Regional Technical Specialist for Climate Change Adaptation

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Organization: UNDP

Closing Date: October 30, 2025, 05:59 AM

Job Description

Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below.

Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates)  

Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA) and personnel on regular PSA contracts

Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates 

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government, and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

BPPS’s Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, with the support of the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit, works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy and waste.

The newly established UNDP Climate Hub is the arrowhead of UNDP’s commitment to the “Climate Promise” that aims to support programming countries designing and implementing pledges under the Paris Agreement, including ambitious National Determined Contributions, with climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions fully embedded in the national development planning and budgetary processes. The Climate Hub will build on UNDP’s existing over USD 4 billion country-level climate portfolio on Climate Change Policies and Strategies, Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Change Mitigation, Climate and Forests, covering over 142 countries, as well as on UNDP’s Nature portfolio, UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP’s Digital offer and other relevant portfolios on youth, gender, health, climate security among others.

The UNDP Climate Hub is responsible for: 

• Thought leadership on Climate and to be the custodian of UNDP policy positions on Climate.
• Strategy and vision formulation.
• Pipeline development in coordination with the other hubs and the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit.
• Provision of integrated policy and programme support to Country Offices.
• Global engagement, advocacy in collaboration with BERA.
• Integration across thematic areas.
• Strategic Partnerships development and resource mobilization.
• Lead and Support global flagship initiatives and partnerships on Climate.
• Serve as focal point with relevant UN coordination mechanisms and Conventions (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change);
• Cross-organization knowledge and learning; and
• Innovation.

Climate Change Adaptation Programme

Climate change could drive an additional 100 million people into poverty by 2030. Countries have increasingly included adaptation priorities in their NDCs pointing to issues of water and food security, safeguarding economic assets from extreme climate events and disasters, and protection and regeneration of natural capital. Building on the experiences and lessons from a portfolio of initiatives in over 100 countries, UNDP advances a ‘whole-of-society’ approach to accelerate adaptation and continues to support countries to mobilize public and private finance to implement their adaption priorities. UNDP assists government partners to scale up the integration of climate change adaptation into policy, planning, and investments at both national and local levels through the support to the National Adaptation Planning (NAP) process and the NDCs. UNDP supports climate change adaptation action in the context of agriculture and food security, water resources, coastal zone management, ecosystems protection, public health, resilient infrastructure, urban resilience, livelihoods, and climate information/early warnings.

UNDP works with governments, private sector, academia, and civil society to build capacities to implement transformative approaches to securing resilient lives, livelihoods, ecosystems, and markets, particularly focusing on the most vulnerable and marginalized. With a portfolio of adaptation projects and programmes across 100+ countries, UNDP is a key actor within the UN System in supporting countries to access and catalyze public and private finance to implement their adaptation priorities in the context of the SDG agenda.

The strategic objective of the Climate Change Adaptation Team is to develop the capacity of national and sub-national Governments for adaptation planning and support countries in accessing, mobilizing, and implementing adaptation finance for resilient development. To achieve this, the team focuses its efforts on the following signature programmes:

• Supporting integration of climate risks into national/sub-national planning and budgeting: Supports national and sub-national governments (with focus on Ministries of Finance and planning bodies) to develop and strengthen policies, institutions, capacities and knowledge for climate-risk informed medium- to long-term planning, and to make use of the full range of public and private financing mechanisms to support adaptation investments.
• Advancing resilient Livelihoods, Food and Agricultural systems, Water Security, Coastal Zone management, and Ecosystems:  Advances climate resilient livelihoods across vulnerable sectors and populations promoting socio-economic development, especially for the poor, women, and indigenous peoples. Also, provides assistance to country-led efforts on gender-responsive, climate change risk management in the context of food security and resilient agriculture, water resources, coastal zone development, ecosystem restoration and management, public health, and climate change-related disaster risks.
• Strengthening Climate Information and Early Warning Systems for Climate Resilient Development: Supports the development of climate information and Early Warning Systems (EWS) across a range of countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific in order to help them respond to both short-term/rapid onset climatic hazards (e.g. cyclones, floods and storms), as well as long-term/slow onset hazards (e.g. drought and long-term climate change).
• Promoting private sector engagement in adaptation: Supports the engagement of private sector in the adaptation portfolio through understanding of barriers, risks, and opportunities to the private sector in adaptation. Works with the private sector experts and other RTS/RTAs to help design and deliver projects that advance unlocking of private sector investments to support adaptation on the ground.

Position Purpose

The Regional Technical Specialist for Climate Change Adaptation is primarily responsible for providing high quality technical policy, programming, implementation support and oversight, and knowledge and capacity development services to UNDP country offices in the region.  Secondary clients might include other UN agencies, governments and inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, donors, and the like.  The Regional Technical Specialist (RTS) will work under the overall supervision of the Regional Technical Advisor based in Addis Ababa as primary supervisor and the Environment Regional Team Leader as secondary supervisor. The incumbent will also work in close collaboration with other Regional Technical Specialists and Advisors at both regional and global levels. The RTS will be part of the Climate Hub and located in the Regional Hub for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia supporting country offices in the region and is expected to travel frequently.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages cross interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & rises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Promote Innovation, Strategic Leadership, Dialogue and Advocacy

• Support the establishment and maintenance of a strategic understanding of and engagement with substantive technical issues, institutions, and processes in the region. This includes building strategic partnerships with agencies, donors, NGOs, the private sector, scientific institutions, and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to the identification, development, and implementation of new strategic programming opportunities and partnerships in climate change adaptation, low-emission and climate-resilient development, and sustainable livelihoods.
• Participate in global retreats, focal area retreats, regional strategic planning, and pipeline management exercises.
• Engage in cross-substantive area technical dialogues, strategic visioning, mainstreaming, and collaborative programming within the regional team.
• Keep the Regional Team informed of emerging trends and key issues related to climate change adaptation and resilience.

