BACKGROUND

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) brings significant added value around environment and climate change through its global presence, technical expertise, and integrated approach to sustainable development. UNDP supports countries in building resilience to climate impacts, advancing low-carbon development, and safeguarding ecosystems, while ensuring that environmental action contributes to poverty reduction and inclusive growth. Leveraging strategic partnerships, innovative financing, and policy support.

UNDP supports communities in restoring livelihoods and rebuilding in ways that are climate-resilient and environmentally sound, helping to reduce future risks. By promoting nature-based solutions, green jobs, and low-carbon development pathways, UNDP contributes to sustainable recovery that not only addresses immediate needs but also lays the foundation for inclusive economic growth and long-term resilience, in alignment with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Environmental degradation and climate change have intensified Syria’s economic and social vulnerabilities, making it a climate hotspot marked by more frequent and severe droughts. These conditions have deepened water insecurity and fueled rural-to-urban displacement—factors that contributed to the onset of the humanitarian crisis. In addition, resource degradation, pollution, and disaster exposure predate the conflict, climate-induced shocks, such as the 2021 water crisis along the Euphrates River—which affected nearly 5 million people—highlight their destabilizing potential. 

The emergence of new opportunities and the prospect of a renewed future for Syria have prompted the UNDP, alongside the broader UN system, to support the Syrian people on their path toward peace and stability. The progress made in mitigating the risks of further fragmentation, while safeguarding essential services and civic space during this transitional period, will play a pivotal role in shaping the potential for a peaceful transition. UNDP’s targeted actions—designed to identify and respond to urgent needs based on on-the-ground realities—serve as a critical pillar in the UN’s collective efforts to preserve and promote a viable path to peace.

In parallel, UNDP is strengthening its climate and energy programming in response to growing national and global commitments, including those under the Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and Goal 13 (Climate Action). With climate financing mechanisms expanding and technological innovations advancing rapidly, there is an increasing need for strategic leadership and technical capacity to drive integrated environmental and climate solutions, particularly in enabling access to scalable finance for both mitigation and adaptation.

Organizational Context: 

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end poverty, reduce inequalities, and build resilience to crises and disasters. Working with our vast network of experts and partners in over 170 countries, we help nations to create integrated and lasting solutions for people and the planet.

UNDP Syria operates in a highly complex and challenging environment, shaped by over a decade of conflict, widespread displacement, economic instability, and recurrent natural disasters. The Syria Country Programme focuses on three critical areas: 1) Promoting socio-economic recovery and social cohesion; 2) Strengthening local governance and basic social services; and 3) Supporting climate change adaptation and natural resource management. The programme emphasizes an area-based approach to tailor interventions to the specific needs of local communities and supports the vision of sustainable peace and recovery for all Syrians. 

Climate change mitigation and adaptation pillar focuses on enhancing community resilience to climate change, environmental degradation, and natural disasters, including efforts to address Syria’s vulnerability to recurring shocks. It promotes equitable access to energy and water resources, supports renewable energy solutions, and integrates climate adaptation and mitigation strategies across all interventions. Through inclusive approaches, the pillar aligns environmental sustainability with recovery efforts, addressing both immediate needs and long-term ecological balance.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and the UNDP Country Programme Document (CPD) 2022–2025 are fully aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. They prioritize resilience-building efforts while addressing the pressing humanitarian-development nexus. UNDP Syria aims to bridge immediate recovery needs with long-term development goals, focusing on inclusive governance, equitable access to basic services, sustainable livelihoods, and climate action.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Syria faces a complex interplay of climate change, environmental degradation, and energy challenges intertwined with both natural and human factors. Increased environmental stress due to unpredictable rainfalls pattern, excessive water use and pollution, deforestation, overgrazing and soil erosion are likely to negatively impact in the country’s agricultural production and livelihoods. The protracted crisis severely damaged infrastructure in the country. Water plants and electricity infrastructure such as transmission grids and power plants need significant rehabilitation work so as not to hinder economic recovery and development. 

The situation in Syria illustrates a critical nexus between climate change, environmental degradation, and energy crises. Addressing these intertwined issues requires comprehensive strategies that incorporate sustainable practices while also considering the socio-political context shaped by over a decade of crisis. Efforts toward environmental recovery and resilience must be prioritized to ensure sustainable growth for the Syrian population amidst socio-economic challenges.

With this regard, UNDP Syria is looking for a qualified Chief Technical Specialist (CTS) – Climate Change, and Environment who will provide high-level technical and strategic support to the Team Leader in overseeing the climate and energy portfolio, with a specific focus on integrating climate financing mechanisms (e.g., GCF, GEF, Adaptation Fund, blended finance) and advancing low-carbon and climate-resilient development pathways across key sectors incorporating considerations of climate resilient growth and sustainable development of Syria.

