Climate Education Specialist (Home based Retainer) - Nassau, Bahamas

Job Highlight

This is an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful impact in international development while advancing your career in a UN organization. The position offers exposure to high-profile projects, cross-cultural collaboration, and professional development opportunities in project management, stakeholder engagement, and operational excellence within the UN system.

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 Climate Education Specialist will provide specialized technical support to the Government of the Bahamas, particularly the Climate Change and Environmental Advisory Unit (C2EAU) and the Ministry of Education and, to design and operationalize the integration of climate change into the national education system.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Project Initiation, Planning, and Development of the Inception ReportConduct an initial review of relevant national climate policies, education frameworks, existing climate change education materials, and other pertinent documentation to inform project implementation.Hold inception and kick-off meetings with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, Technical and Vocational Training, the Climate Change and Environmental Advisory Unit (CCEAU), and other relevant entities, to validate the project scope, objectives, priorities, and expectations.Develop a stakeholder map and stakeholder engagement strategy identifying key actors, their roles, and mechanisms for effective participation throughout the project.Develop a detailed workplan and calendar, including timelines, milestones, task sequencing, responsibilities, and key decision points across the project duration.Identify potential implementation risks and propose appropriate mitigation measures to ensure timely and effective project delivery.Prepare an Inception Report outlining the methodology, approach, key activities, deliverables, and implementation arrangements for the assignment.Present the draft inception report, workplan, implementation calendar, stakeholder engagement strategy, and risk management approach to stakeholders for review and validation, and incorporate feedback as appropriate Climate Education AssessmentConduct a comprehensive assessment of the national curriculum, existing climate change content, teacher readiness, learning resources, institutional capacity, and professional development needs to identify opportunities and requirements for strengthening climate change education within the national education system.Conduct a gap analysis to identify key weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities in the current curriculum, resources, teacher preparedness, and institutional support systems. Prepare a needs assessment outlining priority areas for curriculum enhancement, capacity building, resource development, and institutional strengthening. Develop evidence-based recommendations to guide the integration and implementation of climate change education within the national education system. Present the assessment findings, gap analysis, needs assessment, and recommendations to stakeholders for review and validation, and incorporate feedback as appropriate. Curriculum IntegrationProvide technical support for embedding and strengthening climate change education across existing curriculum areas, including General Science, Primary Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Social Studies, Agriculture, Health Science, Family Life Education, Mathematics, and Technical and Vocational Education.The Specialist shall work with Curriculum Officers to ensure integration and accentuation align with existing curriculum review processes rather than creating a separate climate curriculum.Develop a Curriculum Integration Framework outlining approaches for embedding and strengthening climate change education across targeted curriculum areas.Develop Learning Progressions that define the expected progression of climate change knowledge, skills, values, and competencies across grade levels.Prepare Scope and Sequence Recommendations that identify the placement, sequencing, and progression of climate change concepts within existing curricula.Develop Teacher Implementation Guides that provide practical guidance, pedagogical strategies, and classroom activities to support the effective delivery of climate change education. Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening Partnership Development and CoordinationSupport coordination and collaboration among the Ministry of Education, relevant national ministries, educational institutions, civil society organizations, international organizations, private sector entities, and other climate change stakeholders to advance climate change education initiatives, including the identification and promotion of strategic partnership opportunities that enhance project implementation and sustainability. Promote authentic learning opportunities. Support the integration of experiential learning opportunities through guest speaker engagements, field experiences, and citizen science initiatives.Facilitate access to technical expertise and specialist knowledge to support climate change education activities.Support resource mobilization and partnership-building efforts to strengthen the implementation and sustainability of climate change education initiatives. Development of Communication ResourcesDevelop policy briefs, case studies, climate education toolkits, student and teacher resources, awareness-raising materials and campaigns, infographics, and digital resources to support the implementation, communication, and uptake of climate change education initiatives. Monitoring and EvaluationDevelop a Climate Education Monitoring Framework, including indicators, reporting templates, data collection tools, and school reporting mechanisms, to support the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of climate change education initiatives, ensuring alignment with the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), NDC 3.0, and existing Ministry of Education reporting systems. Advisory SupportProvide embedded technical advisory support to the Climate Change and Environmental Advisory Unit (CCEAU), the Ministry of Education, the Curriculum Division, and teacher education institutions to strengthen climate change policy development (including but not limited to Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), curriculum reform, climate adaptation initiatives, and national reporting processes. Reporting and Knowledge ManagementPrepare monthly progress reports, quarterly technical reports, workshop and stakeholder engagement reports, lessons learned documentation, and a final consultancy report to support project monitoring, knowledge management, reporting, and continuous improvement throughout the implementation of climate change education initiatives.

Required

Education Requirements

A master’s degree preferably in public policy, education, development, climate change, natural resource management, environmental management, and any other relevant field of study. A bachelor's degree in a related discipline with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience (7 total) may be accepted instead of an advanced university degree

Required

Experience Requirements

At least 5 years’ experience in public and/or private sector with a focus on education, climate change, project management, or any related field.Experience in developing, supporting, and implementing climate and education related initiatives;Knowledge of the country’s context of policy frameworks, national plans and strategies related to climate change

Desired

Experience in education, policy development and curriculum reform. Experience in curriculum development and education programme design. Demonstrated experience in designing, developing, and delivering teacher professional development programmes and capacity-building initiatives, particularly in educational or climate-related fieldsFamiliarity with UNFCCC processes, including COP, Subsidiary Bodies, NDCs, and national climate planning processes. Strong coordination, communication, and facilitation skills across diverse stakeholder groups. Experience in partnership development, stakeholder engagement, and resource mobilization.