United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Vacancy: Programme Officer, Nairobi

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Vacancy: Programme Officer, Nairobi
Job Title
PROGRAMME OFFICER, P4
Department/ Office
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
Duty Station
NAIROBI
Posting Period
6 October 2010-5 December 2010
Job Opening number
10-PGM-UN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME-16458-R-NAIROBI
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Organizational Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. 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 Division of Regional Cooperation (DRC) helps to implement UNEP's global programmes in the regions by initiating, coordinating and catalyzing regional and sub-regional cooperation and action in response to environmental problems and emergencies. The division coordinates the work of six regional offices, which bring regional perspectives to the development of UNEP policies and programmes and present and enlist support for UNEP global policies in the regions.

The Regional Office for Africa' s (ROA) major function is to coordinate UNEP's programme of work in the Africa region, act as the link between the various units and centers of UNEP and the countries in the region, and promotes collaboration and partnerships with organizations active in sustainable development in Africa. This post is located in the Regional Office for Africa (ROA) in Nairobi. Under the supervision of the Regional Director, Regional Office for Africa, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:

Responsibilities
1. Coordinate implementation of UNEP's ecosystem management programme in Africa: Assess challenges and opportunities at country, sub-regional and regional levels and identify problems and issues to be addressed; Develop ecosystem management programme in Africa in cooperation with other UNEP divisions; Coordinate, monitor and evaluate implementation of UNEP's ecosystem management programmes and projects in Africa with other partners to enhance ecosystem resilience and food production; Initiate and coordinate outreach activities to enhance dialogue on sustainable management of national and transboundary natural resources, specifically shared water resources; Coordinate activities related to resource mobilization for UNEP ecosystem management programme.

2. Coordinate UNEP's engagement with other partners to strengthen the capacity of the African countries: Develop and implement projects to strengthen the capacity of the African countries to realign their environmental programmes and financing to address degradation of the ecosystems focusing on land, water and biodiversity resources; Provide substantive backstopping to strengthen the science-policy interface on ecosystem services; Initiate, coordinate and provide substantive backstopping to training workshops and seminars; Develop and implement projects to strengthen South-South cooperation'; Liaise with relevant parties and implement activities related to resource mobilization.3. Coordinate UNEP's engagement with the countries of North Africa Sub-Region to ensure coherence of implementation: Monitor and analyze UNEP programmes and projects development and implementation in the countries of North Africa; Identify priority areas of environmental management to be addressed and initiate actions with the United Nations Country Team; Liaise with the countries of the Sub Region on all issues related to UNEP activities.

4. Providing substantive support to regional processes on the water portfolio in Africa, including the African Ministerial Council on Water (AMCOW): coordinate UNEP's engagement with AMCOW; Provide substantive technical support to implementation of AMCOW decisions and recommendations; Monitor and analyze regional process dealing with water issues in Africa.

5. Perform other duties as assigned.

Competencies
Professionalism: Knowledge of UNEP institutional mandates and polices; Ability to coordinate the production of major environmental reports; Demonstrated ability to identify key strategic environmental management issues and to provide/innovate technical and scientific inputs and guidance; Familiarity with the formulation and management of UN programs is highly desirable; Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis; Ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from various sources; Up-to-date knowledge on current topics and issues affecting the environment.

Communication: Excellent drafting ability; Speaks dearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Planning and organizing: proven ability to plan and organize work develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments.

Teamwork: works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise.

Education
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in areas related to natural resources/ecosystem management (land, fresh water) is required. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of relevant working experience in ecosystem/natural resources management including some years at the international level. The incumbent should have experience in working with African Countries.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other United Nations languages an asset.

United Nations Considerations
The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Special Notice
The Executive Director reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level lower than the advertised level of the post. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.
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Closing Date: Sunday, 05 December 2010