The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced an important international consultancy opportunity for 2026. This recruitment is for the position of Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) under the Malawi and Eswatini National Adaptation Plan (NAP) projects, which are funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
This role is ideal for experienced professionals working in climate change adaptation, environmental planning, disaster risk reduction, and international development. The position offers an opportunity to work directly with national governments, UN agencies, and global climate finance mechanisms while contributing to long-term climate resilience in Africa.
Job Overview
- Position Title: Chief Technical Advisor – Malawi & Eswatini National Adaptation Plan
- Job Opening ID: 269146
- Organization: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- Job Category: Consultant (CON)
- Duty Station: Nairobi (Home-based)
- Contract Duration: 12 Months
- Date Posted: 12 January 2026
- Application Deadline: 20 January 2026
This is a home-based consultancy position, but the selected candidate will work closely with national project teams and government institutions in Malawi and Eswatini aa.
About UNEP and the NAP Projects
UNEP is the leading global environmental authority within the United Nations system. It sets the global environmental agenda, promotes sustainable development, and supports countries in strengthening their environmental management capacities.
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The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process helps countries identify climate risks, prioritize adaptation actions, and integrate climate adaptation into national development planning, budgeting, and policy frameworks.
Project Funding Details
- Malawi NAP Project: USD 2,849,018 (GCF-funded)
- Eswatini NAP Project: USD 2,796,359 (GCF-funded)
Both projects aim to:
- Strengthen institutional capacity for climate adaptation
- Improve climate risk and vulnerability assessments
- Integrate adaptation into sectoral policies and national budgets
- Increase access to climate finance for adaptation initiatives aa
Role of the Chief Technical Advisor
The Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) is the senior technical lead for both NAP projects. The role focuses on providing strategic guidance, technical oversight, and quality assurance to ensure that project objectives are achieved in line with UNFCCC, GCF, and UNEP standards.
The CTA will work under the supervision of the UNEP Climate Change Adaptation Unit and in close coordination with National Project Coordinators in Malawi and Eswatini.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
1. Project Management and Technical Oversight
- Provide overall technical backstopping and operational guidance to national project teams
- Ensure activities are implemented on time and meet high technical standards
- Assist in planning project activities and revising work plans, budgets, and results frameworks as needed
- Conduct technical review and quality assurance of:
- Reports and studies
- Climate assessments
- Training materials
- Knowledge products
- Support preparation of Terms of Reference (ToRs) for consultants and assist in recruitment processes
- Supervise and guide national and international consultants
- Support preparation of GCF Annual Progress Reports (APR) and other monitoring and evaluation reports
2. National Adaptation Planning Support
- Provide lead technical guidance for the Malawi and Eswatini NAP processes in line with:
- UNFCCC Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) NAP Guidelines (2012)
- Green Climate Fund adaptation planning guidance
- UNEP Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) NAP guidelines
- Ensure climate science informs risk assessments and vulnerability analysis
- Support economic, social, and environmental appraisal of adaptation options
- Guide prioritization of adaptation strategies based on cost–benefit analysis
- Support integration of adaptation actions into:
- National development plans
- Sectoral policies and strategies
- Public budgeting processes
- National monitoring and reporting systems
3. Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement
- Collaborate closely with national ministries, government agencies, and international partners
- Provide technical input into consolidation and finalization of NAP documents
- Support multi-sectoral coordination across environment, agriculture, water, energy, and infrastructure sectors
- Perform additional tasks as requested by:
- Project Steering Committees
- UNEP Task Manager
- National Project Teams
Expected Results and Deliverables
The Chief Technical Advisor is expected to ensure:
- Successful and timely execution of Malawi and Eswatini NAP projects
- Compliance with UNFCCC LEG and GCF technical guidelines
- Strengthened climate adaptation planning capacity at national and sectoral levels
- Increased integration of climate adaptation into development policies and budgets
- Improved access to climate finance for adaptation initiatives
- Delivery of high-quality technical reports and policy-relevant outputs aa
Educational Qualifications
Candidates must have an advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in one of the following fields:
- Climate Change or Adaptation Planning
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Environmental Planning or Management
- Natural Resources Management
- Public Policy and Management
- International Development
- Geography or Urban and Regional Planning
👉 A Bachelor’s degree combined with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in place of a Master’s degree aa
Experience Requirements
- Minimum 5 years of professional experience in:
- Climate change, environmental management, or development programs
- Technical leadership or planning roles
- At least 2 years of international work experience, preferably in:
- Institutional strengthening
- Stakeholder engagement
- Capacity building initiatives
Desirable Skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Proven experience working with multi-disciplinary teams
- Ability to manage results-based programs
- Experience in developing budgets, work plans, and procurement plans
- Familiarity with GCF-funded or UN-managed projects
Language Requirement
- Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory aa
Reporting Lines
The Chief Technical Advisor will report directly to the UNEP Task Manager within the Climate Change Adaptation Unit, while maintaining close coordination with national authorities in Malawi and Eswatini.
Why This Opportunity Is Important
- Work with a United Nations agency on high-impact climate projects
- Contribute to national and regional climate resilience strategies
- Engage with governments, donors, and international experts
- Gain exposure to Green Climate Fund–financed programs
- Flexible home-based work arrangement
- Opportunity to influence climate policy and adaptation financing at national level
Application Process
- Applications must be submitted through the UN Careers / UNEP recruitment portal
- Candidates should submit a detailed CV highlighting relevant experience
- Application Deadline: 20 January 2026
⚠️ Important Notice:
The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process and never asks for bank account details aa
Conclusion
The UNEP Chief Technical Advisor Recruitment 2026 is a prestigious and impactful opportunity for experienced professionals in climate change adaptation and environmental planning. This role allows you to directly support national governments in strengthening their adaptation strategies while working within the UN system and contributing to global climate resilience goals.
If you have strong technical expertise, international experience, and a passion for climate adaptation, this consultancy role can be a major milestone in your professional career.
