Career Opportunities at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities

Project identification and development:

• Lead the identification of relevant and eligible project concepts in consultation with internal and external partners.
• Coordinate discussion and seek clearance for such concepts including with UNEP Divisions and regional offices.
• Advise project proponents on the revision of concepts to respond to issues raised by the peer reviewer or other reviews.
• Present and defend the proposal at the Project Review Committee (PRC) as required; and provide technical advice to the proponents in preparing the project document request for submission to donors.
• Monitor project milestones; coordinate the response to with FAO and UNDESA reviews and ensure that recommendations are considered in further project development.
• Work with the Fund Management Officer to internalize the fund approval.
• Coordinate and supervise project execution in accordance with UNEP policies and procedures.
• Support the executing partner in mobilizing co-financing for the project; Ensure that a project progress and completion report and financial reports are available upon completion of activities.
• Verify that project proposal meets UNEP quality-at-entry standards before submission to Branch Coordinator and for Project Review Committee (PRC) review.
• Follow up the project review process and promptly address any comments in consultation with project partners including FAO and UNDESA.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM:

• Knowledge of programme or project management in the fields related to the coastal and marine ecosystems conservation, restoration and sustainable use, blue carbon, blue economy, and other related sectors.
• The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.
• Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems.
• Ability to conduct data collection using various methods.
• Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases.
• Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work, and manage conflicting priorities.
• 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.

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.

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in project management, marine sciences, environmental science, ocean governance, environmental management, natural resources management or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two 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 senior-level professional expertise in programme or project management in the fields related to the coastal and marine ecosystems conservation, restoration and sustainable use, blue carbon, blue economy, and other related sectors is required.   
• At least three (3) years at the international level professional work experience within the UN or other international organizations is required. Work experience in developing countries, in Small Island States, is required. 
• Experience in large-scale project design, management, supervision, coordination of multicounty programme/project, monitoring, and evaluation is desirable.
• Experience working with different donors and climate and environment funds such as Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF) in a multicounty context is desirable.
• A minimum of Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

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The overall objective 

• The Division’s work focuses on: leading the international community in the progressive development of environmental law;
• supporting States in the development and implementation of legal, institutional and policy measures in response to major environmental challenges;
• facilitating cooperation and coordination among Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and between UNEP and those agreements;
• working with MEAs secretariats to support Parties to the respective MEAs in implementing their treaty obligations; and facilitating policy dialogue among States on issues relating to international environmental law and governance.
• UNEP’s Environmental Policy Unit (EPU) is located under the Environmental Conventions and Policy Branch of the Law Division.
• Its mandates include work on the science-policy-law nexus, supporting policy coherence and serve as an influencer of policy development and uptake by Member States and an enabler of policy implementation that responds to the rule of law and MEAs commitments, in collaboration with other UNEP Divisions, Regional Offices and MEAs Secretariats.
• One of the Unit’s focus areas is to increase the awareness and capacity of UN Country Teams (UNCTs) to integrate policy coherence, environmental rule of law and MEAs mainstreaming in country-level planning and activity implementation in the context of a reformed UN Development System.
• In this context, the Unit operates internally to mainstream these aspects into UNEP’s country programming tools and knowledge networks, as well as externally to undertake relevant activities at country level, which can influence country programming processes, in collaboration with Regional Offices and other Law Division Units working on related issues.
• This work responds to a mandate most recently given to UNEP by resolution 6/6 of the sixth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), which, inter alia, requested the UNEP Executive Director to: “[…] facilitate coherent and effective implementation of multilateral environmental agreements at the regional and national levels on a Member State–driven basis, including through the Fifth Montevideo Programme for the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law and through UNEP regional offices [… and …] strengthen cooperation between the UNEP and UNCT teams, and encourage the latter to mainstream the objectives of multilateral environmental agreements into their work.”
• The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Head of UNEP Subregional Office for Central Asia and the Programme Management Officer with the Environmental Policy Unit of the Law Division, in close consultation and cooperation with UNEP’s Regional Development Coordinator for Europe, UNEP Country Focal point for Uzbekistan, relevant UNECE representatives and other colleagues.
• S/he will undertake a scoping study for the country of Uzbekistan focused on building capacities to ratify, mainstream and ultimately implement three UNECE Conventions (Aarhus, Espoo, Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention), as well as identifying how policy coherence for environmental governance and environmental rule of law can support this goal and possibly inform the next cycle of Common Country Analysis and UN Sustainable Cooperation Framework (2026-2029). 

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent in environmental sciences, environmental law, environmental management or closely related area of study) is required.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in environmental policy, environmental governance or environmental law.
• Proven experience in conducting research and collaborating with various stakeholders.
• Proven experience working on environmental policy and legal issues, including multilateral environmental agreements.
• Experience in the Central Asia region is desirable. Experience working with the United Nations, other international organizations or national governments is desirable.

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Responsibility

• Draft content for and update the GPI and UNEP-peatlands(tab) website(s), online groups GPI community of practice and social media outreach channels;
• Draft news articles or blogs on subjects relevant to peatlands restoration, conservation and sustainable management, such as ecosystem services, trans-boundary collaboration, conservation and carbon finance, biodiversity and climate change;
• Assist in the preparation of GPI events, workshops or south south exchanges;
• Assist in the development of awareness raising, outreach or advocacy materials including speech-writing, presentations, and/or videos;
• Assist with research on peatlands best practices in conservation, sustainable management and restoration or relevant topics to inform policy making;
• Assist with preparations for the GPI Steering Committee meetings, and various virtual or face to face meetings of the partnership and attend if held in Nairobi;
• Assist with organizing ad hoc meetings, workshops or teleconferences and prepare meeting agendas, summaries, minutes and follow up communications as required;
• Provide regular communication liaison within the GPI Partnership and with members of the public as required;
• Undertake other tasks as required, and in accordance with the intern's interests and experience.

Qualifications/special skills

• Master’s Degree (but within 1 year of graduation) or currently enrolled in a Master’s Programme
• Background in environmental sciences, environmental policy, biodiversity and conservation, development studies, or related field is desirable.
• Demonstrated interest in issues related to ecosystems management, restoration, biodiversity conservation, climate change, or sustainable development and knowledge is required.
• Knowledge of peatlands or wetland ecosystem functioning is desirable.