Jobs at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities

• Identify trends, patterns and early warning of issues related to the GEF portfolio size, shape and relevance.
• Guide staff in ensuring coherence of both UNEP and GEF compliance of their projects. Coordinate with GEF Secretariat and focal area Portfolio Managers in pipeline management.
• Assist divisions to enhance the quality of projects developed. Participate in the UNEP Project Review Committee for all GEF projects and ensure all project review criteria have been followed.
• Oversee the implementation of the UNEP GEF Fee Model in a way that ensures adequate reserves to cover UNEP's costs across the full GEF project cycle. Work with Portfolio Managers on annual targets and budgets and authorize annual budgets accordingly. Report to Division Directors periodically on the financial positions of the GEF focal area units.
• Monitor GEF projects in UNEP, including coordinating responses to the GEF Secretariat, GEF Evaluation clients, portfolio management indicators which GEF Secretariat reports to Council etc. Coordinate the preparation of periodic progress reports to GEF Secretariat and to UNEP colleagues. Respond to requests for information from UNEP divisions and offices.
• Liaise with the UNEP Evaluation Office on all matters related to independent evaluations of GEF projects.
• Coordinate UNEP input to GEF corporate evaluations and contribute to the preparation of the Management Action Record, as appropriate
• Assist the Director in enhancing the monitoring, reporting and risk management of GEF Projects. Work with UNEP Evaluation Office to improve monitoring and evaluation of GEF projects.
• Take the lead in ensuring corporate knowledge management and contribute to communications and outreach on the GEF portfolio.
• Ensure effective internal and external communication through website maintenance; Contribute to project data reconciliation exercises within UNEP and with the GEF Secretariat; Identify media and other outreach opportunities, contribute to the portfolio and project information and written materials.
• Brief new staff on UNEP and GEF policies, strategies and procedures.
• Develop a yearly budget for the GEF Unit. Provide on-going feedback on performance and guidance on work plan implementation to Unit staff and mentor the staff for career development and capacity development.
• Conduct performance evaluations for Unit staff. Represent UNEP to the GEF Secretariat on matters of policy, programming and operations. Participate in GEF Agency Retreats and GEF Council Meetings, reporting outcomes to UNEP colleagues. Participate in key UNEP processes and events, flagging them as and when appropriate to GEF Secretariat.
• Lead UNEP in adapting to and positioning within the evolving GEF policy and programming context.
• Perform other corporate tasks; Council document review and preparation of comments and briefings for management;
• Provide input to UNEP and GEF policy and information documents; Assist in providing training to UNEP staff on GEF matters.
• 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.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of international development and policies relating to the environment, in areas such as biodiversity, climate change, chemicals and waste, sustainable development and global environmental challenges. Proven knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to environmental management. Demonstrated experience in overseeing and managing projects including the allocation and management of resources. Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of portfolios/projects. Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement on difficult issues. The 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.
• 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.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours 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 improvement, 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.
• JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; 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 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 environmental sciences, natural resources, social sciences, economics or environmental management is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work 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 ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in design and implementation of environmental projects and programmes is required.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, and risk assessment in an institutional context is required.
• Proven experience in budget and financial management of projects is required.
• Prior experience in GEF policy and/or programming is desirable.
• Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

go to method of application »

The scoping specialist will undertake the following duties:

•  Define a framework for the report.  
• Conduct a literature review of all WBDE related activities (recognizing that these activities may be done under different names in different countries / regions) to gather data and source relevant materials.  
• Identify relevant case studies from across the region to illustrate the state of the WBDE in the region, including diversity in terms of geographic location, biomes, WBDE activities, policies and socioeconomic context.  
• Define a framework, table of contents and scope of the state of knowledge report that covers the main aspects to be covered in the context study.
• Conduct comprehensive desk research to global WBDE landscape in the selected region, adhering to the predefined framework and scope.  
• Provide an overview of the character and status of the WBDE and different terms used to describe it in the region, as appropriate (for example the types of WBDE initiatives that exist including animalbased activities such as hunting, wild animal farming, plantbased activities such as forestry,
• NonWood Forest Products, landscapebased activities including tourism)1.(Please refer to the ALU report on Status of Wildlife Economy in Africa for guidance)  
• Provide an overview of the policy, regulatory and legal framework governing the WBDE, incorporating insightful case studies from selected countries.
• Identify countryspecific gaps pertaining to various types of WBDE activities and practices, as relevant.  
• Identify opportunities to promote the update of the WBDE in the region.  
• Highlight good practices with relevance to the selected region, incorporating case studies and lessons learned.  
• Obtain facts and statistics rooted in science and knowledge that can enable informed decisionmaking on the WBDE, monitoring progress, and that can provide guidance for the successful implementation of the WBDE.  
• Identify the primary stakeholders engaged in activities related to the WBDE, as well as any related terms, within the region. Produce a regional scoping report summarizing findings from above.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, economics, political science, international development or another relevant technical field from a recognized institutions is required.
• A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.  
• A minimum of 7 years of work experience in international development, strategy, environment, advocacy, partnership is required.

Specific Skills:

• Ability to communicate research findings clearly
• Technical skills, knowledge and track record in working with international organisations in the environment sector
• Knowledge of the Wildlife Biodiversity Economy
• Communication and presentation skills
• Planning and organisation skills
• Writing and reporting  
• Experience working in the environment field is highly desirable.  
• Experience working for a UN agency is an asset.  Demonstrated experience in design, management and execution of projects, including desk research and delivery of recommendations is an asset.  
• Experience in operating independently and in providing expert advice and support on partnerships is an asset.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For this assignment, fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.

Deadline : Mar 18, 2024