Posting Title: Capacity Building Consultant
Department/Office: United Nations Environment Programme
Duty Station: ASUNCION
Posting Period: 01 June 2023 – 20 June 2023
Job Opening Number: 23-United Nations Environment Programme-209834-Consultant
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Result of Service2. Objective. The Capacity Building Consultant will work in close collaboration with the Project Coordinator and the PMU, supporting the agreed tasks in the PMU planning regarding the execution of the project workplan, in particular the capacity building plan, preparation of technical documents, support the implementation of adaptation measures, relation with the stakeholders and participants and the organization of events such as workshops and meetings in the project intervention areas. The Capacity Building Consultant will also support the monitoring of the training activities and capacity building progress according to the requirements of UNEP, the Adaptation Fund and MADES. The Capacity Building Consultant will perform the following tasks: 1. Coordinate the execution of the technical components of the project and provide technical and logistical input to ensure adequate capacity building for participants of the project. 2. Execute the development of the activities proposed in the project document, logical framework and planning for the fulfillment of the project objectives. 3. Coordinate actions for performing training workshops, meetings, presentations, knowledge exchanges and other events. 4. Maintain a close and continuous relation with the relevant stakeholders and participants of the project and report issues in a timely manner. 5. Review the documentation related to the project and its annexes, and other projects and initiatives with synergies with the project, plan capacity building and training processes accordingly. 6. Prepare notes, memoranda, and / or emails, communicating the status of the capacity building component of the project to the stakeholders and participants of the project, in close consultation with the PMU and MADES. 7. Participate in field trips to implementation areas to enhance capacity building when needed. 8. Train project team and other key stakeholders to ensure opportunities of workshops replication while maintaining quality and pedagogical relevance. 9. Contribute with the compliance of the training plan with the agreements reached in the project Steering Committee and the recommendations of the Technical Support Mechanism and the Local Coordination Committees. 10. Contribute and execute of the project strategy, project workplan and annual and monthly plans in the capacity building component. 11. Develop online courses for different actors: MADES technicians, technicians at departmental and municipal level and trainer of trainers identified at community level . 12. Participate the planning process of adaptation investment by ensuring that they are cost-effective, based on Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and aligned with a vision of sustainability 13. Prepare and consolidate capacity building plans, progress reports and results, for the Steering Committee, the Technical Support Mechanism and the Local Coordination Committee, in coordination with the Project PMU. 14. Register and systematize the agreements of the meetings and monitor them, regarding the decisions related to his / her area of intervention and keep records on shared platforms with PMU, UNEP AND MADES. 15. Maintain a systematized record on shared platforms (hard copies and electronics) of all communications received or sent to MADES, which are related to the capacity building of the project and that are available in real time and classified by gender. 16. In case external support for capacity building products or processes is needed, draft Terms of Reference, coordinate procurement of consultants, services and/or goods, and advice and assist in the supervision of the compliance with the procurement processes based on the requirements of UNEP and MADES, in close coordination with the administrative staff 17. Prepare writing of reports and documents to actively communicate project progress. 18. Prepare or update of project manuals and guidelines. 19. Prepare of project execution and budget reports. 20. Prepare the systematization of products and lessons learned. 21. Provide continuous support to consultants hired by the project and to national and local partners in the execution of the project. 22. Provide technical inputs to documents, such as consultancies products, among others. 23. Provide occasional technical support to DNCC in relation to the project. 24. Other activities relevant for the fulfillment of the position’s objectives.
Work LocationMinistry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Paraguay, Project Management Unit, Asunción, Paraguay.
