Climate Change Adaptation Officer (Home Based Retainer) – UNOPS Job Opportunity|Apply 04 Sept 2026

Overview

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is recruiting a Climate Change Adaptation Officer on a home-based retainer to support the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in South Africa. The mid-level post is based in Pretoria, with the officer working from government facilities rather than a UNOPS office. It is a 12-month LICA 9 retainer contract that may be extended subject to performance and funding. It forms part of the UNOPS Water, Environment and Climate portfolio and supports the NDC Partnership.

The officer provides technical, coordination and facilitation support for South Africa's climate adaptation agenda, with a focus on preparing the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness application and developing the Climate Investment Platform (CIP). The work is done with the DFFE, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, National Treasury, the Presidential Climate Commission and other partners.

Requirements

Duties include supporting GCF Readiness applications, addressing feedback on logframes and theories of change, and drafting concept notes and funding proposals. The officer also helps improve the Climate Investment Platform by mapping stakeholders, coordinating meetings and identifying funding and technical resources, supports partnerships and resource mobilization, builds a pipeline of adaptation projects, facilitates multi-stakeholder dialogues and climate events such as COPs, and contributes to monitoring and evaluation, including the National Climate Change Information System, the National Climate Change Response Database, adaptation indicators and the Annual Climate Change Report.

Applicants need an advanced degree, preferably at Master's level, in public policy, development, climate change, climate finance, natural resource management, environmental management, economics or a related field, or a bachelor's degree plus two additional years of experience. At least two years of experience in governance processes connected to climate change, policy or national systems, including managing national stakeholder engagement, is required. Experience in government climate processes, climate financing or investment planning is an advantage. Fluent English is required.

Who can apply

This is a national retainer position, not an internationally recruited remote job. The successful candidate must be a South African national or hold a valid residence permit in South Africa and must provide their own laptop and software.

What you get

No salary figure is published. Pay is set under the LICA 9 retainer terms.

Key dates

Applications close before midnight Copenhagen time on 4 September 2026. UNOPS contacts only shortlisted candidates and does not accept unsolicited resumes.