Date: Project Administrator
โโRequisition ID: 5275
Grade: ISA-Junior Specialist
Country: Austria
Duty Station: Vienna
Category: International Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 7 months
Application Deadline: 21-March-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)
Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDOโs mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to โBuild resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovationโ. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organizationโs programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.
Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDOโs four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.
The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.
The position is located under the Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol Division (TCS/CMP). Under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP) assists Member States in the emergence, deployment, and large-scale up-take of solutions for low carbon and climate resilient industrialization. The division promotes system innovation approach to achieve transformational change in climate change by innovating across key levers of change including technology, finance, policy, and regulation.
The Division is responsible for the dual mandate of accelerating innovation and building climate innovation ecosystems to promote low-carbon and climate-resilient industrialization; and planning, developing and implementing interventions to facilitate compliance with the Montreal Protocol and, in particular, its Kigali Amendment and to support countries in achieving their NDCs. In addition, the Division is responsible, in close collaboration with other relevant entities of the Organization, for facilitating the transfer of innovative low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions and building markets to ensure their widespread use by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience in recipient countries. It collaborates closely on relevant and converging issues with TCS/CEG, TCS/ECA and IET/CTP.
The Montreal Protocol Unit (TCS/CMP/MPU) is responsible for the planning, development and implementation of activities in Member States to facilitate compliance with the Montreal Protocol and, in particular, its Kigali Amendment and to support countries to achieve their NDCs. In addition, the Unit is responsible, in close collaboration with other relevant entities in the Organization, to facilitate the transfer of and establish markets for low-carbon technologies, ensuring their widespread use by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate mitigation and adaptation in recipient countries. Through capacity building and policy support, the Unit's services promote manufacturing transformation in refrigeration, air conditioning and insulation technologies, resulting in the reduction and substitution of fluids and chemicals, and ultimately reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions and promote climate-resilient economies.
PROJECT CONTEXT
UNIDO is one of only four implementing agencies of the Montreal Protocol, which is regarded as the most successful environmental treaty of all time. UNIDO supports developing countries - known as Article 5 countries - in fulfilling their obligations under the Protocol through technical assistance, capacity building, and financial support, thereby fostering the transition from harmful substances in an inclusive and sustainable manner, which does not hinder economic development.
Functions of the Montreal Protocol Unit:
- Assist governments in the creation of necessary policy environments and implementation mechanisms in particular in the context of the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment;
- Represent UNIDO in multilateral conferences and meetings, including those related to the Montreal Protocol's Multilateral Fund, and act as a Focal Point within UNIDO for the Montreal Protocol;
- Manage and monitor relevant activities related to the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment, including national management plans and their implementation, technology demonstrations, institutional strengthening and capacity building;
- Plan and design projects and programmes in the context of the Montreal Protocol and present them to the Multilateral Fund, the Global Environment Facility and other donors, as well as provide related reporting as needed;
- Actively organize, participate in and collaborate with global fora focusing on ozone-depleting substances (ODS)/Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) phase-out, related replacement technologies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the relevant sectors and by the related products;
- Facilitate knowledge transfer and adoption of circular economy approaches towards the transformation of sectors, in particular on green design for reduced use of pollutants, for longevity, repair and recycling, and the related changes in the production processes of industries;
- Explore alternative funding sources and cooperate with other divisions and directorates to introduce new technologies and manufacturing in related areas such as establishing green cold chains, rural community combined cooling/energy hubs, and strive to develop integrated technical cooperation proposals, where possible.
- Develop concepts, proposals, and tools to bridge the funding gap for sustainable cooling solutions, leveraging support from relevant donors such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Adaptation Fund (AF), the European Union (EU), and others. Particular focus will be placed on integrating energy efficiency measures under the new Montreal Protocol funding windows.
The incumbent will contribute to the operational delivery and management of Montreal Protocol projects, working closely with local counterparts, national consultants, and international stakeholders. The role involves designing and implementing innovative solutions, monitoring project progress, and ensuring compliance with the Montreal Protocol's objectives. Additionally, the incumbent will be responsible for tracking the delivery of project milestones, including managing the procurement of goods and services, monitoring the deliverables of national experts, and reporting progress to both the Project Manager and donor.
FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the supervision of the Project Manager, and working with the project team, administers elements of technical cooperation programme or specific project/s of limited complexity and execution of technical cooperation programmes and activities. The incumbent shall carry out following main duties.
- Select, organize and summarize background information to describe the overall context and background relevant to a project or a sector of technical cooperation activities in a country, assess the local context for the planning and administration of individual technical cooperation projects;
- Contribute to the design and development of project concepts and proposals aimed at bridging the funding gap for sustainable cooling, collaborating with relevant donors such as GCF, GEF, AF, EU, and others, with emphasis on integrating the objectives of new or future Montreal Protocol funding windows on energy efficiency and sustainable cooling;
- Identify and explore opportunities for innovative financing mechanisms to support the implementation of sustainable cooling solutions and energy efficiency projects under the Montreal Protocol framework;
- Analyze and interpret project background history and documentation; identify, reconstruct and document significant project events, decisions and deviations;
- Draft sections of project documents such as project background and justification;
- Inform experts, consultants and other project participants about logistical arrangements and internal procedures for monitoring and reporting in terms of the immediate objectives of specific projects;
- Monitor specific aspects of project execution and identify problems and proposing that actions be taken to expedite delivery of inputs;
- Draft comments on designated aspects of project progress as an input to programme monitoring;
- Draft project revisions, including adjusting individual project budgets, based on changed work plans.
MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Education: Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in engineering, sciences, economics, business administration, international relations or other relevant discipline is required.
Technical and Functional Experience:
- A minimum of three (3) years of working experience, including some at the international level, in project execution or coordination is required.
- Experience in the areas related to the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment is desirable.
- Experience evaluating needs, conditions and problems in developing countries, and in technical cooperation projects in dealing with Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) under the Montreal Protocol is desirable.
- Knowledge and experience including in the provision of technical assistance in the implementation of Multilateral Environmental agreements, specifically the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment is desirable.
- Experience in innovative financing mechanisms in the context of multilateral agreements or related fields is desirable.
- Substantive experience in all phases of the Project Cycle is required.
- Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries, is desirable.
Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
Core values:
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.
WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.
Key competencies:
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential โand this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.
WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.
WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.