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. Within UNEP, the Environmental Security Unit aims to reduce risks to peace from environmental degradation and climate change and promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system in fragile regions and countries.

The Climate Security Mechanism (CSM), bringing together UNEP, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and United Nations development Programme (UNDP), was established to strengthen the UN’s capacity to address the linkages between climate change, peace and security. CSM supports UN work with advice to integrated climate-related security risk analysis and conceptualization, response design and by fostering collaboration with research partners. Through the UNEP representative in the CSM, the Programme Officer can request advice and support on technical issues related to climate-related security risks and tap into the respective strengths of DPPA, UNDP and UNEP. The Programme Officer will also feed into the global work of the CSM and support knowledge management and other activities, including the UN Community of Practice on Climate Security.

This position is located in the Environmental Security Unit of the UN Environment Programme Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya. The Programme Officer will report to the Head of Unit with a close link to the CSM. The focus of her/his job is to lead the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes, operations and other activities related to the support provided to UNEP and UN entities based in regions in which environmental management is weakest, and where climate- and environment-related risks to peace are high. In close liaison with  UNEP Divisions and Offices, and with the Climate Security Mechanism team in New York, the Programme Officer will ensure that field-based colleagues have timely access to the best available environmental/climate analysis and trends to analyse interactions between environmental and climate-related stresses, socio-economic, political and migration trends, and to assist the sustained workflow with Resident Coordinators, UN peace operations, UN special political missions, and UN Country Teams.

Responsibilities

•  Develops, implements and evaluates assigned capacity building initiatives on climate related security risks for interlocutors in the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), UN Peace Operations, Special Political Missions and other partners across and beyond the UN system; in this context, monitors and analyzes programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; supports follow-up actions. Provides strategic and operational support to selected UNCTs, UN Peace Operations and Special Political Missions on all issues related to the linkages between climate change, peace and security in the country/region, with a particular focus on long-term perspective and identifying emerging risks.
•  Performs consulting assignments, in collaboration with the selected UNCTs, UN Peace Operations and Special Political Missions, by planning and facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing goals to manage the change. Builds and sustains mechanisms for early warning and the systematic analysis of climate-related security risks in the country/region in collaboration with partners from within and beyond the UN and support the integration of findings into relevant strategic and operational processes in selected UNCTs, UN Peace Operations and across the UN system.
•  Researches, analyzes and presents information gathered from diverse sources building on the Climate Security Mechanism good practices, including the conceptual approach and the Climate Security Toolbox. Builds and maintains partnerships with the broader research community in the area of climate-related security risks and fosters/facilitates dialogue with a view to ensuring a more coherent approach.
•  Coordinates policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies. Supports the development of innovative response strategies to prevent and respond to climate-related security risks, including as relevant in the context of broader prevention strategies, programming frameworks and planning processes.
•  Generates survey initiatives; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identify problems/issues and prepares conclusions. Supports the identification and documentation of lessons learned regarding UN system-wide efforts to analyze and address climate-related security risks in the country/region.
•  Organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications. Contributes to knowledge management activities of the Climate Security Mechanism, including by providing analytical reports and context specific updates.
•  Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences; to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
•  Initiates and coordinates outreach activities, conducts training workshops, seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities. Supports UN advocacy and communication around climate-related security risks in the country/region, in particular through meetings of the senior management of selected UNCTs and UN Peace Operations.
•  Leads and/or participates in large, complex field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries.
•  Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget).
•  Performs other related duties as required.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, management, political science, environment, social sciences and economics or a related field.  A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, political analysis, administration or related area is required.
• Experience of work in an insecure/conflict-affected context and with UN partners are desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an added advantage.

Source:https://inspira.un.org/psc/UNCAREERS/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/UN_CUSTOMIZATIONS.UN_JOB_DETAIL.GBL?Page=UN_JOB_DETAIL&Action=A&JobOpeningId=147727&