International UN Volunteer Opportunity as Environmental Affairs Officer: APPLY NOW!

Environmental Affairs Officer

Onsite

Kenya

Advertisement end date:07/03/2024

General

Description of assignment title

Environmental Affairs Officer

Expected start date

08/04/2024

Sustainable Development Goal

13. Climate action

Volunteer category

International UN Volunteer Specialist

Host entity

UNEP

Mission and objectives

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 1985 Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (Vienna Convention) and its 1987 Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol), referred to as the “ozone treaties” were adopted to protect human health and the environment from the threat of ozone depletion. The 2016 Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol added 18 hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to the list of substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol. While HFCs do not destroy ozone, they are potent greenhouse gases.

Parties to the Montreal Protocol have emphasised the importance of pursuing energy efficiency and sustainability of equipment in the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump sector (RACHP) while phasing down HFCs. Collaboration with the scientific community, stemming from the Vienna Convention and Article 6 of the Montreal Protocol based on which Assessment Panels were established, have ensured that parties to the ozone treaties work closely with scientists and experts. Parties consistently have at hand, scientifically sound, independent, authoritative and up-to-date information for dynamic policy making.

This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment is part of the Ozone Secretariat’s work related to issues dealt with by the Assessment Panels of the Montreal Protocol , the Secretariat’s work on energy efficiency, sustainable cold chains and life-cycle refrigerant management and the Secretariat’s cooperation with other related treaties and institutions.

Environmental Affairs Officer Task description

The Environmental Affairs Officer will be responsible for the review of various technical and scientific reports including, but not limited to, the reports of the three Assessment Panels of the Montreal Protocol on scientific, environmental effects and technology and economic aspects of ozone layer depletion and protection, as well as the reports of the relevant Technical Options Committees of the Protocol’s Technology and Economic Assessment Panel on the main sectors of use of substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol, with a view to preparing briefing notes on key issues of current importance to the work of the Secretariat, identifying problems and recommending follow-up actions, also vis-à-vis relevant decisions of the parties;

· Review of related work undertaken under relevant treaties and institutions (e.g. the biodiversity-related treaties, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Global Framework on Chemicals – For a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)) and drafting of briefing notes to assist in the identification of common areas of work for cooperation and synergistic action.

· Review of scientific articles related to ozone science and drafting of clear notes to assist in identifying and outlining key messages for communication to the wider public.

· Provision of substantive and organizational support for the meetings organized by the Secretariat including the annual meetings of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) and the Meetings of the Parties (MOP) to the Montreal Protocol, meetings of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Vienna Convention (every 3 years, the next to be convened in 2024);

Ozone Research Managers (ORM, every 3 years, the next one to be convened in 2024), any associated meetings, workshops, webinars and the meetings of the Assessment Panels and the Technical Options Committees of the Protocol’s Technology and Economic Assessment Panel, assisting with coordination with relevant partners and Conference Services, as appropriate;

· Participation in meetings of the ORM and OEWG, MOPs and meetings of the COP, as appropriate, and assistance in the review of the reports of these meeting and the issuance of conference room papers; Provision of contact group support and carrying out other substantive and organizational actions at the meetings, as necessary;

· Assistance in drafting relevant correspondence to parties and partners on follow-up of the decisions of the parties, responding to general queries and clarifying issues, when necessary;

· Contribution to the preparation of various written outputs such as presentations by the Secretariat staff in various meetings particularly on the issues of relevance to the work of the Assessment Panels, meeting documents, reports, briefing notes, analytical notes and publications, as well as to the content and design of the public awareness materials produced by the Secretariat as well as by partners such as OzonAction of UNEP;

· Contribution as needed to the ongoing work of the Secretariat related to energy efficiency (development of a policy toolkit), sustainable cold chains (virtual exhibition and atlas of cold chain solutions) and life-cycle refrigerant management (organization of the workshop for parties in 2024 and any other follow up work). Tasks may include developing concept notes, reviewing technical documents, coordinating with partners, among others. · Performance of other duties as required.

Environmental Affairs Officer Eligibility criteria

Age

27 – 80

Nationality

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

Environmental Affairs Officer Requirements

3 years of experience in working with ozone or climate-related issues including impacts on human health and the environment or other relevant programmes;

· Experience with other treaties and multilateral organizations is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization;

· Technical knowledge in atmospheric science is desirable;

· Excellent oral and written communication skills; excellent research, drafting, formulation, and reporting skills;

· Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;

· Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;

· Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; · Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment;

· Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; · Sound security awareness; · Have affinity with or interest in in project management, organizing meetings, administrative tasks, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.

Environmental Affairs Officer Area(s) of expertise

Communication, Energy and environment , Natural and life sciences

Environmental Affairs Officer Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Environmental Affairs Officer Required education level

Master degree or equivalent in Atmospheric science, environmental science or technologies.

Environmental Affairs Officer Competencies and values

· Professionalism · Communication · Team work

Other information

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighboring Somalia, Ethi-opia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; Na-tional Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s population 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 average 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 tubers.” (FAO). Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations.

The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP. The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”

UN Volunteers Inclusivity statement

UN 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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