Overview
The Adaptation Project Specialist will ensure the successful internalisation, management, implementation, and monitoring of climate change adaptation projects in Asia, contributing to the advancement of the Subnational climate-nature portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the development and implementation of projects advancing integrated climate and nature action at the subnational and city level, focusing on nature-based solutions and climate adaptation.
- Support the implementation and oversight of project activities under a portfolio of initiatives on climate–nature action at the subnational level.
- Contribute to the development of partnerships with key international organizations, national and subnational governments, research institutions and other stakeholders.
- Support the coordination of project activities, events, stakeholder engagement processes and the development of knowledge products.
- Assist in project financial and administrative management, including the management of human resources.
- Assist in project monitoring and reporting, including drafting and submitting annual and quarterly project narrative and financial reports.
- Contribute to the preparation of various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, case study compendia, briefs, analytical notes, sections of reports and studies, and inputs to publications.
- Provide administrative and substantive support for consultative meetings and events.
- Undertake any additional supporting tasks as required.
- Guide Programme Management Assistants to develop draft legal agreements for new projects and project extensions.
- Guide Programme Management Assistants to prepare documents for UNEP project internalization and revision processes.
- Maintain regular communication with Project Management Units (PMUs) at the Executing Agencies to oversee project implementation progress.
- Review and clear key technical deliverables, and initiate the processing of associated consultancy payments.
- Participate in Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings.
- Prepare project supervision plans and risk logs for projects and periodically update them.
- Review and clear expenditure reports, prepare budget revisions and cash advances.
- Provide inputs for facilitating the technical and financial closure of projects.
- Travel to undertake project monitoring and planning missions, as required.
- Prepare and send half-yearly progress report templates to Executing Agencies and review such reports.
- Prepare and send GEF Project Implementation Report (PIR), AF Project Progress Report (PPR) and GCF Annual Progress Report (APR) templates to Executing Agencies and review such reports.
- Prepare a Mid-Term Review (MTR) recommendations implementation plan.
- Respond to GEF review comments for projects under development and revise project documents accordingly.
Required Experience
- A minimum of five years of experience in managing projects related to climate change adaptation, nature-based solutions, livelihoods, environment, or development is required.
- Experience working with national governments in Asia is required.
- Knowledge of UN processes and operations and experience working with government institutions or intergovernmental organisations is required.
- Experience working with GEF, GCF, Adaptation Fund, or UNEP projects is an asset.
- Experience in managing multi-stakeholder partnerships is desirable.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in sustainable development, international development, environmental sciences, urban or environmental planning, development studies, or a related field is required.
- A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- Completion of degree or non-degree programmes in data analytics, business analytics, or data science is desirable.
