Country Lead - RESIslands Initiative (Cabo Verde)

Result of Service

Effective and well-coordinated implementation of RESIslands activities at the national level, ensuring strong stakeholder engagement, alignment with national priorities and strengthened institutional capacity

Work Location

Praia, Cabo Verde

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Context and Background UNECA is the Delivery Partner (DP) of the RESIslands Project––"Strengthening the institutional capacities of the African Island States Climate Commission (AISCC) member states to manage climate risks and bolster resilience"–– which is a multi-country Readiness initiative covering nine African Island States: Cabo Verde, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Madagascar, Mauritius, São Tomé & Príncipe, Seychelles, and Tanzania (Zanzibar). The project is supported by the Green Climate Fund and implemented in close collaboration with the AISCC, the UN Resident Coordinator Offices and the National Designated Authorities (NDA) in the project countries. The project will strengthen AISCC and its member states’ institutional capacities and decision-making for climate resilience, by enhancing the delivery of multi-hazard risk assessments to natural disasters, particularly climate variability and change. The objectives are to build capacities in AISSC member states, support the strategic frameworks, develop a pipeline of projects, and promote knowledge sharing and learning. The main direct stakeholders are the government institutions of the AISCC member states involved in the project. These include key ministries such as Climate, Finance, Planning, Environment, Blue Economy, Health, DRR, Security, Energy, Infrastructure, Land development. The indirect beneficiaries are the African islands population as a whole, in particular vulnerable communities and those more exposed to climate change that need to be better protected to multi-hazard risks. 2. Organizational Setting and Reporting The Country Lead will be embedded within the NDA (or designated institution) of their respective country and will report directly to the Program Coordinator at UNECA CFND, with dotted-line communication to the national NDA and the AISCC NFP. They will work under UNECA’s Project Management Unit (PMU) supervision, and in close collaboration with the AISCC, EW4ALL partners, and international consultants, experts and service providers involved in each activity of the project. 3. Objectives and Purpose The Country Lead will: • Serve as the in-country focal point and local facilitator for all RESIslands activities implemented in their country of responsibility. • Ensure alignment of project activities with national priorities and regional agendas. • Facilitate stakeholder engagement and smooth execution of consultations, workshops, trainings, and meetings. • Support institutional strengthening, capacity building, and continuity of project outcomes. • Provide local data and input for the knowledge products and research activities of consultants and technical partners. 4. Responsibilities and Assignments Under guidance from UNECA Program Coordinator, the Country Lead will support: 1. Stakeholder Engagement - Organize and convene national-level workshops, consultations, pipeline development write-shops, and training events in the areas of the project. - Liaise with the NDA, AISCC NFP, and other relevant ministries and departments, local governments, UN RCO, civil society, academia, and other relevant actors, and facilitate meetings with them. 2. Implementation - Provide technical assistance for all country-level project deliverables, including tailored national training programs, and identify training needs and priorities. - Prepare local field visits, vulnerabilities, losses and damages assessments, and national risk diagnostics. - Facilitate local logistics for the activities, permits and invitation letters if needed, and procurement of services at national level. 3. Reporting & Monitoring - Elaborate timely technical progress reports, activity briefs, and documentation for UNECA and the NDA. - Monitor outputs and ensure alignment with work plans and budgets. 4. Knowledge Management - Collect data for the use cases, toolkits, e-infrastructure and KM tools. - Facilitate dissemination of best practices and lessons within their countries. 5. Sustainability & Institutional Ownership - Engage national stakeholders for the preparation, production, and validation of deliverables. - Work with NDA and national institutions to ensure post-project uptake of platforms, pipelines, toolkits and use cases. This is a full-time consultancy which requires professional exclusivity during the period of contract. This consultancy is open only to nationals and residents of the Cabo Verde.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s level) in Climate Science, Environmental Policy, Project Management, Economics, Social Sciences, Geography, Geoinformatics, or related fields is required. Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in climate resilience, institutional development, or project coordination is required. Prior experience leading donor-funded climate or development projects and working with governments is desirable Prior engagement at national or regional level in climate, environment or risk management is desirable. Prior work with qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis, reporting will be an asset.

Languages

For this consultancy, fluency in English and Portuguese is required. Knowledge of French would be an advantage

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE 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.