Climate Change Consultant

Result of ServiceEXPECTED RESULTS OF THE PROJECT The UN-Habitat Andean Countries Hub, requires a Climate Change Consultant to ensure the inclusion of a climate resilience perspective and support to ensure the inclusion of nature-based solutions, strength-ening the climate component in projects. Work LocationBogota, Colombia Expected duration3 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesBACKGROUND The effects of urbanization and climate change are converging in dangerous ways. Global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052, and approximately 3°C in 2100 based on current national government commitments, scenario that will have an impact on the cities. Urban areas are major contributors to climate change, accounting for 71 to 76 per cent of CO2 emis-sions from global final energy use, and represent high concentrations of financial, infrastructure and human assets and activities that are vulnerable to climate change impacts. In the coming decades, hun-dreds of millions of people in urban areas are likely to be affected by rising sea levels, increased precipi-tation, inland floods, more frequent and stronger cyclones and storms, and periods of more extreme heat and cold. In fact, many major coastal cities with populations of more than 10 million people are already under threat as over 90% of urban areas are coastal. Climate change may also negatively impact infrastructure and worsen access to basic urban services and quality of life in cities. In addition, most of the vital eco-nomic and social infrastructure, government facilities, and assets are located in cities. The most affected populations are the urban poor – i.e. slum dwellers in developing countries – who tend to live along river banks, on hillsides and slopes prone to landslides, near polluted grounds, on decertified land, in unstable structures vulnerable to earthquakes, and along waterfronts in coastal areas. The urban poor is indeed increasingly vulnerable: more than 1 billion people live in slums and informal settlements and are highly vulnerable to climate change. Despite these risks, many cities have not yet addressed climate change. The reasons include a lack of relevant city policies and action plans; existence of regulations on urban planning and environment which have not been adjusted to manage climate change; slow response to climate disasters due to lack of capacity and resources; and lack of public awareness on climate variability and climate change-induced hazard mitigation In the Latin America and the Caribbean region, climate-related challenges and risks are most associated to the climate diverse regions countries are highly vulnerable to climate threats such as rising tempera-tures, changes in precipitation patterns, prolonged droughts, sea level rise, and extreme weather events. These risks have severe consequences for the region's population, economy, and biodiversity RESPONSIBILITIES a.) Information and validation: • The consultant will be responsible for keeping the HUB Coordinator informed and having to ob-tain validation of his/her activities during the consultancy. b.) Development: • Carry out the identification process of poor urban communities highly vulnerable to the ad-verse impacts of climate change in the territories. • Support and coordinate data processing processes of local and community level information on urban, socio-economic, climate and biodiversity issues, as well as urbanization and spatial ex-pansion trends, climate change projections and biodiversity loss. • Provide technical and expertise advice. • Conduct multilevel climate vulnerability and risk analysis • Carry out the processes of visualizing and documenting multi-layered urban and spatial, biodi-versity and climate risks and vulnerabilities. • Support the implementation of multilevel and multi-stakeholder workshops, meetings and events. • Review of plans, projects, and programs from an environmental and sustainability approach. • Follow up on the adequate fulfillment of the project's objectives according to the work plan. • Attend the technical meetings necessary to comply with the objectives and scopes defined for the Project. • Represent UN-Habitat when expressly delegated as required. • Provide information to UN-Habitat with respect to any impact that may arise from the process of execution of the Project or consultancy. • Carry out a periodic review of the documents to be developed, including a review of the final outputs delivered by the technical team. • Identification of key stakeholders to carry out and enhance the project's objectives. • Develop and elaborate the systematization of the different products carried out within the framework of the HUB Projects. • Provide innovative technical orientations and guidelines during the process of analysing the available information. • Provide guidelines from a global vision with emphasis on international experiences that promote a greater achievement of the objectives and results proposed. • Provide support in the incorporation of guidelines promoted by the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. • Provide inputs for the systematization of the processes carried out and the exchange of success-ful practices and experiences with other HUBs in the region, headquarters branches, counter-parts and whoever the HUB Coordinator designates. • Support other activities requested by mutual agreement with the UN-Habitat HUB Coordinator for the Andean countries, in the for the Andean countries, within the framework of the present consultancy and without detriment to the achievement of its responsibilities. • Identify other international cooperation and/or fundraising activities complementary to the Pro-ject aimed at other international cooperation agencies, the public sector, the private