REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION OFFICER – P4

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. UNEP’s 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. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP has a network of country and regional offices facilitating the relevant country and regional processes and coordinating coherent delivery of UNEP’s programme aimed at addressing the causes of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution through seven interlinked sub-programmes for action that include: Climate Action, Chemicals and Pollution Action, Nature Action, Science Policy, Environmental Governance, Finance and Economic Transformations and Digital Transformations. 

UNEP’s Regional Office for Africa (ROA) supports environmental governance institutions and processes and engages a broad range of partners that include UN agencies, governments, non-governmental organizations, 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 regions and countries is guided by reforms of the UN Development System (UNDS) including the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) and UN Country Team (UNCT) systems. This post is based in UNEP/ROA at the Nairobi duty station. Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Regional Director, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

 

Responsibilities

Policy: 

• Advises UNEP on integrating environmental sustainability into the UN system-wide development activities, aligning with UNEP’s mandate to promote sustainable development through the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension. 

• Leads UNEP’s engagement with the UN Development System at regional and country levels, and guides and coordinates effective UNEP Regional Collaborative Platform and its Opportunities and Issue-Based Coalitions (RCP/OIBC) as well as its participation in the work of the UN Country Teams. 

• Serves as the primary UNEP focal point for UN system-wide development work in the region, ensuring the incorporation of environmental considerations and advocating for UNEP’s expertise in sustainable development initiatives. 

• Drafts, and writes guidance notes and strategies on the environmental aspects of UNEP’s sustainable development work in the region, facilitating interagency technical review meetings to support policy development, capacity building, and decision-making in line with UNEP’s environmental policy consensus. 

• Provides continuous technical and facilitation support to UNEP UNDS advisory group to enhance UNEPs support to UNCT and UN regional work Coordination. 

• Coordinates regional input into UNEP’s programming, emphasizing the integration of the environmental dimension into country development strategies to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, as outlined in UNEP’s seven interlinked sub-programmes. 

• Coordinates of the network of UNCT country focal points and national governments on the development and implementation of national and regional strategies, emphasizing UNEP’s role in addressing the causes of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution. 

• Represents UNEP in discussions on UN reform and UN cooperation Framework and country development plans, advocating for the integration of the environmental dimension in alignment with UNEP’s mandate. 

• Provides daily effective coordination and technical support to UNCT focal points to ease their work within UNCTs and build their capacities on the key requirements of the UN reform and related tools. 

• Ensures daily coordination with UNEP entities including PPD to ensure that UNDS activities are well integrated into that of the Divisions in the context of the UNEP New Delivery Model 

• Organizes workshops, meetings, and conferences ensuring seamless events that align with organizational objectives. 

 

Partnerships: 

• Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, UN agencies, Resident Coordinators, and other international organizations involved in environmental and developmental work in the region, fostering partnerships that align with UNEP’s goals. 

• Organizes and participates in relevant work groups, meetings, conferences, and consultations to facilitate collaboration and information exchange, promoting UNEP’s leadership in environmental governance and sustainability. 

• Establishes strong partnerships with UN sister agencies and MEAs secretariat focal points in the region to enhance coherence across UN operations concerning the environmental component of development. 

• Supports fundraising efforts to ensure the effective implementation of UNEP’s Development Work in the Region, in line with UNEP’s role as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. 

• Partners with UNDCO to provide technical support to UNCT work as UNEP Peer Support Groups-PSG member to ensure stronger integration of the sustainability and resilience principles in UNCT activities including capacity building of UN teams on programming/guiding principles, and assessment of UNCT submissions through providing advisory support on improvement areas. 

• Partners with UN country teams, individual agencies, and country donors to support resource mobilization for the UNDS activities. General: 

• Performs other duties as required, always in alignment with UNEP’s mandate to coordinate and advocate for the global environment. 

• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

 

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: – Solid understanding of the environment and climate change. Knowledge of the UN Development System processes at country and regional level. 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 programme of work the region’s and sub-regions and countries’ goals; Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management; 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 the 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. 

PLANNING AND ORGANIZING – Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently. 

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. 

COMMUNICATION – 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.

 

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in environment, development or related fields is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work 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 seven (7) years of progressively responsible work experience in programme/project management, environmental management, policy development or related field is required. Five (5) years’ experience working in an international organization equivalent to United Nations is desirable. Experience in resource mobilization is desirable. Experience in strategic policy setting is desirable Experience in the coordination of programmes in Africa is desirable. Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable

 

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of other UN 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.

 

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include a substantive assessment, which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

 

Special Notice

Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one (1) year and may be subject to extension. 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. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Candidate Profile (CP) and motivation statement. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Internal Applicants – When completing the Candidate Profile form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. 

Individual Contractors and Consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. 

The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Contact Us” link.

 

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. 

The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. 

The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. 

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. 

Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

 

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.

 

This is how cinfo can support you in the application process for this specific position:

• Application preparation: Before you apply for this position: Improve your application documents by registering for a Job Application Support. Our coaches are here to help tailor your application to the requirements of the job (service provided at your own cost).
• Interview preparation: When invited to the interview: Prepare for the interview by registering for a Job Application Support.
• Additional services for  Swiss nationals who get invited to the selection process (written test, interview, assessment centre, etc.):
  • Let us know by writing to recruitment@cinfo.ch. We flag matching applications to HR partners and SDC/SECO for visibility.
  • Benefit from free interview/assessment preparation by registering here : Interview and Assessment Centre Preparation for Jobs in Multilateral Organisations. Our coaches stand ready to help prepare for upcoming interview/assessment centre.