National Climate Adaptation Expert(s)

​Requisition ID: 7705
Grade: ISA-NOC
Country: Zambia
Duty Station: Lusaka
Category: National Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Contract Duration: 65 working days over a period of 8 months
Application deadline: 15-Jul-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
UNIDO welcomes applications from qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants and employees with disabilities to support full participation in the recruitment process and in the performance of their duties.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies to a greater or lesser extent to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) is UNIDO’s core strategic document. As the Organization moves from the 2022–2025 cycle to the 2026–2029 MTPF, it sets a renewed vision to support Member States shape their industries for development. The new priorities include renewable and clean energy, sustainable access and climate action, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, and fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.

Under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP) assists Member States in the emergence, deployment, and large-scale up-take of solutions for low carbon and climate resilient industrialization. The division promotes system innovation approach to achieve transformational change in climate change by innovating across key levers of change including technology, finance, policy, and regulation.

The Division is responsible for the dual mandate of accelerating innovation and building climate innovation ecosystems to promote low-carbon and climate-resilient industrialization; and planning, developing and implementing interventions to facilitate compliance with the Montreal Protocol and, in particular, its Kigali Amendment and to support countries in achieving their NDCs. In addition, the Division is responsible, in close collaboration with other relevant entities of the Organization, for facilitating the transfer of innovative low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions and building markets to ensure their widespread use by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience in recipient countries. It collaborates closely on relevant and converging issues with TCS/CEG, TCS/ECA and IET/CTP.

The position is located under the Climate Technology Innovation Unit (TCS/CMP/CTI). Under the supervision of the Head, the unit is responsible for supporting Member States in fostering innovation across technologies, finance, policy and regulation to promote the emergence, deployment and large-scale up-take of low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions and business practices. In addition, the Unit is responsible, in close collaboration with other relevant entities in the Organization, for facilitating the transfer of and establishing markets for low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions, ensuring wide use by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate mitigation, adaptation and building resilience in recipient countries. The Unit positions UNIDO strategically in the global discourse on climate technology innovation support and acts as the focal point in UNIDO for partnership with the technology mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Climate Adaptation Innovation Portfolio

UNIDO’s approach to building its climate adaptation innovation portfolio involves developing projects that address key environmental challenges while promoting sustainable economic growth. This includes a rigorous project selection and development process, ensuring alignment with UNIDO and partner country’s strategic objectives. By working closely with the partner countries and the climate adaptation ecosystem, UNIDO aims to design and implement projects that deliver significant environmental benefits and contribute to the global environmental agenda. The future vision is to establish a diverse and impactful climate adaptation portfolio that supports long-term environmental sustainability and resilience.

The project “Climate Resilience and Adaptation Facility for Technologies: Improving smallholder rural adaptive capacity and resilient livelihoods in Southern, Western and Central provinces of Zambia” (CRAFT Zambia), aims to reduce the vulnerability and strengthen the resilience of rural households and communities in Zambia’s Southern, Western and Central Provinces to drought, flooding, and extreme heat. It will do this by increasing demand for locally appropriate adaptation solutions, strengthening MSMEs and local service providers, improving household financial resilience, and expanding access to climate-resilient livelihood opportunities. The proposal development is led by UNIDO in collaboration with the Zambia Ministry of Green Economy and Environment (MGEE). If approved by the Adaptation Fund, the project will be implemented by UNIDO, and co-executed by MGEE and UNIDO.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the UNIDO Project Manager, the National Climate Adaptation Expert(s) will work as part of the technical team responsible for preparing the Full Proposal document package for CRAFT Zambia.

The technical team will be led by the UNIDO Senior Climate Finance Expert. The National Climate Adaptation Expert(s) will work under the direct guidance of, and in close collaboration with, the technical team leader to conduct national-level research; review relevant climate adaptation policies, strategies, data and sectoral priorities; and support stakeholder consultations to ensure that the Full Proposal is technically sound, nationally grounded, and aligned with Zambia’s climate adaptation needs and priorities. The Expert(s) will contribute to the drafting of relevant sections of the Full Proposal, including the climate rationale, adaptation context, stakeholder inputs, proposed interventions, expected results and other technical inputs as required, while ensuring consistency with UNIDO requirements and applicable standards and policies of the Adaptation Fund.

The National Climate Adaptation Expert(s) will also be responsible for effective coordination with focal points at the Zambia Ministry of Green Economy and Environment to ensure that proposal development, consultations and related inputs are fully aligned with government priorities, and that key national stakeholders are effectively engaged throughout the Full Proposal development process.

