Expert – Agriculture

Result of ServiceTo support and facilitate the TNA process, a national contractor is being recruited for the execution of activities in relation to climate change adaptation in the Agriculture Sector under the direct supervision of UNEP-CCC. The contractor shall provide technical services for the assessment of technology needs for climate change adaptation activities in Kazakhstan and shall provide the following outputs: • A portfolio of climate technologies for the agriculture sector • UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre will provide a template for the TNA report. A Barrier Analysis and Enabling Framework (BA&EF) report identifying the key barriers to the adoption of prioritized climate technologies, along with proposed enabling framework to support their effective deployment and widespread diffusion. UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre will provide a template for the BA&EF report. • A Technology Action Plan (TAP) report for the sector, detailing concrete steps for the adoption and scaling-up of prioritized technologies. UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre will provide a template for the TAP report. Field trips and trips to attend training and capacity-building workshops will occur. Monitoring and Progress Controls In close collaboration with the TNA Coordinating entity, the contractor will be responsible for, inter-alia: a. Organizing consultative stakeholder meetings and workshops (technology prioritization, results validations). b. Identification and prioritization of technologies for the agriculture sector through a participatory process with a broad involvement of relevant stakeholders, including; i. identification and link-up with relevant stakeholders and facilitation of the sectorial working groups to be set-up, ii. identification of institutions for data and other support, and iii. collecting, analyzing and synthesizing information and data to prepare technology fact sheets for the sectors. c. Leading the process of analyzing with the stakeholder groups how the prioritized technologies can be implemented in the country and how implementation circumstances could be improved by addressing the barriers and developing an enabling framework based, inter-alia, on undertaking of local market and other assessments, as may be required; d. Prepare and finalize the TNA, BA&EF and TAP reports, with project ideas, and with inputs of stakeholders included. i. Prepare working papers and other TNA-related documents as may be required to ease the consultative process and harnessing inputs from stakeholders during meetings and workshops, amongst others. Provision of any other inputs, as may be required, relevant to related part of the TNA process the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre. The contractor will be required to use best practices, methodologies and technical guidance available through the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre and other approved sources. The following table provides an overview of the tasks to be conducted by the contractor. Work LocationKazakhstan, Astana Expected durationPart-time Duties and ResponsibilitiesUNEP-CCC is a leading international advisory institution on energy, climate and sustainable development. Its work focuses on assisting developing countries and emerging economies transition towards more low carbon development paths, and supports integration of climate-resilience in national development. UNEP-CCC is actively engaged in implementing UN Environment’s Climate Change Strategy and Energy Programme. Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) is a set of country-driven activities leading to the identification, prioritization and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. A TNA project assists participating countries to identify and analyse priority technology needs, which can form the basis for a portfolio of climate technology projects and programmes to facilitate the transfer of, and access to, climate technologies and know-how in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Hence TNAs are central to the work of Parties to the Climate Convention and represents an opportunity to track an evolving need for new equipment, techniques, practical knowledge and skills, which are necessary to mitigate GHG emissions and/or reduce the vulnerability of sectors and livelihoods to the adverse impacts of climate change. The Republic of Kazakhstan is starting its TNA in 2025. The main objectives of the project are: ● To identify and prioritise through country-driven participatory processes, technologies that can contribute to mitigation and adaptation goals of the participant countries, while meeting their national sustainable development goals and priorities; ● To identify barriers hindering the acquisition, deployment, and diffusion of the prioritised technologies; ● To develop Technology Action Plans specifying activities and enabling frameworks to overcome the barriers and facilitate the transfer, adoption and diffusion of selected technologies in the country; ● To develop project ideas for attracting funding to implement selected technologies in priority areas of national relevance. 1. Identify priority technologies for the agriculture sector Tasks: Review of existing documents at the national level (NDC, sectoral policies, National Communications, previous TNAs, etc.). A review of Technology Action Plans (TAPs) from the previous TNA to identify completed activities, highlight areas requiring updates or revisions, and assess the need for new technologies and adjustments in light of evolving national circumstances relevant to achieving the NDCs. In close collaboration with the TNA coordinator, the expert will facilitate working groups consisting of technical experts and practitioners within the sector, through a participatory process, the identification of relevant technologies, and based on a multi-criteria analysis, the prioritization of the selected technologies (between 8 and 12 technologies per sector). Deliverables: Portfolio of 8–12 technologies per sector Timeframe (tentative): August 2025 2. Prepare report on priority technologies (TNA report) Tasks: Prepare TNA report, which will be validated by UNEP-CCC and TNA team through workshops, and the TNA Steering Committee. Deliverables: TNA report. The prioritization of technologies within the selected priority sector is the first analytical step in the TNA process. The conclusions of this step should be reported in the TNA report. For the report an analysis of existing documents, policies and previous TNA outcomes should be taken into account. The overall length of the report is not expected to exceed thirty pages per sector. Timeframe (tentative): September 2025 3. Conduct a barrier and enabling frameworks analysis for the deployment and diffusion of the prioritised technologies (BA&EF report) Tasks: The expert will conduct analysis of market and barriers for development, deployment and diffusion for the 2 - 4 technologies prioritised in the TNA report. Identify measures to overcome barriers. Propose enabling frameworks to overcome barriers identified for the 2–4 chosen technologies. Deliverables: BA&EF report. The BA&EF report provides a detailed understanding of the barriers facing these technologies in each country, followed by a clear analysis of what rules, regulations and incentives are required to overcome them, collectively referred to as the ‘enabling framework’. The overall length of the report is not expected to exceed thirty pages per sector. Timeframe (tentative): February 2026 4. Prepare a Technology Action Plan (TAP) Tasks: In collaboration with the TNA coordinator, TNA team and stakeholders, the expert will develop technology action plans for the deployment and diffusion of the prioritised technologies in the country. Propose project ideas based on the priority technologies, for future funding. Deliverables: TAP report. The TAP report is based on the measures identified in the TNA for overcoming the barriers to technology implementation, and it specifies how to implement these measures, including who is responsible, when and from where for securing funding. As such, a TAP serves as a bridge between the analysis of the prioritised technologies and their implementation. The overall length of the report is not expected to exceed thirty pages per sector. Timeframe (tentative): November 2026 1st deliverable – 1. August 2025 – Submission of Portfolio of 8-12 technologies for 2nd deliverable - 1. September 2025 – Submission of TNA report 3rd deliverable – 1. February 2026 – Submission of BA&EF report 4th deliverable – 1. November 2026 – Submission of TAP report Qualifications/special skillsThe contractor should possess at least a postgraduate degree in environmental management or other climate and technology related fields. The contractor should possess expertise in the fields of climate adaptation and agriculture. The expert should possess at least 5 years of work experience in the agriculture Sector or related fields. The expert should have applied experience in climate adaptation, ideally in Kazakhstan. At least 5 years practical experience in relevant fields, including research analysis and project management. Experience in a national climate agency or organization is desirable. LanguagesFluency in written and spoken Russian and English is required. 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.