Chief of Service, Chief Of Service, Programme Management [Temporary] at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities

Political and Policy Analysis, Relations and Support:

• Identify, assess, analyze and monitor environmental and relevant political, economic and social development trends in the region to generate knowledge, information and early warning for policy and decision making and incorporate them into UNEP's policy and programme development, and effectively contribute to strengthening the UNEP strategic regional presence in Africa.
• Provide leadership for the effective provision by the Secretariat of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), ensuring that its decisions contribute to the environmental priorities for the region and the delivery of the sustainable development goals.
• Formulate short-term, mid-term and long-term strategic and practical recommendations for UNEP's global regional and sub-regional environmental policy development for the implementation of programmes and projects in the region.
• Represent UNEP and the Executive Director in the region at the international and regional forums and inter-agency meetings, and coordinate UNEP's relations with stakeholders in the region. Initiate, coordinate, organize and advise on UNEP meetings, high-level visits, missions and events in the region, sub-region and
• countries and follow-up on activities.
• Provide substantive policy support to regional, sub-regional trans-boundary political processes in the region.

Programme Coordination, Management and Implementation:

• Identify environmental sustainability challenges, opportunities, priorities and needs for the development and implementation of UNEP's Medium-Term Strategy (MTS), Programme of Work (PoW), and projects at regional, sub-regional and national level.
• Lead the integrated delivery of UNEP's PoW and associate programmes, frameworks and projects through matching UNEP's services with regional, sub-regional and national needs and priorities. Draw on technical support from UNEP Divisions, facilitate capacity building and technology support, to ensure the delivery of programme and projects in the region.
• Coordinate UNEP's cooperation with government and inter-government institutions, partners and other stakeholders, regional and sub-regional centers and networks for the implementation of UNEP's PoW commitment under Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEAs) and regionalization of international environmental agreement goals and process in the region.
• Coordinate UNEP's engagement in UN regional coordination structures: the Regional UN Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) Teams and the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCMs) to ensure that UNEP is fully aligned with the objectives of the UN Reform in the region.
• e) Coordinate UNEP's engagement with the UN system, the regional UN Development Coordination Office (UNDCO), the UN Resident Coordinators and the UN Country Teams (UNCTs).

Operations:

• Oversee the management and administrative services of UNEP's strategic presence in the region. Liaise with UN Regional and Country Offices to ensure enhanced cost effectiveness of UNEP's implementation at regional and country level.

Partnership:

• Build, coordinate and advise on strategic and programmatic partnership in the region with government authorities, UN organizations, partners, and other stakeholders. Support UNEP's activities and strengthen capacity at the regional, sub-regional and national levels.
• Facilitate and support inter-regional cooperation and partnership in the context of promoting South-South, and triangular cooperation.
• Oversee the coordination and support the involvement of major groups and stakeholders in the region, sub-regions and countries in environment and sustainable development decision making, their access to and sharing of environmental information.

Communication and Outreach:

• Oversee the implementation of UNEP'S external and internal communication strategies in the region and contribution of regional inputs to global level efforts.
• Develop and implement UNEP's regional communication strategy, outreach campaigns and activities to raise UNEP's profile.
• Lead UNEP’s advocacy in the region, and support advocacy of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and their objectives in coordination with the global and regional secretariats of the MEAs.

Resource Mobilization:

• Lead and Coordinate UNEP'S fundraising from bilateral and multilateral donors at regional and country level for up-scaling UNEP intervention in the region. b) Provide information and advice for UNEP's corporate resource mobilization and resource allocation efforts and develop and maintain regional resource mobilization strategies.

Perform other related duties as requested by senior management of the Organization.

Competencies

• POFESSIONALISM: Knowledge in inter-governmental and inter-agency negotiations and networking functions. Ability to analyze environmental, political and economic and social developments and provide technical and substantive support in the field of environmental sustainability and policy development. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
• COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
• MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority. Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member. Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills. Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines. Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff. Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative. Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff. Appraises performance fairly.
• JUDGEMENT/DECISION MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in environmental management, international relations, economics, political science or law or related field is required. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible working experience in environmental management, sustainable development, policy development or science or economic is required.
• At least five years of international experience in a multi-cultural setting is required.
• At least three years of experience in a supervisory capacity is required.
• Experience in international governance processes is required.
• Experience in resource mobilization and partnerships building, including at the highest level of Government is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Working knowledge of other official UN languages is desirable.

Closing date 19 April 2022