Job Highlight
The Specialist will serve as a core technical resource to bridge the gap between national policy and the scientific community, ensuring that territorial planning, climate finance mobilization, and environmental diplomacy are backed by robust, evidence-based metrics.
About The Project Office
The NDC Partnership is a global coalition, bringing together more than 250 members, including more than 130 countries, developed and developing, and more than 110 institutions to deliver on ambitious climate action that helps achieve the Paris Agreement and drive sustainable development. Governments identify their NDC implementation priorities and the type of support that is needed to translate them into actionable policies and programs. Based on these requests, the membership offers a tailored package of expertise, technical assistance and funding. This collaborative response provides developing countries with efficient access to a wide range of resources to adapt to and mitigate climate change and foster more equitable and sustainable development. 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). For this project, the Consultant will be contracted through UNOPS.
Role PurposeWorking in close coordination with government focal points and the NDC Partnership Support Unit, the Specialist will ensure that Panama’s ambitious climate governance translates directly into measurable, localized resilience.
Functions / Key Results Expected
- Scientific Assessment and Policy Support
- Conduct in-depth assessments on climate and environmental trends, including data analysis on greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and climate vulnerability. These assessments will inform the development and revision of Panama’s NDC targets and other climate-related policies.
- Provide technical recommendations and best practices from the latest scientific literature and methodologies, ensuring climate policies align with global standards and UNFCCC guidelines.
- Prepare detailed reports and policy briefs that translate complex scientific findings into actionable insights for government officials, policymakers, and relevant stakeholders.
- Human Climate Mobility and Planned Relocation
- Follow up on the publication, dissemination, and strategic communication process of the First National Report on the Climate Mobility Situation in Panama (First Edition 2026).
- Support the validation and institutionalization of the National Protocol on Planned Relocations through inter-institutional consultation processes via the National Climate Change Committee (CONACCP), ensuring the effective participation of affected communities and indigenous peoples.
- Contribute to the design, implementation, and monitoring of pilot projects for the application of the Protocol in priority communities.
- Community Resilience and Territorial Planning
- Support and consolidate adaptive planning processes in communities vulnerable to climate risks, incorporating a strong focus on human rights, gender equality, and intercultural approaches.
- Facilitate the formalization and effective operation of territorial inter-institutional working groups, engaging actors from civil society and local governments.
- Contribute to strengthening the capacities of sectoral and local institutions (MEF, MiAMBIENTE municipalities) to integrate climate risk analysis and adaptation measures into local development plans.
- Mobilizing and Monitoring Climate Finance
- Ensure technical follow-up of projects initiated during the first period, particularly those focused on the conservation and governance of coastal-marine ecosystems, coastal resilience, and climate mobility.
- Identify and formulate new project proposals that integrate nature-based solutions, climate mobility, and coastal resilience for submission to international funding mechanisms.
- Support the development and strengthening of coordination among institutional, scientific, and financial actors involved in climate finance initiatives.
- Environmental Diplomacy and International Cooperation
- Maintain and strengthen strategic alliances with bilateral and multilateral cooperation partners, as well as other international stakeholders.
- Support the participation of MiAMBIENTE in major multilateral negotiation processes, including active preparation for UNFCCC COP31 and CBD COP17, tracking the outcomes of UNCCD COP17, and contributing to the early preparatory cycles for UNEA-8 and ongoing BBNJ mechanisms, by generating technical positions and briefing materials.
- Facilitate coordination among institutional, scientific, and financial actors in the development of new cooperation proposals.
- Contribute to the technical monitoring and accountability of projects under implementation, in coordination with donor and executing entities.
- Promote Panama’s international positioning as a regional leader in integrated environmental governance and climate action.
- Reporting and Documentation
- Prepare quarterly and annual reports summarizing progress, challenges, and recommendations based on scientific analyses.
- Maintain thorough documentation of methodologies, data sources, and key findings to support transparency and knowledge retention within the Ministry.
Education Requirements
Required
- * Master’s degree (or equivalent, PhD preferred) preferably in climate change, environmental management, international environmental law, sustainable development, international relations or related fields with 5 years of relevant experience is required
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience OR
*Required*Experience Requirements
- Relevant experience is work in international cooperation, including formulation and management of cooperation projects or related areas.
- Demonstrated experience in climate adaptation, territorial resilience and/or environmental governance.
- Experience as senior policymaker or providing advice to senior policymakers within climate or environmental policy processes inside national governments.
Desired
- * Experience in inter-institutional coordination and participatory processes with vulnerable communities, in particular coastal communities and/or indigenous peoples.
- Knowledge of the institutional and regulatory context of Panama in environmental and climate matters
- Experience in coordination and articulation of different actors and project management in climate change, environmental and natural resource management, development cooperation and related fields is an asset.
- Familiarity with UNFCCC processes including Subsidiary Body and Conference of Parties (CoP), NDC and experience on government climate change process.
- Experience in facilitating the implementation of NDCs is an asset.
- Experience of other national contexts that indirectly contribute to climate change is desirable
- Ability to foster formal and informal networks to strengthen cooperation between agencies, including Government, private sector participants, NGOs and other stakeholders
- Experience working on climate change with a national government technical or policy department is an asset.
