Climate Change Specialist at World Food Programme (WFP)

Task description

Under the overall guidance of a Programme Policy Officer, the Climate specialist is expected to work collaboratively with WFP programme staff and provide strategic and technical inputs to the development of WFP’s climate portfolio, building upon its existing programmes and expertise in Kenya Country Office. This will include policy and stakeholder mapping; consultations with relevant stakeholders; analyzing and collecting data/information relevant to climate change; supporting the conceptualization and technical development of high-quality proposals and concept notes for the Green Climate Fund and other donors. Specifically, the UN Volunteer will focus on the following tasks: 1. Policy and Law

•  Play a role in guiding legal interpretation and comprehensive application of the relevant legal frameworks in the context of climate change and disaster-induced displacement.
•  Contribute to the development and implementation of Kenya’s legal and institutional policy frameworks to prevent and respond to displacement and to facilitate solutions to internal displacement due to disaster.
•  Conduct research and contribute to/participate in evidence-based advocacy, such as on protection-centred climate action in complex emergencies, cross-border displacement due to disaster and risks of statelessness in the context of disasters and climate change.
•  Develop guidance material targeting the international community and donors that support the assessment and mitigation of the risks of statelessness as a result of climate change impacts (especially Somali refugees).
•  Analysing the policy and institutional context for disaster risk management and climate change adaptation to inform collaboration with appropriate local actors, mechanisms, and networks. 2. Support the WFP Refugee Operations
•  Develop an environmental management plan for actions undertaken as part of WFP’s Refugee work. This could include livelihood work, climate-smart agriculture practices and food security work as part of a larger framework of environmental conservation and sustainable natural resource management. Such work should also consider how to improve waste management, reduce soil erosion, improve water resource management and promote energy-efficient technologies.
•  Support in prioritizing environmental sustainability across site planning and settlement, shelter and housing, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), livelihoods, food security, nutrition, public health, education, and cash-based interventions.
•  Analyse and document best practice in site planning and refugee management that avoids land degradation and exposure to landslides, floods and other climate shocks.
•  Support in improving environmental and energy programming, especially in the provision of clean cooking alternatives.
•  Improve access to sustainable, clean energy and linked this to protection and meeting basic needs. Identify the energy needs of refugee households in emergencies (for example cooking, lighting and heating) and analyse whether sufficient access to safe, sustainable energy is available to cook, for example, three daily meals.
•  Identify energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy that could meet the needs of communities. This could include water supplies, street lighting, educational and health facilities and humanitarian support facilities such as offices and staff accommodation. This would be undertaken with the support of the WFP Kenya Partnerships team.
•  Develop a funding strategy to enhance the integration of climate change and environmental sustainability into the yearly operations of WFP Kenya, in close collaboration with the External Relations team. 3. Partnerships
•  Develop partnerships with key climate justice and refugee organizations working in Kenya (e.g., PACJA, UNHCR, WFP RBN, GROOTS Kenya)
•  Produce key strategic communications documents in collaboration with key partners.
•  Attend climate change events in Nairobi and nationwide to advocate for greater refugee participation in climate change policy and plans.
•  Attend and be a key driver of the climate change cross-cutting team in WFP Kenya – producing key documentation as needed and a leadership position in mainstreaming climate change through the KECO. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to :
•  Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking an active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day) ;
•  Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country ;
•  Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities ;
•  Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. ;
•  Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers ;
•  Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Required experience

• 3 years of experience in disaster and climate resilience, adaptation to climate change or refugee management.
• Has technical experience in the social dimensions of climate change.
• Has worked with technical teams in the fields of climate change, natural resource management, etc.
• Has contributed to the implementation of programmes and has experience in, resource mobilization and partnerships.
• Previous experience in climate finance is an asset.
• Has experience working at strategic policy level and/or research.
• Has strong analytical and reporting skills
• Has excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills, good drafting skills, and the ability to work in a team.
• Experience in humanitarian aid and/or development project design and/or implementation.
• Has strong analytical, reporting, and writing abilities.
• Field-level experience will be regarded as an asset.
• Familiarity with donor rules and regulations especially with the Adaptation Fund (AF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF).
• Familiarity with WFP and the UN system will be regarded as an asset.