Project Associate: Climate Risk Adaptation and Insurance in the Caribbean and Pacific Region

United Nations University Objectives:

The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars, engaged in research, postgraduate teaching and capacity development and dissemination of knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States. For more information, please visit https://unu.edu/.

United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) established in December 2003, is part of the UNU system, a worldwide network of Research and Training Institutes. Its mission is to advance human security through knowledge-based approaches to reducing vulnerability and environmental risks. For more information, please visit https://ehs.unu.edu/.

Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII): MCII was initiated as a non-profit organization by representatives of insurers, research institutes and NGOs in April 2005 in response to the growing realization that insurance solutions can play a role in adaptation to climate change, as suggested in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. This initiative is hosted at the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS). As a leading think tank on climate change and insurance, MCII is focused on developing solutions for the risks posed by climate change for vulnerable people in developing countries. http://www.climate-insurance.org/.

From 2011 to 2014, MCII led and coordinated the Climate Risk Adaptation and Insurance in the Caribbean (CRAIC) project to help target countries in the Caribbean address some of the challenges to sustainable development posed by a changing climate. Phase I developed and implemented two index-based insurance products to help vulnerable people in the low-income segment of the population to better recover from impacts of extreme weather events on their livelihoods. Since 2017, MCII is leading and coordinating phase II of the project, with the aim to solidify the efforts of the first phase and to scale up into two additional countries to further develop, refine and enhance climate risk insurance products across the Caribbean region. The target countries are Jamaica, St. Lucia, Grenada, Belize and Trinidad & Tobago.

The Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation Programme (PICAP) aims to improve the financial preparedness and resilience of Pacific Islanders to climate change and natural hazards through the development and implementation of market-based meso- and microinsurance and risk financing schemes. This multi-year programme begins in Fiji and Vanuatu, after which the programme will roll out to Tonga, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands. PICAP will be working with the Pacific Digital Economy Programme to create digital payment solutions to reach Pacific Islanders in rural and remote areas. The Programme will also work together with governments and relevant stakeholders to develop customized Climate and Disaster Risk Financing strategies as well as macro-to-micro schemes to support the most vulnerable segments of the population. PICAP launched on 2 December 2020 and is jointly implemented by UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), UN Development Programme (UNDP), and UNU-EHS through MCII.

Responsibilities:

Under the authority of the Director of UNU-EHS and the guidance of the MCII Executive Director, the successful candidate will be contributing to the CRAIC and PICAP projects. The candidate will be entrusted with the following tasks:

• In collaboration with the MCII project team and partners, support the execution of relevant project work packages related to, inter alia, linking product services to national disaster risk management strategies, disaster risk financing (strategies), increasing client value through additional services, furthering resilience impact of insurance products, capacity building of key stakeholders and upscaling relevant lessons learned to replicate activities in other regional contexts.
• Actively manage work related to linking Disaster Risk Financing (strategies) into Disaster Risk Management.
• Support the execution of the research component within CRAIC and PICAP and relevant project activities.
• Actively co-develop new project activities for MCII in the context of increasing Small Island’s resilience to climate change.
• Support the development of project proposals and contribute to funding acquisition with the aim to further activities in the projects’ current target regions and/or to drive innovation and upscaling at the global level.
• Co-develop knowledge management products, training materials and workshops aimed at building capacity of insurance regulators, local primary insurers, clients in the target countries, and disaster risk financing authorities.
• Support the monitoring and evaluation components of the project, and synthesize project results into assessments and lessons learned reports.
• Assist in the quality control of papers, reports, and other deliverables associated with the projects, and support the coordination and supervision of deliverables by partners and subcontractors.
• Facilitate project related correspondence, regular contact with project partners through teleconferences, video conferences, and field visits.
• Further tasks as agreed.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Master’s degree in climate/disaster risk management, economics, finance, commerce or any relevant field;
• At least 2 years of working experience required, ideally in the context of climate and disaster risk financing;
• Excellent writing, presentation and communication skills with a fluency in spoken and written English. Additional languages that are spoken in the Caribbean/South Pacific region would be an asset;
• Strong team player with strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to work in a multi- cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender equality;
• Critical thinker with a strong interest to provide social innovation in the frame of MCII’s mission;
• Ability to travel, as this position may entail a high degree of travel (only once the COVID-19 situation eases).

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

• Fieldwork experience in different developing country contexts is an asset;
• Experience working in the Caribbean and/or South Pacific region. Experiences in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Grenada, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands, or Papua New-Guinea are considered an asset;
• Technical understanding of insurance products and operations. Understanding of key innovations in the sector; Knowledge about index-insurance approaches;
• A good understanding and/or experience in technical and organizational disaster risk reduction and -management and climate change adaptation;

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply and become part of the organization.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

Working Hours: 40h/week Remuneration:

Remuneration will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Duration of Contract:

This is a one (1) year Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) contract with the possibility of renewal subject to requirements and satisfactory work performance, with the combined duration of appointments not exceeding six (6) years.

This post is open to applicants from all countries and UNU will aid the successful applicant in securing a work visa for Germany, as necessary. It is, however, a locally recruited post and no relocation allowances apply. The duty station will be Bonn (Germany). The successful candidate will be employed under a local contract and will not hold international civil servant status nor is the candidate a “staff member” as defined in the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations.

Under the given circumstances regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, possible work arrangements (Bonn, or remotely) will be discussed with shortlisted candidates during the interview process. Arrangements would be temporary in nature, and contractually the duty station would remain Bonn, Germany.

Starting Date:

As soon as possible.

Application Procedure:

Interested applicants should submit their applications by e-mail (to [email protected]), and must upload the following:

• A cover letter setting out the motivation for applying for the position as well as qualifications and experience matching the requirements of the position;
• A completed and signed UNU Personal History (P.11) form downloadable from UNU website. Please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organizations;
• An up-to-date CV; please ensure your CV does NOT contain a photo
• An indication of the reference number of the vacancy announcement 2021/UNU/EHS/PSA/PA/CRAIC/49

Please note that any application missing any of these documents will be dismissed.