Openings at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the substantive field of work in general and of specific areas being supervised. Demonstrate an understanding of the links between policy development and implementation with experience from different sectors, combined with the ability to think strategically and to clearly articulate a strategic direction. Knowledge of environmental security and dimensions of conflict prevention, post-conflict interventions, and sustainable peace is desirable. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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.
• 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.
• JUDGEMENT/DECISION MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before deciding; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, or environmental law, the natural sciences, the humanities, social sciences or related area is required.
• 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

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development, diplomacy and international relations is required.
• Experience in the preparation of high-level meetings and/or conferences is required.
• Experience in liaising with UN-external contractors is desirable.
• Experience in the greening of large UN events is desirable.
• Experience with the United Nations or similar organizations procurement processes is desirable.
• Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable"

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

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Specific Tasks And Responsibilities

Under the direct guidance of the Head of the SDG and Environment Statistics Unit, of the Capacity Development and Innovation Branch of the Early Warning and Assessment Division of UNEP, the consultant will;

• Monitor the progress of activities under the DA14 project on Statistics and Data and update the SDGs page on the WESR website.
• Consolidate materials and undertake logistics for the development of progress reports under the DA14 project on Statistics and Data.
• Prepares digital outputs as required, e.g. draft background papers, analyses, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.

Qualifications/special Skills

• Master's degree in environmental science is required. Data science, information science or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• At least 2 years of experience in data analysis including experience with environmental SDG indicators data is required.

Languages

• English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

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Duties and Responsibilities:

For each region, the consultant will:

• New networks: Europe, and North America
• Conduct a mapping of potential networks and organizations (and entry points for expanding, strengthening GAN regional nodes). The mapping should include i) current membership ii) network activity iii) governance structure
• Interview potential key stakeholders representing those networks to assess the regional needs, priorities, and operational challenges as well as the policy opportunity for strengthened adaptation network. A scoping of the feasibility of linking the network to the UNEP Global Adaptation Network based on the mapping exercise and the interviews should be developed.
• Prepare recommendations on which network would be selected and a cost estimate to bring them in the GAN.

Existing networks: LAC

• In addition to 1 and 2, identify challenges that are hindering the work of existing networks (for LAC and NA regions) to work effectively and develop costed recommendations.
• Identify relevant organizations that each regional node would partner with to strengthen the GAN, support delivery of the UNEP MTS and programme of work and partnerships that would help influence adaptation policy and finance.

Recommendations:

• Develop a roadmap and timeline on how the GAN Secretariat can strengthen its regional networks and create new ones, and indicative resources needed to carry this forward.

Qualifications/special skills

• Master’s degree in resource management, forestry, environment, development studies, international relations, Climate Change or a closely related field is required.
• Experience: at least 7 years of practical adaptation to climate change or international development experience working at the policy level is required.
• Experience in working and collaborating with multi-stakeholder partnerships and and working with knowledge networks.is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing, conducting and documenting stakeholder engagement including surveys/interviews is desirable.

Languages

• Excellent English written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports. For this post, fluency in and written Spanish is desirable