UNOPS

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) unites the New York Portfolios, including the Peace and Security team (PSC); the Geneva Office; and the Vienna-based Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) teams, to maximize global impact, foster efficiencies and streamline global programmes. Leveraging our collective expertise and networks, GPO supports UNOPS' strategic priorities and the SDGs across over 130 countries. We deliver project management, fund management, advisory services, project implementation, and HR services, working closely with major global partners. Our thematic focus includes sustainable development, climate action, health, peace & security, and humanitarian action.

As part of the Global Portfolios Office, UNOPS Geneva provides comprehensive solutions in secretariat hosting, operational support, and fund management. We manage global programmes, including the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) Portfolio, offering project management, procurement, HR, and financial services. Geneva hosts the secretariats of eight global partnerships focused on health (RBM, Stop TB, ATscale), nutrition (SUN), water/sanitation (SHF), humanitarian leadership (GELI), urban development (Cities Alliance), and disaster displacement (PDD). We also provide fund management for EIF and UN Water, and operational support to Geneva-based partners like the Global Fund and UNHCR. The EU-UNOPS Lives in Dignity (LiD) Grant Facility is also based here.

WEC Background:

The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support.  

 WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The NDC Partnership:

The NDC Partnership is a global coalition, bringing together more than 250 members, including more than 130 countries, developed and developing, and more than 110 institutions to deliver on ambitious climate action that helps achieve the Paris Agreement and drive sustainable development. Governments identify their NDC implementation priorities and the type of support that is needed to translate them into actionable policies and programs. Based on these requests, the membership offers a tailored package of expertise, technical assistance and funding. This collaborative response provides developing countries with efficient access to a wide range of resources to adapt to and mitigate climate change and foster more equitable and sustainable development. The NDC Partnership Support Unit is jointly hosted by the World Resources Institute (WRI), the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the UN Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC). For this project, the Consultant will be contracted through UNOPS.

Saint Lucia is a member of the NDC Partnership and submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (iNDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in November 2015. The NDC Partnership Focal Point and UNFCCC Focal Point in Saint Lucia is the Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) of the Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training. In February 2025, Saint Lucia submitted its Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) to the Secretariat of the UNFCCC, following approval by the Cabinet of Ministers. 

As UNFCCC Focal Point, the DSD serves as the chair of the institutional mechanism, the National Climate Change Committee (NCCC). This multi-sectoral committee provides technical support and guidance on the development and implementation of national climate change policies, including NDCs, along with the completion of key reporting requirements of the UNFCCC.

The work of the NCCC is supported through the functioning of a National Climate Change Database, maintained and updated by DSD, such as a National Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Portal. The existing MRV System, for example, is intended to track information on key mitigation, adaptation, and climate finance action on the island, including capturing greenhouse gas data. This information is in turn intended to be used to complete key UNFCCC reporting requirements, including developing NDCs, National Communications and Biennial Transparency Reports.

The services of a Monitoring and Evaluation (MEL) Officer is required to support the stakeholder management actions required to enhance operationalization of the NCCC, support the data collection and learning opportunities, including the update of a National Climate Change Database. 

The MEL Officer will implement all tasks under the direct supervision of the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist. The MEL Officer will provide embedded technical support to the Department of Sustainable Development of the Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training. The Chief Sustainable Development and Environment Officer, or any officer designated to coordinate the day-to-day execution of activities, will guide the work of the embedded advisor.

*This is a retainer national vacancy / position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with the possibility of an extension depending on satisfactory performance and on availability of funds for the period of the second NDC. 

**This is a homebased position, meaning that the incumbent will not work from a UNOPS office but from the government facilities. Therefore, the incumbent will need to use his/her own laptop and software. 

***As this is a Local Position, in order to be eligible, the incumbent should be a national of Saint Lucia or have a valid residence permit in Saint Lucia. 

****Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The MEL Officer will serve as embedded technical support to the DSD in fulfilment of its role as chair of the NCCC and host of a National Climate Change Database. He/she will play a key role in supporting the implementation of the Climate Change Act of 2024, with a specific focus on the functions of the NCCC, including the review of the status of climate change programming and implementation and effectiveness of current national climate change policies.

Required

• A Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in public policy, development, climate change, natural resource management, environmental management, social sciences, and any other relevant field of study.

Required

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant and progressive professional experience (or more, depending on the academic credentials) in data collection, analysis, and reporting, or similar fields, preferably with a non-profit, government, or multilateral institution.   
• Development of technical and non-technical environmental or climate change learning material e.g. statements, report summaries, presentations, etc.
• Handling of collating data sets.
• Competency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Desired

• Knowledge of Saint Lucia’s climate change policy frameworks, national plans and strategies.
• Experience in coordinating multi-sectoral committees/bodies at a national level
• Ability to develop and maintain stakeholder relationships.
• Knowledge and use of a national database, such as an MRV Portal or clearing houses.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.