Associate Legal Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

Since its inception in 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been the global authority that sets the 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.
UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP works through its divisions as well as regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence.

Context

The UNV volunteer will work for the Legal Unit, in UNEP’s Corporate Services Division. The UNV will provide legal support, advice and opinion in a variety of issues of international, public, private, administrative and environmental law and other matters requiring legal input, including interpretation and application of instruments. The UNV contributes to other UNEP and legal corporate activities within his/her field of expertise.

Task description

Under the direct supervision Senior Legal Officer, the UNV volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
1.Provision of legal support to UNEP through the Corporate Services Division /Legal Unit
i. Serve as Associate Legal Officer supporting the provision of corporate legal advice to UNEP through the Corporate Services Division/Legal Unit, and contribute to the work of the Corporate Services Division / Legal Unit providing the necessary assistance, as required;
ii. Review and draft legal instruments and other agreements and amendments, and when deviations from UN/UNEP templates are requested by counterparts provide legal advice with regard to those instruments including agreements with implementing partners;
iii. Support the review of the due diligence process of potential partners, both non-for profit and for profit entities;
iv. Support Corporate Services Division’s work on audit processes by oversight bodies, including the review of recommendations and their implementation;
v. Support the work of the focal point for the Corporate Services Division/Legal Unit on the UNEP Intranet page (WeCollaborate).
2.Support the development and/or revision of legal template instruments and conduct legal research
i. In coordination with relevant offices, support the development of new and/or review of existing legal agreements templates;
ii. In coordination with relevant offices, support the revision of UNEP policies and their implementation, and the drafting of summaries and/or briefing notes relating to policy matters;
iii. Support the Legal Unit’s by the preparation of a compendium of core legal advice delivered by the Legal Unit with a view to ensure consistency for the benefit of UNEP;
iv. Under the guidance of legal officers, conduct research on legal issues pertaining – inter alia – to general international law, international organization, privileges and immunities, multilateral environmental agreements etc. and draft legal notes and memos for the use of the Legal Unit.
3.Assistance in other professional duties as required by the exigency of service.