In Country Facilitator (Home based Retainer) - Gaborone, Botswana

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. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

From Geneva, UNOPS facilitates the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), working with governments, other United Nations (UN) agencies and partners by providing quality servces, integrated solutions and management support through strategic, cost-effective and results-oriented approches. This includes supporting platforms and hosting high-profile, flagship initiatives and funds focusing on health, nutrition, water and sanitation, sustainable cities, environment, energy, climate and trade. UNOPS is a recognized resource for the UN system in Geneva – from fund management and oversight and advisory services, to providing hosting solutions to a range of global initiatives, as well as operational support to partner organizations.

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 advancing the Paris Agreement by strengthening capacity and collaboration for country-owned climate and development action. 

With over 270 members, including over 140 countries and more than 120 institutions, the NDC Partnership aligns partner support behind country priorities, builds shared knowledge and generates evidence to inform effective NDC implementation, sustained investment and higher ambition that drives sustainable development. Working through a country-driven model, countries set the agenda by identifying their NDC priorities, and partners deliver coordinated, high-impact support that increases efficiency and reduces duplication.

The NDC Partnership has unmatched insight into on-the-ground climate realities, drawn from diverse expertise and collaborative learning across its membership. Grounded in country action, these insights shape the global climate agenda.

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).

Botswana is committed to ambitious climate action through its revised 2024 NDC, which targets a 15% economy-wide emissions reduction by 2030 compared to business-as-usual and prioritises adaptation across key sectors. As Botswana prepares its NDC 3.0, it will need to build on lessons from NDC implementation and ongoing initiatives, while aligning climate commitments with national development priorities, including Vision 2036 and the National Development Plans.

At the same time, Botswana is preparing its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1) under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), with support from a GEF-funded project to strengthen data systems, institutional arrangements, and capacities for tracking NDC progress and climate finance. The parallel NDC, NAP, and BTR/ETF processes require sustained coordination across government and development partners.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), through the Department of Meteorological Services (DMS), leads these efforts. The NDC Partnership supports Botswana in coordinating technical and financial assistance through its Country Engagement Strategy. A dedicated In-Country Facilitator embedded within government is therefore needed to strengthen coordination, align partner support with national priorities, mobilise resources, and support the implementation and monitoring of the NDC.

Under the supervision of the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist and in close coordination with the Climate Change Coordinator based in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, and in close collaboration with the Focal Points of the NDC Partnership at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and Ministry of Finance, the Facilitator will support Botswana to:

• Strengthen governance and multisectoral coordination for climate action.

• Advance NDC 3.0, NDC implementation, and BTR/ETF processes.

• Align and mobilise technical and financial support for priority climate actions.

• Strengthen MRV, transparency, and tracking of NDC progress and climate investments.

• Promote whole-of-society engagement, including the private sector and civil society.

• Enhance coherence between climate planning processes and national development frameworks.

• 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 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 Botswana or have a valid residence in Botswana.

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The embedded facilitator will serve as the NDC Partnership’s interface in the country and operate as a liaison between the country and other NDC Partnership members. The role is one of coordination and supportive facilitation. They play a key role in ensuring the smooth implementation of the Country Engagement Process, by supporting ongoing coordination efforts between the Support Unit of the NDC Partnership, the various partners of the Partnership, and the government of the Republic of Botswana.

1. Governance, Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement

• Support the secretariat functions of the National Climate Change Committee (NCCC) and its technical working groups (TWGs), including agenda preparation, documentation, and follow-up on action points.
• Provide dedicated coordination support to the DMS for the alignment and advancement of NDC 3.0, BTR, NAP, and related processes.
• Strengthen coordination mechanisms with key line ministries (e.g., Ministry of Minerals and Energy; Ministry of Lands and Agriculture; Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs; Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure) by supporting sectoral focal points.
• Support the establishment or strengthening of sectoral coordination mechanisms where required, including defining roles, responsibilities, and reporting pathways for sectoral focal points involved in NDC implementation.
• Facilitate engagement with non-state actors, including the private sector, civil society organisations, youth groups, and academic/research institutions to foster inclusive climate action.
• Support the dissemination and socialisation of the NDC Implementation Plan and Investment Framework across government and non-government stakeholders.
• Liaise with relevant district-level structures to ensure local perspectives inform national NDC and NAP processes.
• Facilitate cross-government dialogue on climate policy coherence to ensure alignment between sectoral development strategies and national climate commitments.

