Job Opportunities at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• In close consultation with the Evaluation Manager, the Evaluation Consultant will be responsible for the overall management of the Evaluation and timely provision of its outputs, data collection and analysis and report-writing. More specifically: Inception phase of the Evaluation, including:
• preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with project staff;
• draft the reconstructed Theory of Change of the project;
• prepare the evaluation framework;
• develop the desk review and interview protocols;
• draft the survey protocols (if relevant);
• develop and present criteria for country and/or site selection for the evaluation mission;
• plan the evaluation schedule;
• prepare the Inception Report, incorporating comments until approved by the Evaluation Manager Data collection and analysis phase of the Evaluation, including: 
• conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners and project stakeholders;
• (where appropriate and agreed) conduct an evaluation mission(s) to selected countries, visit the project locations, interview project partners and stakeholders, including a good representation of local communities. Ensure independence of the Evaluation and confidentiality of evaluation interviews.
• regularly report back to the Evaluation Manager on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered and; keep the Project/Task Manager informed of the evaluation progress. 

Qualifications/special skills

• A first level university degree in environmental sciences, international development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required and an advanced degree in the same areas is desirable.
• A minimum of 9 years of technical / evaluation experience is required, preferably including evaluating large, regional or global programmes and using a Theory of Change approach.
• A good/broad understanding of protected areas management, biodiversity and climate finance is desired. Working knowledge of the UN system and specifically the work of UNEP is an added advantage.

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Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the overall supervision of the Programme Management Officer, he/she will perform the following duties:
• Develop and implement Flagship Programme 1 projects studies and activities; develop urban socio-economic profiles and strategies and apply impact assessment tools and methodologies.
• Develop participatory workshops, training packages, communication, and information materials related to inclusive urban regeneration and Our City Plans Methodology.
• Provide technical assistance to partnering cities on the implementation of Our City Plans by co-developing plans and guiding participatory urban planning and urban regeneration processes globally and in Vietnam.
• Provide technical support within the Flagship Programme 1 on developing research and drafting a guided methodology for communities to implement urban regeneration processes such as 'Spatial Inclusion Globally' and the 'Atlas of Urban Regeneration'.
• Provide technical support to the Planning Finance and Economy Section and the Flagship Programme 1 on urban planning and urban regeneration, producing spatial analysis, policy recommendations and reports.

Qualifications/special skills

• Academic Qualification: A minimum advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Architecture, Urban Planning is required.
• Demonstrate at least 5 years of professional experience in the development of urban planning projects and urban regeneration initiatives, in collaboration with multidisciplinary work teams is required.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the 2030 Agenda, the New Urban Agenda, and/or UN-Habitat language. International experience will be positively taken into account, particularly in the field of international cooperation for territorial and urban development

