Background Information - Job-specific

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

Water and Energy Cluster

Based in Copenhagen, the UNOPS Water and Energy Cluster provides specialized project management services to partners such as the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Bank. Together with partners, the cluster executes projects that support sustainable development by:

• promoting international cooperation to prevent and reverse environmental degradation of international water systems
• enhancing the resilience of communities and eco-systems to climate change
• lowering emissions by bridging renewable energy solutions
• Developing Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions to strengthen climate-resilient development.

Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT)

In response to the call to support improved transparency and capacity building under the Paris Agreement, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) in 2015 founded the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT). In early 2016 ICAT was joined by the Italian Ministry of the Environment (IMELS) and ClimateWorks Foundation.

ICAT provides policymakers around the world with tools and support to measure and assess the impacts of their climate actions. Working initially with 20 developing countries, ICAT aims to help governments build capacity to measure the effects of their policies and report progress publicly. This will foster greater transparency, effectiveness, trust and ambition in climate policies worldwide. The initiative will improve the availability and quality of data and enable countries to promote efficient, cost-effective policies. ICAT will also provide a platform for countries to share lessons learned and build mutual confidence in their climate actions.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the ICAT Director, the incumbent is responsible for conducting background research on aspects related to the operations of ICAT and potential partnerships, and providing support to the management of the ICAT office in Bonn performing a variety of administrative processes, ensuring high quality and accuracy of work.

Functional Responsibilities

Research support

• Researches and retrieves statistical data from internal and external sources; prepares statistical charts, tables and reports, extracting data from various sources.
• Background research on specific topics related to ICAT activities and partnerships; preparing background notes for meetings, visits and conference calls; keeping track of formal documents and policy decisions of relevance to ICAT.
• Providing substantive input to project documents and documents prepared for the Donor Oversight Committee of ICAT, as well as conducting fact checks on information received from other sources, including the implementing partners of ICAT.
• Keeping abreast of relevant policy developments, in particular decisions adopted under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• Follow up on deadlines, commitments made, actions taken and coordination of collection and submission of the reports to the supervisor.

Administrative and general support

• Establishment and maintenance of efficient working relationship with stakeholders (e.g. UNOPS WEC team, Donors, Implementing Partners, UNFCCC secretariat)
• Accurate and timely information on processes and pending issues to the supervisor
• Provides administrative support to conferences, workshops, retreats by scheduling and organizing meetings (also video- or tele-conferences); receiving visitors
• Coordinating with the premise management and ICT support on common services requests including those relating to office space, cleaning, provision of office supplies; organizing the office arrangements, including supplies.
• Maintains the records on administrative, financial and logistical activities of the projects.
• Provides administrative and logistical support for missions, events and travel including organization of tickets, hotel bookings, transfers, visa facilitation, DSA payments, etc. in coordination with WEC Operations Associate

Knowledge building and Knowledge sharing

• supporting meetings, including the regular Initiative Coordination Meetings, preparing draft minutes for these meetings; and taking notes and keeping records of various types of meetings
• Assisting with the preparation of correspondence and responding to external requests
• Support the organization and delivery of training and learning initiatives on project related topics
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in project.
• Contribute feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively
• Maintains ICAT Secretariat’s documentation including records and files, ensuring safekeeping of confidential materials
• The effective and successful achievement of results by the Research and Administrative Assistant directly affect the overall efficiency of the team’s provision of services, impacting the office’s capacity to efficiently and effectively service the operational needs of the Initiative. Timely and accountable delivery of services, ensures client satisfaction and promotes the image and credibility of the team and office as an effective service provider in project services and management. This enhances UNOPS’ competitive position as a partner of choice in sustainable development and project services.

Education

• Completion of secondary school is required.
• First University Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or equivalent disciplines is strongly desirable.

Experience

• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in operations’ support services, research, and/or office management support in national or international public or corporate organizations.
• In case of relevant University Degree, some of the required experience may be discounted.
• An understanding of climate change and related global policy issues is desirable.
• Some experience in UN system organizations is desirable.
• Proficiency in computers and office software packages (MS Office) is required.
• Experience in handling of web-based management systems and in the use of Enterprise systems including OneUNOPS is desirable.

Languages

• Strong command of English (written and oral) is required.
• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language would be an asset.

Source:https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=16873#1