In Country Facilitator (Home based Retainer) - Tashkent, Uzbekistan

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

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. 

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). 

Uzbekistan has submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), which sets the strategic direction of national climate policy through 2035 and establishes the national target of reducing greenhouse gas emission intensity per unit of GDP by 50%. To operationalize these commitments, the Government plans to develop an NDC Implementation Plan (2025–2035) and an NDC Investment Plan  to coordinate cross‑sectoral mitigation and adaptation actions, mobilize climate finance, align development partner support, and integrate climate priorities into national planning and budgeting.

The incumbent will support the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change and will be responsible for strengthening national coordination in terms of resource mobilization and monitoring the implementation of the NDC. The Facilitator will support the focal point of the Partnership in their daily tasks of implementing the NDC and other forms of support for the NDC implementation. 

The embedded facilitator will implement all tasks under the direct supervision of the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist and will work in close collaboration with the different ministerial offices. The facilitator will be working in close coordination with Green Economy Coordinator embedded at the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, ensuring complementarity of roles and avoiding duplication of effort. Together, the two Facilitators will form an integrated support structure for whole-of-government NDC implementation.

• This is a retainer national vacancy/position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with possibility of an extension depending on satisfactory performance and on availability of funds. 

• This is a Home based position, meaning that the incumbent will not work from a UNOPS office but from the government facilities. Therefore, the incumbent will need to use his/her own laptop and software. 

• As this is a Local Position, in order to be eligible, the incumbent should be a national of Uzbekistan or have a valid residence permit in the country.

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The incumbent will serve as the NDC Partnership’s interface in the country and operate as a liaison between the country and other NDC Partnership members. The role is one of coordination and supportive facilitation. They play a key role in ensuring the smooth implementation of the Country Engagement Process by supporting ongoing coordination efforts between the Support Unit of the NDC Partnership, the various partners of the Partnership, and the government of Uzbekistan.

1. Coordination and communication with key stakeholders

• Ensure that communications relevant to NDC Partnership engagement are shared with relevant national, international, and local level stakeholders.
• Facilitate periodic coordination and information exchange among partners in the country, with the aim of leveraging and mobilizing their respective advantages in support of the NDC Implementation Plan, and request for support letters or equivalent instruments.
• Support the work of inter-agency NDC Working Group through facilitation of regular meetings, documentation of meeting records, decisions and next steps.
• Organize meetings to coordinate the implementation of the NDC Implementation Plan, or equivalent instrument, with broad audience of stakeholders.

2. Resource mobilization for NDC Implementation

• Scope government’s strategic support needs for NDC Implementation and provide advisory support on resource mobilization process to the government of Uzbekistan.
• Facilitate government’s self-assessment against Building Blocks framework to identify and prioritize support needs.
• Assist the government in preparation of high-quality Requests For Support (RFS) for NDC Partnership, Terms of References and Project Concept Notes for other relevant partners.
• Support the NCECC in the dialogue with implementing and development partners.

3. NDC Implementation Monitoring and Reporting

• Map ongoing and future support for climate action by key international partners. Prepare and maintain support mapping table with regular updates focusing primarily on adaptation projects.  
• Provide advisory support for the government for the development of NDC Implementation Plan to ensure it meets best practices.
• Support the government in tracking and reporting progress against NDC Implementation Plan or another applicable instrument.
• Prepare quarterly Country Engagement Report for NDC Partnership, capturing surfaced support needs, key insights and progress updates, challenges, and recommendations for the way forward.

4. Institutional Capacity Building

• Proactively assess capacity gaps and needs of the NCECC staff.
• Develop and deliver trainings for the government counterparts on NDC Partnership Digital Tools.
• Develop and deliver trainings for the government counterparts on NDC planning, monitoring and reporting and resource mobilization process. 
• Support gradual retainment of facilitator’s capacity by NCECC personnel.

5. Technical Support for NDC and NAP planning and implementation.

• Provide advisory support for NAP and NDC Implementation Plan development, including guidance on resource mobilization processes.
• Facilitate stakeholders consultation during the development of NAP and NDC Implementation Plan.
• Develop policy advice on moving from NDC planning to implementation and establishing MRV system for tracking NDC progress.

Required

• Masters degree or equivalent preferably in public policy, development, climate change, natural resource management, environmental management, or any other relevant field of study.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in related discipline with additional 2 years of relevant work experience (7 total) may be accepted instead of an advanced university degree.

Required

• At least 5 years’ experience in public and/or private sector with a focus on climate change, project management, stakeholder and donor engagement and/or preparation of cross-cutting workplan/proposal development or any related field.
• Experience in multilateral, national and grassroot governance and processes related to climate change adaptation, policy and/or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• Knowledge of the country’s context of policy frameworks, national plans and strategies related to climate change.

Desired

• Familiarity with UNFCCC processes including Subsidiary Body and Conference of Parties (CoP), NDC and past experience on government climate change process.
• Experience of other national contexts that indirectly contribute to climate change.
• Ability to foster formal and informal networks to strengthen cooperation between agencies, including Government, private sector participants, NGOs and other stakeholders.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
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• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
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