Sustainable Energy Associate

Mission and objectives

UNDP's mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP's overall goal is to contribute to sustainable human development. UNDP has four focus areas in its mandate: poverty reduction, democratic governance, environment and energy, and crisis prevention and recovery

Context

The Associate will provide technical support to the Climate Change, Water, Energy and Environment (CCWEE) Portfolio for project pipeline development, diagnostics, and policy integration, ensuring interventions are evidence-based and investment-ready. The work environment is highly collaborative, engaging with UNDP Yemen’s CCWEE Team, the Amman Regional Hub, and diverse stakeholders including government ministries (Ministry of Water and Environment (MoWE) and Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MoEE)), private sector actors, financial institutions, and local communities. This assignment offers candidates the opportunity to contribute to tangible climate and energy outcomes in one of the world’s most challenging contexts, while strengthening inclusive partnerships and safeguards. It combines technical rigor with policy engagement, stakeholder coordination, and knowledge management, making it well-suited for professionals seeking to advance sustainable energy solutions that address both global commitments and local resilience needs.

Task Description

While administratively reporting to the Strategic Advisor/ Head of Amman Liaison Office, the UN Volunteer will work under the direct technical and functional guidance of the Team Leader for the Climate Change, Water, Energy, and Environment (CCWEE) Pillar to support the overall delivery of the portfolio. The UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: - CCWEE Portfolio Technical Support: 1- Contribute to energy initiatives by providing technical support in the design and imple-mentation of energy transition and energy efficiency programs. 2- Support project pipeline development by gathering technical data in renewable energy, energy efficiency, cooling, and demand-side management. 3- Participate in diagnostics and assessments under fragile-state conditions, incorporat-ing considerations of security risks, supply chain disruptions, and community owner-ship models. - Climate Policy & NDC Support 1- Assist in aligning interventions with Yemen’s NDC commitments, emphasizing renew-able energy access and resilience in essential services. 2- Contribute to policy analysis and advisory work on energy transition and decarboniza-tion pathways. 3- Support integration of energy priorities into national planning frameworks, including the National Strategy for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. - Mitigation Finance & Project Development 1- Support project design and implementation of energy projects within UNDP Yemen. 2- Liaise with the Environment and Energy Team at the Amman Regional Hub to identify financing opportunities and engage with development partners and financial institutions. 3- Contribute to documentation by preparing concept notes, project documents, and donor proposals. - Stakeholder Coordination & Partnerships 1- Facilitate structured coordination with national stakeholders (MoWE, MoEE, private sector, and financial institutions). 2- Support UNDP Yemen in technical meetings, workshops, and consultations, ensuring evidence-based contributions. 3- Strengthen partnerships and stakeholder engagement mechanisms to advance energy sector collaboration. - Monitoring, Reporting & Knowledge Management 1- Support monitoring and reporting of project activities, ensuring timely delivery of out-puts and compliance with performance indicators. 2- Contribute to the preparation of progress reports, knowledge products, and communi-cation materials for internal and external dissemination. 3- Assist in safeguarding project implementation, including environmental and social safeguards. - Cross-Cutting Priorities 1- Support integration of gender equality and social inclusion into energy programming. 2- Promote digitalization and innovation where relevant. - UNV Contribution (Volunteerism) 1- Promote volunteerism through active engagement with UNV initiatives 2- Contribute to knowledge sharing, documentation, and outreach activities

Competencies and values

Accountability Adaptability and Flexibility Communication Planning and Organizing Professionalism Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

- Location: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is located in the Middle East. Bound by Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, Red Sea to the south and the Palestinian National Authority to the west. - Weather: Jordan’s climate can be classified as semi-arid (Bsh) on the Koeppen-Geiger classification. It features a hot, dry climate characterized by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. The climate is influenced by Jordan's location between the subtropical aridity of the Arabian desert areas and the subtropical humidity of the east-ern Mediterranean area. January is the coldest month, with temperatures from 5°C to 10°C, and August is the hottest month at 20°C to 35°C. Daily temperatures can be quite hot, especially in the summer; on some days it can be 40°C or more, especially when a hot, dry southerly wind blows. Such winds can sometimes be very strong and can cause sandstorms. About 70 percent of the average rainfall in the country falls be-tween November and March; June through August are often rainless. Rainfall varies from season to season and from year to year. Precipitation is often concentrated in vio-lent storms, causing erosion and local flooding, especially in the winter months. - Safety and Security: Jordan is a relatively stable country. The potentials for internal or external armed conflict are considered very unlikely in the current political environ-ment. Peaceful demonstrations, and sometimes road blockages, do occur in Jordan, motivated by domestic factors such as unemployment, deprivation of resources and development or for regional issues such as solidarity with the Palestinian cause or with the Syrian crises. Most of these events are driven by civil society unions and Islamic parties. Domestic tribal civil unrest sometimes turns violent, especially outside main cities, due to tribal disputes or socio-economic reasons. In all occasions law enforce-ment agencies usually manage to contain the situation rapidly. Road traffic accidents are the primary threat against UN personnel in Jordan. Poor road conditions and bad driving behaviours are the main reasons for the high rate of traffic accidents. Amman is a category A duty station with security level 1. - Transportation and housing: Taxis as well as ride-hailing services (Uber and Careem) are abundant and affordable in Amman. Medical facilities are generally very good, par-ticularly in Amman where there are several modern, well-equipped public and private hospitals. Public minibuses are the most common form of public transport. They nor-mally only leave when full, so waiting times of an hour or more are inevitable, especial-ly in rural areas. The larger air-con buses offer a speedy and reliable service, departing according to a fixed schedule. Housing is readily available with rents for one- to two-bedroom apartments ranging between 500 and 800 JD (1 JD = 0.708 USD) depending on the location. - Health Services: Medical facilities are generally very good, particularly in Amman where there are several modern, well-equipped public and private hospitals. Almost all doctors (and most pharmacists) speak English; many have studied abroad. Language: The official language of Jordan is Arabic, but English is widely spoken – especially in the cities. Many Jordanians have travelled or have been educated abroad so French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken, but to a lesser extent. Learn more about Jordan from the Ministry of Tourism’s website: https://www.mota.gov.jo/Default/En - International UN Associate volunteers in Jordan are entitled to: Volunteer Living Al-lowance (VLA): $ 2,124.21 per month, and one-time entry Lump Sum: $ 3,500 .Additional UNV entitlements, including medical, life and disability insurance, annual leave, and learning opportunities, in accordance with the UNV Conditions of Service.