JPO – Green and Resilient Recovery Analyst

The UNDP Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme:

The UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) JPO Programme equips outstanding young leaders with the skills and experience required to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and make a positive difference in the world. As a pathway into the world of development, the programme offers young professionals’ excellent exposure to multilateral cooperation and sustainable development while providing a valuable entry point into the UN system.

During their assignments, JPOs benefit from the guidance of experienced UNDP staff members and are actively involved in supporting the design and implementation of UNDP’s programs within UNDP’s headquarters, regional or country offices. Additionally, the JPO will undergo a journey of exposure and growth which will build both personal and professional capacity for a career within the multilateral development sector.

As a JPO and young professional in UNDP you should be interested in pursuing a global career with aspiration to work for a field-based organization in support of the development agenda.

The JPO will work as part of a team and be supervised by an experienced UNDP staff member, including:

• Structured guidance and feedback, especially in the beginning of the assignment, with the purpose of gradually increasing of responsibilities
• Establishment of a work plan, with clear key results
• Guidance and advice in relation to learning and training opportunities within the field of expertise
• Completion of the yearly UNDP Annual Performance Review (APR) including learning and development objectives

The JPO will benefit from the following learning and development opportunities:

• Participation in a virtual Programme Policy and Operations Induction Course within the first 4 to 6 months of assignment
• Use of yearly JPO duty-related travel and training allocation (DTTA), as per the online DTTA guide
• On-going Masterclasses on relevant and inspiring themes
• Career development support mechanisms and activities
• Networking with fellow JPOs, young professionals and senior UNDP colleagues
• Mentoring programme
• Other training and learning opportunities, as presented in the UNDP JPO Orientation Programme

Organisational context

The war in Ukraine has already resulted in significant loss of life, unprecedented displacement, internally and towards neighboring countries, and devastating destruction of infrastructure. Due to the damage caused by the war to critical infrastructure, total losses to the Ukrainian gross domestic product reached almost 565 billion USD. Public service provision (e.g. water, electricity, heating and emergency health and social services, etc.) remains under severe pressure. At the same time, energy consumption patterns have shifted drastically, both in terms of geographies and volumes, with UkrEnergo forecasting an approximate 40% reduction in electricity consumption overall, and it is likely that Ukraine’s mid- and long-term energy strategy will shift considerably.

UNDP is committed to safeguarding the developmental gains, which are being undermined by the ongoing hostilities, and contributing to achievement of SDGs through the implementation of its Resilience Building and Recovery Programme. The Programme is an integral part of the ongoing Country Programme that UNDP implements in Ukraine and focuses on sequencing key areas of intervention to support humanitarian response, stimulate early recovery, ensuring that both are aligned with Ukraine’s EU association agreement. UNDP is continuing to work for the achievement of its goals in the partnership with the government of Ukraine, RCO and other UN agencies, international partners, civil society and local communities.

Under the supervision of the Team Leader of the Energy and Environment portfolio, the incumbent will support UNDP’s involvement in the preparation and coordination of the UN Green and Resilient Recovery Position Paper. The incumbent will also support the development of the Green and Resilient Recovery Platform and work in close collaboration with the UNDP teams to liaise with Government officials, other UN Agencies, UNDP HQ, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society to strategically position UNDP in the recovery of Ukraine.

Security situation

The war in Ukraine continues to drive increasing humanitarian needs across the country, and the situation is particularly concerning in the eastern and southern parts of the country. Amid the ongoing hostilities, the Ukrainian Parliament extended martial law on 15 August for another three months until 21 November.

This position will be based in Kyiv. The security conditions in Kyiv have improved during the recent months, and UN personnel have increasingly returned to live and work within the city, and to deliver the mandates of their UN organisations within the safety framework established by the UN Security Management System (UNSMS). Work and official travel is now mostly permissive, across the parts of the country under the control of the Government of Ukraine.

All UN personnel are expected to observe and follow the recommendations and requirements of the UNSMS, which include, but are not limited to completion all mandatory trainings, residing in approved residences or hotels, compliance with national restrictions (such as curfews) and responding appropriately to UNSMS warnings and notifications.

