Freshwater & Urban Expert at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

• The consultant will also support communication and knowledge management activities, including the preparation and dissemination of technical and outreach materials to enhance the project’s visibility and impact.  In addition, the assignment will foster collaboration with the Climate Change Division’s Cities and Regions team to explore and support joint initiatives linking urban resilience and water ecosystem management.  

Under the overall supervision of the Project Management Officer in the Freshwater Ecosystems Unit of the Ecosystems Division headquarters in Nairobi, and the Programme Management Officer and Lead for Cities and Regions in Climate Division, in consultation with the Head of the Freshwater Unit and other relevant colleagues across divisions and regional offices, the incumbent of the post will have to fulfil the following duties and responsibilities: 

• Provide technical support to UNEP’s work on freshwater ecosystem conservation, restoration, and integrated water management, contributing to the enhancement of UNEP’s freshwater portfolio, with a primary focus on the EC Sustainable Watershed Management Project.
• Support collaboration and information exchange with internal and external partners to advance the objectives of the EC project and related initiatives on sustainable watershed management, freshwater ecosystem restoration, SDG 6, and urban water management.
• Assist in the organization and facilitation of project-related meetings and knowledge-sharing events under the EC Sustainable Watershed Management Project, ensuring effective technical inputs, coordination with implementing partners, and proper documentation of discussions and results. 
• Contribute to the preparation and dissemination of technical and communication products derived from the EC Sustainable Watershed Management project, such as briefs, reports, presentations, visibility materials, and lessons-learned documents, ensuring clarity, quality, and alignment with UNEP’s communication standards.
• Liaise with the Climate Change Division’s Cities and Regions team to explore and contribute to the development of a joint project around cities and water ecosystems. 
• Explore additional joint opportunities between the Freshwater Ecosystems Unit and the Cities & Regions team and support the development of joint proposals on water and urban resilience.
• Support the implementation of the Generation Restoration project, for example, through organizing webinars, reviewing technical materials, and contributing to other related activities as needed.  
• The incumbent is required to ensure full compliance with UNEP programming, financial, procurement, and administrative rules, regulations, policies, and strategies, as well as the implementation of effective internal control systems.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in environmental conservation, ecology, biology or a closely related field is required 
• A first-level university degree, combined with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. 
• Minimum of 2 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in the field of ecosystems conservation and restoration and/or nature-based solutions is required;
• Experience in event organization and writing outreach materials such as presentations, guidelines, briefs, and other knowledge products is required; Excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills is desirable.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel is desirable
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Word,  Power Point, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management is required. 
• Self- motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines is desirable
• Previous experience in the UN system is desirable

Languages

• For this position Fluency in both oral and written English is required. 
• Portuguese is desirable.

Deadline : Dec 18, 2025