Date of last update: 05/03/2021 2021-03-05
UNDP is the UN Development Programme and works in some 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. UNDP helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results. UNDP supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as they help shape global sustainable development for the next 10 years.
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Background
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.
Job Purpose and Organizational Context
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction highlight that for development to be sustainable, it must become resilient to growing risks from climate change and climatic disasters.
The Climate Security Mechanism is a joint initiative by UNDP, DPPA and UNEP established in October 2018, to strengthen the capacity of the UN system to address the interlinkages between climate change, prevention and sustaining peace, the evidence base, including on management and response strategies, and policy and advocacy. With this purpose, the Mechanism was tasked by the Executive Committee/ Deputies Committee of the UN Secretary-General to develop a conceptual approach and toolbox for the integrated risk analysis and assessment of climate-related security risks. The Mechanism also facilitates a Community of Practice on Climate Security of 20+ UN agencies, including the World Bank, the Peacebuilding Fund, and DCO, to promote coordination and information exchange and raise awareness of climate security with UN leadership, Country Offices, Special Political Missions, and Peace Operations.
The climate security agenda is a pertinent one in the Arab Region as well, which already stands as the world's most water-scarce and food import-dependent region, and with temperatures rising faster than the global average. Climate change has emerged as one of the most complex and essential phenomena exacerbating poverty and human insecurity in the Arab region. In catalyzing greater levels of water insecurity, reduced agricultural productivity, and fragility of land and ecosystem services, climate change is now increasing social vulnerability, exacerbating conflict, and triggering displacement in the region. Most of the conflict-affected contexts in the region are also some of the world's top climate risk hotspots, with climate-resilient approaches to development becoming increasingly important from both crisis prevention and recovery perspectives.
The League of Arab States (LAS) is a regional intergovernmental organization established on 22 March 1945. The main goal of the organization is to "Draw closer relations between member States and coordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider the interests of the Arab countries, "with a focus on developing the economy, resolving disputes and coordinating political issues. The League of Arab States aims at improving the standards of living of the Arab citizens through developing and enhancing economic and social policies to achieve Arab integration within the framework of the Arab conventions, charters, and strategies adopted in all areas. In response to the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States issued resolution 91/1 in April 2016 to establish the Sustainable Development and International Cooperation Department (SDIC) within the structure of the Secretariat to support Arab efforts in implementing the sustainable development goals 2030. LAS-SDIC main challenges in achieving sustainable development are water scarcity, climate change, high rates of illiteracy, increased population rates, low level of infrastructure, and conflicts.
LAS-SDIC led the establishment of the Climate Risk Nexus Initiative (CRNI) bringing together multiple UN agencies (UNDP, UNEP-FI, WFP, UN-Habitat, UNDRR) and the Arab Water Council to address the climate risk nexus challenges in the region. One of the projects contributing to the CRNI is the SDG-Climate Facility Project: Climate Action for Human Security, a four-year regional project for countries in the Arab States, expected to run until December 2022, with a budget of USD 9.4 million. The project aims to enhance the capacity of regional and national institutions across the region to address climate change in a way that brings benefits across multiple SDGs, development and humanitarian goals. The multi-partner initiative promotes integrated solutions for climate action that brings benefits for priority SDGs like poverty eradication, women's empowerment, access to water, access to clean and affordable energy, ecosystem resilience, and for crisis prevention and recovery efforts. It is focused on helping countries to integrate climate risk into their local SDG action, as well as crisis recovery plans and processes. The project also focuses on helping generate and implement innovative finance instruments and partnerships for achieving SDG 13 on climate action in the region, including co-benefits for related SDGs on energy, food, and water.
LAS-SDIC established as well the Arab Geographical Information Room (AGIR) to address the integration of the SDGs and help to achieve adequate information that improves the coherence between the three global agendas. AGIR was established by the League of Arab States, hosted by the Arab Water Council (AWC), to address the information and analytical gaps to inform decision-makers in the region better. AGIR, therefore, has been working to "unpack" complex topics of how emerging climate-related risks interact with structural challenges, and how to foster coherence and alignment between regional, national and local actions and minimize trade-offs between different sectors while setting up development plans—contributing to increasing knowledge towards a more in-depth assessment in several climate change areas, including risk, resilience, and nexus. AGIR is utilizing advanced technologies, satellite imagery, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in conducting regional analysis for climate change patterns and hydro-meteorological risks in the Arab region.
