Energy & Green Growth Specialist

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP Cambodia Country Office works in partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC), non-government organizations, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, multilateral aid agencies, bilateral donors and private sector to support the progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recently, it has adopted new Country Programme 2024-2028 to align with key national priorities and policies, particularly Cambodia’s vision 2050 and the Pentagonal Strategy-Phase 1 2024-2028. The UNDP Country Programme Document 2024-28 for Cambodia has identified three transformational shifts. The first shift is toward a more sustainable and green economic development model for accelerating inclusive growth, economic diversification, and human development. The second shift involves championing just energy transition, climate action and nature-based solutions as the foundation for national wealth, well-being, and resilience to shocks. The third shift is towards strengthening institutions, civic space, and participation as enablers for inclusive growth, access to rights and equal opportunities for all, whilst ensuring that the society at large is using the full potential of digital transformation.

This position will play a key role in advancing the priorities under the second shift on just energy transition, climate action and nature-based solutions and the strategic collaboration framework agreement (2020-2023) with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) to support integrated programming and the strengthening of organizational capacities. 

As the proposed tasks under this TOR are of cross-cutting in nature, the Specialist plays a key role in liaising the tasks between key line ministries, such as Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC), Ministry of Environment (MOE), to name a few. The main objective is to catalyze long-term policies and investments in energy sector towards energy access for all and support transition to clean energy, green infrastructure resilient pathways forward. Special emphasis will be to increase energy access to the most vulnerable, including poor households and women-headed households, and to accelerate the implementation of gender sensitive green economy related policies and programmes.

The Energy and Green Growth Specialist will function under the day-to-day supervision of the Environment Policy Specialist. 

The incumbent may be required to undertake field missions to various provinces of Cambodia where applicable to conduct project-related activities or meetings, stakeholder engagements, and monitoring purposes. Any travel related to the official performance of duties will be covered by the UNDP project. 

The incumbent may also be required to take on other programmes/projects/initiatives within the scope of the TOR depending on the workload at the time. 

Summary of Key Functions:

• Facilitate UNDP’s efforts to achieve Cambodia’s SDG 7 targets for just energy transition and green growth strategy.
• Liaise with relevant line ministries, provincial and sub-national departments, NGOs, and other stakeholders in the implementation of just energy transition activities.
• Provide inputs to the policy dialogue processes on just energy transition and green growth with government, development partners, private sector and CSOs.
• Provide contributions to the process of programme/projects development related to just energy transition and green growth.

Details of Key Functions:

Facilitate UNDP’s efforts to achieve Cambodia’s SDG 7 targets for just energy transition and green growth strategy:

• Contribute to develop UNDP Cambodia strategic interventions and lead implementation of activities related to energy and green growth. 
• Engage national and international consultant as needed, develop TORs and support the consultants for the implementation of activities.
• Facilitate the energy portfolio in preparation of quarterly and annual technical progress reports to the government, UNDP, and Project Board (PB) as per reporting guidelines.
• Provide technical inputs as required into UNDP’s corporate initiatives including Greening the Blue, Greening Moonshot Facility and sustainable energy projects. Where needed, lead UNDP’s collaboration with other UN-agencies, government, development partners and CSOs in the areas of energy and green growth.

Liaise with relevant line ministries, provincial and sub-national departments, NGOs, and other stakeholders in the implementation of just energy transition activities:

• Promote effective collaboration with ministries, line departments, NGOs/International Organizations, private sector and other development partners in the implementation of activities to advance clean energy agenda.
• Provide technical inputs for the development of guidelines, training materials, assessments and others as necessary including translations to Khmer.
• Build synergies and partnerships with key partners to ensure greater impact and visibility of UNDP energy portfolio (we don’t have a technical advisor any more).
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, knowledge products, communication material by compiling lessons learned, best practices and policy documents.

Provide inputs to the policy dialogue processes on just energy transition and green growth with government, development partners, private sector and CSOs:

• Collect, compile, analyse and interpret energy and climate change related data through sound research, and evidence-based analysis.
• Facilitate the preparation of analytical documents and background information on energy and green growth for policy dialogues within the overarching UNDP policy framework.
• Coordinate and provide inputs on energy and green growth as required for policy briefs, position papers that are of cross sectoral in nature within UNDP, such as governance, poverty reduction, gender, and capacity development. 
• Contribute to raise visibility of UNDP as a committed partner for advancing clean energy and green growth policies.

 Provide contributions to the process of programme/projects development related to just energy transition and green growth:

• Identify areas of UNDP comparative advantages in the field of clean energy and green growth.
• Contribute to the formulation of project concept notes and full project documents including information materials in consultation with relevant stakeholders among others. 
• Facilitate the organization of stakeholder meetings/events/workshops with key stakeholders to identify priorities for clean energy and green growth.
• Contribute to the resource mobilization with donors, private sector, government and other global and regional resources.
• Facilitate consultations required for Internal Project Appraisal Committee meetings, Local Project Appraisal Committee Meetings.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Impact of Results 

The Energy and Green Growth Specialist position will strengthen coordination between UNDP and the Royal Government of Cambodia in advancing the just energy transition agenda by coordinating the implementation of activities on ground. S/he is expected to contribute to the resource mobilization for advancing the energy portfolio. The key results achieved through UNDP programmes and projects will strengthen UNDP’s contributions to the national policy dialogue on clean energy and enhance the policy impact.

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact. 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems. 
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands. 
• Act with Determination:  LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
• Engage and Partner:      LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:   LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction & Strategy    

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management   

• Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
• Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Partnership Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
• Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience; Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

2030 Agenda: Planet     

• Nature, Climate and Energy: Green Economy: Green economy and green growth; Energy: Energy access