Job Description
This is a unique opportunity to lead regional efforts within a critical global initiative, directly impacting vulnerable developing countries facing climate change impacts. The role offers a position in a dynamic international setting, collaborating with diverse stakeholders to catalyze technical assistance and build regional capacity for averting, minimizing, and addressing loss and damage through the Santiago network.
Santiago network
The Santiago network was established in December 2019 at COP25, as part of the Warsaw International Mechanism, for averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, to catalyze the technical assistance of relevant organizations, bodies, networks and experts, for the implementation of suitable relevant approaches at the local, national and regional level, in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. (decision 2/CMA.2, para 43, noted by 2/CP.25).
The Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Convention and the Paris Agreement subsequently decided on the functions of the Santiago network at COP26 and on the institutional arrangements to enable its full operationalization. Parties agreed the structure would comprise:
A hosted Secretariat that will facilitate its work, to be known as the Santiago network Secretariat;
An Advisory Board, to provide guidance and oversight to the Santiago network Secretariat on the effective implementation of the functions of the network; and
A network of organizations, bodies, networks and experts (OBNEs) covering a wide range of topics relevant to averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage.
At COP28 in 2023, Parties selected the consortium of UNOPS and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) as co-hosts of the Santiago network Secretariat for an initial term of five years, with five-year renewal periods.
While UNOPS provides the necessary administrative and operational support for the effective functioning of the Secretariat, UNDRR provides the Secretariat with technical backstopping and expertise in the domain of averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage consistent with the guidelines for preventing potential and addressing actual and perceived conflicts of interest in relation to the Santiago network.
Relevant COP/CMA decisions on the Santiago network can be consulted here. Documents and reports from meetings of the Santiago network Advisory Board are available here.
Under the overall guidance of the Director of the Santiago network Secretariat and the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Manager, the Regional Coordinator drives and supervises provision of catalyzed technical assistance and membership matters in the respective region, as well as provision of related services, ensuring effective and timely support for developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
The Regional Coordinator leads the technical work of the Santiago network Secretariat, in the respective region, including programme delivery, and outreach, in consultation with UNDRR designated technical experts, and acts as key focal point for regional and national partners and technical agencies.
The Regional Coordinator also leads the development and implementation of capacity building strategies and plans of the Santiago network in the respective region, including through strategic and actionable knowledge management.
1. Setting up processes and systems
- Lead the implementation of the guidelines for responding to requests for technical assistance, the guidelines for the designation of members to the Santiago network, and relevant operational documents at the regional level.
- Contribute to the creation of an enabling environment for demand-driven technical assistance, including support in identifying regional needs and in preparing requests for technical assistance.
2. Catalyzing technical assistance/Management of OBNEs
- Lead the implementation technical assistance (TA) cycle in the relevant region, in coordination with central functions and with Desk Officers for LDCs and SIDS as applicable, including submission, review, matchmaking, delivery, monitoring and knowledge sharing.
- Coordinate the effective engagement with developing countries, communities and other stakeholders in relevant region in identifying their capacity gaps and developing requests for TA, where needed, including through regional scoping workshops and consultative processes.
- Coordinate with the OBNE Engagement Specialist in building and managing a network of suitable OBNEs in the respective region for the provision of TA to support developing countries in averting, minimizing, and addressing loss and damage associated with climate change impacts in response to their needs.
- Lead on the development and implementation of regionalTA and capacity building strategies and plans in order to support the achievement of the Santiago network strategy.
3. Programme implementation and monitoring
- Lead the implementation of regional results-based monitoring and evaluation activities, in coordination with central functions, to assess the timeliness, appropriateness and outcomes of assistance provided under the Santiago network.
- Oversee the implementation and delivery of results of technical assistance relevant region , under the Monitoring and Evaluation for Learning and Accountability (MEAL) Framework.
- Identify, assess and manage risks and issues that may impact the effective delivery of technical assistance in the relevant region, in coordination with corporate functions.
- Provide inputs on regional operations to inform Santiago network regular reporting to the Advisory Board and inputs to the Annual Report to the governing body or bodies.
4. Partner and stakeholder engagement
- Develop and implement regional, national, subnational and community-based strategies for the engagement of relevant stakeholders, aiming to facilitate demand-driven technical assistance.
- Develop strategies for engaging and maintaining partnerships in the region , including collaborative projects, joint events, and resource sharing.
- Establish communication channels and platforms for effective networking and information exchange among Members in the region, in coordination with central functions.
- Lead capacity building of partners and stakeholders for strategic regional partnership development and engagement.
- Contribute to the development of regional advocacy campaigns, policy briefs, and other materials to support the Santiago network’s regional advocacy efforts, in coordination with the Communications Manager.
5. Knowledge management and innovation
- Facilitate the development, provision and dissemination of knowledge and information in the relevant region, on a wide range of topics relevant for loss and damage.
- Champion knowledge on averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage, relevant for technical assistance delivery in the respective region.
- Promote and raise awareness of the Santiago network in the relevant region.
- Foster innovation and best practices in knowledge management, contributing to the development of feedback loops informed by operational experience.
6. Corporate functions and team building
- Uphold and model team values, fostering a respectful, inclusive and supportive, work environment, fostering collaboration between regional and global functions.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the Santiago network’s strategic, policy, and operational frameworks, ensuring alignment with its mandate and evolving needs.
- Support the implementation of a resource mobilization strategy for the Santiago network to secure funds for technical assistance for developing countries.
- Represent the Santiago network in international fora and high-level meetings in the respective, contributing to advance the delivery of its mandate and objectives.
- Others, as required by the supervisor.
