Technical Advisor REDD+ and Forests

The consultant will provide technical support and strategic guidance to enhance the effectiveness and impact of UNEP and UN-REDD activities in Asia Pacific, focusing on policy uptake, financial scalability, and quality assurance. The role involves managing Social Forestry and SAFE initiatives, coordinating with governments and partners, and supporting climate action and nature solutions efforts in the region.

Responsibilities

• Deliver programme implementation, monitoring and reporting of UNEP and UN-REDD activities in Asia Pacific on the basis of work plans.
• Provide technical backstopping to the delivery of UNEP activities in UN-REDD country workplans.
• Manage the implementation, monitoring and reporting of the Social Forestry Initiative, ASEAN component.
• Manage the implementation, monitoring and reporting of the SAFE Initiative.
• Ensure quality assurance in the execution of legal agreements with technical partners and consultants.
• Contribute with information on results and progress to annual, semi-annual UN-REDD reports as well as internal monthly reports.
• Work with communications specialists to review and make contributions to meeting reports, communications and information briefs and other materials related to the regional initiatives.
• Provide technical contribution to UN-REDD 2026-2030 execution on behalf of UNEP in all countries.
• Comprehensive technical review of key documents and initiatives, analyzed through the lenses of REDD+ implementation and sustainable investment opportunities.
• Contribute to advancing the connection between forest enterprises, REDD+ finance and private sector investment.
• Support knowledge management events providing technical input on topics such as forest enterprise development, REDD+ and forest finance.
• Develop project ideas to transform the successes of the initiatives implemented into concrete project ideas.
• Identify resource mobilization opportunities and present UNEPs strategic added value specially for Asia Pacific.
• Expand the network of private sector and investors to support the scaling up efforts supporting forest enterprises to access finance.
• Strengthen the coordination with UNEP regional office and identify areas for collaboration.
• Maintain and strengthen partnerships with strategic stakeholders in the region for expansion and improved delivery.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in natural resources management, forest conservation, climate finance, social sciences, or environmental studies is required.
• A first-level university degree level in the above-mentioned fields, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible working experience in forest finance, climate change, and REDD+ is required.
• Experience of project management in development sector is an advantage.
• Experience of working at country level in the Asia Pacific region is an advantage, including collaboration with governments, engaging with stakeholders at the local level and partnering with diverse public and civil society stakeholders.
• Prior work experience with an international organization is an advantage.
• Strong analytical skills, understanding of socio-political complexities of developing countries, and experience in communicating complex sustainable development issues is required.
• A demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations, knowledge of the United Nations system and a personal commitment to the ideals of the United Nations Charter is desirable.
• Ability to identify priorities and to work under tight deadlines is desirable.
• Standard computer software application literacy is required.
• Fluency in oral and written English is required.

Skills

• Natural Resource Management
• Forest Conservation
• Climate Finance
• Social Sciences
• Environmental Studies
• Forest Finance
• Climate Change
• REDD+ Process
• Project Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Policy Analysis
• Sustainable Development
• Socio-Political Analysis
• Communication of Sustainable Development
• Standard Computer Applications
• Strategic Guidance
• Financial Scalability
• Quality Assurance
• Government Collaboration
• Social Forestry

Languages

English