UN Volunteers is looking for an International UN Volunteer Specialist as Associate Legal Officer at UNEP: APPLY NOW!

Associate Legal Officer

Onsite: Kenya

General

Description of assignment title

Associate Legal Officer

Expected start date

01/04/2024

Sustainable Development Goal

17. Partnerships for the goals

Volunteer category

International UN Volunteer Specialist

Host entity

UNEP

Duration

12 months (with possibility of extension)

International UN Volunteer Specialist 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.

International UN Volunteer Specialist Context

This Associate Legal Officer post is in UNEP’s Law Division which is the lead Division charged with carrying out the functions of UNEP in the field of environmental law and environmental governance. The Law Division promotes the contribution of environmental dimension of sustainable development through law, national and international governance, and related policy issues, including those related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).

The Associate Legal Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Principal Legal Officer who is responsible for providing legal advice on the mandate and international status of UNEP, its Governing Bodies, its rules of procedure, and UN resolutions that are applicable to its work as well as legal and procedural advice to the secretariats of multilateral environmental agreements, inter-governmental platforms and other bodies to which UNEP provides support.

Associate Legal Officer Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Principal Legal Officer, the International UN Volunteer Specialist will undertake the following tasks:

· Provide legal advice on the mandate and international status of UNEP, its Governing Bodies, its rules of procedure, and UN resolutions that are applicable to its work. · Provide legal advice to the secretariats of multilateral environmental agreements, inter-governmental platforms, and other bodies to which UNEP provides support. · Advise on the correct terminology to be used in the official documents of UNEP. · Provide legal support to subsidiary processes of the UN Environment Assembly, Intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.

· Conduct research into and provide advice on questions of public international law and related questions including provisions of the UN Charter, other UN organs, UN Conventions and Treaties, and other international organizations. · Strengthen knowledge of International Law. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work.

As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

· Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); · Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; · Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities. · Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; · Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. ·

Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/expected outputs · Conducting research into international law and procedure, including the work of the Principal Organs of the United Nations that is relevant to the work of UNEP. · Drafting of legal opinions on questions of international law and procedure. · Providing legal and procedural support to and attending inter-governmental meetings on the environment. · A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed.

Associate Legal Officer Eligibility criteria

Age

27 – 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Associate Legal Officer Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in law, including legal analysis, research, and writing is required. · Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills. · Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.

Area(s) of expertise

Legal affairs, Communication

Driving license

–

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in International Law is required. A first-level university degree in combination with three (3) additional years of qualifying experience may be acceptable in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Competencies and values

· Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNEP; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNEP procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;

· Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNEP in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority.

· Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;

· Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.

· Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;

· Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

· Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary. · Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance, and commitment towards UNEPs mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighbouring So-malia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Coun-ties are further divided into sub-counties.

Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s popu-lation of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an av-erage rate of 0.1% annually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tu-bers.” (FAO).

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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