Expected duration9 Months
Duties andResponsibilities
1. Purpose. 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. UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region -with a population of about 588 million people-and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). The office works towards the implementation of the agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the new Paris Agreement and the priority actions defined in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and National Adaptation Plans (NAP) of the region. In terms of supporting countries in the region attain the global commitments signed within the framework of the Paris Agreement, the Latin America and the Caribbean UNEP Sub-programme on Climate Change aims at strengthening the ability of countries to move towards climate-resilient and low emission strategies for sustainable development and human well-being. In this framework, the UNEP Sub-programme on Climate Change, through its Climate Change Unit, leads and supports several initiatives oriented at designing, promoting, and implementing innovative mitigation and adaptation solutions at the national and subnational level, and strengthening the transparency framework of the countries. The expected accomplishment regarding climate change adaptation is that adaptation approaches, including the Nature based Solutions with an ecosystem-based approach, are implemented and integrated into key sectoral and national development strategies to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience to climate change impacts. Furthermore, the UNEP’s Sub-programme on Climate Change is also committed to ensure that cross-cutting issues such as gender equity and women empowerment are effectively integrated in the development of its tasks to guarantee an equitable development in line with its adaptation objectives. The adaptation team of the Climate Change Unit is implementing a portfolio of projects and continuously developing a pipeline of new projects, both for adaptation planning and for implementation of concrete measures, in the three subregions of the region: Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The adaptation team works in close coordination with the rest of the Climate Change Unit and regional office, UNEP regional, sub-regional and national offices in the region and worldwide, including Headquarters; other UN System Agencies, Programmes and Funds; Regional and Subregional Organizations, countries’ institutions, and national and local organizations; and donors and financing institutions such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) or the Adaptation Fund (AF). As part of this support to countries in the region, UNEP signed an agreement with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Paraguay (MADES) to implement the project “Ecosystem Based Approaches for reducing the vulnerability of food security to the impacts of climate change in the Chaco region of Paraguay” (AbE Chaco Project), with the financial contribution of the Adaptation Fund (AF). The Project started its activities in April 2019, and aims to contribute to the reduction of food security vulnerability to the effects of climate change in the following communities of the Paraguayan Chaco: i) General Díaz and Cacique Sapo, ii) Pozo Hondo and Jasyendy; and, iii) Campo Loa in the Department of Boquerón, and iv) Toro Pampa, v) Colonia María Auxiliadora, vi) San Carlos, vii) 14 de mayo, viii) Sierra León, and ix) Puerto Diana in the Department of Alto Paraguay. The project has three components: Component 1: Knowledge management on vulnerability and resilience to climate change improved with tools and instruments to implement cost-effective adaptation measures. Component 2: Adaptive capacity in rural areas of greatest vulnerability strengthened through concrete adaptation measures favoring and ecosystem-based approach. Component 3: Capacity development and awareness to implement and upscale effective implementation of adaptation measures at national and local levels. Project´s implementation relies on a Project Management Unit (PMU), which is accountable for the technical, operative and administrative management of the project as well as for the development of activities in the field. To fulfill project´s objectives and results a Capacity Building Consultant is required to support the PMU with the execution of the project and activities, to ensure proper implementation of the project with a focus on resilience and sustainability, considering safeguarding and gender equity, and according to UNEP, AF and MADES’s requirements. The Capacity Building Consultant will operate under the overall supervision of the Adaptation Programme Officer of UNEP’s Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, in close coordination with the Project Coordinator. She/he will work within the PMU based in MADES, in close collaboration with UNEP’s Adaptation team, from Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week, full time.
Qualifications/special skillsACADEMIC: – Bachelor’s Degree in agricultural or environmental sciences, agronomy, forestry, engineering, or related field is required. – Master’s Degree in sustainable development, environmental sciences, natural resource management or sustainable communities is required. – Additional studies or specific training in adaptation, climate change natural resource management, food security, social work or a related field are an asset. PROFESSIONAL: – At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in natural resources management, sustainable communities, or related field is required. – Demonstrated experience in capacity building processes is desirable. – Demonstrated experience in supporting the elaboration of climate change policies, and/or in the development of roadmaps, action plans, or national climate change strategies is an asset. – Relevant experience overseeing and monitoring social, environmental, gender and indigenous communities’ safeguards is an asset.
LanguagesLANGUAGE: – Fluency in Spanish and English is required. – Knowledge of Guarani is desirable.
Additional InformationSPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: – Planning and organization skills – Experience facilitating / moderating community and national courses and workshops. – Excellent use of computer tools, Office suite and digital communication. – Sensitivity to work in situations of cultural diversity. – Knowledge of the integration of gender considerations in the formulation, planning and implementation of projects. This includes designing gender-sensitive methodologies to collect and evaluate baseline data, evaluate results, and monitor project results when appropriate. – Negotiation skills and good interpersonal skills. – Ability to teamwork. – Analytical skills to understand complex situations and solve problems. – Innovation, creativity and critical thinking. – Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily.