Openings at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the National Environmental Law Unit, or her/his designated representative, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

•  Assist in performing UNEP’s roles and functions as Secretariat under Montevideo Programme V – a global programme on supporting countries to advance environmental rule of law – including the servicing of meetings, preparation of background documents, and preparing meeting reports;
•  Keep the UNEP-Law and Environment Assistance Platform up to date with environmental law news and knowledge products, and perform relevant data analysis;
•  Assist in administering technical support and capacity building activities for Member States on environmental law under Montevideo Programme V;
•  Assist in the preparation of legal briefs/advice and in the review of legal documents, instruments, or other material on environmental law and related areas under Montevideo Programme V;
•  Support the review from a legal angle of any documentation prepared under the GEF DDT project in India and provide comments;
•  Provide project management support by assisting in the planning, carrying out, and closing of project activities under the GEF DDT project in India, and in the periodic monitoring of the status of project activities and expenditures;
•  Assist in the organization and support of events (meetings, workshops and training, roundtables, and expert meetings), that are organized face-to-face or electronically by the Unit or in which the Unit is involved to raise awareness about the Unit’s and the Division’s activities, through e.g., liaising with partner entities/organizations and with participants, compiling materials, taking notes and preparing reports;
•  Perform other relevant tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. Results/Expected Outputs As an active UNEP team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to UNEP and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including through:
•  Ensuring that UNEP-LEAP is kept up to date and supported with high-quality data analysis;
•  Supporting Member States with UNEP-LEAP information products and assistance on environmental law;
•  Preparing documents that methodically analyze research information collected and logically lead to the conclusions set out therein;
•  Delivering assignments that are delivered in accordance with agreed standards of quality and within set deadlines;

Requirements

Required experience

• 3 years of experience in environmental law or environmental governance. Prior experience at the international level is an ad-vantage.
• Experience in knowledge management is also an advantage; Proven ability to carry out research and familiarity with electronic research tools and databases Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management and office technology equipment

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Task description
Under the direct supervision of a Programme Management Officer in Enterprise Solutions Section/UN Environment's Corporate Services Division, the UN Volunteer will take the following tasks:

• Intranet Management: Support with updating content and layout regularly to enhance personnel experience.
• Assist with review, maintaining and monitoring compliance with Intranet style and content guidelines.
• Assist with enforcing and monitoring compliance with Intranet Policy.
• Participate in and maintain regular communication mechanism with content creators from various divisions of UNEP.
• Provide support to personnel in populating content, including face-to-face and using tools such as How-to-Guides, Video tutorials and others.
• Provide advice on various options for placement and design of the content on Intranet.
• Collect and respond to feedback on the Intranet using surveys and other methods
• Assist with developing and monitoring of Intranet Key Performance Indicators.
• Research on new features that will enhance the intranet, including social features.

Outreach and Awareness Raising:

• Assist with implementation of the sections outreach strategy (“weShare”) to increase aware-ness and proficiency on the use of various digital solutions developed by ESS and other relevant stakeholders.
• Activities in the outreach strategy include identification of topics and coordination of bi-weekly virtual information sessions with subject matter experts, scheduling of information sessions, developing promotional videos, sharing written communication to personnel on various digital solutions features, amongst others.
• Support with assessing effectiveness of the outreach strategy and suggest improvements as appropriate.

 Information Architecture

• Provide advice on the most efficient and user-friendly information structuring and navigation in the Intranet.
• Re-organize, re-structure, and label content in ESS corporate documentation storage systems, such as MS Teams and SharePoint in an effective way. Provide advice to other divisions on the same.
• Provide advice on informational architecture in various knowledge management projects, in close collaboration with relevant responsible units. For example, assist with UNEPs digital archiving initiative, work with Science Division on enhancement of Knowledge Repository and others.
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).
Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities.
Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Required experience

• 3 years of experience in a field relevant to communications, knowledge and content management or related field with minimum 2 years of relevant work experience with social intranets, digital content development, knowledge and information management projects or other relevant initiatives at national/international level

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Competencies

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.

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

Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent);
• Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation.
• Preferred study for this internship, Undergraduate Degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Design or International Relations
• Be computer literate in standard software applications.
• Have demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter;
• Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

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Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrated professional competence in the field of sustainable development and multilateral relations; Strong analytical skills and ability to analyse complex political issues; High degree of flexibility; Willingness to travel extensively; Ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. 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.

PLANNING & 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.

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 do not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, economics, law, environmental science or public administration 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 progressively responsible work experience in environment, programme management and/or sustainable development is required.
• Experience working within the international environment governance system is required.
• Experience in liaising with countries is required.
• Experience in advising senior officials is desirable.
• Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desira