Result of Service

The purpose of this consultancy is to support ACPC in implementing support to member states in building resilience through integration of climate change in their policies, strategies, plans and actions, therefore, the consultant will lead and coordinate the development of a framework to support African countries to elaborate and communicate a new inclusive, ambitious and economy wide NDCs which are implementable and fundable.

Work Location

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Expected duration

6 working months

Duties and Responsibilities

The African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is a centre for knowledge generation and delivery to strengthen, influence and enable the transition to climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development through responsive policies, plans and programmes towards transformed economies, healthy ecosystems, and human wellbeing. ACPC was established in 2008 at the First Joint Annual Meetings of the African Union (AU) Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance and ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (COM) and became operational in 2010 with the dual mandate to provide climate policy guidance to member countries and to serve as the secretariat of the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) programme. The ACPC was created with the intention of mainstreaming climate change into the work of ECA to support Africa countries and to enable African countries build economies that are climate resilient because, Africa’s core economic sectors are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate variability and change. Taking agriculture as an example, the sector contributes to around 30 per cent of GDP and employs up to 80 per cent of the population but the sector is highly vulnerable to rainfall variability and shifting seasons, and future projection are not promising. More efforts are needed to cap the GHG and transitioning to low carbon development. According to the Global Stoke Take reports, the current national commitments fall short by 20.3 to 23.9 gigatons of CO2 equivalent compared to the levels required to limit warming to 1.5 °C by 2030. To achieve the Paris Agreement targets, the GHG emissions must be cut by 40% by 2030 and by 60% by 2035 from the 2019 levels, and ultimately reach the net zero CO2. Therefore, bold transformative changes across all sectors are needed increase mitigation efforts by scaling up renewable energy investments while phasing out fossil fuels, and curtailing deforestation to curb global warming. Notwithstanding enhanced mitigation efforts, strengthening adaptation measures are needed to cope with intensifying climate impacts, particularly for communities least equipped to handle them. These impacts escalate with each fraction of a degree of global warming, with some effects becoming irreversible if temperatures rise beyond 1.5°C. Accordingly, the GST invited organizations in a position to provide capacity-building support in the preparation and communication of the next NDCs. In particular, African countries will require significant support on various aspects of NDC preparation and implementation. It is in this context that ACPC, with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) is implementing since 2019 support to member states in building resilience through integration of climate change in their policies, strategies, plans and actions, is looking for a consultant to lead and coordinate the development of a framework to support African countries to elaborate and communicate a new inclusive, ambitious and economy wide NDCs which are implementable and fundable. The consultant will work with networks of stakeholders supporting NDC preparation in Africa, and with support from Research Assistance, to coordinate research, data collection and collation, and design a framework for coordinate support to member states. General Objective: The overall objective of this consultancy is to develop a framework to guide member states to prepare enhanced, inclusive, and comprehensive economy wide NDCs, taking into considerations of loss and damage, and aligned to the AU Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Lead and supervise desk review existing African NDC, assess and identify gaps that could be closed for economy wide enhanced NDC ambitions. 2. Coordinate and supervise desk review and widely consult with stakeholders supporting NDC preparation in Africa, including OIBC4 partners, the NDC Hub, National NDC focal points, and the UNFCCC Secretariat among others, to collect inputs into the development of new revised framework for NDCs 3. 3. Identify and assess available economic, financial and environmental data and other relevant information which can be deployed to guide the preparation of the NDCs 4. Develop a framework to guide member states in the preparation of the NDCs, and especially how the NDCs will be implemented through Long-term Low Emissions Development Strategies (Lt-LEDS). 5. Identify 3 member states in which to validate and implement the NDC support framework and, working with relevant stakeholders, support the selected countries to elaborate, finalize and communicate their new NDC. Key deliverables: 1. Inception report showing methodology of work and action plan with clear timelines of assignment delivery. 2. A draft framework report for economy wide NDCs 3. Report on consultations undertaken in the development of NDC framer. 4. Report on options for supporting implementation/domestication of AU Climate Change Strategy. 5. Draft NDCs in 3 selected countries 6. Recommendations for the development of Lt-LEDS in 3 member states Reporting: The consultant will work under the supervision of the Chief of the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) of the Technology, Climate Change and Natural Resources Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: Advanced university degree in climate change and environment, development, or related field. Experience: A senior development policy professional with a minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level in development. Knowledge and sound understanding of Africa development issues and climate change impacts on the continent required. Communication: The consultant must possess excellent report writing, written and verbal communication skills, as well as excellent presentation skills. Planning and Organizing: The consultant can develop clear goals that are consistent with the agreed work plan and strategies; identify priority activities and assignments; adjust priorities as required; allocate an appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresee risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; use time efficiently. Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve goals; solicit input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; learn from others; place team agenda before personal agenda; share credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings; value and support a multicultural and diverse work environment.

Languages

English and French are the working language of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of the French language is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.