[Hiring] Climate Resilient Specialist, Irrigation and Lowlands Development @United Nations Office for Project Services

Role Description

The Specialist will provide hands-on technical and facilitative support to MoLID officials to mobilize climate and development finance, prepare and improve bankable investment proposals, and strengthen institutional capacity for NDC 3.0 implementation and climate resilient irrigation development. The role will contribute technical inputs to strategic discussions, facilitate linkages among CRISP, other partner-supported irrigation and lowland programs, and Netherlands-supported initiatives, and help ensure that lessons and financing opportunities translate into practical benefits for regional institutions, irrigation schemes, and climate-vulnerable communities.

Qualifications

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in Irrigation Engineering, Water Resources Management, Agricultural Engineering, Climate Change, Environmental Science, Rangeland Ecology, Agricultural Economics, Development Finance, Project Planning, Public Policy, or another closely related field is required OR
• A first-level university degree in a relevant field combined with two additional years of qualifying professional experience (7 total) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A doctoral degree preferably in a relevant field, or specialized postgraduate training in climate finance, irrigation modernization, integrated water management, or programme management, is desirable.
• Professional certification or advanced training in project management, climate finance, safeguards, monitoring and evaluation, or water and irrigation systems is an asset.

Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in climate-resilient irrigation, water resources management, lowland development, climate adaptation, project preparation, investment planning, climate finance, or closely related areas is required.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing high-quality concept notes, full proposals, investment cases, or financing packages for climate, agriculture, irrigation, water, infrastructure, or rural-resilience financiers, supported by strong analytical and drafting skills, is required.
• Proven experience in institutional capacity building, including training, mentoring, development of practical tools and guidance materials, and hands-on support to public institutions in fundraising, investment planning, and project development is required.
• Strong knowledge of climate-resilient irrigation systems, water-use efficiency, operation and maintenance, participatory natural resource and rangeland management, lowland livelihoods, and implementation challenges in developing-country contexts is required.
• Experience supporting large-scale donor-financed irrigation or agricultural transformation programmes, including World Bank-financed programmes or initiatives supported by the Government of the Netherlands, is desirable.
• Experience developing blended-finance, public-private partnership, results-based finance, technology-transfer, or private-sector engagement arrangements is desirable.
• Experience working with research and academic institutions, private contractors or operators, civil-society organizations, community-based organizations, and international development partners is desirable.
• Prior professional experience in Ethiopia, knowledge of Ethiopia’s NDC and climate-development architecture, familiarity with lowland pastoral and agro-pastoral contexts, and experience engaging vulnerable or marginalized communities are desirable.
• Strong coordination, negotiation, facilitation, and stakeholder-engagement capabilities, including engagement across central, subnational, community, development-partner, and private-sector stakeholders, are desirable.

Benefits

• This is a retainer national vacancy / position for twelve (12) months, maximum of 220 working days, with possibility of an extension depending on satisfactory performance and on availability of funds.
• This is a Home based 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.
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Company Description

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries.