Expert in Green Growth and Sustainable Development Vacancy-Job Ref: WJMRUNDP/2705/2025807

Expert in Green Growth and Sustainable Development Vacancy-Job Ref: WJMRUNDP/2705/2025807

Nouakchott (Mauritania)

Mission and objectives

UNDP, as a global development network, aims, among other things, to promote gender equality and to foster development and the exchange of experiences between countries.

Mauritania has signed and ratified the Conventions on the Protection of Children’s Rights (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The country has also committed, through the Sustainable Development Goals, to achieving the seventeen SDGs, including Goal 5, which aims to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women.

However, persistent inequality and a lack of fairness continue to hamper the country’s sustainable development. These imbalances, which affect the political, economic, and legal spheres, as well as the social and cultural ones, constitute an obstacle to the enjoyment of equal human rights for all. They thus prevent women, who represent more than half of the population, from fully playing their role in the country’s growth and development process.

Context

Since the dawn of the 21st century, the global community has rallied around a shared vision: a world free from poverty, hunger, and disease, where every individual has access to education, equality, and a healthy environment. This vision was first articulated through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), adopted in 2000, which laid the groundwork for global development efforts. While the MDGs achieved notable progress, they also revealed the need for a more comprehensive and inclusive approach.

In 2015, the world embraced a new, ambitious framework: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This agenda introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), encompassing economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. Unlike their predecessors, the SDGs placed a stronger emphasis on environmental sustainability, recognizing that climate change and ecological degradation threaten the very foundation of human development.

Mauritania, a country where over 90% of the land is desert, stands at the frontline of climate vulnerability. Despite contributing a mere 0.015% to global greenhouse gas emissions, it faces severe and recurring climate-related challenges—droughts, floods, extreme heat, and epidemics—that jeopardize lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems. These challenges are compounded by limited financial and institutional capacity, making climate resilience not just a priority, but a necessity.

In response, Mauritania has aligned itself with both global and continental frameworks. It is a committed participant in the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and has ratified the Paris Agreement. The country submitted its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2015 and updated it in 2021, setting a target of an 11% reduction in emissions by 2030 and aspiring toward carbon neutrality. A third iteration of the NDC is currently in preparation.

To operationalize its climate commitments, Mauritania has adopted a two-phase planning approach. The first phase involved the development of sector-specific action plans, while the second consolidated these into a comprehensive Global Action Plan. These plans are designed to guide the country’s transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.

However, the path forward is fraught with financial challenges. The estimated cost of implementing the 2021-2030 NDC runs into hundreds of millions of dollars, with over 90% of the funding expected to come from international sources. Mauritania’s climate finance landscape is heavily dependent on external support—from climate funds, multilateral and bilateral donors, and philanthropic organizations.

Recognizing this, the Government of Mauritania, with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), is intensifying efforts in climate finance. UNDP is playing a pivotal role in bridging the gap between vision and reality by providing technical, regulatory, and policy support. As part of this effort, an international UN Volunteer expert in green growth and sustainable development will be recruited to assist in resource mobilization and strategic planning.

Task description

The UN Volunteer will work under the global supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and the direct supervision of the Sustainable Development Unit Team Lead of the country office,To support Mauritania’s efforts in mobilizing climate finance, advancing green investments, and implementing its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), under the supervision of UNDP and in collaboration with national and international stakeholders.

He/she will be responsible for the following deliverables/responsibilities: 1. Analysis, Quality Assurance, and Policy Guidance

Organize one high-level pre-COP30 event in Nouakchott.
Support the climate finance process within the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Provide technical assistance for identifying and prioritizing green investments across development sectors.
Advise on leveraging existing green finance mechanisms.
2. Advocacy, Partnership Building, and Resource Mobilization

Develop resource mobilization strategies aligned with program needs and emerging opportunities.
Focus on accessing vertical funds (eg, GEF, CVF) and engaging the private sector.
3. Development of Bankable Project Concepts

Conduct scoping meetings and consultations with sectoral ministries and stakeholders.
Review national strategies, reports, and evaluations related to climate change.
Identify key stakeholders for project formulation and implementation.
Define gender mainstreaming strategies for proposed actions.
Recommends implementation approaches considering national and international actors.
4. Cross-Cutting and Emerging Tasks

Provide technical input on any relevant work that arises during planning and implementation phases.
Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 – 80

Required experience

7 years

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience

8 years

Languages

French, Level: Fluent, Required

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Arabic, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable

Required education level

Master degree or equivalent in Environmental economics, climate change policies or a related field.

Skills and values

Accountability
Adaptability and flexibility

Judgment and decision-making
Planning and organizing
Professionalism
Self-management
Skills and experience

1. Thematic Expertise

In-depth knowledge of: · Green growth and sustainable industrialization
Climate finance mechanisms (eg, GEF, CVF, GCF)
Climate governance frameworks
Climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies
Sustainable development and environmental policy
2. Professional Experience

Proven experience in: · Supporting government agencies and development partners in designing and implementing green growth policies.
Mobilizing financing for bankable climate and green economy projects.
Developing and coordinating climate-related development projects.
Engaging in policy dialogue through platforms such as Policy Engagement Forums.
Facilitating multi-stakeholder engagement across public, private, and civil society sectors.
3. Strategic and Operational Skills

Ability to: · Coordinate multilateral cooperation and partnerships.
Provide technical and policy guidance on climate and green economy issues.
Lead resource mobilization strategies and develop concept notes for climate finance.
Integrate gender and social inclusion into climate and development programming.
Area(s) of expertise

Economics and finance, Energy and environment

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Other information

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