Country: India
Closing date: 28 Apr 2018
There is a growing global realisation that private finance is critical to achieve the goal of significantly reducing deforestation, improving equity and meeting climate change targets. A Sustainable India Finance Facility (SIFF) will bridge the gap between the government, private sector and communities in India and coordinate cross-functionally to support India in working towards its strategic development goals and its climate change targets. The SIFF will support the formation of strategic partnerships and bring finances and capacity building into sectors such as sustainable agriculture, freshwater, fisheries, renewables and forest protection.
India’s carbon emissions grew over 5% in 2015. While India recorded rapid economic growth reflected by a GDP of 7.6% in 2015, biodiversity loss, vulnerability to climate change, droughts, agricultural instability and increasing rural poverty remain key concerns for the country. India ranked 10th in terms of worldwide forest loss in 2009 with an estimated deforestation rate of 13.7 million hectares a year. The country contains total land area equalling 329 million hectares, of which 76.87 million hectares is classified as being under forest cover. More than 40% of the country’s forests have been degraded mostly due to significant extraction of natural resources. Recently, India has made efforts to explore improving the protection of its forests through several REDD+ projects that promote afforestation and reforestation activities, while also bringing compensation and livelihood opportunities for local communities. Several pilot REDD+ projects are on-going in Assam, Himachal Pradesh and Meghalaya that are being implemented in partnership with donors, State governments and communities. Thus, India sees increasing forest cover as playing a major role in contributing to the achievement of its intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) of improving emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 – 35% by 2030 as per 2005 levels. Forest cover is expected to be increased so that it can absorb 2.5 – 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030.
On 11th May 2017, the Minister of Energy reaffirmed India’s position to the commitments it made under the Paris agreement. Moreover, selected States like Assam have adopted the 2030 Agenda as their official development pathway. There are, regardless of these ambitious goals and ongoing efforts, no cohesive efforts that can provide national level financing to execute activities at scale. The SIFF will fulfil a need for innovative fiscal mechanisms that exists in India and bring resources into overlooked environmental sectors, so that a national shift towards inclusive growth and emissions reduction is achieved. A SIFF Secretariat will be set up in New Delhi to coordinate activities.
The SIFF will support the Government of India to achieve its INDCs and its SDG targets.
Based in the SIFF Secretariat in New Delhi, India, the Executive Assistant to the CEO will work under the direct supervision of the CEO of the SIFF to achieve the following functions/key results.
This Vacancy Announcement is being published by UNOPS Sri Lanka on behalf of the UNEP Sustainable India Finance Facility
Provide analysis and updates on development/political/social/economic trends and issues as they arise, in close collaboration with colleagues
Maintenance of close contact with academic institutions, think-tanks and individuals that undertake analysis on sustainable development issues in India.
Preparation of internal reports for the CEO, Secretariat and other partners on specific issues, as they arise and as needed.
Regular sharing of external analysis and reports on the Secretariat work in India, as well as preparation of Secretariat’s positions on these.
Maintain an electronic library of all relevant research reports and briefing documents, including the preparation and production of printed publications, power point presentations, posting of website and social media information, and other SIFF dissemination materials.
Support Secretariat’s advocacy and communication efforts.
Development of advocacy and briefing materials for the CEO for use in engagement with government of India, donors, partners and other stakeholders.
Maintain and expand engagement with the media, and support CEO in drafting press releases, organizing press briefings and launch joint PI/advocacy events.
Coordinate the preparation of talking points and speeches for the CEO, in close consultation with other colleagues in the Secretariat.
Preparation of and attendance at all relevant meetings, documentation of meeting minutes as well as research on sustainability related activities - both policy and practice - in India and at the global level.
Support the CEO through managing of Secretariat office correspondence, CEO’s email correspondence, CEO’s telephone and fax communications, diary and calendar appointments, CEO’s travel logistics, CEO’s office budget, and other assigned tasks including office HR management.
The Executive Assistant is also responsible for assisting the CEO in supporting the management of the SIFF internship programme.
Coordinate with UNOPS on all administrative support services for SIFF including procurement and recruitment requirements, and SIFF facilities management.
Depending on the evolving priorities of the CEO based on the Secretariat’s activities, the incumbent may also be required to work on other tasks as assigned by the CEO.
Monitoring and Evaluation
The Executive Assistant will work under the direct supervision of the CEO and report to him on a regular basis. Regular expected outputs include the preparation and documentation of meetings, the submission of regular written reports and briefs and the filing and organization of background information. At the beginning of the assignment a work-plan will be prepared which will be revisited on a regular basis. Based upon needs of Secretariat and requests by the CEO, the Executive Assistant will also produce other documents supporting the CEO including but not limited to TORs for new staff/interns and agreements to liaise with partners and stakeholders.***
How to apply:
For further information and to apply, please visit https://jobs.unops.org/pages/viewvacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=15455#1