Main Duties

Corresponding Measurable Outputs

Expected duration

Location

1. Conduct national-level research and analysis to inform the climate rationale, adaptation justification, innovation rationale, project design and alignment with national priorities.

1. Technical Inputs to Part I – Project/Programme Information and Part II Sections F and G

• Part I – Project / Programme Background and Context: problem statement, current situation, desired future situation, adaptation gap, and the economic, social, development and environmental context in Zambia.

• Part I – Climate change vulnerabilities and innovation focus: analysis of climate risks, vulnerabilities, adaptation needs and the problem area to be addressed through the proposed innovation.

• Part I – Project / Programme Objectives and Components and Financing: inputs to the formulation or refinement of project objectives, components, outcomes and outputs, ensuring logical links to climate risks, adaptation needs and expected resilience benefits. \

• Part II, Section F – Consistency with national or sub-national sustainable development strategies: policy and strategic alignment mapping against relevant national priorities, plans, strategies, Nationally Determined Contributions, sectoral frameworks and other relevant instruments.

• Part II, Section G – National technical standards and compliance with the Environmental and Social Policy: inputs on applicable national technical standards, including environmental, social, sectoral or other relevant standards, and their relevance to the proposed project.

15 working days

Homebased in Zambia

2. Support stakeholder consultations, coordination with MGEE focal points and integration of stakeholder, gender and innovation perspectives into the Full Proposal.

2. Technical Inputs to Part II Sections D, J and K, and the Gender Assessment Annex

• Part II, Section D – Economic, social and environmental benefits: consultation-based inputs on expected benefits for vulnerable communities, women, youth and other relevant groups, including gender considerations and potential measures to avoid or mitigate negative impacts.

• Part II, Section J – Consultative process: documentation of stakeholder consultations, including stakeholders consulted, meeting notes, participant lists, key issues raised, recommendations received and evidence of stakeholder feedback for consideration in the proposal.

• Part II, Section J – Vulnerable groups and gender considerations: inputs on consultations with vulnerable groups and gender-related stakeholders, in line with the Adaptation Fund Environmental and Social Policy and Gender Policy.

• Part II, Section K – Multiple perspectives on innovation: inputs on how the project draws on perspectives from vulnerable communities, government institutions, research organizations, private sector actors, civil society or other relevant partners in the innovation space.

• Gender Assessment Annex: inputs from consultations on gender-differentiated adaptation needs, barriers, opportunities, stakeholder perspectives and recommendations for gender-responsive project design.

• Coordination with MGEE and national stakeholders: documentation of coordination with MGEE focal points, including inputs, feedback and validation of relevant proposal sections and consultation processes.

20 working days

Homebased in Zambia

3. Contribute technical inputs to the design of adaptation activities, innovation approach, knowledge management, sustainability, results framework, financing justification and key annexes.

3. Technical Inputs to Part II Sections A, B, C, E, H, I, L, M and N; Part III Sections D, E, F, G and H; and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Environmental and Social Management Plan Annexes

• Part II, Section A – Project/programme components and concrete adaptation activities: proposed adaptation interventions and their links to climate risks, vulnerable groups, climate resilience benefits and project outcomes.

• Part II, Section B – New and innovative solutions: innovative approaches, technologies, mechanisms or models for climate change adaptation.

• Part II, Section C – Roll-out or scale-up of innovative adaptation practices, tools and technologies: replication, roll-out or scaling potential of proposed innovative adaptation solutions.

• Part II, Section E – Cost-effectiveness: analysis of the cost-effectiveness of proposed adaptation interventions.

• Part II, Section H – Duplication with other funding sources: inputs on potential duplication, complementarity or synergies with other projects, programmes or funding sources, where relevant.

• Part II, Section I – Learning and knowledge management: inputs on capturing and disseminating lessons learned.

• Part II, Section L – Justification for funding requested: full cost of adaptation reasoning and justification for Adaptation Fund financing.

• Part II, Section M – Sustainability: inputs on sustainability, replication potential, scaling potential and long-term relevance of proposed adaptation measures.

• Part II, Section N – Environmental and social impacts and risks: inputs to the overview of environmental and social impacts and risks, including relevant national context and stakeholder inputs.

• Part III, Sections D, E and F – M&E, results framework and Adaptation Fund Results Framework alignment: inputs to indicators, baselines, targets, milestones, means of verification and the Results Framework Alignment Table.

