Result of Service
The Unit’s tasks related to its work programmes, in particular on mainstreaming, business engagement and resource mobilization, resulting from the work of Subsidiary Bodies and COP16 decisions, servicing official negotiations during COP16 and supporting any intersessional work required by COP16 Decisions, organization of the Annual Meeting of the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity, as well as preparations for the Business and Biodiversity Forum and Action Zone to be held in parallel to COP16, are delivered in a timely fashion and effective manner.
Work Location
Hybrid – Home based and at the office
Expected duration
Six months
Duties and Responsibilities
ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING The United Nations Environment Programme 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. At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for ‘sustainable development’. The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature in Rio in 1992. The Convention has 196 Parties and has three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is located in Montreal and is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme. Its main tasks are to arrange for and service meetings of the Conference of the Parties, including preparation of pertinent documentation, operation of the central node of the clearing-house mechanism, liaison and coordination with other international bodies and processes and, in close collaboration with these partners, the provision of technical support for the effective implementation of the Convention. As provider of expertise and technical support to its Parties, the SCBD is requested to support mainstreaming and to follow up on work to support formal negotiations, as well as further support to mainstreaming-related GBF targets 14, 15, 16 and 18. This position will work under the supervision of the programme management officer responsible for business engagement and outreach and under the overall supervision of the head of the BETI Unit. Duties and Responsibilities Under the supervision of the programme management officer responsible for business engagement and outreach and under the overall supervision of the head of the BETI Unit, the individual contractor will be requested to: – Support the formal process on the long-term strategic approach to biodiversity mainstreaming as requested in decision 15/17 and subsequent, including preparation of materials and presession documents for COP16 as well as outcomes resulting from COP decision(s); – Support the formal process on the resource mobilization as requested in decision 15/7, including preparation of materials, coordination of meetings and presession work required in preparation for COP16 as well as outcomes resulting from COP decision(s); – Organize coordination meetings of the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity (GPBB) and broader business and biodiversity community, including teleconferences, invitations and support to agenda development and execution of events, preparing presentations and briefing notes; production of successive drafts and publication of the GPBB newsletter; – Support the planning and preparations for all associated events that will take place in parallel to COP16, including the annual meeting of the Global Partnership, the Business and Biodiversity Forum and the Action Zone; – Provide support to the work of engagement with stakeholders through the Action Agenda for Nature and People; – Provide support to updating website content as well as preparing communication assets, newsletters and different publications and materials as required; – Support with social media needs (developing assets, sharing materials, liaising with comms); – Provide technical and logistical support to the planning, organizing, and servicing of other pertinent processes under the responsibility of the BETI Unit, in particular the work programme on resource mobilization.
Qualifications/special skills
Academic qualifications: High school diploma is required. A graduate degree in environment, economics or related areas is desirable. Working Experience: Three (3) years of working experience in secretarial and programme assistance support are required. Experience in organizations linked to the environment, international organizations, the UN and/or the CBD is desirable. Experience on biodiversity mainstreaming, economics or business links is desirable. Skills in planning, organizing, and servicing meetings at international level including skills in drafting document for various purposes and audiences (reports, minutes, content production, outreach communication materials such as newsletters) are required. Competencies: Communication: Ability to speak and write clearly and effectively with sound technical knowledge; ability to communicate effectively with audiences of various levels of seniority, tailoring language, tone, style and format appropriately; ability to communicate with various stakeholders in politically sensitive situations with diplomacy and tact. Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively with professional and technical staff at senior and junior levels from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Planning and Organizing: Ability to identify priorities, work to tight deadlines, handle concurrent projects and coordinate with the work of others.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other United Nations languages 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.
Additional Information
The individual contractor may be requested to travel to various meetings. Applicants must be Canadian residents or citizens or have permission to work in Canada.
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.