Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the international environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The NDC Act & Invest Initiative is a global programme led by UNEP and currently funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and the NDC Partnership’s Partnership Action Fund (PAF) multi-donor trust fund. It is designed to help countries raise their climate ambition and translate their new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0) submitted in 2025 into actionable, investable plans. Building on lessons learned from the NDC Action project implementation and previous NDC cycles, the initiative addresses critical gaps in policy alignment, financing, and implementation. It brings together governments, development partners, and the private sector to develop coherent, science-based, and finance-ready NDC frameworks. Structured around three interconnected workstreams, fostering G20+ ambition and action, piloting policy and planning alignment, and providing deep-dive support to enhance NDC investability, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between climate commitments and tangible implementation. By aligning national strategies, strengthening enabling environments, and working collaboratively with key partners, including the NDC Partnership, GIZ, UNDP’s Climate Promise, UNFCCC, multilateral development banks (MDBs), development finance institutions (DFIs), and private sector actors, NDC Act & Invest seeks to make the next generation of NDCs both more ambitious and more achievable, accelerating progress toward the 1.5°C goal and enhancing global resilience. The NDC Act & Invest team, based within the Mitigation Branch in Paris, is responsible for the global management and overall coordination of the initiative across partner countries, in line with UNEP’s delivery model. The team also acts as the main liaison between UNEP and the NDC Partnership, coordinating UNEP’s responses to country support requests shared through the Partnership, identifying and applying for additional funding where appropriate, and consolidating implementation and progress reporting. In addition, the team maintains close coordination with related projects under the IKI Programme to ensure coherence and synergies across initiatives. Funded by the NDC Partnership’s Partnership Action Fund (PAF) and implemented by UNEP, this project is intended to support the Government of Namibia in finalising a technically robust, nationally aligned, and implementation-ready LT-LEDS, by consolidating existing analytical work, addressing remaining policy and evidence gaps, and translating long-term climate ambition into a clear framework for implementation, investment and coordination. Namibia is advancing its Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategy’s (LT-LEDS) finalisation through 11-month technical assistance building on existing climate planning work. The LT-LEDS will be developed to be fully aligned with national plans, including Vision 2030, the Harambee Prosperity Plan II, the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and Namibia’s updated NDC 3.0, with the aim to translate long-term mitigation and adaptation objectives into concrete sectoral pathways. This project aims to consolidate Namibia’s LT-LEDS into a comprehensive, actionable framework to 2050, supported by a cost-benefit analysis, a gender and social inclusion assessment, and a practical implementation work plan addressing governance, capacity and financing needs. The project’s process will include extensive stakeholder consultations and national validation to ensure ownership, followed by targeted dissemination to strengthen political buy-in and mobilise development partner support. UNEP aims to mobilise an experienced Team Lead to provide strategic and substantial technical leadership for the formulation of Namibia’s upcoming LT-LEDS. The Team Lead will guide and quality-assure the work of a multidisciplinary team, coordinate key outputs, and synthesise them into an actionable long-term strategy and implementation plan. The role will also support high-level policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement to strengthen ownership across government and society and mobilise donor support, with the aim to ensure that Namibia’s LT-LEDS is robust, finance-ready and aligned with the country’s priorities. The Team Lead will provide overall coordination and technical leadership for the delivery of Namibia’s LT-LEDS, under the government and UNEP’s joint supervision and in close coordination with a Regional Climate Policy and Fiscal Expert as well as a Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist. In close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), the Ministry of Industrialization, Mines and Energy, and development partners active in Namibia on climate and energy transition agendas, the Team Lead will ensure timely, high-quality delivery of the LT-LEDS, its supporting analytical work, and stakeholder validation, as well as ensuring national ownership. The expected results outlined below correspond to the main milestones of the work plan and are accompanied by performance indicators to assess their achievement. Result 1: foundational analyses for the LT-LEDS are completed. Activity 1.1: strategic guidance for cost-benefit analysis (CBA) o Oversee the preparation of the LT-LEDS CBA and ensure that methodologies are sound and that the analysis covers all key sectors and relevant mitigation/adaptation options. o Provide technical input and quality assurance during data collection and modelling and ensure policy recommendations are relevant and emerge from the analysis. Activity 1.2: integrate gender and inclusion dimensions into analyses o Work closely with the Gender and Inclusion Specialist to ensure the gender and social inclusion assessment is integrated into the analytical process. o Review the Gender and Social Inclusion report, guide its alignment with the cost-benefit findings, and ensure that issues of equity, just transition, and vulnerable groups are reflected in the analysis of LT-LEDS options. Expected deliverables: o 1.a Cost-Benefit Analysis Report, which assesses costs, benefits, and trade-offs of LT-LEDS mitigation and adaptation options, as well as policy-relevant recommendations. o 1.b Gender and Social Inclusion Report, that analyses how LT-LEDS measures affect women, youth, and vulnerable groups, with recommendations to embed social inclusion in LT-LEDS implementation. Result 2: draft Long-Term Strategy prepared and aligned with national development goals and the upcoming NDC. Activity 2.1: Lead LT-LEDS draft o Compile and synthesise contributions from existing studies and preliminary analysis into a draft LT-LEDS. o Structure the strategy around Namibia’s 2030 and 2050 climate targets, sectoral transformation pathways, financing needs, and a monitoring and reporting framework. o Ensure the draft clearly links to Vision 2030, the Harambee Prosperity Plan II, NDP6, and Namibia’s NDC, and demonstrates how the LT-LEDS will operationalise these high-level goals. Activity 2.2: