Background

The UNDP Climate and Forests team is part of the Natural Capital and Environment team in UNDP’s new Global Policy Network (GPN). The team is spread globally, with advisors in New York, Geneva, Panama, Nairobi and Bangkok. The team is responsible for a growing portfolio of $100m largely focusing on support to countries to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation “REDD+”.  UNDP’s REDD+ portfolio includes project activities with the UN-REDD Programme; the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF); the Green Climate Fund (GCF); the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI); and several bilateral REDD+ agreements.  The team works closely with other parts of the Natural Capital and Environment team, particularly, the UNDP-GEF team, the Green Commodities Programme (GCP), and the New York Declaration of Forest global platform). It also works closely with the Climate team within the GPN (particularly with regards to the Nationally Determined Contributions support programme).  The team can support the REDD+ initiatives of the regions and country offices and provide quality assurance on a full cost-recovery basis.

UNDP is a delivery partner for the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF)  in seven countries, with the UNDP Climate and forests team playing key roles in technical assistance, policy advice and quality assurance. In addition, UNDP and the FCPF have elaborated joint guidelines on stakeholder engagement and on grievance redress mechanisms for the REDD+ practice.

UNDP as a delivery partner for Kenya and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, through a multi-stakeholder process, developed the FCPF REDD+ Readiness project. The project aims to put in place mechanisms to enable Kenya to reach its overall REDD+ goal to improve livelihoods and wellbeing, conserve biodiversity, contribute to the national aspiration of attaining a minimum 10% forest cover and mitigate climate change for sustainable development. To achieve this objective, the following outcomes are envisaged: an operational national REDD+ strategy and investment plan; an operational safeguards information system for REDD+; functional multi-stakeholder engagement and capacity building for REDD+; and technical support provided for improvement to the National Forest Monitoring System and Forest Reference Level.

The project shall be implemented through the National Implementation Modality (NIM) with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, in its official role as the coordinator of all climate change activities in Kenya. The Ministry and UNDP will work with collaborating partners drawn from other national and county-level institutions and agencies, independent commissions, the private sector, civil society organizations (CSOs), research/academic institutions and forest dependent communities.

In line with the above-mentioned context, UNDP is seeking to recruit a consultant to support the Project Management Unit in the implementation of the project. The Consultant will work under the UNDP Climate and Forest team and in collaboration with UNDP Kenya Environment Unit to provide support to the implementation of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility REDD+ Readiness project.

Responsibilities

Given the highly complex technical and political nature of REDD+ and noting the complex stakeholder engagement processes that UNDP needs to facilitate on the REDD+ work, the position requires a combination of technical, policy, strategic, and networking skills together with a full understanding of the complexity of development, climate change, and forest and land use issues, policies and negotiations, at the portfolio and international levels.

The consultant is therefore required to provide additional support for quality delivery of the FCPF REDD+ project results. The key responsibilities include:

• Provision of technical support to the Project Management Unit (PMU) which will be responsible for the day to day management of the FCPF REDD+ Project
• Provision of strategic policy and advisory services to the government, project stakeholders and United Nations partners
• Contribution to the enhancement of effective collaboration between REDD+ partners, particularly the Government, the REDD+ Secretariat, the Taskforce on the Africa Court ruling on Ogiek and to enhance Indigenous Peoples’ participation in forest management, the Technical Working Groups, and development partners
• Support enhanced visibility of the REDD+ process, highlighting objectives, experiences, and impact on the ground to form and strengthen partnerships, collaboration, and coalition building between external REDD+ stakeholders, including governmental, non-governmental institutions and the private sector in Kenya.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Regional Technical Advisor, Climate & Forest Team, and with guidance as necessary from other members of the team, the consultant shall:

Technical and management support to PMU

• Provide support to the PMU, Country office and the Regional Climate and forests team in accelerating implementation of the FCPF REDD+ project through ensuring that project meet prescribed requirements and approval processes
• In consultation with the FCPF focal point within the Climate and Forests Team, provide the operational guidance on FCPF requirements to the PMU and key stakeholders
• Support PMU in aligning FCPF REDD+ project Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) related processes, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks
• Facilitate the coordination of harmonized UNDP position in advance of FCPF Participant Committee meetings
• Support PMU in preparing and providing regular technical briefs to the Climate and Forest team and country office colleagues, experts and visiting missions.

Strategic Policy Advisory Services on REDD+

• Support PMU in stakeholder engagement processes in the implementation of the project, with attention to the indigenous communities, independent commissions, county governments and the private sector
• Facilitate partnerships with UN agencies notably UN Office of Human Rights (OHR), UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs with the objective to mobilizing the competencies of different UN agencies to support the work with indigenous communities
• Provide technical guidance to PMU and country office on best practices and tools on safeguards, grievance mechanisms, FPIC and stakeholder engagement
• Support the PMU in addressing the complaints and grievances that may arise on the project
• Support the country office in establishing partnerships and facilitating resources mobilization for REDD+ in Kenya

Knowledge management and communication

• Support PMU in the preparation of technical analysis, compilation of lessons, dissemination of technical findings for the FCPF
• Support the development and management of key communications messages, particularly in managing relationships with indigenous people and key stakeholders and actors

Additional Tasks

• Undertake any other action or other related functions requested by the Senior Regional Technical Advisor and Principal Policy and Technical Advisor.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrate commitment to UNDP´s mission, vision and values
• Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty

Functional Competencies

• Good knowledge of social forestry in Kenya;
• Specific understanding of the concept and practice of REDD+, and broad knowledge of climate change;
• Capacity to work with multiple stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines
• Demonstrated leadership, facilitation and coordination skills, ability to manage technical team and long-term strategic partnership;
• Demonstrated networking, team-building and organizational skills;
• Excellent communication (both oral and written) and partnership building skills with multi-dimension partners, people skill for conflict resolution and negotiation;
• Computer proficiency especially related to professional office software packages (Microsoft Office);
• Maturity and confidence in dealing with the staff of government institutions and private sector;
• Ability to seek and apply knowledge, information and best practices from multiple sectors;
• Excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of case studies and progress reports;
• Excellent coordination skills and result-oriented collaboration with colleagues – especially for this case the private sector and different stakeholders;
• Build strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and respond positively to feedback;
• Good team player who has ability to maintain good relationships.

Qualifications

Education

•   Master’s degree in Environment/Natural Sciences (Agriculture, Ecology, Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainable Land management, etc.), or related areas

Experience

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in Climate Change, Environment and National REDD+ process;
• Strong understanding of climate change, stakeholders’ engagement and advocacy skills and extensive experience in national policies, strong working knowledge of UNDP, government institutions, the civil society sector and working with state public authorities on issues related to climate change;
• Experience in results-based management;
• Experience in drafting reports, analyzing documents and making presentations.

Language

• Fluent in English.

Criteria for selection of best offer

The applicants’ offer will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Combined Scoring method – where the technical qualifications will be weighted a maximum of 70%, and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%;

The key criteria for rating the qualification and methodology are as follows:

Technical criteria (Weight 70%)

• Master’s degree in Environment/Natural Sciences (Agriculture, Ecology, Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainable Land management, etc.), or related areas (20 points)
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in Climate Change, Environment and National REDD+ process (30 points)
• Strong understanding of climate change, stakeholders’ engagement and advocacy skills and extensive experience in national policies, strong working knowledge of UNDP, government institutions, the civil society sector and working with state public authorities on issues related to climate change (30 points)
• Experience in results-based management (10 points)
• Experience in drafting reports, analyzing documents and making presentations (10 points)

How To Apply

Click Here To Apply

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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.