Climate Information Services Consultant

Result of ServiceThe consultant is expected to work closely with UNEP, the PMU Programme Coordinator and National programme teams, National consultants and focal points (including National Meteorological and Hydrological Services) to develop and complete the following ultimate outputs: Output 1: Updated Workplan for 20 months Output 2: National Meteorological Act in RMI Output 3: Climate Sector Action and Communication Plan (CSACP) workshop reports and endorsed CSACPs in all five countries Output 4: Sector Specific Climate Training Program (SSCTP) workshop reports and endorsed SSCTPs in all five countries. Output 5: Train the Trainers (ToT) training reports and endorsed ToT in all five countries. Output 6: Final Report on Outputs Delivered, Lessons learned and recommendations for CSACP and NFCS Review. Work LocationHome Based Expected duration20 Months Duties and ResponsibilitiesBACKGROUND AND ORGANIZATION SETTING The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. This consultancy is managed by UNEP’s Scientific Assessment Branch (SAB) under the Early Warning and Assessment (EWAD) Division. EWAD is responsible for analyzing the state of the global environment, providing early warning information and assessing global and regional environmental trends to catalyse and promote international cooperation and action on the environment. SAB supports the key elements of core mandate of UNEP in Keeping the World Environment Under Review, by using scientific data and information to assess the current state of environment and provide outlooks with actionable policy response recommendations. The Programme Management Unit (PMU) under Capacity Development and Innovation Branch (CDIB), supports and coordinates the countries and regional technical partners under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) initiative, ‘Enhancing Climate Information and Knowledge Services for resilience in 5 island countries of the Pacific Ocean’, commonly known as UNEP CIS-Pac5. The consultant will serve to implement portions of the USD 49.9 million GCF programme that will contribute to ensuring that accurate, timely and actionable climate information is used in policy, planning and response actions, and enable sectors and communities in the five Pacific Island countries (Cook Islands, Niue, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Palau, and Tuvalu) to adapt to increasing climate variability and change. Under the general supervision of the Programme Coordinator, the specific duties and responsibilities of the incumbent will be as follows: • The consultant will contribute to activities in the five Pacific Island countries programme that will lead to Result 1 “Strengthened delivery model for climate information services and MHEWS covering oceans and islands”. • The consultant will be expected to assist the 5 countries in establishing comprehensive institutional and policy frameworks and delivery models for strengthened climate services including drafting national meteorological legislation in RMI (Sub Activity 1.1.1). • The consultant will also undertake a systematic five-year process of mainstreaming climate risk knowledge into government, private and community sectors, and develop a Climate Information Services Sector Action and Communication Plan (CSACP) for key sectors (Sub Activity 1.1.3). The plans will address sector-specific needs for information services relating to both disaster risk reduction and management, and effective climate change adaptation; and will outline a process to test the best ways of regularly communicating climate information to sectors. • Based on these plans, a Sector-Specific Climate Training Programme (SSCTP) and Training of Trainers (ToT) will be developed, tested, facilitated and revised by the consultant to enable uptake of climate information services by key sectors and their stakeholders (Sub Activity 1.1.3). • The consultant will also provide recommendations on changes/ review of the National Framework for Weather, Climate and Ocean Services (NFWCOS) and Climate Sector Action and Communication Plans (CSACPs) as part of the above-mentioned activities and outputs. The actual review of the NFWCOS and CSACPs will be conducted in a separate contract. Qualifications/special skillsAn advanced university degree (Master’s or Higher) in environmental science, climate change, meteorology or a similar related field is required. A first level degree with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A minimum of 10 years progressively responsible experience in climate information services, demonstrated experience in developing climate information frameworks, policies, sector action plans, communication plans and demonstrated successful experience in formulation and delivery of climate information training programme materials is required. Experience in the policy development process associated with climate information and early warning is an asset. Experience in working and collaborating with governments and Hydromet Services in the Pacific region is desirable. Previous work experience undertaking similar activities in the Pacific region is highly desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the consultancy, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN Language is desirable. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.