• Part III, Sections G and H – Budget notes and disbursement schedule: technical inputs on activity-level consistency, justification of adaptation-related costs, indicative local cost estimates, alignment between budget and outputs, and time-bound milestones.

• Inputs to the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Environmental and Social Management Plan, including national context, stakeholder inputs, identified environmental and social risks, proposed mitigation measures, and relevant implementation and monitoring considerations.

15 working days

Homebased in Zambia

4. Contribute to drafting the proposal materials and provide technical comments, revisions and inputs to support completion of the Full Proposal document package

4. Technical Comments and Inputs Across the Full Proposal Package and Supporting Documentation

• Technical comments, revisions and inputs to relevant sections of Part I – Project/Programme Information, Part II – Project/Programme Justification, Part III – Implementation Arrangements and, where requested, Part IV – Endorsement by Government and Certification by the Implementing Entity.

• Technical inputs to supporting documentation, including the ESIA, ESMP, Gender Assessment, Results Framework Alignment Table, consultation records, participant lists, stakeholder feedback summaries, nationally validated information, government endorsement documentation, budget notes, M&E plan inputs, disbursement schedule inputs and other supporting materials required by UNIDO and the Adaptation Fund.

• Comments and inputs to support consistency across the proposal narrative, components, results framework, budget, consultation records, environmental and social risk screening, gender considerations, implementation arrangements and key annexes, without assuming responsibility for overall quality assurance or final approval of the proposal package.

15 working days

Homebased in Zambia

Total

65 working days

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in climate change, environmental science, natural resource management, development studies, agriculture, economics, public policy, international development or another closely relevant discipline is required. Specialization in climate change adaptation, climate resilience, environmental and social safeguards, gender-responsive adaptation planning, sustainable development, or a related field is highly preferred.

Alternatively, a first level university degree or an advanced technical college diploma may be acceptable provided it is combined with additional 5 years of professional hand-on experience that is directly relevant to the expertise required by the specific assignment.

Experience, technical and functional expertise:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in climate change adaptation, climate resilience, environmental management, sustainable development, or related technical fields is required.

• Experience in conducting climate risk, vulnerability and adaptation needs assessments, including the review and analysis of national climate data, sectoral priorities, policies, strategies and development plans, is required.

• Experience in supporting the design of climate adaptation projects or programmes in developing countries, including the formulation of project components, outcomes, outputs, activities and expected adaptation benefits, is required.

• Experience in supporting stakeholder consultations with government institutions, vulnerable communities, civil society, private sector actors, research institutions and/or development partners is required.

• Experience in preparing technical inputs for climate finance proposals, including climate rationale, adaptation justification, policy alignment, stakeholder engagement, gender considerations, environmental and social risk screening, results frameworks and sustainability considerations, is highly preferred.

• Experience with environmental and social safeguards, including preparation of inputs to Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, Environmental and Social Management Plans, gender assessments or related risk management documents, is desirable.

• Experience in supporting the development of proposals for international climate funds, such as the Adaptation Fund, Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility or similar financing mechanisms, is highly desirable.

• Experience working with national government counterparts and supporting alignment of project design with national climate adaptation and development priorities is desirable.

• Experience relevant to technical cooperation in Zambia is highly desirable.

Languages:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of local languages relevant to stakeholder consultations in Zambia is desirable.

REQUIRED VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

CORE VALUES:

• Excellence – Deliver high-quality results; continuously improve performance
• Integrity – Uphold ethical standards; act transparently and responsibly
• Inclusion – Promote respect, diversity, and fairness
• Humility – Show self-awareness; value others’ contributions
• Humanity – Act with compassion; align work with sustainable development

CORE BEHAVIOURS:

• Connect & Collaborate - Build trust through communication and teamwork; Share knowledge and embrace diversity
• Analyse & Plan - Use data and evidence for decision-making; Plan proactively and prioritize effectively
• Deliver Results with Positive Impact - Take ownership and deliver quality outputs; Align work with UNIDO mission and objectives
• Learn and Develop - Continuously develop skills; Seek feedback and share knowledge
• Adapt and Innovate - Respond flexibly to change; Embrace innovation and new approaches

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCE

• Continuously develop and maintain expertise
• Stay informed of industry trends and best practices
• Apply knowledge to improve results and decision-making
• Adopt new tools and technologies
• Take ownership of professional development

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.
All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org
NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.
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