Regional Project Analyst – Home-based

Background Information

UNDP supports governments, businesses, local communities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), In aiming towards circularity, to soundly manage chemicals and waste to reduce the risks of exposure to hazardous chemicals and protect the human health and environment, to phase out chemicals of concern, design out pollution and waste generation, increase the circular use of materials, ensure compliance with waste hierarchy principles and improve residual waste management. These interventions also facilitate the mainstreaming of chemicals and waste management into national development planning and budgeting processes.

UNDP assists over 73 countries in meeting their obligations under the Montreal Protocol on Ozone Depleting Substances and its Kigali Amendment on HFCs (a global commitment that will avoid more than 80 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 2050), the Stockholm Convention on POPs, Minamata Convention on mercury, as well as strategic approach of international chemical management (SAICM).

UNDP has been on the forefront of efforts to advance the Kigali Amendment to tackle climate change and improve cooling efficiency by partnering with developing countries, MLF, GEF, K-CEP, CCAC, Cool Coalition, bilateral donors and private sectors. UNDP’s Chemicals and Waste Program helps client countries improve their capacities for sustainable production and consumption, clean air action plan, integrated waste management (healthcare waste, E-waste, plastics), sustainable and non-chemical development in SIDS, promotion of Green/Circular Economy, resource efficiency, good practice in Artisanal and Gold Mining sector (ASGM), and to make a comprehensive, long-term economic case for circularity and identify chemicals and waste-related interventions to support change.

The Chemicals & Waste Hub (CWH) team, part of the Global Policy Network (GPN), and housed by the Bureau of Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) of the United Nations Development Programme, is organized into a number of substantive technical teams, and part of the staff is located in UNDP’s Regional Hubs providing policy and technical advisory, design, implementation and oversight in accessing funds from the Global Environment Facility, the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol and bilateral donors.

Hence, UNDP aims to support regional planning, resource mobilization and implementation of portfolios, cooling efficiency, circular economy & waste, and their cross-cutting issues particularly related to the technical assistance to the bilateral projects – more specifically International Climate Initiative (IKI) financed CoolUp programme to scale up sustainable cooling in the Middle East and Türkiye – as well as to assist the design and implementation of the other relevant regional/national projects on cooling efficiency, circular economy & waste in Arab States, Europe and Central Asia (ECA) or beyond when necessary. Therefore, the Chemicals & Waste Hub is looking for the services of a Regional Project Analyst to support coherent and systemic impact of these interventions.

Score of Work

Regional Project Analyst will work in close collaboration with the Chemicals and Waste Hub teams and other relevant units in Regional Hubs in Amman and Istanbul, as well as Country Offices. S/he will mainly support implementation of IKI financed regional CoolUp programme – Scaling up sustainable cooling in the Middle East and Türkiye, covering Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye. This project management support will likely be extended to the design and implementation of relevant sustainable cooling (and heating) programmes in various countries of the region (i.e. including Morocco, Tunisia), particularly to be financed by IKI, Mitigation Action Facility (MAF), MLF, GEF or other donors as well as energy efficiency financing through development banks or financial institutions.

The project management on sustainable cooling will be the key focus of the assignment and the Regional Project Analyst is expected to provide following services:

i) Project Management on Sustainable Cooling (CoolUp programme)

• Prepare annual work plans, including financial plans, in consultation with UNDP Country offices and project partners, ensure the plans approval in a timely manner, ensure adherence thereto, revise work plans as required.
• Facilitate the recruitment of project personnel and short-term consultants, along with procurement of goods and services performed by the project in accordance with the Project Document and with approved annual work plans.
• Ensure proper operational and financial management of the project in line with the relevant UNDP rules and procedures.

ii) Technical and coordination support to CWH regional portfolio

• Regional Project Analyst provides technical and coordination support to the regional CWH teams in Arab States and ECA, when requested, to support delivery of CWH portfolio, including but not limited to MLF, GEF and other donors for grants and non-grants financing projects on the cooling efficiency, circular economy & waste initiatives. This work is estimated with up to 30% engagement, varying based on the requests from CWH team if any. Support design, implementation and assurance of national projects, regional projects and regional programmes related to the area of work in coordination with other technical experts from the regional hubs in Amman and Istanbul.
• Analyze and research information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing and identification of strategic programme areas of cooperation.
• Provide advisory services ensuring full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies, and strategies, as well as implementation of the effective internal control systems.

iii) Facilitate Partnerships, Resource Mobilization, Communications and Knowledge Management

• Regional Project Analyst will provide support to the regional CWH teams on partnerships, resource mobilization, communications, and knowledge management, particularly on non-grant or blended finance instruments relevant to sustainable cooling and others CWH programmes. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy, private sector engagement and finance instruments.
• Contribute to partnerships and participate in forums of partners for energy efficiency, circular economy, sustainable finance, and other interventions relevant to the portfolio.
• Explore the partnership and resource mobilization opportunities with IFIs and local/regional development banks to promote the sustainable cooling and circular economy to support UNDP country offices and partners in identifying finance opportunities, developing initiatives and project proposals.

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

Institutional Arrangements

The Regional Project Analyst will be supervised by the Chemicals & Waste Hub Regional Specialist for Arab States and work in close collaboration with the CWH teams and other relevant units at Regional Hubs in Amman and Istanbul. The incumbent will work remotely from his/her home-base and be responsible for providing her/his own workstation (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the incumbent is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones.

Core Competencies 

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies 

Requirements

Academic Education     

•            Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Public/Business Administration, Environment, Economics, Chemicals, Engineering, or other closely related field is required. Or

•            A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields of study, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work experience            

•            Minimum 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of working experience in programme implementation of Montreal Protocol or sustainable cooling at a national or international level is required.

Required skills and competencies          

•            Experience in capturing lessons, developing, and disseminating knowledge materials

Desired additional skills and competencies        

• Experience and knowledge of Montreal Protocol and/or GEF projects is desirable.
• Experience and knowledge of Climate and Energy Finance issues is highly desirable.
• Work experience in implementation of similar projects in the Middle East, Europe and Central Asia is desirable.
• Experience with UNDP or UNDP administered projects is desirable.
• Experience in strategic programming related to sustainable energy, energy efficiency, circular economy and/or waste management is highly desirable

Required Language(s) (at working level)             

• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Working knowledge in Arabic or Turkish is an advantage.

Travel

The post is home-based. The Regional Project Analyst will be expected to travel to client countries, international meetings for UNDP events when needed.

UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.