Sustainable Airport Logistics Specialist

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Programme Document (CPD) for the Kingdom of Eswatini is the result of extensive consultations, evaluations, and lessons learned from past experiences. Aligned with both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063, the programme supports national priorities outlined in the National Development Plan. It also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) through two interlinked priorities: 1) Good governance and social cohesion and 2) Sustainable and resilient economic development. By 2030, the CPD aims to achieve the following: Justice for Those Who Need It Most: Ensure that at least 50% of people interacting with the justice system – including litigants, accused persons, and vulnerable communities – have access to fair, fast, and affordable justice through small claims courts, legal aid, and inclusive alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Digitally-enabled Public Services for All: Transform public service delivery by leveraging digital technologies to improve access, efficiency, and transparency – ensuring at least 25% of the population can reliably access essential services such as justice, healthcare, economic opportunities, and business support. Secure and Grow the Economy: Create 5,000 direct jobs and support 25,000 sustainable livelihoods through youth employment – underpinned by a strengthened macroeconomic framework that drives annual growth above 4%. Clean Energy and Biodiversity Protection: Engage the private sector and mobilize resources to protect biodiversity by securing at least $10 million in biodiversity finance. Simultaneously, expand the nation’s renewable energy by at least 4MW. Strengthen Development Finance and Resource Governance: Increase domestic revenue mobilization by at least 3% of GDP, expand fiscal space by 5% to support priority investments, and enhance the governance and transparency of public and local resource utilization across all countries and or regions.

Eswatini has invested in King Mswati III International Airport (KMIII) to catalyze trade and regional connectivity under AfCFTA, yet high electricity costs, carbon‑intensive operations and inefficient cargo handling constrain performance. The project “Demonstrating Japanese Green and Digital Solutions for Sustainable Airport Logistics in Southern Africa” deploys GX (greening) and DX (smart logistics) solutions to reduce operational risks, safeguard livelihoods and improve export readiness at KMIII in partnership with ESWACAA and airport operators.

Under the guidance of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative and day-to-day supervision of the UNDP Sustainable Development Programme Specialist, and in close coordination with the Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA ) and relevant ministries, the UN Volunteer will support end-to-end green transformation (GX) and digital transformation (DX) delivery at King Mswati III International Airport (KMIII): Technical delivery – Green airport systems (GX) - Provide technical oversight for the design review and implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy systems—including solar photovoltaic (PV), battery storage, energy management systems (EMS ), and LED solutions—ensuring alignment with engineering standards, project requirements, and ESWACAA operational needs. - Lead the development and quality assurance of technical specifications and Statements of Work (SoWs) and provide expert technical input throughout procurement and evaluation processes in accordance with UNDP policies and procedures. - Oversee site readiness, system commissioning, and testing activities, ensuring that contractors meet performance and safety standards; coordinate verification and approval of operations and maintenance (O&M ) protocols and final handover documentation with ESWACAA. Technical delivery – Smart logistics & digitization (DX) - Provide technical oversight for the end-to-end mapping of cargo and cold chain processes, ensuring accurate documentation of current workflows, bottlenecks, and system requirements. Guide the design and integration of Internet of Things (IoT) track and trace solutions, paperless workflows, and operational dashboards, ensuring they meet performance, interoperability, and operational efficiency standards. - Define and enforce data standards, system architecture requirements, and user acceptance testing (UAT) criteria for all digital and IoT components. Oversee training design, change management planning, and rollout, ensuring operational staff transition smoothly to new green and digital systems and that adoption risks are identified and mitigated. Stakeholder coordination & capacity development - Convene a technical working group (ESWACAA), customs, airlines, freight, Special Economic Zone (SEZ)) to establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for green and digital cargo handling. - Ensure delivery of targeted trainings on energy O&M, cold chain reliability, and data-driven operations. Results management, safeguards & inclusion - Set baselines and manage key performance indicators (KPIs ) including energy cost and CO2 reduction, temperature excursions avoided, cargo dwell time, and digital adoption. - Ensure environmental and social (E&S ) safeguards, occupational health and safety (OHS), data protection, and gender and youth inclusion are mainstreamed throughout project implementation. Knowledge, visibility & replication - Produce technical briefs and a case study; contribute to launch and visibility events and regional knowledge exchange platforms such as the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) and Southern African Development Community (SADC). - Document replicable designs and implementation playbooks (e.g., KMIII 5 MW roadmap). Partnerships & resource mobilization - Support engagement with Government and Japanese technology providers; contribute inputs for co-financing to underpin project extension.