Vacancies at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

This position is located in the Biodiversity and Land Branch (BLB), Ecosystems Division, at the Nairobi duty station. Under the general supervision of the Biodiversity and Land Branch Coordinator and direct supervision of Chief Environmental Economist, the Programme Management Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

• Develops, implements and evaluates assigned programmes/projects, monitors and analyzes programme/project development and implementation, reviews relevant documents and reports,identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions, liaises with relevant parties, ensures follow-up actions.
• Researches, analyzes and presents information gathered from diverse sources for wetland valuation.
• Coordinates policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies related to climate change.
• Generates survey initiatives, designs data collection tools, reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identify problems/issues and prepares conclusions.
• Organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
• Initiates and coordinates outreach activities, conducts training workshops, seminars, makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads and/or participates in missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries.
• Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget).
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and policies related to Climate Change adaptation. 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.
• 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.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental/ecological economics or equivalent with specialization in water resources management, hydrology, sustainable development, environmental sciences, development studies, ecology, environmental engineering, natural resources management or a related field 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.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management or related area is required.
• Experience in climate change adaptation, water resources management, including modeling, is desirable.
• Experience in working with governments on adaptation planning and project design is desirable.
• Working experience in the United Nations system or similar organization is desirable.

Closing: 10 September 2022

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The Law Division is the lead Division charged with carrying out the functions of UNEP in the field of environmental law and environmental governance. The Law Division promotes the contribution of environmental dimension of sustainable development through law, national and international governance and related policy issues, including those related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). The Senior Finance and Budget Assistant will report to the Fund Management Officer. The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

Budget:

• Acts as Certifying Officer on behalf of and in the absence of the Fund Management Officer.
• Undertakes reviews, analysis and preparation of the medium-term plan and its revisions.
• Reviews, analyses and assists in the finalization of cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements, including programmatic aspects.
• Ensures compliance with the medium-term plan and other legislative mandates.
• Assists managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
• Undertakes research and provides support to higher level Finance & Budget Officers with respect to budget reviews of relevant intergovernmental and expert bodies.
• Provides input into the preparation of allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
• Maintain and update sub-programme specific management information on the status of Environment Fund, Trust Fund, counterpart contributions allocations, project commitments, proposed revisions extensions and submitting reports to Director, Deputy Director and donors.
• Check financial reports for existence and correctness of budget lines, create the non-existent lines in UMOJA as and when necessitated.
• Monitors budget implementation/expenditures and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary.
• Reviews requisitions for goods and services to ensure:
  • correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and
  • availability of funds.
• Monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.
• Assists in the preparation of budget performance submissions.
• Assists in finalization of budget performance reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
• Monitors integrity of various financial databases.
• Verifies accuracy of input data, ensuring consistency of data in previous allotments to new allotments issued.
• Co-ordinates with other finance and budget staff on related issues during preparation of budget reports.

Project Implementation and Monitoring:

• Check financial reports for existence and correctness of budget lines to facilitate payments and recording of expenditures.
• Monitor reports for commitments and expenditures against approved project budgets and obligations, verify availability of funds, and notify of any variances and inaccuracies and provide solutions if possible.
• Review and study financial reports/statements from implementing agencies for conformity with funds sent to them and to ensure expenditures are properly recorded, are within commitments and match approved project documents/ revisions. Reallocate funds as and when necessary.
• Liaise with other organizational units to initiate necessary actions at all stages of project implementation; Prepares payments for final disbursement by Cashier.
• Notifies payees of status of payments.
• Assists staff members, Fund Management Officers and donors regarding queries on payment and deposit-related issues.
• Follows-up on audit recommendations.
• Files and archives as required.

General:

• Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme, Programme of Work budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
• Drafts correspondence to respond to enquiries in respect to relevant financial and budget matters.
• Provides guidance, training and daily supervision to other general service staff in the area of responsibility.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of, and ability to apply financial rules, regulations and procedures. Knowledge, skills and ability to extract, interpret, analyse and format data across the full range of finance and budget functions, including programme development and database management, claims and treasury operations. Ability to identify and resolve data discrepancies and operational problems. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.
• 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.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent is required. Supplemental training in accounting and finance or related field is required.
• Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat.
• Successful passing of the Administrative Support Assessment Test (ASAT) in English at the United Nations Headquarters (UNHQ), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.
• The GGST is administered to applicants when required before the administration of a written assessment and/or interview.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, budget, accounting, administrative services or related area is required.
• Experience in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) accounting and finance system and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) is required.
• Experience in the United Nations system or other comparable international organization is desirable.
• Experience in supervising staff or work of others is desirable

Closing: 10 August 2022