, provision of recommendations to improve technical quality of project implementation and adjustment of on-going programmes.
• Support the creation of synergies across different projects in the portfolio and with other practices or portfolios in the Country Office (e.g., economic and governance, Accelerator Lab).
• For projects managed directly by the Senior Environment and Climate Change Officer, ensure funds are made available and proper use of project resources in line with UNDP’s Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures; prepare project progress reports according to their respective reporting guidelines/ requirements; monitor and keep track of project implementation progress and project risks.

Coordinate and lead the processes of policy dialogue, consultation and formulation related to environmental and climate change issues with government and development partners

• Collect, compile, analyse and interpret environment related data, thorough research of the evidenced-based issues in the country and production of relevant reports.
• Produce policy reports and manage consultation processes.
• Facilitate policy dialogue on environment related issues with the government, development partners, civil society, the private sector; contributions to development of policies as relevant.
• Provide policy options, particularly from an environment and human development perspectives, on macroeconomic and development issues to government and other development actors.
• Support the provision of inputs to UNDP senior management on environment and climate change related policy and other relevant issues.
• Develop ToRs of, and supervise relevant consultants and provide quality assurance.

Contribute to programming and pipeline formulation as well as partnership building for the environment/nature/climate portfolio or cluster of projects

• Support identification of areas of UNDP comparative advantages in the field of environment and contribute to the expansion of the NCE portfolio in line with national priorities and in partnership with other stakeholders.
• Assist UNDP’s team to formulate project concept notes, project proposals and full project documents including information materials in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate and organize stakeholder meetings/events/workshops to discuss priority issues on environment and climate change with key stakeholder.
• Assist the Country Office to explore the potential for private sector partnerships on environment.
• Support UNDP’s participation in environment related technical working groups (e.g., within the UN Country Team or with development partners).
• Facilitate consultations required for the including Internal Project Appraisal Committee meeting, Local Project Appraisal Committee Meeting.

Support enhancement of UNDP’s visibility and promote knowledge management

• Coordinate and support the preparation of inputs from the CO to articles/policy briefs/position papers that address links between environment/climate change and other development concerns, in collaboration with other practices such as governance, poverty reduction, gender, crisis prevention and recovery, and capacity development.
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks through identification of best practices and lessons learned.
• Support communication efforts of the Country Office in the area of environment and climate change, including development of communication products related to assigned projects, such as project briefs, success stories, blogs etcetera.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall effectiveness and efficiency of UN environment and climate change activities in the country, including short, medium and long-term planning, improved business results and client services.  They also impact on increasing Governments’, partners’, and civil society and communities’ awareness and knowledge of the nexus between environment/climate change and development. Accurate analysis, presentation and knowledge sharing promote timely positioning and readjustment of UNDP programme management.

Competencies

Core competencies: 

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Cross-Functional and Technical competencies:

Business Direction & 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 programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
• Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
• 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

2030 Agenda: Planet

• Nature, Climate and Energy: Ecosystems and biodiversity; Climate change policies; Environment: Poverty-Environment Nexus; Green Economy: Circular economy concepts, policies and tools; Green Economy: Green economy and green growth.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in environment, natural resource economics, political science or related social science or other closely related fields.

Experience:

• Master’s with at least 5 years or Bachelor’s with at least 7 years of relevant work experience on environment and climate change related issues.
• Experience in policy and research work in environment and climate related issues (it is an advantage if this work covers the nexus between environment/climate and broader sustainable development).
• Experience in project development and management.
• Experience in engaging/liaising/collaborating with multi stakeholders including the government, NGOs, private sector, and CSOs
• Proven knowledge of the country’s institutional framework and policies of environment and climate change.
• Prior experience in working with the UN or other development partners is an asset.
• Experience in resource mobilization: ability to identify and organize programmes  and projects to implement solutions and generate resources is an advantage.

Language Requirement:

• Working knowledge of spoken and written Khmer and English.

How to apply

Note: This position is open for Cambodia nationals only

You need to apply online.

For more detail Click here