Vacancies at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Under The Overall Guidance Of The Regional Director Of The UNEP Africa Office And The Direct Supervision Of The Regional Sub-programme Coordinator For Ecosystems, The Consultant Will Undertake The Following Tasks

• Undertake a technical review for laboratory requirements for effective water quality monitoring and assess the capacity need of government officers and of the laboratory stuffs The consultant shall undertake a technical review the needs for water quality monitoring in the Turkana county, assess the existing technological capacity for laboratory and develop requirements of the water quality monitoring laboratory facility in the County of Turkana. The technical review will also assess the capacity needs of the technical staff working in the laboratory facility.
• The final results from the validation workshop will inform the laboratory requirements, specifications for equipment to be purchased and to develop the training programme that will be used to train water managers/experts, field officers and other relevant technical staff in the County of Turkana.
• Prepare specifications for equipment to be purchased and design the capacity development programme in collaboration with the overall lead of the program:
• The expert will prepare a specifications of laboratory equipment including hardware, consumables, and software as appropriate to facilitate their procurement and commissioning. Indicative equipment may include spectrophotometer, accessories, etc.
• Train laboratory technicians, water managers, field officers and other relevant technical staff on water quality monitoring:
• The consultant will develop a capacity building programme/module to train relevant staff and stakeholders on the different aspects of water quality monitoring from field to laboratory etc. Depending on the budget, provided by County Government of Turkana the consultant will facilitate knowledge exchange activities which will be built into the training program by bringing water managers/experts, field officers and other relevant technical staff from other counties as well as facilitate County Government of Turkana experts to visit other counties/ laboratories. The training programme will include skills in operation and maintenance of the laboratory equipment.
• Support the County Government of Turkana to develop standard operating procedures in areas identified under this consultancy:
• The consultant will support the County Government to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the analytical methods implemented in the Water Monitoring Laboratory and for field measurements with respect to the instrumentation used for those methods and measurements.

Qualifications/special Skills

• Advanced university degree (masters and above) in water resources management, hydrology, Analytical chemistry or closely related area of study 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.
• At least 10 years of work experience in water resources management is required.
• Previous work experience in water resources management with a bias towards water quality monitoring from a laboratory perspective including demonstrated experience in managing a national level laboratory accredited to ISO 17025, and developing Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) for analytical method is desirable.

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Competencies

• Professionalism: Ability to demonstrate a high level of concentration. Ability to work under stress. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Interns must 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.
• 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.
• Technological awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology. Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office. Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks. Shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

• A first-level degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in environmental issues, law, jurisprudence, procedure, philosophy, political science or international relation or related fields is required.

Work Experience

• No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

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 an advantage.

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Responsibilities

This post is in UNEP's Economy Division, Energy and Climate Branch, Global Environment Facility (GEF) Climate Mitigation Unit at the Nairobi duty station. Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Energy & Climate Branch and the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Officer, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

• Supervision of Project Implementation of the Enabling Activity Portfolio of Projects:
• Prepares project supervision plans under his/her portfolio for their entire duration and applies adaptive management principles to the supervision of the projects.
• Organizes and manages the project inception meeting.
• Provides oversight to project execution and prepares reports in accordance with UNEP and GEF criteria, rules and regulations.
• Participates or delegates participation when needed, in relevant Project Steering Committees and ensures that Project Steering Committee fulfills its function.
• Regularly monitors project progress and performance and rates progress towards meeting project objectives, project execution progress, quality of project monitoring and evaluation, and risk.
• Monitors reporting by project executing partners.
• Promptly informs management of any significant risks or project problems and takes action and follows up on decisions made.
• Prepares reports in accordance with GEFand UNEP requirements.
• Maintains adequate project-related documentation.
• Applies adaptive management principles to the supervision of the project.
• Assists with the preparation of project revisions.
• Reviews project outputs, provides technical input and ensures quality standards are met.
• Manages any mandatory project(s) reviews.
• Supports the project terminal evaluation when relevant or project final reports.
• Takes responsibility to ensure that project is financially closed in a prompt manner after completion of project activities.
• Supervises and mentors junior professionals, consultants and general service staff.
• Enabling Activity Project Identification and Development:
• Liaises with internal and external partners to identify relevant and eligible project concepts.
• Discusses and clears such concepts with the Senior Programme Officer.
• Consults with UNEP’s Divisions and regional offices as necessary.
• Advises project proponents on how to revise concepts to respond to issues raised by the peer reviewer and other reviews.
• Monitors GEF project milestones to avoid delays and potential project cancellation.
• Addresses GEF Secretariat and Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) reviews and ensures that Project Review Committee recommendations are considered in further project development by the executing agency.
• Works with the Fund Management Officer to internalize the Project Preparation Grant upon approval.
• Supervises Project Preparation Grant execution in accordance with UNEP and GEF policies and procedures.
• Supports Project Preparation Grant execution in accordance with UNEP and GEF policies and procedures.
• Verifies that the project proposals meet GEF quality-at-entry standards before submission to Senior Programme Officer and GEF Coordination Office for Project Review Committee review.
• Supports the executing partners in mobilizing Co-financing for the project.
• Upon GEF Chief Executive Officer's approval, works with the Fund Management Officer to internalize the project document.
• Economy Division Knowledge Management and Data Management:
• Identifies and codifies lessons emerging from project implementation.
• Ensures accuracy and completeness of project data in the project information system and the risk management system for all projects under his/her supervision.
• Contributes to project data reconciliation exercises within the Division and with the GEF Secretariat.
• Identifies media and other outreach opportunities and materials and provides project information and materials.
• Participates in events organized by GEF and UNEP to disseminate information on project results and lessons.
• UNEP and Global Environment Facility (GEF) Corporate Tasks:
• Contributes to the GEF Council document reviews as needed.
• Provides input to UNEP and GEF policy and information documents as necessary.
• Identifies opportunities to complement the UNEP Programme of Work with GEF-financed initiatives.
• Represents Economy Division in UNEP and GEF–related meetings.
• Participates in the UNEP Project Review Committees;
• Provides regular substantive backstopping to UNEP senior colleagues and partners, including the regional and liaison offices;
• Provides input to GEF corporate evaluations, country portfolio evaluations, thematic evaluations and impact evaluations and to the preparation of the Management Action Record.
• Maintains the enabling portfolio of projects and risk management records and contributing to UNEP and GEF information and knowledge management.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of concepts, templates, processes and approaches relevant to the Global Environment Facility projects on climate change mitigation reporting to the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change. Knowledge and understanding of all cycles of project management. Ability to source, design and develop large climate change mitigation convention reporting projects. Ability to work with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and (Least Developed Countries) LDCs in developing climate change mitigation convention reporting projects. 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 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.
• 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.
• 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

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Engineering, Environment, Economics, Energy, Climate Change, or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in the relevant field in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience maybe 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 seven (7) years of relevant experience in the area of climate change mitigation reporting to the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (National Communications and Biennial Update Reports) is required.
• International experience in developing and implementing Global Environment Facility climate change mitigation (non-land use) projects is required.
• Hands-on experience in dealing with a wide range of Government institutions in Least Developed Countries LDCs) and Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) is required.
• Experience in managing a large global portfolio of climate change projects is desirable.
• Experience in managing climate change projects and consulting teams in multiple locations is desirable.
• Working knowledge of the United Nations or similar international organization 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 this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of an additional UN language is an asset.