Vacancies at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Duties and Responsibilities:

• The assignment falls under activity 1.3.12 of the project entitled “Enforcing Environmental Treaties in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Countries- ACP-MEAs III Programme”, which aims to facilitate the national and institutional capacity of key stakeholders in African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries to implement MEAs in the biodiversity and chemicals and waste clusters and to reap the benefits of improved environmental management at the national and regional levels. Activity 1.3.12 aims at:
• The development of new material, validation, and broad dissemination (through websites, webinars, and factsheets) of guidance materials to enhance implementation and control over new chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention, taking into account existing guidance;
• Develop a course curriculum on articles screening methods, best available techniques on the production, use and final disposal of new industrial Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) listed under the Stockholm Convention, and on alternatives to new industrial POPs identified by the subsidiary bodies of the Stockholm Convention, taking into account existing guidance and technical guidelines.
• The course will be organized as two consecutive online webinars for the national focal points of the Stockholm Convention This consultancy will be a continuation and expansion of the work done under activity 1.4.5 “conducting webinars on perfluorinated chemicals risk reduction approaches, substitution and alternatives, in English, French and Spanish” that was undertaken in 2022 under the ACP MEAs III Programme.
• The incumbent will be supervised by the Programme Management Officer in the Environmental Conventions and Policy Branch of the Law Division. The work will involve consultations with the BRS Secretariat, other UNEP Divisions and units relevant to the work, in particular the Chemicals and Health Branch of the Industry and Economy Division. The incumbent will be home-based.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in toxicology, environmental sciences or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with 5 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in working and delivering training on issues related to the Stockholm Convention and its listed chemicals is required with a master's degree in toxicology is required. Experience conducting research and advising governments or international organizations on issues related to environmental governance is required.
• Experience working with developing countries in the global south is required.
• Experience working both on governmental and intergovernmental levels is desirable. Knowledge of the key objectives and matters of the UNEP-administered chemicals and waste-related MEAs is desirable.

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The consultant will conduct the following tasks:

• Promote and coordinate collaboration across UN-REDD agencies, AFF, and government counterparts.
• Lead the implementation and closing of the project as per the project document, work plan, and list of deliverables.
• Lead the production of new knowledge products to fill gaps in UN-REDD materials.
• Lead the organization of Africa-specific trainings, including webinars based on the REDD+ Academy.
• Lead the production of policy briefs to provide guidance to African countries on implementing REDD+ strategy.
• Lead the organization of advocacy side events during major Regional and International Climate and environmental events.
• Produce and promote stories on lessons learned from UN-REDD's partner countries.
• Coordinate support from UNEP to the implementation of the project by partner organizations (e.g., knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, community of practice)

Qualifications/special skills

• Education:  An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in social or environmental sciences, Forestry or equivalent field is required.
• A first-level university degree level in the above-mentioned fields, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Experience:  A minimum of five years of relevant work experience in project management and capacity development is required.
• Excellent knowledge of REDD+ and Forest management in Africa region context is also required.
• Experience working with African governments is desirable.
• Skills: Strong practical background on project Management is required.
• Standard computer software application literacy is required. • Ability to work independently with limited supervision is required.
• Ability to identify priorities and to work under tight deadlines is desirable.
• Ability to convene partners and facilitate consensus is desirable.
• Ability to analyze, synthesize and coordinate a wide range of outputs from various partners is desirable.
•  A demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations, knowledge of the United Nations system and a personal commitment to the ideals of the United Nations Charter is desirable.