Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
- Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
- Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
- Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
- Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.
Following its Country Programme Document (CPD) for the Kyrgyz Republic for 2023-2027, UNDP supports the Kyrgyz Republic in moving towards a low-carbon, risk-informed and resilient development, sustaining and protecting healthy ecosystems to implement international climate action commitments.
The Climate, Environment, and Energy (CEE) Cluster is UNDP Kyrgyzstan's largest programme cluster, focusing on delivering solutions for climate adaptation, mitigation policies, environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable natural resource management. The CEE Cluster is deeply engaged in promoting the integrated management of natural resources and ecosystems as a key approach to addressing environmental challenges. These efforts leverage the power of ecosystems to provide benefits such as carbon sequestration, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. The cluster's work in biodiversity conservation involves strengthening the capacity of protected areas, safeguarding endangered species, restoring critical habitats, and enhancing the management of these areas. Through integrated natural resource management (NRM), the CEE Cluster promotes the sustainable use of land, water, and other natural resources, ensuring that ecosystems remain healthy and productive for future generations. These efforts are closely aligned with the Kyrgyz Republic's goals to transition towards a low-emission, climate-resilient economy while preserving its rich biodiversity and natural heritage. By fostering partnerships at regional, national, and sub-national levels, the CEE Cluster works to guide the Kyrgyz Republic towards sustainable development pathways that protect and enhance natural ecosystems, ensuring a cleaner, greener, and more secure
To further these efforts, UNDP CO Kyrgyzstan is hiring a Climate Action Protfolio Manager, who will be responsible for coordinating the climate action, including climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience within the CEE Cluster.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide strategic advice on the identification and formulation of Climate Action interventions of UNDP CO in the Kyrgyz Republic (UNDP CO) to support the national partners. The interventions may include policy support, integration, mainstreaming, acceleration, nationalization, implementation, impact and monitoring, finance, etc. The required action include: The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation. Institutional Arrangement The Climate Change Adviser/Portfolio Coordinator works in close cooperation under the guidance and supervision of the UNDP Programme Specialist, Team Leader of the CCEE-DRM cluster. Competencies Core Behavioural Competencies Cross-Functional and Technical Competencies Business Direction & Strategy
- Facilitate continuous policy dialogue, technical advice and needs assessment to the national stakeholders in the area of climate action, including climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience;
- Support ongoing liaison with other UNDP country offices, the UNDP regional hub, UNDP global teams, and other UN agencies and development partners on of climate policy, including climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience initiatives and opportunities for cooperation;
- Ensure strategic alignment of of climate action, including climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience related interventions with the UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD), United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDCF) and respective Joint Workplan, and other relevant UNDP, UN System and national strategic documents.
- Provide senior level substantive support in operationalizing and implementing the proposed Climate Action related interventions.
- Lead the conceptualization and instrumentalization for Climate Action interventions by providing senior level expertise and technical assistance on the methodological approaches, common guidelines, toolkits, statistics deployment, and beyond.
- Provide substantial inputs in designing the proposed Climate Action interventions, including justification of most-suitable UNDP modalities, preparation of project documents, development of terms of reference, request for proposal and other relevant documents as requested per POPP;
- Consult on the development of working/action plans, monitor on a regular basis the implementation of the activities/project and deliver respective reporting, if assigned;
- Substantially contribute to preparation of programme progress reports for dissemination among donors and other relevant stakeholders;
- Control timely preparation and compilation of the Programme/Projects’ Annual/Quarterly Work Plans and Progress/Final substantial and financial reports and its submission to the UNDP CO.
- Provide regular input to the UNDP corporate system Quantum for financial and program management on project progress, financial status, and various risk and issue logs.
- Oversee the management of GEF-funded projects and ensure that they align with the objectives of Climate action interventions, ensuring proper management and reporting.
- Provide strategic advice for Climate Action-related resource mobilization (RM) and facilitate implementation of identified RM actions.
- Ensure guidance and support to RM mapping, design and update of donor fund-raising strategy, management of relations and thematic communication with donor community and investors;
- Facilitate the development of concept notes and project proposals and provide substantive technical support to this process in line with the national priorities, UNDP CPD, and development partners’ priorities.
- Promote partnership, cooperation and coordination for common development action through continuous interaction with the national stakeholders and development partners.
- Under the Country Office lead, contribute to the development of a gender mainstreaming strategy and ensure mainstreaming of gender into all programmatic activities.
- Support capacity and knowledge-building initiatives of national counterparts, including curriculum development, trainings, workshops, seminars, conferences, and design of interventions, as well as identify opportunities for government counterparts to share their experience with other countries and facilitate South-South cooperation.
- Contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and competitive selection of partners for the implementation of UNDP projects; promote joint programming, and collaborate effectively in established frameworks for UN and other international coordination; ensure proper coordination and information sharing with all international and national partners working in Climate Action.
- Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from the projects for organizational sharing and learning as well as external information
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
- Strategic Thinking Business Development Business Management Partnership Management Required Skills and Experience Education: Experience: Required skills: Desired skills: Languages: Professional Certificate: Equal opportunity As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all. Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. Right to select multiple candidates UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements. Use of AI by candidates Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection Scam alert UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert. #LI-DNI
- Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
- Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP
- System Thinking
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
- Negotiation and Influence
- Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates “win-win” situations
- Knowledge Generation
- Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
- Integration within the UN
- Ability to identify, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations
- Project Management
- Ability to plan, organize, prioritise and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
- Relationship management
- Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
- Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Environmental Studies/ Science/ Economics / Social Sciences / International Relations / Development Studies or related field is required. OR
- First level University degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) in the above fields with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree
- A minimum of 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressive working experience in the design, management/implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects in environment and/or projects in the field of Climate Change, Natural Resources Management and/ or working in a relevant position similar to this post is required
- At least 2 years of experience in managing teams;
- Proven experience in working with Government institutions and/or CSOs.
- Proven ability to draft, edit and produce written proposals and results-focused reports.
- Experience of working with the international organizations, high-level government officials representing central governmental bodies and/ or local administrations.
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.).
- Exerts strict adherence to corporate rules, regulations and procedures. Familiarity with the internal control framework and results-based management tools
- Promotes a supportive environment to enhance partnerships, leverages resources and build support for UNDP’s strategic initiatives;
- Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
- Fluency in English and Russian is required;
- Knowledge of Kyrgyz is an asset
- Gender certification is an asset
