Project Associate

Context

Public sector funds will not be sufficient to meet the adaptation needs of the country & there is a need for an increase in private sector investment for climate adaptation. There remains a critical need to institutionalize mechanisms that enable continuous capacity building in climate science, modeling, financing and tracking of finance flows. Establishing formal structures for these activities ensures that adaptation planning is integrated into the decision-making processes of both national and sub-national governments, fostering long-term sustainability.

As an outcome of the recently concluded National Workshop on Sustainable Finance organized by the Department of Economic Affairs & UNDP with support from NITI Aayog, there was alignment on the need for a formal framework or guidance for states on SDG aligned budgeting. As climate change impacts intensify annually, the connection between climate change & economic growth is gaining greater recognition. However, more detailed country & state-specific analysis is urgently needed to fully understand wide-ranging impacts of climate change on economic growth & the costs of creating supportive policy environments, implementing concrete measures, and building long-term institutional and human capacities. While much of the current climate adaptation finance is directed towards physical adaptation measures, the costs of implementing soft measures like capacity building & vulnerability studies are not covered by external funding or domestic public budgets.

Some barriers to private sector investments in climate adaptation efforts include the perceived financial risks of adaptation projects, lack of technical knowledge on adaptation benefits, and the absence of adequate policy incentives to encourage private sector investments. Therefore, there is a need to address these barriers by advocating for a comprehensive adaptation financing framework in India that promotes the integration of public, private, and international finance. Another challenge in the successful implementation of adaptation strategies is the limited coherence between national and sub-national adaptation planning as these measures are often implemented in silos leading to fragmented efforts & results. There is thus a need to build institutional capacity at both levels, fostering better alignment between national policies & regional implementation for a more integrated approach to adaptation.

This initiative on establishing and strengthening a Knowledge Centre on Climate Change Adaptation Modeling is aimed at addressing the critical gap between the need for adaptation and the availability of appropriate metrics and data / information to effectively plan & implement these strategies. By evaluating & prioritizing actions based on factors such as risk reduction potential, cost-effectiveness, feasibility & co-benefits, modeling helps plan for future climate conditions. Climate adaptation modeling can inform the development of financial mechanisms & investment needs, using cost-benefit analysis & financing models to ensure sustainable & effective implementation of adaptation measures. This supports adaptation planning (short, medium & long-term) by offering data-driven assessments of various strategies for an informed decision-making. Such an approach not only enables effective adaptation to current climate impacts but also prepares for future risks by creating a solid foundation for evidence-based adaptation measures.

Task description

UNDP is looking to onboard a Project Associate to support the establishment and operationalization of the Climate Change Knowledge Centre at NITI Aayog. The Project Associate will provide technical and coordination to ensure effective implementation of project activities. The role will also contribute to capacity-building materials and the development of knowledge products for national and sub-national stakeholders. The Project Associate will provide technical and coordination support to ensure effec-tive implementation of project activities.

• Assist in Research and Analysis : Aanalyse trends and patterns related to climate im-pacts and adaptation needs.
• Contribute to background studies and reports that inform planning and policy deci-sions.
• Support organisation of project meetings, workshops, and consultations with gov-ernment departments, research institutions, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate with thematic experts, consultants, and partners for timely delivery of outputs.
• Liaise with state- and district-level counterparts for data collection and follow-up on agreed actions.
• Contribute to drafting sections of reports, briefs, and presentations with insights from data.
• Assist in translating data into clear, simple summaries for wider audiences. Generate insights and data summaries for gender-responsive policy briefs.
• Support development of white papers, best practice case studies, and visual knowledge products.
• Maintain project databases, document repositories, and stakeholder contact lists.
• Support the preparation of knowledge products, communication materials, and social media updates.
• Document good practices, lessons learned, and case studies emerging from the pro-ject.
• Assist in procurement processes, including preparation of ToRs, request for quota-tions, and vendor coordination.
• Support budget tracking and prepare financial updates for project activities.

Languages

English, Level : Working knowledge,

Required Hindi, Level : Working knowledge, Required

Required education level

Master's degree in Management, Economics, Statistics, Data Science, Public Policy, Environment Science or a related field. or any other subjects.

Skills and experience

• At least 3 years' experience related to analysis of climate schemes and programs in India.
• Familiarity with national and international climate change adaptation efforts.
• Experience with public and private stakeholder management for climate projects.
• Research skills to gather relevant data, statistics, case studies, and best practices re-lated to climate adaptation.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to draft technical notes, reports, official correspondence, and knowledge materials clearly and effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, capable of building trust and maintaining positive rela-tionships with diverse stakeholders.

This Entitlements specific to this volunteering assignment is below :

• Monthly Voluntary Living Allowance (VLA) : INR 64,961.50
• Entry lump sum (one-time payment) : USD 400 (equivalent in INR)
• Relocation costs : $200 at beginning and end of assignment if duty station is outside of commuting distance (as determined by UNV)
• Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment) : INR 5,413.46 for each month served
• Comprehensive coverage for health and life

Skills Required

Research Skills, Stakeholder Management