In Country Facilitator (Home based Retainer) - Apia, Samoa
Job Highlight
This position presents an excellent opportunity to contribute to the implementation of Samoa Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and the advancement of national climate action priorities. The role offers a unique platform to work closely with government institutions, international development partners, and national organisations to strengthen coordination, mobilise resources, and track progress towards Samoa’s climate and development goals.
About The Project Office
WEC Background
The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support.
WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country-specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.
About The Group
The NDC Partnership
The NDC Partnership is a global coalition advancing the Paris Agreement by strengthening capacity and collaboration for country-owned climate and development action.
With over 270 members, including over 140 countries and more than 120 institutions, the NDC Partnership aligns partner support behind country priorities, builds shared knowledge and generates evidence to inform effective NDC implementation, sustained investment and higher ambition that drives sustainable development. Working through a country-driven model, countries set the agenda by identifying their NDC priorities, and partners deliver coordinated, high-impact support that increases efficiency and reduces duplication.
The NDC Partnership has unmatched insight into on-the-ground climate realities, drawn from diverse expertise and collaborative learning across its membership. Grounded in country action, these insights shape the global climate agenda.
The NDC Partnership Support Unit is jointly hosted by the World Resources Institute (WRI), the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the UN Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC).
Role Purpose
The incumbent will closely support the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and serves as the NDC Partnership’s interface and liaison between the country and the NDC Partnership Support Unit and membership. The role is one of coordination and supportive facilitation. He/she plays a key role in ensuring the smooth implementation of the Country Engagement Process.
He/she will employ a whole of government and whole of society approach to NDC coordination - meaning they will coordinate across all Government agencies, civil society, academia, private sector and other stakeholder groups. He/she will be responsible for strengthening national coordination in terms of coordination mechanisms, communication, resource mobilization and monitoring the implementation of the NDC. He/she will support Samoa’s nominated Focal Point and nominated Day to Day Contact to the Partnership in his/her daily tasks of implementing the NDC and other forms of support for the NDC implementation. He/she will also support the Government’s engagement with the Regional Pacific NDC Hub.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Coordination and communication with key stakeholdersSupport with stakeholder mapping and management of a stakeholder and contacts database.Support with Government-led dissemination of information to stakeholders.Ensure that communications about the NDC Partnership's engagement in the country are shared with relevant stakeholders (local, national, and international).Facilitate periodic coordination and information exchange among partners in the country, with the aim of leveraging their respective advantages and mobilizing them in support of NDC implementation and utilizing a whole of government and whole of society approach.Assist and advise international and development partners to align climate projects with programmatic goals.Strengthen coordination mechanisms for the whole of government and whole of society coordination for issues relating to NDCs.Under the supervision of the Focal Point and in close collaboration with partners and the NDC Partnership Support Unit, support the development and implementation of the NDC.Engage with in-country partners, including at the local/subnational level, to identify and align priorities and needs.Collaborate with the Support Unit to document changes in the operating environment and provide support to government and stakeholders in decision-making processes and new developments.Utilize the NDC Partnership’s Knowledge Portal, tools and guidelines and disseminate information to relevant stakeholders.Utilize the NDC Partnership’s Gender Strategy and Youth Engagement Plan and related country-led plans and strategies to inform implementation and national and sub-national levels.Support in the delivery of multi-stakeholder trainings, coordination meetings and workshops where necessary. Monitoring the progress of country engagementMonitor the progress of in-country engagement and provide periodic updates to NDC Partnership members.Utilize the NDC Partnership’s Online Partnership Plan Tool and/or Government-owned tools where appropriate.Prepare quarterly country update reports summarizing key insights and progress, challenges and recommendations for the future.Evaluate the results of the NDC Partnership's engagement in the country and make recommendations for improvement. Organizing and assisting with NDC-related meetings as needed by the Focal PointIf necessary, facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues on NDC at the national level.Support the government in preparing for NDC-related events such as COPs, regional climate weeks, national events and other relevant gatherings to showcase NDC progress and garner support for NDC implementation.Support NDC Partnership and Hub related country missions or visits.
Required
Education Requirements
Master's degree or equivalent preferably in public policy, development, climate change, natural resource management, environmental management, or any other relevant field of study with 5 years of relevant experience.Bachelor's degree or equivalent in related discipline with 7 years of relevant experience.
Required
Experience Requirements
At least 5 years’ experience in public and/or private sector with a focus on climate change, project management, stakeholder and donor engagement and/or preparation of cross-cutting workplan/proposal development or any related field.Experience in multilateral, national and grassroots governance and processes related to climate change, policy and/or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).Knowledge of the country’s context of policy frameworks, national plans and strategies related to climate change.
Desired
Familiarity with UNFCCC processes including Subsidiary Body and Conference of Parties (CoP), NDC and past experience on government climate change process.Experience of other national contexts that indirectly contribute to climate change.Ability to foster formal and informal networks to strengthen cooperation between agencies, including Government, private sector participants, NGOs and other stakeholders.Experience in supporting NDC development and/or implementation and/or expertise in any of these sectors: energy, adaptation, waste, AFOLU, transport, marine, or agriculture;Experience in data management and coordination specifically related to electricity, energy, GHG emissions, social, and economics (note: this is specific to technical data for various sectors, compiling, organising, preparing the raw data as inputs for NDC tracking);Experience with systems modelling or similar (note: this is specific to NDC GACMO tracking);Experience and/or familiarity with UNFCCC processes related to the Paris Agreement, ETF, CBIT, BTR, IPCC, Global Stocktake;Experience in developing national-level project proposals and concept notes.