sector, and other partners identified during implementation c.) Approval: • The consultant will be responsible for supporting compliance with project approval processes, as well as monitoring the development and implementation of programs and projects. • Support the Hub Coordinator in the development of inputs for conceptual notes, project docu-ments, implementation plans and budgets, and in general all the documentation necessary for internal approval of projects, following the provisions of the various manuals of procedures, in-ternal regulations, and regular channels established by the Agency. d.) Implementation: • Attend the technical (virtual) meetings needed to meet the scopes and objectives defined for the consultancy. • Provide information to UN-Habitat regarding affectations that the process of implementing the consultancy may have. • Provide inputs for the systematization of the processes carried out and exchange of practices and successful experiences with other HUBs in the region, with headquarters branches, counter-parties and who appoints the UN-Habitat HUB Coordinator for Andean countries. • Follow up on technical guidelines determined by the Project Coordinator and Coordinator HUB Andean Countries. • Comply with the schedule of activities according to the guidelines of the HUB Coordinator. • When it is necessary to provide accompaniment to the UN-Habitat Coordinator and/or team in the establishment of communication with counterparties and stakeholders. e.) Knowledge Management: • The consultant must know the processes, procedures, and standards of the organization, to ensure an adequate quality of the activities described above according to the standards of the organization. • Propose formats and procedures that allow the efficient implementation of the Agency's projects. • The consultant must know the file system of the projects and ensure their proper maintenance, accessibility for all officials and the proper updating. • Design methodologies for the systematization of good practices and knowledge, related to the implementation of the projects and cooperation activities of the UN-Habitat Colombia Office. • Support the formulation of substantive documents linked to the thematic lines of action of UN-Habitat Colombia. • Prepare reports and other documents related to meetings, missions and activities developed by the National UN-Habitat Office. • The consultant will carry out research activities to facilitate the exchange of information, knowledge and best practices on the sustainable urban development issues set out in the Agency's mandate. • Collect information on the urban status in the Andean Countries that serves as an input both for the identification of new project opportunities and for the implementation of the subscribed projects. • Support monitoring of UN-Habitat's implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDP) Target 11 dealing with sustainable cities and communities. • Identify strategic allies for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda in Andean countries. • Manage knowledge networks for the dissemination of the methodologies and documents generated by the agency and for the construction with strategic allies of new knowledge on topics related to sustainable urban development. f.) Others: • Other activities requested and by mutual agreement with the HUB Coordinator of The Andean Countries of UN-Habitat, within the framework of this consultancy and without prejudice to the achievement of its responsibilities. • The consultant will participate in work and follow-up meetings, both with other consultants, as well as with the Coordinator and team of the Andean Countries HUB of UN-Habitat and with the staff of the projects. • The consultant shall be responsible for ensuring that all activities comply with the principles of United Nations integrity. Qualifications/special skillsA first degree in areas related in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Architecture, Engi-neering, Urban Development, Social Sciences, Government and International Relations, Economics, Pub-lic Policy and/or related with an additional three (3) years of experience relevant to the position would be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Complementary studies related to Climate Change Projects will be highly valued. Good handling of technological tools, commercial packages e.g., Microsoft Windows, Office and data-base processing programs. Managing ERP and GIS systems will increase the score. Minimum three (3) years of work experience in projects related to human settlements, territorial plan-ning, urban development management, climate resilience and sustainable holistic solutions and/or re-lated. Previous experience in the United Nations System will be considered an added advantage, as well as climate change projects will increase the score. Good handling of technological tools, geographical information systems and commercial packages e.g., Microsoft Windows, Office and Internet. Managing ERP systems will increase the score. LanguagesThe language of the consultancy is Spanish and English, other official languages of the United Nations will increase score. Additional InformationThe consultant will be responsible for completing all courses or trainings indicated to him/her by UN-Habitat HUB Coordinator. It is mandatory to accredit during the first month of hiring, the UNDSS Basic Security in the Field (BSITF) security course and the I Know Gender: An Introduction to Gender Equality for UN WOMEN staff course. • The consultant will be responsible for their security, so he/she should familiarize his/herself with United Nations security mechanisms in accordance with the Framework of Accountability for the United Nations Security Management System. 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.