While the incumbent should be present in Kyiv, all UN personnel within Ukraine must recognise that the situation remains highly complex. Thus, they need to be prepared for the prevailing security conditions to change at short notice, and might be expected to move to a different location within Ukraine.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Support to strategic direction for UNDP Green and Resilient Recovery

• Thorough analysis of the political, social and economic situation in the immediate response context, including a gender analysis and provision of strategic advice to the Energy and Environment portfolio management
• Identification of strategic opportunities and potential green and resilient recovery areas of cooperation with special attention to the needs of energy sector, including opportunities for joint programming with UN agencies and other development partners (IFIs, INGOs etc.).
• Contribution to the development of UNDP’s Green and Resilient Recovery Position Paper in collaboration with the main partners and other UN Agencies.
• Coordination with other programme activities of the CO as well as those of UN Agencies and capitalization on synergies where possible.
• Mainstreaming of cross-cutting UN/UNDP priorities in recovery programmes, in particular energy, environment, gender, human rights and disaster risk reduction
• Supporting that that women’s needs and priorities are integrated into the damages and recovery needs assessment, strategies and results with attendant financial and human resources that can be tracked, monitored and reported upon.
• Supporting that UNDP’s intervention is focused on areas where it is deemed global co-lead in the UN system as per the UN Secretary-General’s Seven Point Action Plan on gender-responsive planning results matrix and the UNDP Strategic Plan.
• Facilitating gender-responsive financial allocation of at least 15 per cent to GEWE and use the Gender Marker system to plan, monitor and report on this.
• Contributing to the development of relevant strategies to ensure the effective programmatic and operational interface and complementarities between humanitarian, transitional and recovery interventions of the UN system, and where necessary, the development or exit and hand-over strategies as part of the UN cluster approach on Internally Displaced People

1. Contribution to partnerships and resource mobilization in the area of Green and Resilient Recovery

• Contributing to the development and implementation of partnerships and resource mobilization strategies around Green and Resilient Recovery with specific emphasis on the energy sector.
• Supporting the coordination of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFIs, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society, women’s civil society groups and national women’s machineries, etc.
• Supporting determination of programmatic areas of cooperation, based on strategic goals of UNDP, the country’s recovery needs and donors’ priorities.
• Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for cost-sharing

1. Analysis in the area of energy efficiency and renewable energy

• Supporting the project and programme design through integrated solutions that combine access to distributed renewable electricity services with measures that generate cash incomes or improve livelihoods.
• Analyzing the needs of the government in transforming renewable energy market, building capacity of utilities, increasing their readiness by identifying policy and financial de-risking instruments that catalyze public and private sector investment in renewable energy technologies.
• Analyzing the needs of the government in development and adoption of renewable energy policies and legislation to integrate renewable energy capacity in the current power market structure.
• Providing analysis on integrated solutions. This includes energy efficiency and storage capacities, as well as transport in urban and peri-urban areas.
• In partnership with international and national financial institutions and the private sector, supporting implementation of business models and financing mechanisms for energy-related investment.
• Mainstreaming gender perspectives in energy access policy and programming.
• Identifying the energy access needs and challenges of communities impacted by conflict and recommending preparedness actions to ensure uninterrupted access to energy in crisis settings.

1. Contribution to provision of strategic advisory services, capacity building and facilitation of knowledge sharing

• Supporting advocacy for and strengthening of national capacity for planning and coordination of the recovery effort.
• Identification, sharing and application of international best practices and lessons on recovery related issues relevant to the country’s recovery needs and goals.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Supporting capacity building for country office staff (programme and operations)

Competencies

Achieve Results

Think Innovatively

Learn Continuously

Adapt with Agility

Act with Determination

Engage and Partner

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent Advanced Degree in Environmental and Energy studies, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field

Experience:

• A minimum of two years of paid working experience in a relevant field
• Experience at the national or international level in in design, monitoring and evaluation of development, recovery and conflict prevention/peace building programmes and projects and establishing inter-relationships among international organizations and national governments would be an asset.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.
• Experience in recovery of the critical infrastructure in the energy sector would be an asset
• Experience from working in the field and in a crisis country setting would be an asset
• Language requirements: Fluency in English. Working knowledge of Ukrainian would be an asset.

Nationality:

National of Norway

Please upload the following with your application:

• A brief motivation letter in English that explains why you’re the perfect candidate for the position by using examples of your interests and achievements
• Copy of your passport
• Copy of your Master degree