deadline; Oct 1st 2024

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Responsibilities

• Identify trends, patterns and early warning of issues related to the GEF portfolio size, shape and relevance. Guide staff in ensuring coherence of both UNEP and GEF compliance of their projects. Coordinate with GEF Secretariat and focal area Portfolio Managers in pipeline management.
• Assist divisions to enhance the quality of projects developed. Participate in the UNEP Project Review Committees for all GEF projects and ensure all project review criteria have been followed.
• Oversee the implementation of the UNEP GEF Fee Model in a way that ensures adequate reserves to cover UNEP’s costs across the full GEF project cycle. Work with Portfolio Managers on annual targets and budgets and authorize annual budgets accordingly. Report to Division Directors periodically on the financial positions of the GEF focal area units.  
• Monitor GEF projects in UNEP, including coordinating responses to the GEF Secretariat, GEF Evaluation clients, portfolio management indicators which GEF Secretariat reports to Council etc. Coordinate the preparation of periodic progress reports to GEF Secretariat and to UNEP colleagues. Respond to requests for information from UNEP divisions and offices. Liaise with the UNEP Evaluation Office on all matters related to independent evaluations of GEF projects. Coordinate UNEP input to GEF corporate evaluations and contribute to the preparation of the Management Action Record, as appropriate.
• Assist the Director in enhancing the monitoring, reporting and risk management of GEF projects. Work with UNEP Evaluation Office and PPD to improve monitoring and evaluation of GEF projects.
• Take the lead in ensuring corporate knowledge management and contribute to communications and outreach on the GEF portfolio. Ensure effective internal and external communication through website maintenance; Contribute to project data reconciliation exercises within UNEP and with the GEF Secretariat; Identify media and other outreach opportunities, contribute to the portfolio and project information and written materials.
• Brief new staff on UNEP and GEF policies, strategies and procedures. Develop a yearly budget for the GEF Unit. Provide on-going feedback on performance and guidance on work plan implementation to Unit staff and mentor the staff for career development and capacity development, Conduct performance evaluations for Unit staff.
• Represent UNEP to the GEF Secretariat on matters of policy, programming and operations. Participate in GEF Agency Retreats and GEF Council Meetings, reporting outcomes to UNEP colleagues. Participate in key UNEP processes and events, flagging them as and when appropriate to GEF Secretariat.
• Lead UNEP in adapting to and positioning within the evolving GEF policy and programming context.
• Perform other corporate tasks; Council document review and preparation of comments and briefings for management; Provide input to UNEP and GEF policy and information documents; Assist in providing training to UNEP staff on GEF matters.
• Lead team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s, PhD degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, natural resources, social sciences, economics or environmental management is required.
• A first level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in design and implementation of environmental projects and programmes is required.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, and risk assessment in an institutional context is required.
• Proven experience in budget and financial management of project portfolios is required.
• Prior experience in GEF policy and/or programming is desirable. Experience in a corporate role, developing policies, guidelines and providing oversight is desired
• Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. Experience in integrating gender approaches in programme and/or policy formulation and implementation is desirable.

Deadline : Oct 2, 2024

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Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the general supervision of the Head of the Nairobi Convention Secretariat, the consultant will be responsible for the following:
• Develop a case for MSP in the NMC region, including concepts and methodologies, and drawing from the WIO MSP strategy, emphasizing on enhancing national readiness for MSP, institutional capacities, policies, and regulations, particularly in the NMC countries, and giving examples of best practice in implementation where appropriate.
• Participate in MSP related workshops in the NMC region and provide an analysis report to showcase Component 1 activities and share best practices. The report will include information on the status of MSP-related training programs in the NMC countries, partners involved, participants and any existing national MSP roadmaps.
• Identify priority mapping needs for marine and coastal ecosystem assets and services in the NMC and provide finalized geo-spatial analysis outputs to support MSP initiatives in the NMC region.
• Assess the implications for the set of scenarios that were developed for the NMC region under Outcome 1.2 of the NOCAMO project, with respect to future developments in key economic sectors, demographics and climate change patterns in terms of the potential of building a sustainable blue economy in the NMC and achieving the targets of SGD
• Design and analyze key trends and identify new or emerging issues to enrich the substantive work on the NOCAMO project and links with ongoing initiatives in the western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, to guide MSP in the NMC region.
• Work in synergy with the project teams of WIOSAP, SAPPHIRE, SWIOFC Partnership and ACP MEAs projects on the development of a common technical approach to support the Ocean Governance Strategy implementation process and blue economy development in the WIO region.
• Review and advise on the technical reports received from technical partners and provide guidance for activity extension.
• Develop fundable proposal/s to support MSP implementation at regional and national levels within the Convention area working with the regional MSP TWG and other partners.

Qualifications/special skills

• Academic qualifications: advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) is required in Marine Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management or similar disciplines.
• A first level degree with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Experience: A minimum of six (6) years of relevant progressive experience in organizations with a mandate or relevancy to the marine and coastal environments or a related area is required.
• Experience working on coastal and marine environment issues in the WIO is required. Familiarity with regional development objectives of WIO countries and the goals and procedures of international development organizations is highly necessary. Experience in MSP is compulsory.

Deadline : Sep 30, 2024