Careers at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

• The consultant(s) will be located in UN Environment Programme / Ecosystems Division / Biodiversity, People and Landscapes Unit. The consultant will report to, Programme Management Officer.
• The consultant will provide technical and peatlands-specific expertise to the Biodiversity, People and Landscapes Unit for coordination of scientific or flagship reports and science-based products of the Global Peatlands Initiative.

Specific Duties Include The Following

• Work with partners and UNEP to increase uptake and knowledge on the findings of the Global Peatlands Assessment (GPA) including linking data to World Environmental Situation Room, making data open and available on GPI website, maps and so on.
• Coordinate the regional launching of the GPA chapters and three global chapters to raise awareness of decision-makers, bring on board new scientists and improve the application of the results. Draft policy briefs to accompany the GPA and Hotspot Atlas including overseeing translation and publication processes.
• Engage with partners to advance peatlands monitoring and mapping, linked to the Hotspot Atlas, GPA and Global Peatlands Inventory, Global Forest Watch and more.
• Engage with partners and undertake research for the development of the Global Peatlands Inventory together with Ramsar Secretariat and make preparations and proposals for funding the next iteration of the GPA in coordination with partners.
• Conduct research, coordinate drafting and review of materials and reports to support the implementation of the Global Peatlands Initiative Research Working Group.
• Undertake needs surveys and identify trainers together with GPI partners for the GPI Research Working Group.
• Coordinate targeted training sessions including for Early Career Researchers as part of the GPI Researchers Working Group, prepare agenda, identify trainers and develop presentations as required.
• Facilitate reporting, training, development and documentation of lessons learned from the Global Peatlands Initiative.

Qualifications/special Skills

• Master’s University degree preferably with a specialization in environmental sciences, conservation biology, sustainable management, or related areas is required.
• A minimum of three (3) years of progressive experience in the field of environmental conservation, scientific research or science to policy work is required.
• Experience working on peatlands and/or ecosystems as a topic is required.
• Experience with the UN system especially with UNEP and on this issue is highly desirable.
• Skills and experience in networking, outreach, and engaging with multiple parties is desirable.
• Experience in coordinating research agendas, conducting analysis and possess excellent drafting skills for scientific reports is desirable.

Languages

• English and Spanish are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English and Spanish (both oral and written) is required.

Closing Date: 3rd November, 2023

go to method of application »

Responsibilities
Under the general guidance of the Director or Deputy Director of UNEP's Ecosystem Division and under the direct supervision of the Principal Coordinator of the Marine and Freshwater Branch, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

• Operationalize the UNEP Water Policy & Strategy and all other UNEP mandates on water:
• In the context of UNEP's Water Policy and Strategy, Freshwater Ecosystems Management Programme and other relevant UNEP sub-programmes and initiatives, lead development and implementation of the UNEP water programme in cooperation with other Divisions across UNEP.
• Facilitate partnerships for dialogue and implementation with, inter alia, water experts from national and international organisations.
• Coordination and development of the Freshwater Ecosystems activities within the ecosystems programme:
• Coordinate implementation of the UNEP Water Policy and Strategy within the UNEP ecosystem management programme and in cooperation with partners formulate methodologies, guidelines, and capacity building initiatives criteria for application of relevant technologies, and tools, for improving institutional capability, globally as well as regional and national programmes and action plans for monitoring, assessing, valuing, conserving, and maintaining water ecosystems.
• Coordinate activities to facilitate development and implementation of the freshwater ecosystems programme including the mobilization of resources, initiating and/or assessing the viability of environmental projects and programme elements in ecosystem management and making recommendations to the Branch Coordinator and Division management.
• Liaise with relevant UN agencies, intergovernmental, governmental, and non-governmental organizations to ensure UNEP collaboration in water programme development and implementation nationally, regionally, and globally.
• Coordinate the preparation of reports for presentation to senior management, governing councils and intergovernmental bodies ensuring quality of technical papers and follow up to
   Senior Management decisions related to freshwater ecosystems.
• Facilitate and advocate innovative concepts and tools designed to improve or re-orient implementation of the freshwater ecosystems with UNEP's water policy objectives and strategy:
• Improved awareness of water issues;
  improved management of basins (including trans boundary basins), and linkage to coastal and marine waters, and improved cooperation in the water sector.
• Lead, organize and/or participate in substantive discussions, meetings, and conferences an represent the unit at international, regional, or national meetings and provide programmatic and substantive expertise to promote ecosystem-based approaches for water management and impacts to water security and ecosystem services.
• Provide policy and programme guidance to Branch Coordinator and Division management to align unit activities with UNEP's overall mandates and strategic objectives as they emerge in integrated water resource management (IWRM), water security and ecosystem services.
• Provide technical guidance at the national and regional level on freshwater/coastal linkage within the context of the UNEP Water Policy Strategy; and assist countries to develop regional or sub regional plans for the integrated management of trans-boundary water resources.
• Report on the status of implementation of the work programme regularly as scheduled by the UN reporting requirements or as and when ca1led upon by the Division Management.
• Enhance UNEP's engagement on freshwater ecosystems:
• Review and analyse UNEP's current work on water, global and regional trends and develop potential areas of future Ecosystems Division collaboration/cooperation into a comprehensive project portfolio with complementary linkages to the work of integrated water resources management (IWRM), within the ecosystem management and governance sub programmes in UNEP.
• Management of the Freshwater Ecosystem Unit:
• Recommend to the Branch Coordinator the allocation of financial resources, justifying administrative and/or results-based budget proposals and work plans; monitor and report budgetary performance of the Unit.
• Manage staff performance and ensure ongoing professional development, continued Learning and the right mix of skills and competencies; under delegated authority from the Branch Coordinator initiate and recommend approval of personnel actions.
• Guide and support professional and general service staff in meeting their objectives an outputs; foster teamwork and communication in the Unit and across organizational boundaries.
• Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.
• Perform other duties as may be required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities, and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment 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. . Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.
• 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.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors 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.
• LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
• BUILDING TRUST: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in freshwater ecosystems, ecology, environmental studies or management is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) 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

• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in large-scale project or programme management in ecosystems management is required.
• At least five (5) years of experience at international level is required.
• Experience addressing environmental issues through multi-disciplinary approaches and partnerships related to freshwater ecosystems and water resources management is required.
• Experience in policy-oriented work in a broad range of sustainable development issues, particularly on Sustainable Development Goal 6 on Water and Sanitation and with SDG 14 Life Below Water, is required.
• Experience with intergovernmental processes is desirable.
• Experience in data analytics or related areas 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 French is desirable. Knowledge of another United Nations Official language is desirable.

Closing Date: 01 November 2023

go to method of application »

Duties and Responsibilities

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment". Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
• The Global Peatlands Initiative (GPI), led by UNEP, seeks to capture, and establish new approaches for the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of peatlands – linking science to practice and policy making. The four peat-rich tropical countries of Indonesia, Peru, the Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the pilot countries of the Global Peatlands Initiative. Due to the enormous amounts of carbon, they hold and the catastrophic consequences their drainage and degradation has generated in the past, a commitment by over 50 partners and tropical peatland countries to work together to halt the further destruction of peatlands is gaining international attention. Partners are sharing their knowledge and experience to promote healthy peatlands through their restoration and conservation as one of the fasted ways to tackle the climate crisis.
• Partners are working together within their respective areas of expertise to assess, measure and take actions to preserve peat carbon and biodiversity. Drawing on the expertise of the Initiative's partners and peatland practitioners, and through a structured South-South cooperation approach, the project helps countries contribute to major Multilateral Environmental Agreements (namely the UN Framework
• Convention on Climate Change, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, Convention on Migratory Species, and the Ramsar Convention). Specifically, the work of the Initiative aims to help the pilot countries achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions while advancing progress toward the SDGs. By collecting, advocating for, and supporting conservation practice and restoration efforts in the pilot countries, the project also contributes to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, especially Target 5 (reduced habitat loss/degradation), Target 14 (ecosystems that provide essential and valuable services are restored and safeguarded), and Target 15 (contribution of ecosystems to carbon stocks).
• The consultant(s) will be located in UN Environment / Ecosystems Division / Biodiversity, People and Landscapes Unit. The consultant will report to Programme Management Officer.
• The consultant will provide technically sound peatlands-specific communications expertise to the Biodiversity, People and Landscapes Unit for outreach and awareness raising for the Global Peatlands

Initiative. Specific Duties Include The Following

• Design a communications strategy and implementation plan for the Global Peatlands Initiative project aiming to reach 20 key peatland countries and garner financial support for GPI Phase II with donors and partners.
• Design and develop targeted and scientifically sound peatlands materials for awareness raising of Global Peatlands Initiative including: updating and maintaining the GPI and UNEP-peatlands related websites, news pieces, blogs, infographics, scripts and graphics for social media or videos.
• Liaise with implementing partners and UNEP collaborating teams to develop content, timelines and establish outreach and press releases including working with communication division to clear all press releases and publications for GPI products and events.
• Amplify communications and outreach efficiency by structuring a system to customize content and engagement through the use of the GPI website, online Dgroup community of practice, Trello dashboards, etc – developing ways to administer activities, associated photos, articles, events and display them in a productive and organized way.
• Establish a systematic way to engage with relevant networks including through social media to inform and engage with the peatland's community on X(Twitter), LinkedIn, the GPI webpage, and the DGroups and proactively publicize GPI partners' events and achievements regularly.
• Coordinate with implementing partners and prepare content for videos, newsletters and inputs on peatland work for reporting and for sharing with partners and disseminate.
• Manage database of, and communicate with, the Global Peatlands Initiative membership including targeted outreach to new and prospective partners as assigned.
• Contribute to the preparation of various GPI written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, policy notes, presentations, speaking notes, inputs to publications, including translation into French and/or Spanish and their review as required, etc.
• Collect, research on and organization of Global Peatlands Initiative knowledge products, coordinate the updating and uploading of content to the Virtual Peatlands Pavilion and other knowledge sites as assigned.

Qualifications/special Skills

• First University degree preferably with a specialization in environmental sciences, conservation biology, communications, international studies or related areas is required.
• Minimum of four years experience (at least 6 months) in the field of environmental conservation, scientific research or science to policy work is required.
• Experience working on peatlands and/or ecosystems as a topic in the context of developing countries is required.
• Excellent communication skills with experience drafting policy papers, resource materials, presentations, briefing notes, speaking notes and news articles is required.
• Knowledge of website management and experience developing website content is required.
• Experience with the UN system especially with UNEP and on this issue is highly desirable.
• Skills and experience in networking, outreach, and engaging with multiple parties is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in written and spoken English with excellent writing skills in English is required. Fluency in written and spoken French with excellent writing skills in French is required.