Policy Specialist, Air Pollution and Health (Home-Based)

Job Description

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP : we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a 'leave no one behind' approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

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.

Office / Unit / Project Description

UNDP hosts the UN system's largest climate change portfolio. Through its Climate Promise, UNDP helps over 140 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the challenges of climate change through supporting governments to develop more ambitious and inclusive nationally determined contributions (NDCs) in order to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. In 2024, health was officially integrated as one of the key technical areas under the Climate Promise. UNDP's work in the nexus of health, environment and climate change includes supporting countries to integrate health activities in their national climate pledges, green their health sectors, and build climate-resilient, smart and low-emission health services.

Air pollution is a major risk factor in LMICs for the rapidly rising burden of premature mortality, disease and disability from noncommunicable diseases. Marginalised populations, including women, children, the poor, elderly, disabled and Indigenous communities are often most affected. UNDP's HIV and Health Group (HHG) has a long track record of supporting countries to address the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases. This includes offering support to governments on governance and finance and helping to address exposure to risk factors through a whole-of-government approach. Over the past few years, HHG has developed new global methodologies for air pollution governance - air pollution investment case and legal environment assessment methods - piloting them at national level, while supporting the development of national multisectoral action plans on air pollution and health.

While air pollution and climate change share fossil fuel combustion as a common driver, there has been inadequate attention to poor air quality and the health harms of super pollutants within climate negotiations. Climate action and air quality management are typically siloed at a national level, leaving pollutants such as black carbon to fall between the gaps of regulatory and policy frameworks. While guidance exists on integrating air quality and super pollutants into NDCs, UNDP as the host of UN's largest climate portfolio has an important role in providing tailored advice to countries and connecting them with technical support in the NDC development process.

UNDP is starting a new one-year project funded by the Clean Air Fund, with the aim to integrate air quality considerations and super pollutants (such as black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone and hydrofluorocarbons) into the climate change mitigation and adaptation activities of the next generation of NDCs in 2025. Activities that aim to improve air quality and reduce exposure to super pollutants can take place across various sectors, including energy, transport, urban planning, health, and beyond. The project intends to contribute to increased understanding of the health harms of super pollutants and awareness of integrated approaches to climate action and air quality across UNDP teams (Climate, Energy and Chemicals Hubs), to enable them to integrate these considerations into their support to countries, particularly around NDC development. It also aims to provide targeted support to a minimum of eight countries to integrate air quality and health considerations into their NDC consultation processes and submissions.

The Policy Specialist, Air Pollution and Health will report to Deputy Director HHG based in UNDP Headquarters in New York. S(he) will provide engagement, coordination, capacity-building, communication and guidance during the project, in close collaboration with UNDP's Climate and Energy Hubs.

Scope of Work

1) Serve as technical expert and lead capacity-building activities

• Provide technical support to a minimum of eight target countries related to air quality and super pollutant inclusion into their NDC and coordinate additional support and resource mobilization for interested countries from the World Health Organization and other relevant UN organizations, CCAC, the Global Methane Hub, NDC Partnership and more, and build synergies with partners providing relevant NDC support.
• Lead capacity-building activities in the target countries, including peer-to-peer learning across UNDP country offices and regional teams, to upskill staff to provide support to countries on integrating air quality and super pollutants into NDCs.

2) Target country engagement activities

3) Knowledge Management and communications

4) Coordination

Institutional Arrangement

The Policy Specialist Air Pollution and Health will be part of the HHG, reporting to Deputy Director HHG. The work will be conducted in close coordination with UNDP's Climate and Energy Hubs.

Competencies

Core

People management competencies : UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-functional & technical

Thematic Area Name Definition Business management Partnership management Ability to 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 direction and 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 Digital and innovation Systems Thinking & Transformation Understand that complex problems need a non-reductionistic, holistic approach. Ability to explore challenges from multiple perspectives by zooming in and out, with a focus on relationships and flows rather than individual elements; understand how certain dynamics and conditions are driving and influencing an issue; Ability to develop a collective understanding by a mapping system and their dynamics (e.g. flows or resources, information;power relations); is able to handle ambiguity and can help others navigate it; Being able to identify intervention points to leverage change and system transformation by setting out a coherent collection of multiple interventions to probe the system for desirable effects; Understand that change is non-linear and unpredictable; being comfortable and able to work with emergence. Business development Knowledge facilitation Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA

Min. education requirements

Min. years of relevant work experience

Minimum of 7 years (with Master's degree) or 9 years (with Bachelor's degree) of professional work experience in the area of air pollution and health at the global or regional level.

Required skills

Demonstrated ability to engage with various stakeholders around air pollution and health; excellent technical skills on air pollution and understanding of super pollutants; experience in working with governments, UN system, and civil society groups.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered

Experience working on super pollutants, including black carbon.

Experience working in more than one region.

Experience in supporting governments to implement the Paris Agreement, and experience working with UN system highly desired.

Required language(s)

Fluent English is required. Knowledge of additional UN languages is an asset.

Professional certificates Not applicable

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note : UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We 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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