Advise and Support on Programming and Management

• Support the development of strategic policy and guidance to strengthen UNDP Country Offices in designing and implementing climate change adaptation projects, ensuring alignment with national priorities.
• Guide in developing and advocating for policy analysis tools and guidance to enhance programming and financing for climate adaptation.
• Support the establishment of UNDP Climate Hub and Vertical Fund Unit as trusted leaders within the region.
• Source technical expertise, including drafting Terms of Reference (TORs), identifying and evaluating experts, and reviewing reports.
• Contribute to regional retreats, focal area retreats, strategic planning, and pipeline management exercises.
• Promote gender equity and empowerment in programming opportunities.
• Ensure strategies and projects align with country outcomes and UNDP’s corporate environmental results in internal tracking systems.
• Provide inputs to maintain quality and accurate data in internal systems such as PIMS+, monitor portfolio delivery rates, assess project risks, and ensure timely risk escalation as needed.
• Support the Regional Hub in integrating lessons from evaluations into regional programming.

Advise and Support on Resource Mobilization

• Provide timely, high-quality information and technical advice on donor policies, priorities, and funding opportunities.
• Offer technical guidance, review, and quality assurance for concept notes and project proposals submitted to donors.
• Support the coordination and technical oversight on project design, preparation, submission, and approval processes for development financing.
• Facilitate liaison with potential co-financing agencies and institutions to strengthen funding opportunities.
• Continuously explore opportunities for scale-up of UNDP’s adaptation investments by partnering with other development agencies and private sector entities that are applying non-grant financial instruments.

Ensure Quality Assurance and Development Impact

• Guide with project inception, contracting, and startup, ensuring the establishment of indicators, benchmarks, and work plans.
• Support UNDP Country Offices in project supervision, implementation oversight, monitoring, evaluation, troubleshooting, and adaptive management.
• Provide quality assurance for annual reports and work plans.
• Maintain project and portfolio information in corporate systems.
• Develop guidance and tools for operationalizing projects, including inception, contracting, and startup processes.
• Support Country Offices and the Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) in aligning regional and country priorities, while liaising with other regional hub practices.

Facilitate Learning, Knowledge Management and Self Development 

• Evaluate, capture, codify, and synthesize lessons learned, promoting the uptake of best practices through knowledge materials and resource kits.
• Conduct peer reviews, provide technical feedback, and improve the quality of projects, policies, guidelines, advisory notes, and publications.
• Assist in the preparation of regional Community of Practice meetings.
• Develop and deliver training courses or webinars for knowledge sharing as needed.
• Create knowledge products relevant to UNDP Climate Hub’s work on low-emission, climate-resilient development.
• Develop and implement a personal learning plan for continuous professional growth.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervision, performance management, and development of Programme Associate will be required.

Competencies

Core competencies:

Achieve Results            

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively        

• Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

Learn Continuously    

• Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility 

• Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.

Act with Determination            

• Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner     

• Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion            

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

People Management:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: 

Business Direction & Strategy: Systems 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 Development: UNDP Representation         

• Effectively represent and advocate for UNDP, its values, mission, work, and positions with various constituencies/audiences, shares UNDP knowledge and activities.

Business Management: Results-based Management             

• Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.

Business Management: Project Management             

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Business Management: Partnership Management

• 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.

2030 Agenda: Planet-Climate                

• Climate change adaptation policy and planning: National Adaptation Plans.

Business Management: Portfolio Management            

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity.
• Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment.
• Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Economics, Environmental Law, Natural Resources Management, Sustainable Development, Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation, International Development with a specialization in Climate Change Adaptation, Environment and Development, or other closely related field is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience (with a master’s degree), or 7 years’ (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience working with developing countries on climate change adaptation and/or community-level finance (e.g. microfinance) is required.
• At least 3 years of experience in substantive functions that relate to technical domains relevant for climate change adaptation such as water, agriculture, livelihoods, infrastructure, ecosystem protection, disaster risk reduction, coastal protection, and adaptation finance is required.
• At least 3 years of experience with project development, implementation, and/or management (direct project management) experience is required.
• Experience in the policy development processes associated with environment and sustainable development issues is desired.
• Extensive experience developing or implementing adaptation projects with financing from vertical funds (the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, Least Developed Country Fund and/or Special Climate Change Fund) is highly desirable.
• Experience in resource mobilization and strategic partnership development (e.g. with governments, UN agencies, donors, NGOs, the private sector, scientific institutions, and other stakeholders) in the areas of environment and sustainable development is desired.
• Experience in program management including managerial experience, procurement, recruitment of staff and/or consultants is desired.
• Experience working in developing countries is highly desirable.
• Experience working in an international organization is an advantage, especially with knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures, and practices.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in French, Portuguese and/or another UN languages is an asset.

 

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert!

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

 

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