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Syria Resident Representative and direct supervision of Deputy Resident Representative, and in close collaboration with the Climate team leader, the CTS is required to closely coordinate with the CTSs in the different thematic areas such as Governance, Rule of Law and Human rights, Anti-corruption, Economic Recovery, Social Protection and Development, Banking/Financial Institutions and Private Sector Development to ensure coherence and alignment of UNDP’s interventions across different sectors. The CTS will closely liaise with various stakeholders such as caretaking authorities, ministries, technical advisors and experts, Programme team leads, project managers, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, UN agencies, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), private sector, financial institutions, banks, etc.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Key Duties and Accountabilities include:

Develop a policy and strategic document(s) to ‘’integrate environment considerations into the national recovery strategy and framework:

• Assess the current capacities and needs related to environmental issues (including climate change mitigation and adaptation and environmental degradation) and energy constraints considering a rapid update/survey to establish a baseline for strategic interventions within the broader recovery strategy and framework. 
• Develop a policy and strategic document(s) with evidence-based recommendations and global best practices adopted to the local context, targeting improvements to environment-related issues and energy access.

Provide top-quality policy advisory service to national authorities with evidence-based recommendations to facilitate informed decision-making for the formulation of national policies and strategies:

• Advocate national authorities on implementing climate-related strategies, plans and actions including Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), low carbon, climate resilient investments and improved access to electricity to achieve sustainable growth of Syria. 
• Advise on entry points to achieve a mixture of short, medium and long-term results that produce tangible improvements related to climate change, environment and energy sectors.
• Promote inclusive development by ensuring policy recommendations reflect the principles of inclusivity, equity, and sustainability and address the needs of marginalized communities such as women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), youth and other minority/vulnerable groups in line with the UN human rights principles.
• Facilitate coherence and alignment of the policy and strategic documents across multiple areas in close coordination with the other UNDP technical advisors, UN agencies, caretaker authorities, and UNDP programme teams.
• Support the development of enabling environments for green investment, including regulatory reforms and fiscal incentives.

Strengthen the institutional capacity of national and local governments for strategic planning, policy formulation, and decision-making related to environment and climate change issues:

• In-depth analysis of government capacities to plan, monitor, coordinate and deliver environment-related programmes and projects
• Develop programme/project activities to support capacity-building initiatives for government institutions to improve planning, monitoring, coordination, and service delivery based on the in-depth analysis.
• Provide technical assistance to national authorities and ministries both at the national and governorate levels to strengthen their capacity and promote national ownership of environmental and climate change initiatives. Empower CSOs and local networks to actively participate in strategic planning, policy formulation, and implementation of environment and climate action at national and local levels.

Advise and ensure climate Financing Mobilization: 

• Identify and structure financing opportunities from multilateral, bilateral, philanthropic, and private sources.
• Develop innovative climate finance models, including public-private partnerships and blended finance structures.
• Guide the preparation of climate finance documentation (e.g., funding proposals, investment plans, theories of change).

Ensure provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management:

• Identify policy-driven issues; and identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country policy goals.
• Establish/strengthen national and international advocacy networks. Implement relevant, high -impact advocacy with key partners.  
• Coordinate and ensure integrated support in development of policies and institutions to address country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.
• Support policy advisory services that contribute to inclusive societal digital transformation and take digital technology risks and opportunities or futures signals into account.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms.
• Organize and deliver training for the operations/ projects staff on programme related matters.

Other Duties:

• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Climate Change, Environment, Natural Resource Management, Energy Policy, Development Economics or relevant field is required. OR 
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree 

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills: 

• Minimum of 7 years (with Master’s degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in a combination of related fields such as national and international climate policies and measures, including climate and green growth, energy and project management, or a related field is required. 
• Experience in the area of mainstreaming climate change adaptation and mitigation measures into development policies and interventions is required. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead consultations with senior government officials and facilitate discussions among a wide group of stakeholders is required.
• Previous experience in the region and/or in conflict/post-conflict contexts is required.
• Demonstrated experience in understanding of the regional and Syrian context, including the roles and functions of different stakeholders at the regional, national and local levels is an advantage.
• Proven experience in programme/project management, resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation with the UN/UNDP is desirable.
• Experience in the use of computer applications and software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) as well as web-based management systems is required. 
• Demonstrated research and analysis skills in the related field of study is an asset. 
• Extensive knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures, and practice is desired.
• Proven track record of effective communication and consensus-building skills in a multicultural environment is an asset.
• Experience in initiating and facilitating UN and multi-stakeholder partnership arrangements is desired. 
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results under time pressure and with competing priorities is an asset. 
• Proven track record of knowledge of climate change related international treaties and policies such as Paris Agreement, Climate Action Initiatives and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) is desired. 

Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required. 
• Knowledge of Arabic is a strong asset.

COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results:  LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively:  LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously:  LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility:  LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination:  LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner:  LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:  LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies: 

Business Direction & Strategy: 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. 

Business Management: Portfolio Management

• Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity. 
• Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. 
• Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.

Business Management: Partnerships Management

• Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Business Management: Customer Satisfaction/Client Management

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Management: Communication

• Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. 
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

2030 Agenda: Planet: Sustainable Energy Hub Energy access

• Energy access

2030 Agenda: Planet: Climate  

• Climate Change Adaptation: Climate Change & Health

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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