2. Resource Mobilisation & Partnership Alignment

• Support the drafting and updating of Requests for Support (RFS) for NDC 3.0, NAP development and implementation, BTRs, and priority sector interventions, and ensure the focal points channel them through the NDC Partnership.
• Map development partner programming in Botswana and maintain a national partner support tracking database, using NDC Partnership templates and tools, to identify gaps and avoid duplication.
• Convene or support regular donor and development partner coordination meetings (at least twice per year) focused on climate finance and NDC-aligned investments.
• Conduct country self needs assessments in collaboration with line ministries to identify support gaps and develop concept notes for bankable projects.
• Support the MET and the Ministry of Finance in engaging with climate funds (e.g., Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund) and development finance institutions to mobilise resources.
• Support the development of a pipeline of priority climate investment opportunities aligned with national mitigation and adaptation priorities and suitable for submission to international climate finance mechanisms. Including supporting initiatives like Botswana country platform for mobilising scaled up support.

3. Policy Alignment & Enabling Environment

• Support the finalisation, validation, and operationalisation of the NDC Implementation & Investment Plan.
• Coordinate the work of sectoral Technical Working Groups (TWGs) established for NDC sectors (e.g., energy, transport, water, agriculture, waste and others).
• Facilitate national and district-level consultations for the development of NDC 3.0 Investment Planning and the ongoing NAP and BTR processes.
• Review relevant policy and strategy drafts to provide recommendations on integrating NDC targets and climate resilience into sectoral plans, national budgets, and frameworks like the National Development Plan (NDP)12 /13, and Vision 2036.
• Support the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the MET in their efforts to develop or strengthen a national climate finance strategy and budget tagging and tracking system.
• Identify policy, regulatory, or institutional barriers to NDC implementation and propose actionable recommendations to address these gaps.

4. Monitoring, Reporting & Transparency Systems

• Support DMS and relevant line ministries to develop and operationalize systems for online tracking of NDC implementation, including the use of the BTR1/ETF framework and the CBIT project's tools.
• Assist in the collection, validation, and analysis of quarterly implementation data from line ministries and development partners.
• Prepare Quarterly Country Engagement Update (CEU) Reports for submission to the NDC Partnership Support Unit.
• Maintain and update the national project mapping and support tracking database using NDC Partnership tools.
• Develop quarterly and monthly internal progress briefs for the DMS and MET leadership.
• Proactively identify implementation bottlenecks and coordinate problem-solving sessions with relevant ministries and partners.
• Support the strengthening of institutional arrangements for climate data management and inter-agency data sharing to ensure reliable reporting under the Enhanced Transparency Framework.

5. Capacity Building & Knowledge Management

• Support the design and delivery of training programs for government officials and other stakeholders on NDC implementation, MRV/ETF systems, climate finance readiness, project development, and gender-responsive climate action.
• Contribute to the development of guidance materials, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and templates to support NDC-related processes.
• Facilitate peer learning and knowledge exchange with other countries in the region (e.g., South Africa, Rwanda, Namibia, and Zambia) on best practices in NDC implementation and transparency.
• Produce knowledge products such as policy briefs, case studies, and success stories to document and share lessons learned from Botswana's climate action.
• Support the organisation of annual learning and reflection events to assess progress, adapt strategies, and strengthen the evidence base for future NDC updates.
• Contribute to strengthening national institutional capacity to sustain NDC implementation beyond the duration of the Facilitator position.

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related discipline with a total of 7 years of relevant experience.

• An advanced degree (Master’s or higher) preferably in Environmental Science, Climate Change, Natural Resource Management, Public Policy, Development Economics, or a closely related field.

Required

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in climate change policy, environmental management, or sustainable development, with practical experience in climate change planning and implementation (both adaptation and mitigation).
• Proven experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives and facilitating policy development processes, preferably in the areas of NDCs, NAPs, national communications, or related climate policy processes, including experience working with or within the Government of Botswana as an advantage.
• Demonstrated project and programme management experience, including planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and coordination of stakeholders and partners.

Desired

• Experience in resource mobilisation and climate finance, including developing project concepts and proposals for climate finance mechanisms such as the GCF, GEF, and Adaptation Fund, and engaging effectively with development partners.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information, identify key issues and opportunities, and develop practical solutions.
• Well-organised, proactive, and able to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
• Excellent technical and report writing skills in English.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
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• 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. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
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