Latest Recruitments at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

This position is in the ROA and reports to the Regional Director for Africa. Under the overall guidance of the Regional Director for Africa, the Environmental Specialist will be responsible for the following duties:

• Preparation of GCF Readiness Proposal
• Prepare a comprehensive Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness proposal for UNEP ROA. - Ensure the proposal is aligned with GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme guidelines and priorities.
• Demonstrate how the proposed readiness support will strengthen AMCEN workplan implementation and the organization of AMCEN sessions.
• Coordinate inputs from ROA and relevant partners, as required.
• Development of Adaptation Fund Project Concepts and Proposals
• Identify priority thematic and geographic areas in Africa aligned with ROA’s mandate and the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs. - Develop Adaptation Fund project concepts,
•  Ensure alignment with Adaptation Fund policies, strategic priorities, and results framework.
• Support consultations with countries and relevant stakeholders to ensure country ownership and coherence with national priorities. c. Support to UNEP Engagement with the UN Development System and RC System - Support UNEP ROA’s engagement with the UN Development System, with a focus on Francophone and Lusophone African countries.
• Provide technical inputs to strengthen environmental sustainability integration in UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs).
• Support UNEP participation in UN Country Team processes, joint programmes, and inter-agency coordination mechanisms.
• Prepare briefing notes, guidance materials, and strategic inputs to support ROA’s engagement with RC Offices and UNCTs.
• Support to the Joint Programme in Boa Vista, Cabo Verde
•  Provide technical and coordination support for the implementation of the Joint Programme in Boa Vista, Cabo Verde.
• Support activities aimed at boosting circular economy approaches in the tourism sector through public-private partnerships.
• Facilitate coordination among UN agencies, government counterparts, private sector actors, and other stakeholders.
• Support monitoring, reporting, and documentation of results and lessons learned.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in environmental studies, climate change, sustainable development, international relations, economics, or a related field. At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in environmental programmes, climate finance, or sustainable development, preferably in Africa is required.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing funding proposals for international climate and environmental funds, particularly the GCF and/or Adaptation Fund is required.
• Strong knowledge of the UN Development System, including the RC system and UN Country Teams is required.
• Proven experience in regional and/or country-level programme development and partnership building is required. Familiarity with AMCEN, African regional processes, and environmental governance is desirable. Experience working in Francophone and/or Lusophone African contexts is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and communication skills is desirable.

Deadline : Feb 4, 2026

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Under the general guidance of the Director of Communications and direct supervision of the Communications Lead, Special Events, the intern will:

• Assist in the development of a wide range of communication materials, including meeting notes, email correspondence, draft background papers, social media content, and digital analyses.
• Support coordination within the Division and across other departments on various projects and initiatives, ensuring timely information flow and follow-up.
• Support the management of partnerships related to World Environment Day, Champions of the Earth, and Young Champions of the Earth, including drafting meeting minutes, responding to partner inquiries, scheduling and coordinating meetings, conducting research and due diligence, updating and maintaining partner databases, supporting due diligence processes, and monitoring and compiling relevant data.
• Support outreach activities for public advocacy campaigns and initiatives, including liaising with partners and stakeholders and assisting with follow-up communications.
• Assist in the organization and logistical coordination of internal and external meetings and events, including agenda preparation, scheduling, and documentation.
• Support the drafting of wrap-up reports, briefings, and day-to-day communications related to campaign activities.
• Provide administrative, project management, and information management support, as needed.
• Carry out other duties on an as-needed basis, as may be required.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
• Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent).
• Preferred areas of studies: Communication, International affairs, or environment-related field preferred. No working experience is required. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work. experience.
• However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme.

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Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the work of the Legal Unit, CSD, aligned to key performance indicators (KPI) for client service and case management of all work streams under the Unit, ensuring timely and high-quality provision of legal advice and services to the Executive Director, senior management, divisions and regional offices and UNEP-administered multilateral environmental agreements as necessary.
• Independently handle a wide range of multi-discipline, highly complex, and often sensitive and / or conflicting legal matters involving issues relating to international, public, private, contract and administrative law, from interpretation to application of instruments.
• Provide authoritative legal advice on diverse range of highly complex or novel substantive and procedural questions on UN administrative regulations and rules, which may include those related to administration, staff relations and management, institutions support, procurement and legal partnership agreements with donors, implementing partners and multi-stakeholders platforms and initiatives as well other operational matters.
• Review, draft and negotiate agreements and legal instruments, including Memoranda of Understanding, Host Country Agreements, Donor Agreements, and other implementing legal agreements between UNEP, Member States and external partners in a timely manner with solution-driven approaches, while adhering to internal controls.
• Perform any other related duties assigned.

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in public international, or international corporate law or related fields is required.
• A first level university degree in law 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 law, including legal analysis and negotiation in an international or multicultural setting is required.
• At least five (5) years of experience in the drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and developing of international agreements and other legal instruments, such as Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), Host Country Agreements, and Conference Agreements between the UN and Member States or other stakeholders, is required.
• Experience in reviewing administrative instructions, legal representation in matters related to the UN or a similar international organization’s internal justice system, including coordination and preparation of responses, is required.
• Experience in reviewing legal partnership agreements with donors, implementing partners and multi-stakeholders and providing legal advice including on any contractual and/or commercial claims made against the organization is required.