National Programme Officer, SB4/Mid, UNEP, DS – Kyiv, National Рosition

Within the Ecosystem Division, Disaster and Conflict Branch is the main mechanism for channeling UNEP’s support to areas of the world where the natural and human environment have been damaged by conflicts and disasters. Specialized environmental expertise is provided to rapidly identify risks to health, livelihoods and ecosystem services and to integrate environmental needs within the recovery process. The Branch’s work demonstrates to decision makers the importance of natural resources management as a precondition for sustainable recovery and development in crisis-affected contexts and as an instrument for peacebuilding and disaster risk reduction. Since 1999, the team has provided technical assistance and conducted field operations in over 50 crisis-affected countries and works in close cooperation with the humanitarian, development and peace-building frameworks of the UN system.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an inter-governmental organization mandated to promote the widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. IRENA’s mission is to play a leading role in the ongoing transformation of the global energy systems as a centre of excellence for knowledge and innovation, a global voice of renewable energy, a network hub for all stakeholders and a source of advice and support for countries. At present, IRENA has 170 Members that acceded to its Statute, and 14 additional States in the process of accession and actively engaged.

This post is located in the Response and Recovery Unit of the Disaster and Conflict Branch at the Kyiv, Ukraine duty station and will work in close cooperation and coordination with UNEP Cities Branch and IRENA.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Senior Programme Officer, the National Programme Officer will support UNEP Cities Unit and IRENA in delivering the project activities as described in the project document titled Unlocking short and long-term solutions for green and resilient energy in Ukrainian cities.

The National Programme Officer will in particular work in close co-ordination with the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Environment and local government partners in city and regional institutions, ensuring communication and data collection for successful implementation of the UNEP and IRENA activities under the current project.

Summary of key functions:
•    Management and coordination of the project, implementing activities by mobilizing goods and services, in accordance with respective rules and regulations
•    Reporting and documentation related to the project 
•    Support partnership activities at project level
Contribute to the project implementation and reporting: 
•    Deliver substantive and content-related support for project implementation in Ukrainian and English to address communication challenge;
•    Monitor and document urban and decentralized energy initiatives, events, and activities at the local level that may influence project activities or present opportunities for strategic engagement;
•    Provide consistent updates on policy, regulatory, and situational developments that could impact project implementation or necessitate adjustments to current strategies;
•    Facilitate information flows and oversee project implementation in cooperation with UNEP Cities and IRENA; 
•    Perform site visits related to the implementation and monitoring of the project components;
•    Support the organization of project-related events, such as capacity buildings, including identifying potential participants, managing invitations, coordinating logistics and follow-ups;
•    Support substantive and financial monitoring of projects, identification of operational problems and development of solutions; 
•    Liaise with the Senior Programme Officer and relevant UNEP and IRENA staff on the implementation progress and advise of any deviations from the project plan; 
•    Maintain records of project files and other supporting documents; 
•    Prepare project completion reports and ensure compliance with contractual obligations;
•    Support coordination and participate and contribute to local and international expert group meetings.
•    Provide substantive inputs in the preparation of project reports and documents;

Stakeholder management, partnership coordination, and data gathering:
•    Support the coordination and management of communications with donors, implementing partners, and other cooperation agencies;
•    Support communication flow with National and local government in Ukraine for data collection and processing;
•    Support communication with National and local authorities regarding the development of pre-feasibility studies and project documentation;
•    Preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of cooperation opportunities; 
•    Participate in meetings with donors, Project Steering Committees, UN Agencies, NGO’s and other stakeholders as required.

Support the UNEP and IRENA’s teams’ provision of top-quality advisory services to the Ukrainian cities and their respective utilities and facilitate knowledge building and management:
•    Identify relevant challenges and policy-driven issues in urban energy that have a direct impact on Ukrainian reconstruction; and identify and compile best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals.
•    Support establishment and strengthening of national and international advocacy networks and capacity building activities. Implement relevant, high-impact advocacy with key partners. 
•    Support development of policies and institutions to address country problems and needs in collaboration with local municipal and regional government, Ministry of Energy and other strategic partners. 
•    Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms.
•    Organize training for the operations/ projects staff on programme related matters in assigned programme areas.

Support IRENA in the advancement of the deployment of integrated and renewable energy systems Ukraine through targeted feasibility studies, pilot actions, and investment strategies.
•    Work with IRENA staff and designated consultants in preparing and evaluating the necessary documentation for a 30MW solar plant to access financing through IRENA’s Climate Investment Platform (CIP) and Energy Transition Accelerator Financing (ETAF) project facilitation platforms. This includes building on priority investment plans to prepare specific pre-feasibility studies in partnership with development banks and financiers to assess the viability of urban clean energy projects, including district energy systems.  
•    Work with IRENA staff and designated consultants in developing the feasibility studies of localized renewable energy systems by collaborating with key stakeholders, including real estate developers, cities, and utilities
 

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNEP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning 

• Promotes knowledge management in UNEP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects;
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets, manage contributions and investments, manage transactions, conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery;
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals;
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/attitudinal change;
• Ability to select, priorities and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment;
• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks;
• Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.

Management and Leadership

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
•  Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.