​​Requisition ID: 8264
Grade: ISA-P3
Country: Home Based
Duty Station: Home Based
Category: International Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Contract Duration: 21 days over a period of 4 months
Application Deadline: 06-Nov-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNIDO is fully committed to achieving and maintaining workforce gender parity and to fostering an open, accessible, inclusive and respectful workplace that values diversity, equal opportunity and a healthy work-life balance. UNIDO, therefore, welcomes and encourages applications from qualified candidates of underrepresented genders, candidates from less-represented regions or nationalities, and candidates with disabilities, for whom reasonable accommodation will be provided in accordance with applicable policies.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty and hunger reduction, inclusive and fair globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019 as well as the Riyadh Declaration adopted at the twenty-first session of UNIDO General Conference in 2025, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Member States. The relevance of this mission as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of inclusive and sustainable industrial development, however, applies to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) 2026 - 2029 is UNIDO’s core strategic document and it is in line with UNIDO’s Vision 2050. It sets a renewed vision to support Member States and shape their industries for development. The priorities include fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, renewable and clean energy, sustainable energy access and climate action. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards-related activities; and (iv) convening and fostering partnerships for knowledge and technology transfer, investment mobilization, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.

Under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP) assists Member States in the emergence, deployment, and large-scale up-take of solutions for low carbon and climate resilient industrialization. The division promotes system innovation approach to achieve transformational change in climate change by innovating across key levers of change including technology, finance, policy, and regulation.

The Division is responsible for the dual mandate of accelerating innovation and building climate innovation ecosystems to promote low-carbon and climate-resilient industrialization; and planning, developing and implementing interventions to facilitate compliance with the Montreal Protocol and, in particular, its Kigali Amendment and to support countries in achieving their NDCs. In addition, the Division is responsible, in close collaboration with other relevant entities of the Organization, for facilitating the transfer of innovative low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions and building markets to ensure their widespread use by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience in recipient countries. It collaborates closely on relevant and converging issues with TCS/CEG, TCS/ECA and IET/CTP.

The position is located under the Climate Technology Innovation Unit (TCS/CMP/CTI) under the supervision of the Head. The Unit is responsible for supporting Member States in fostering innovation across technologies, finance, policy and regulation to promote the emergence, deployment and large-scale up-take of low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions and business practices. In addition, the Unit is responsible, in close collaboration with other relevant entities in the Organization, for facilitating the transfer of and establishing markets for low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions, ensuring wide use by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate mitigation, adaptation and building resilience in recipient countries. The Unit positions UNIDO strategically in the global discourse on climate technology innovation support and acts as the focal point in UNIDO for partnership with the technology mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

PROJECT CONTEXT

At the request of the Government of Ghana through OMSCCS (Office of the Minister of State for Climate change and Sustainability), UNIDO is supporting the development of a national Adaptation Fund (AF) project titled “Strengthening Ghana’s District-Level Evidence-Based Adaptation and Resilience.” The project builds on the UNIDO-prepared Pre-Concept Paper and aims to operationalise the newly established Ghana Climate and Sustainability Hub as a national coordination and innovation centre for climate intelligence, locally led adaptation, and resilience planning. It adopts a hub-and-spoke model, in which the Hub serves as the national data and coordination centre linked to regional and district-level nodes, and responds directly to Ghana’s National Adaptation Plan, National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and National Disaster Management Organisation Act, all of which emphasise decentralised, integrated and evidence-based adaptation across the country’s 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

A draft AF single-country Concept Note (indicative envelope USD 25 million) has already been mostly prepared by the UNIDO project team. The draft is well developed in its background, climate rationale, objectives and component architecture, but a number of Adaptation Fund concept-stage requirements are not yet complete — in particular the sections on economic, social and environmental benefits and gender; cost-effectiveness; national technical standards; learning and knowledge management; the consultative process; the full-cost-of-adaptation justification; sustainability; the Environmental and Social Policy (ESP) and Gender risk screening; and the results-framework alignment table. The mandatory in-country stakeholder consultation has also not yet been undertaken.

Against this background, UNIDO is engaging an individual consultant to (i) finalise the existing draft Concept Note to Adaptation Fund submission standard by closing the identified gaps against the concept-stage review criteria, and (ii) conduct the mandatory in-country stakeholder engagement in Ghana, the findings of which feed directly into the consultative-process, benefits, sustainability and ESP/Gender sections. The assignment is a targeted gap-filling and finalisation exercise on an existing draft. Full proposal formulation, detailed budgeting and full environmental and social impact assessment are excluded and are deferred to the Project Formulation Grant (PFG) stage.

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the UNIDO Project Managers (TCS/CMP/CTI) at Headquarters, in close coordination with the national counterpart (OMSCCS/MESTI) and the Ghana Climate and Sustainability Hub.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall supervision of the UNIDO Project Managers (TCS/CMP/CTI) and in close cooperation with the project team at Headquarters and the national counterpart, the consultant will be responsible for the following main duties. The assignment is delivered on a When-Actually-Employed (WAE) basis, for a total of Twenty one (21) working.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in climate change, environmental science, development studies, economics, natural resource management, or another relevant discipline is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least five (5) years of professional experience in climate change adaptation, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa, exposure at the international level, is required.

• Demonstrated experience developing Adaptation Fund proposals or concept notes (or comparable international climate-finance proposals), with familiarity with Adaptation Fund concept-stage requirements and review criteria, is required.

• Residence in Ghana or a neighbouring country, with the ability to undertake in-country missions to Ghana, including field-based stakeholder engagement, is required.

• Experience in stakeholder engagement and consultation involving national institutions, communities and vulnerable groups, with attention to gender, is required.

• Familiarity with environmental and social safeguards (ESP) and gender screening in climate-finance projects is desirable.

• Knowledge of Ghana’s climate policy and institutional context (NAP, NDC, MMDAs, OMSCCS/MESTI, Ghana Climate and Sustainability Hub) is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of French is desirable.

CORE VALUES AND BEHAVIORS

Core Values

EXCELLENCE – Deliver high-quality results; continuously improve performance.

INTEGRITY – Uphold ethical standards; act transparently and responsibly.

INCLUSION – Promote respect, diversity, and fairness.

HUMILITY – Show self-awareness; value others’ contributions.

HUMANITY – Act with compassion; align work with sustainable development.

Core Behaviors

CONNECT & COLLABORATE – Build trust through effective communication and teamwork; share knowledge and embrace diversity.

ANALYSE & PLAN – Use data and evidence to inform decision-making; plan proactively and prioritize effectively.

DELIVER RESULTS WITH POSITIVE IMPACT – Take ownership and deliver high-quality outputs; align work with UNIDO’s mission and objectives.

LEARN AND DEVELOP – Continuously develop skills and capabilities; seek feedback and share knowledge with others.

ADAPT AND INNOVATE – Respond flexibly to change; embrace innovation and new approaches

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

Integrity, Respect and Inclusion

UNIDO is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, diversity, inclusion and mutual respect. Employees of UNIDO are required at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity. UNIDO prohibits all forms of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority, and discrimination.

Through people-centred policies, UNIDO supports its personnel in balancing professional and personal responsibilities through flexible working arrangements while maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations worldwide.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org