• Title: Consultant - Buildings Breakthrough target
• Duty station: Home-Based (CET working hours; The incumbent is expected to come to Paris office in person about once a month)
• Section/Unit: UNEP, Industry and Economy Division, Energy and Climate Branch, Cities Unit
• Contract/Level: Mid-career
• Duration: 22 February 2023 through 15 June 2023, full-time (100%)

Apply by 15 February by sending CV + Cover Letter to [email protected]

Background

The Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), whose Secretariat is hosted by UNEP and gathers 267 members, including 38 countries, working towards a zero emission, efficient, and resilient building and construction sector.

France (Ministry for Ecological Transition) with the Kingdom of Morocco (Ministry of National Territory Planning, Land Planning, Housing and City Policy) and under the umbrella of the GlobalABC, are co-leading a Buildings Breakthrough target ‘near-zero emission and resilient buildings are the new normal by 2030’. This Buildings breakthrough is linked with the Breakthrough Agenda launched at COP26.

This Breakthrough Agenda aimed at strengthening international collaboration on the decarbonisation of high- emitting sectors (Transport, Power, Hydrogen, Steel, Agriculture) and rallied 45 countries and ca. 70 percent of global GDP. Despite being a heavyweight for climate action (around 37 per cent of CO2 emissions and over 34 per cent of global final energy demand come from buildings and construction) A Buildings Breakthrough however was not part of this agenda.

On 11 November 2022, at the COP27 Breakthrough Agenda Ministerial, the governments of France and the Kingdom of Morocco re-confirmed their leadership of a Buildings Breakthrough, within the existing Agenda, with the UK and Germany confirming support. The Buildings Breakthrough statement “near-zero emission and resilient buildings are the new normal by 2030” serves as a joint vision and a rallying point for all countries.

To date, 18 countries have joined/are supporting the Buildings Breakthrough ‘near-zero emission and resilient buildings are the new normal by 2030’: Armenia, Austria, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, The Netherlands, Norway, Senegal, Sudan, Sweden, Türkiye, and the UK. Scroll down to see the exact ministries. In addition, 13 initiatives from 8 organisations have announced their support to be listed as leading initiatives: The WBCSD Built Environment Transformation Program; WorldGBC Advancing Net Zero Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment; WorldGBC BuildingLife Programme; Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB/GIZ); WRI Zero Carbon Building Accelerator; WRI Building Efficiency Accelerator; C40 Clean Construction programme, including the Clean Construction Accelerator; C40 Private Building Efficiency (PBE) and C40 New Building Efficiency (NBE) networks and the associated Net Zero Buildings Accelerator; The GlobalABC market transformation Work Area; The Clean Heat Forum; and the Solar Impulse Foundation.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The consultant will be seconded by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and support the Buildings Breakthrough under the supervision of the UNEP-hosted Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC). This consultancy is for 4 months on a full-time (100%) basis. Tasks will include the following:

1. Serve as point of contact for interested countries as well as countries who already joined.
2. Serve as point of contact for initiatives who are interested as well as initiatives who already confirmed support.
3. Serve as main coordination focal point for and among countries and initiatives
4. Liaise with the co-leading countries France and Morocco as well as the GlobalABC Secretariat on progress and priorities.
5. In close collaboration with the website developer and the GlobalABC Secretariat, assist with the concept for an intranet tool for the Buildings Breakthrough.
6. Support the co-leading countries in terms of background documents, tracking, and event preparation.
7. Serve as outreach focal point, contacting/following up with additional countries and initiatives to join the Buildings Breakthrough in close collaboration with the co-leading countries and the GlobalABC Secretariat.
8. Prepare calls with countries and initiatives including surveys and background documents as needed
9. Support the development of work plans for countries and initiatives that joined/support, e.g., priority policy actions, milestones over the coming years, etc.
10. Support analysis of data needs.
11. Develop relevant technical background papers to support setting priority actions for countries who joined/are interested in joining.
12. Support the definition of the buildings breakthrough tracking framework linked to the GlobalABC BuildingsGSR and in partnership with IEA (lead for tracking the Glasgow breakthroughs)
13. Draft concept notes, agendas and briefings for outreach and communications activities.
14. Assist in maintaining and keeping up to date the project filing system/repository.
15. Assist in preparing substantial and financial reporting.
16. Perform other tasks as may be requested by the Programme Officer, Buildings and Construction (supervisor).

Monitoring and Progress Controls

• The individual contractor will contribute to the successful launch of the Buildings Breakthrough and report to the Programme Officer, Buildings and Construction, Cities Unit, Energy and Climate Branch, UNEP. Key outputs include:
• Tracking sheets of countries and initiatives that joined including tracking outreach and progression to joining.
• Background documents for priority actions over the coming years under the Buildings Breakthrough.
• Concept for intranet for Buildings Breakthrough.
• Agendas and summary briefs from meetings and workshops.
• Concept notes, agendas and briefings for outreach and communications activities.
• Surveys for countries/initiatives that joined.
• Progress reports.

Qualifications and Experience

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)

Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in public policy, economics, environmental or social sciences, or engineering with a buildings and construction focus. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Specialization and/or experience in a field related to sustainable buildings and construction is required.

b. Work Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in the field of sustainable buildings, environment, climate change or related field.
• Experience with sustainable buildings and construction initiatives is required.
• Experience of working with international organizations is an asset;
• Experience with intergovernmental processes is desired.

c. Languages

Excellent oral communication and writing skills in English and French is a must. Knowledge of an additional UN language is an asset.

d. Key Competencies

• Excellent knowledge of the buildings and construction sector and related sustainability issues is required.
• Excellent diplomatic and communications skills are needed.
• Ability to apply research skills in day-to-day work and translate them to the policy context.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to proactively seek and identify relevant information and solutions.
• Ability to work on multiple tasks with energy and commitment to due completion.
• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• Shows persistence and flexibility when faced with difficult problems or challenges.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues across institutions to achieve organizational and strategic goals.
• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies.
• Identifies priority activities and assignments.
• Adjusts priorities as required.
• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work.
• Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary.
• Uses time efficiently.

Annex. Buildings Breakthrough supporting countries

As of 8 February 2023, 18 countries joined the Buildings Breakthrough (in alphabetical order):