Incorporate technical feedback and best practices o Circulate the draft LT-LEDS to MEFT, line ministries, and key stakeholders for technical and strategic inputs. o Integrate feedback and international best practices and ensure that strategy adheres to UNFCCC guidance and parallel processes. o Verify that all economic and social analyses are accurately reflected and that stakeholder comments are adequately addressed in the revised draft. Expected deliverables : o 2.a Draft LT-LEDS Document for Namibia (2050), which integrates analytical outputs (modelling, CBA, gender findings). Result 3: A detailed and actionable implementation work plan that covers governance, capacity building, financing, and data needs, is formulated to support LT-LEDS implementation. Activity 3.1: Develop the implementation work plan o Coordinate the formulation of a practical LT-LEDS Implementation Work Plan. o Identify any outstanding data gaps or modelling needs, adjustments, and propose remedial actions. o Define capacity development actions required, including institutional strengthening and training. o Ensure the plan covers the establishment/strengthening of relevant coordination mechanisms. Activity 3.2: Define governance and financing framework o Define governance structure and accountability framework for LT-LEDS implementation within the work plan. o Assign clear roles and responsibilities to relevant ministries, agencies and coordination bodies across mitigation, adaptation and MRV functions. o Outline approaches for engaging development partners and integrating LT-LEDS actions into national budgeting, including a resource mobilisation plan identifying potential funding sources. Expected deliverables: o 3.a LT-LEDS Implementation Work Plan, which outlines implementation steps, identifies capacity gaps, data needs, governance arrangements, coordination framework, roles and responsibilities, training and partnerships required. Result 4: The draft LT-LEDS is refined, validated and endorsed through stakeholder consultations and a high-level national validation workshop. Activity 4.1 : Conduct stakeholder consultations o Plan and facilitate regional and sectoral stakeholder consultations on the draft LT-LEDS, in coordination with MEFT, MIME, sectoral departments and existing climate forums. o Prepare agendas and presentation materials that communicate technical findings in an accessible manner. o Engage key stakeholders, from government, local authorities, industry, academia, civil society and marginalised groups. o Collect and document feedback, clarify concerns and ensure inputs are reflected in subsequent revisions. Activity 4.2: Lead national validation workshop o Organise and lead a high-level Validation Workshop to present the final draft LT-LEDS to senior decision-makers and key partners. o Facilitate discussions to build consensus, resolve outstanding issues, secure formal endorsement and agreed next steps. o Oversee the finalisation of the LT-LEDS by incorporating final inputs and prepare a Validation Workshop Report which documents proceedings and decisions. Expected deliverables: 4.a Stakeholder Consultation Report that includes feedback and recommendations from regional and sectoral stakeholder consultations on the draft LT-LEDS. 4.5 Validation Workshop Report which captures discussions, decisions, and endorsements, as well as presenting the final revised LT-LEDS that should reflect stakeholder inputs. Result 5: The final LT-LEDS is disseminated and resulted in heightened political interest from development partners to support implementation. Activity 5.1: Prepare communication and knowledge materials o Oversee the development of a dissemination package for the LT-LEDS, including executive summaries, slide decks, policy briefs and press materials. o Tailor communication products to different audiences. Activity 5.2: Engage high-level stakeholders and partners o Present LT-LEDS findings to political leadership, in collaboration with MEFT, to strengthen national commitment. o Coordinate with the NDC Partnership and donors to convene follow-up discussions to mobilise support for LT-LEDS implementation. o Develop a commitments tracker to document pledges and partnership opportunities and advise MEFT on sustaining momentum. Expected deliverables: 5.a Dissemination Package, including presentation materials, policy briefs and communication outputs to disseminate the LT-LEDS to high-level stakeholders and development partners. 5.b Commitments Tracker documenting political endorsements and donor pledges for LT-LEDS implementation, along with a brief summary of post-workshop high-level engagements to mobilise support. The consultant/individual contractor will report to Jérôme Malavelle, Global Coordinator of NDC Act & Invest, Global Climate Action Unit, Mitigation Branch.
Qualifications/special skills
o Advanced university degree (master’s level or higher) in environmental policy, green technologies (renewables, transport, etc), climate change, economics, sustainable development or a closely related field. o At least 15 years of progressive experience in climate change policy and low-emission development planning and modelling (required). o Proven track record in designing and guiding LT-LEDS, NDCs, or Net Zero sectoral strategies in developing country contexts, preferably in Southern African countries (required). o Demonstrated experience leading high-level policy and technical dialogues with government ministries (required). o Experience ensuring alignment of climate strategies with national development plans, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and public-private investment frameworks (required). o Ability to synthesise complex technical assessments, including economic cost-benefit analyses, sector models, and gender analyses, into policy strategies and actionable plans (required). o Experience coordinating multi-disciplinary teams and managing stakeholder consultation processes is required. o Excellent leadership, coordination, and project management skills, with the ability to supervise a diverse team and deliver results under tight timelines. o Demonstrate strong analytical and writing abilities, including proficiency in drafting high-quality technical reports and policy documents. o Demonstrate strong proficiency in energy and climate modelling tools (LEAP, OSeMOSYS, PyPSA or similar), with the ability to design, calibrate, and interpret scenarios to inform strategic planning, policy formulation, and investment decision-making. o Solid expertise in data collection, validation, and management processes, including the development of structured datasets, baseline assessments, and indicators, as well as the capacity to analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative data to generate actionable insights for policy and programme design. o Show effective communication and facilitation skills for engaging government officials, stakeholders and partners in consultative processes. o Display sound knowledge of international climate policy frameworks and the ability to tailor global best practices to Namibia’s context.
