Jobs at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities

• Works closely with the UNEP Executive Office serving as the primary focal point for the Executive Director on communications including media relations, social media engagement, speech writing, etc.
• Researches and drafts a range of communications material for the Executive Director (ED) including speeches, video messages, forewords and opinions. Evaluates results and impact of communications activities, reports on developments, trends and attitudes regarding the United Nations.
• As Press Secretary to the ED, manages media relations, draft responses on behalf of the ED, coordinate interviews, finalize briefs, etc.
• Manages social media platforms for the ED.
• Provides advice and expertise to managers, senior officers and other public information staff on a range of public affairs issues, methods, and approaches; anticipates and resolves communications/public relations issues/problems.
• May coordinate and direct a team of public information staff and/or mentor and supervise the work of junior officers on specific projects.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Performs other duties as may be required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of different aspects of public information and communication. Ability to address a range of issues in the context of political developments, public attitudes and local conditions. Ability to conceptualize, design and implement major information campaigns. Ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources. Ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and cultivate productive relationships. Ability to produce a variety of written communications products in a clear, concise style. Ability to deliver oral presentations to various audiences. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management, 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• CREATIVITY: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks "outside the box"; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
• CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying 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 seven years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, public administration or related area is required.
• Experience supporting high-level senior officials in the UN or similar international organization is desirable.
• Experience working on media relations in or in liaison with an executive office in a large international organization is desirable.
• Experience working on environmental issues is desirable.
• A minimum of two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable

Closing: 20 December 2022

go to method of application »

Duties and Responsibilities

• Grants Management
• Creation of new grants based on approved project or POW budgets and requesting for their approval in Umoja
• Creation of grants project structure models to address donor and organizational reporting requirements
• Grant accounting including management of released and unreleased budgets
• Creation of project down payments against approved P1 grants
• Recording of project expenditures as reported by implementing partners
• Month-end and year-end closing processes including transactional analysis and clean-up of processed data
• Funds Management
• Execute budget distribution in Umoja based on approved appropriations, redeployments and allotments
• Creation of funds pre-commitment, commitments and funds blocks against authorized budgets and the necessary approvals
• Monitoring budget utilization against approved expenditure classes to stop the budget is not overspent
• Posting of approved adjustments against approved budgets.
• Donor Reporting
• Creation of donor reports against approved projects, grants and donor agreements
• Perform other duties as may be required.

Qualifications/special Skills

• Completion of High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Supplementary training in Accounting and Finance is highly desirable.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive work experience in finance, accounting is required
• Experience in an international organization with accounting and/or financial/Budget management roles is required
• Prior experience in the UN system and working knowledge of UMOJA and/or other ERP applications highly

Closing: 09 December 2022

go to method of application »

Duties And Responsibilities

The consultant will develop the COBSEA Strategic Directions 2023-2027, following the set of activities:

Initial Research and consultations on the Strategic Directions

• Review Outcome of the IGM25 regarding the Strategic Directions; review all relevant UNEA resolutions, relevant global and regional targets and conventions
• Online consultations with participating countries, stakeholders and relevant UNEP staff (survey, interviews, etc)
• Develop the initial elements of the Strategic Directions

First Draft of the Strategic Directions

• Present the initial elements of the new Strategic Directions at a regional webinar
• Based on inputs of the COBSEA participating countries, develop the first draft of the Strategic Directions 2023-2027
• Circulate the first draft to COBSEA participating countries for their review and further inputs

COBSEA Strategic Directions 2023-2027

• Make a presentation during the In-person workshop on the COBSEA Strategic Directions
• Finalization of the COBSEA Strategic Directions 2023-2027
• Make a presentation during launch of the COBSEA Strategic Directions 2023-2027

Qualifications/special Skills

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in environmental sciences, natural resource management or a related field is required. First level degree in environmental scientist natural resources management or related field with two qualifying years of experiences maybe excepted in lieu of the advance degree.
• A minimum of seven years experience in strategic planning and management, programme development and coordination, fund management and programming of coastal and marine environments including resource mobilization is required
• Knowledge and experience in monitoring and evaluation is desirable
• Work experience in preparing meeting reports and documents is required.
• Experience working in the East Asian Seas region and with Regional Seas programmes is desirable.
• Excellent analytical skills in ensuring drafted report findings and recommendations are regionally appropriate, relevant and actionable is required.
• Good Written And Oral Communications Skills Are Required.
• Working experience in a multicultural environment including United Nations would be an asset.
• Previous involvement in and knowledge of Regional Seas and/or COBSEA work is desirable.

