Org. Setting and Reporting

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.

Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP has a network of country, liaison, sub-regional and regional offices facilitating the relevant country, sub-regional and regional processes, and coordinating the coherent delivery of UNEP’s program targeting the causes of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste through seven interlinked sub-programs for action. These are Climate Action, Chemicals and Pollution Action, Nature Action, science policy, Environmental Governance, Finance and Economic Transformations, and Digital Transformations.

UNEP’s Africa Office supports environmental governance institutions and processes and engages a broad range of partners that include governmental, non-governmental, academic, and private sector entities on multilateral environmental agreements and sustainability programs and projects in response to national, sub-regional and regional needs and priorities. UNEP’s support to countries, sub-regions and Africa is guided by reforms of the UN Development System including the UN Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team systems.

The UNEP Liaison Office was established with the objective of strengthening collaboration with the African Union (AU), and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and to serve as a UNEP country office for Ethiopia and is based in Addis Ababa, Under the supervision of the Director, Regional Office for Africa, and in close collaboration with UNEP's relevant Divisions, Convention Secretariats and the Executive Office, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

Responsibilities

1. The African Union (AU) and its individual component organs and institutions: Develop strategic linkages with the AU Commission, particularly on mechanisms for integrating UNEP’s contribution to the work of the relevant organs of the Commission; Keep under review the AU agenda, its priorities and programmes including its environment related flagships; Work closely with the AU Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) and align its areas of work to UNEP’s MediumTerm Strategy and Programme of Work (MTS/PoW); Engage with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) to support implementation of AU programmes, projects and activities; Establish mechanisms for policy exchange between UNEP and AU/AU's component institutions, including facilitation of annual consultations between the two organizations; Prepare briefs and organize meetings between the UNEP Executive Director and AU senior officials; Organize public environmental events, undertake environmental advocacy actions, present UNEP's work and enhance its visibility within the AU; Promote and facilitate co-coordinated follow-up actions on joint decisions by AU and UNEP.

2. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA): Strengthen collaboration between UNEP and UNECA, including through the identification of common areas of interest and development and implementation of joint interventions; Work with UNECA to enhance collaboration between AMCEN and the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; Maintain regular dialogue with relevant UNECA offices and officers; Monitor the implementation of joint activities, anticipating and identifying solutions to environmental challenges; Regularly review the co-operation between UNEP and UNECA, ensuring it remains relevant in a rapidly changing region.

3. The UN Development System in Ethiopia: Coordinate UNEP’s engagement with the UN Resident Coordinator, UN Country Team and other UN coordination and collaborative processes, mechanisms and platforms at the national level and mobilize UNEP expertise to contribute to the integration of climate action, nature action, pollution action and environmental sustainability in the development of common country analysis (CCA) and the UN sustainable development cooperation framework (UNICEF) as well as to specific initiatives by the UN Development System in Ethiopia;

4. Political Engagement: Undertake regular consultations with the Government of Ethiopia as appropriate; Gather and provide information on national priorities and in close collaboration with the regional sub-program coordinators and division leads, contribute to the preparation of specific interventions for the country in line with UNEP’s Medium Term Strategy and Programme of Work; Serve as a liaison between UNEP and the African Diplomatic Missions in Addis Ababa and keep them informed of UNEP’s work and other developments in the area of the environment.

5. Information gathering and networking: Gather information on new developments in the African environment including policies and initiatives; Set up and maintain networks with relevant organizations; Represent UNEP at meetings of AU or its component institutions, at meetings of UNECA, those of the Government of Ethiopia, and those of the United Nations Country Team in Ethiopia; Maintain information flow between UNEP and the Addis Ababa based institutions and organizations; Enhance, inter alia through media activities, UNEP's visibility in Addis Ababa.

6. The African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN): Support the secretariat of AMCEN by ensuring its work is well coordinated with the AUC through DARBE; Provide assistance in the preparation, documentation and logistics for meetings of the Conference; Provide regular briefings to the African Diplomatic Corps in Addis Ababa on AMCEN events, decisions, flagships and other areas of policy and political interest.

7. Partnerships Building: Develop partnerships including with government entities, UN agencies, regional and sub-regional organizations, donors, private sector, NGOs, and other major groups and stakeholders to enhance opportunities to address environmental challenges in Ethiopia and Africa at large, as well as support implementation of UNEP’s Medium Term Strategy and Programme of Work.

8. Resource mobilization: Undertake resource mobilization from both bilateral and multilateral sources to support the implementation of UNEP’s Programme of Work.

9. Data collection and analysis: In collaboration with the Science-Policy sub-program and the World Environment Situation Room (WESR), lead efforts to collect and analyze data on environmental performance in Kenya and provide insights to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensure that the data collected is discoverable, accessible, can be integrated in analyses and is shared.

10. Perform any other relevant duties as may be delegated by the Regional Director and senior UNEP management.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities, and risks. Ability to establish and maintain relationships with a broad range of individuals and institutions to understand needs and gain support. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction; Ability to develop strategies and communicate clearly links between the organization’s strategy and program of work the region’s and sub-regions and countries’ goals; Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation; Demonstrated ability to negotiate, apply good judgment and the ability to influence others to reach agreement; Mastery of diverse scope of capacity building and a clear vision of UNEP’s role at the national, sub-regional, regional and global levels; Ability to resolve complex and politically sensitive problems with governments, cooperating institutions, and other stakeholders. 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: Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity. 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.

COMMUNICATION: Highly developed communication skills (spoken, written, public speaking and presentational), including the ability to present sensitive issues/positions and prepare reports on short notice. 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.

MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

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 status quo; Shows the courage to take unpopular stands; Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives into substantive work and commitment to the goal of achieving gender balance in staffing.

Job requirements

Education

• An advanced university degree (master’s equivalent) in Political Science, International Affairs, Environmental Sciences, Economics, Law, Social Sciences, or a related discipline is required.

• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying years of 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 work experience in environmental management and policy development are required.

• At least five (5) years of relevant work experience in the African region at the international level equivalent to the United Nations is required.

• Experience in liaising with other UN agencies, inter-governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations is desirable.

• Experience in implementing country-level or organizational environmental policies,

• Guidelines and standards are desirable.

• Experience in data analytics or related areas is desirable.

• Experience in resource mobilization is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

NOTE: "Fluency equals a rating of "fluent" in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and "knowledge of" equals a rating of "confident" in two of the four areas.

Assessment

• Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

How to Apply

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