Environmental Peacebuilding Association

Nigeria: Climate Security Specialist - Nigeria Nationals

May 25, 2023 | United Nations Development Programme
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Insecurity in the North West (NW) region of Nigeria – especially Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto is characterized by a complex blend of communal conflicts, farmer-herder conflict, armed banditry and organized crime. These conflict drivers are further amplified by demographic pressure, relative deprivation, perceptions of economic exclusion and climate-induced risks. While numerous peace agreements and amnesties including in Sokoto and Zamfara provided some short-term stability, violence that resurged in the North-West, especially in 2020 poses a significant stability risk to the region and country as a whole. In Katsina and Kaduna States for example, organized communal violence and banditry attacks tripled from April to June 2021 and at least 80,150 and 67,192 people respectively are now in IDP camps with many more urbanely displaced.

To support the Federal and State Governments in addressing these issues, UNDP has played a key role in mobilizing and catalyzing key partnerships around a prevention agenda to find lasting solutions to the NW security challenge to prevent a deterioration into a full-blown humanitarian crisis.

In this context, to foster resilience against climate and security risks, the North West Climate-Peace Hubs: A Climate Security Approach to Conflict Prevention project, with funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will through a conflict-sensitive manner contribute towards: 1) improved access to data supporting decision-making for anticipatory actions to climate and conflict risks, 2) increased access conflict sensitive and climate resilient livelihoods and green jobs and 3) strengthened systems and practices for communal management of natural resources. The project pilot states are Katsina and Sokoto, with focus on borderland areas.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Conflict & Political Economy Specialist, the Climate Security Specialist will be responsible for the following functions and tasks:

Summary of Key Functions:

Coordinate the field office’s day-to-day activities on the North-west Climate-Peace Hubs project.
Support the development and implementation of programme strategies focusing on climate security related approaches.
Enhance collaboration and cooperation on climate security between Conflict Prevention and Environmental areas of work.

Specific Functions/Results expected:

1. Coordinate the field office’s day-to-day activities on the North-West Climate-Peace Hubs project:

Coordinate and monitor the day-to-day implementation of project activities, providing technical support to ensure implementation in line with the planned timeline, objectives and results;
Design and formulate activity plans for the North-West Climate-Peace Hubs project;
Use primary and secondary data, case evidence and research findings to distill relevant lessons from projects and programmes to support strategy and project development and innovation in climate security;
Support regular monitoring of the implementation of the climate security activities;
Facilitate and document human interest stories of beneficiaries and develop various communication materials linked to livelihood and economic recovery.

2. Support the development and implementation of programme strategies focusing on integration of a climate security approach:

Review analysis and research on climate security and provide substantive inputs to the North-West Climate-Peace Hubs project;
Support project formulation, including detailed activity plans, monitoring and evaluation, site selection and budget formulation with a climate security approach;
Support formulation of a detailed implementation plan of the identified interventions, including potential implementing partners, methodologies, and coordination mechanisms, in accordance with UNDP’s rules and regulations;
Apply a conflict and gender sensitive approach to the project.

3. Enhance collaboration and cooperation on climate security between Conflict Prevention and Environmental Areas of work:

Identify the latest trends and developments in climate security dynamics in the target communities/areas and other relevant target states and regularly update the analysis, results and data;
Collaborate with UN agencies and other actors, such as governments, private sector, and NGOs/CSOs, to create synergies and collaboration for greater impact of the UNDP interventions in the area of climate security;
Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to the project;
Build convergence of the peace & security, climate & environment, gender, and data expertise in the project;
Disseminate analyses of the relevant data and research documents on a regular basis to relevant stakeholders.

Institutional Arrangement

Reporting: The Climate Security Specialist would be reporting to the Conflict & Political Economy Specialist.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.
System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Effective Decision Making: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
Performance Management: Knowledge of and ability to guide the application of performance management theory, systems and tools, including articulation of expectations, setting objectives and performance standards; conducting performance related discussions and performance coaching.
Integration within the UN: Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; Knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in International Development/Relations, Economics, Business Management, Political Science or other relevant fields.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in climate security or peacebuilding/conflict prevention with a climate focus;
Proven professional knowledge and experience on the intersection between climate/environmental issues and conflict;
Experience with diverse projects in complex environments, involving multi-disciplinary teams, broad ranges of stakeholders, and within volatile security situations is strongly preferred;
Previous working experience with UNDP, other UN agencies or an International Organization is desirable;
Experience in a conflict and post conflict environment with knowledge of socio-economic, cultural, and community development issues in complex crisis situations is a strong advantage.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Disclaimer

Applicant information about UNDP rosters - Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. UNDP may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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