Closing: 09 December 2022

go to method of application »

Responsibilities

• Lead the engagement of UNEP with the UNDS: continuously assess requirements for improved engagement with the UNDS at the country and regional level and make recommendations to management for consideration; strengthen internal coordination within UNEP for purposes of building, strengthening and maintaining a coherent approach in its support to countries through the UNCT and RCP; oversee implementation of agreed protocols and approaches for engagement with the RCP, UNCT and UNRC systems; work to improve UNEP’s agility and visibility at country and regional level in Africa, including through continuously integrating lessons learned in its approaches and processes.
• Provide strategic environmental and policy advice to the UNRCs: provide strategic and technical advisory support to UNRCs, based on the request, on specific environmental issues and especially those related to climate change, nature and biodiversity, and pollution and chemicals; work with the UNRCs to promote advocacy for the environment, including through improving their access to policy briefs, knowledge materials and environmental assessments.
• Provide support to the Regional Director by coordinating the UNEP’s work with the RCP and OIBCs, including in the role of co-chairing OIBCs, where UNEP is a co-convener; support the Regional Director to engage with Divisions, Branches and other UNEP entities to contribute to UNCT/UNRC, led processes, including preparation of the Common Country Analyses (CCAs), development and implementation of CFs, agency and joint programmes, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting through UN Info, including reporting on non-monetary contributions.
• Lead continuation of PEI/PEA Programme work: Use PEI and PEA experience to amplify the link between poverty and environment; integrate lessons learned over the life of the programme into UNEP programmes, projects and activities in Africa through its tools; work with ministries of planning and finance to strengthen their support across government for environmental sustainability and resilience, and to highlight the contribution of the environment to development.
• Promote prioritization of actions to address the triple-planetary crises by UNCT: Consistent with the cross-cutting nature of the poverty issue, be responsible for improving the cross-sectoral cohesion of policy development in the Law Division by providing strategic advice on how cross-sectoral linkages (e.g. between poverty, environment and water; poverty, environment and health; poverty environment and urban issues) should be better reflected In environmental policy development policy and law. The advice must also reflect environmental-economic-social interlinkages. The viability of, operationalizing the concept of sustainable development under the poverty and environment umbrella should also be assessed.
• Provide advice on financing environmental solutions: In collaboration with UNEP Finance Initiative (FI) to provide advice on funding of actions to address regional and country environmental priorities; interact with governments and their development partners as well as financial institutions to lift the prioritization they give to addressing environmental opportunities and challenges in their budgets and funding portfolios respectively.
• Identify National priorities and develop interventions: Gather and provide information on national and regional priorities, and in close collaboration with the regional sub-programme coordinators and division leads, contribute to the preparation of specific interventions for the countries and the region in line with UNEP’s medium-term strategy and programme of work.
• Resource mobilization: Undertake resource mobilization efforts to support implementation of UNEP’s projects and activities at country and regional level.
• Leads 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.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by management of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM - Solid understanding of the environment and climate change. Knowledge of the UN Development System processes at country and regional level. Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities, and risks. Ability to establish and maintain relationships with a broad range of individuals and institutions to understand needs and gain support. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction; Ability to develop strategies and communicate clearly links between the organization’s strategy and programme of work the region’s and sub-regions and countries’ goals; Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management; Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation; Demonstrated ability to negotiate, apply good judgment and the ability to influence others to reach agreement; Mastery of the diverse scope of capacity building and a clear vision of UNEP’s role at the national, sub-regional, regional and global levels; Ability to resolve complex and politically sensitive problems with governments, cooperating institutions, and other stakeholders. 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.
• TEAMWORK – Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• PLANNING AND ORGANIZING – Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.
• 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 status quo; Shows the courage to take unpopular stands; Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives into substantive work and commitment to the goal of achieving gender balance in staffing.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Environmental Studies, Economics, Law, International Relations, Social Sciences, or related discipline.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying 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

• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible work experience in programme/project management, environmental management, policy development or related field is required.
• Five (5) years experience at the international or regional level is required.
• Experience in resource mobilization is desirable.
• Experience in strategic policy setting is desirable.
• Experience in the coordination of programmes is desirable.
• Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of other UN languages is desirable.

Closing: 13 January 2023