The Climate Security Mechanism is looking to recruit a Climate and Security Risk Policy Specialist- the Arab States to help: advance the work of regional partners in the Arab States on climate security, building on foundational work ongoing in the region by the League of Arab States, including the Climate Risk Nexus Initiative (LAS-CRNI) and Arab Geographical Information Room, together with the UNDP Regional Hub in Amman connecting to select regional initiatives, such as the SDG-Climate Facility Project: Climate Action for Human Security.
The Policy Specialist is co-located at the headquarters of the League of Arab States – Sustainable Development and International Cooperation Department, in Cairo, Egypt and will report to LAS-SDIC Director with a second reporting line to Head of Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions, at UNDP.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Climate and Security Risk - Policy Specialist – the Arab States will be expected to undertake the following:
1) Provide advisory support to strengthen the capacity of the League of Arab States to address the issues of climate-security in the region (40%)
a. Enhance the capacity of the League of Arab States, in particular, the Sustainable Development and International Cooperation Department to address the issues of climate-security in the region through the platforms provided by the LAS;
b. Work in close coordination with the director of the Sustainable Development Department to support her efforts in establishing a clear position of LAS on the issue of climate-security, and articulating linkages to global debates in this regard, including the Climate Security Mechanism, relevant Security Council Resolutions, and others as appropriate, and building on outcomes of the Climate Security Mechanism, including the conceptual approach and the Climate Security Toolbox and the regional SDG-Climate Facility, including activities related to the Climate-Security network for the Arab States;
c. Based on specific demands, and at the request of the director of the Sustainable Development Department, provide technical advice and assistance to member states who are interested in addressing the climate-security nexus at country level;
d. Provide analytical inputs and context-specific updates to the UNDP representative in the CSM and support CSM-led knowledge management activities.
2) Support LAS's knowledge management, advocacy, and communication on the issue of climate-security for the region (40%)
a. Act as a focal point between the LAS and other partners (in particular partners of the SDG-Climate Facility project) to establish synergies and enhance interlinkages between the outputs of those organizations;
b. Take the substantive lead to coordinate the organization of specific policy dialogues and other member-states driven event through the LAS platform to ensure they are informed by ongoing regional research, and other initiatives that address the climate-security nexus in the region, in particular the outputs generated through the SDG-Climate Facility Project, and other topics within the framework of the LAS-driven Climate Security Nexus Initiative;
c. In collaboration with relevant partners, identify areas for further research and analysis on the issue of climate-security in the region; identify potential regional partners who can implement the research activities;
d. Based on regional analysis, available information, support the identification of potential programmatic entry points that can be considered by different actors to support member states' strengthening of climate-security related initiatives at the country level.
3) Support the LAS contributions of the Climate-Security Network for the Arab States (20%)
a. Contribute to knowledge management activities of the Climate Security Mechanism and the UN Community of Practice on Climate and Security;
b. In close collaboration with the SDG-Climate Facility and consultation with the CTA/Project Manager of the SDG-Climate Facility, and other relevant project partners, support the various activities to support the Climate-Security Network for the Arab States;
c. Act as a resource person to lead LAS substantive contribution to the Climate-Security Network for the Arab States, including in particular by representing the interests and needs of LAS member states.
Competencies
Core
Innovation
Leadership
People Management
Communication
Delivery
Technical/Functional
Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction
Development Effectiveness
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Experience:
Language Requirements:
Other:
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Type of contract: Staff (Permanent and Fixed Term)
Duration: 1 year with possibility for extension
Macro-area: Middle East and Northern Africa
Level of experience: Senior Professional, more than 5 years
Area of work Definition: Security and Safety / Security Risk Management
Type of organisation: Multilateral Organisations