Programme Officer - REDD+ Academy

PROGRAMME OFFICER- REDD+ ACADEMY (364 day appointment), P-4

Vacancy Announcement Number: NA-14-02

Deadline for Applications: 03/25/2014

Organizational Unit: UNEP/DEPI

Duty Station: Nairobi

Remuneration: Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Responsibilities:

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its 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. UNEP’s Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI) works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This post is located in the Environmental Education and Training Unit (EETU) and the UN-REDD Programme. Under the general guidance of the Head of the UNEP UN-REDD Team and direct supervision of the Chief, Environmental Education and Training Unit, the Temporary Programme Officer will be responsible for the following functions:

Within delegated authority, the Programme Officer will be responsible for the following duties: 

a) Develop the operational and strategic framework for the REDD+ Academy

• Lead the preparatory work for the REDD+ Academy in collaboration with the REDD+ Academy design team.
• Review existing capacity building initiatives to identify how the REDD+ Academy could provide a platform for their further dissemination while ensuring that best practices are captured.
• 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, etc.
• Develop, in collaboration with the REDD+ Academy design team the operational and strategic framework for the REDD+ Academy
• Liaise with the different UN-REDD Programme partners and other relevant institutions, including members of the Global Universities Partnership on Environment and Sustainability (GUPES).
• Prepare necessary written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, as required for the development of the REDD+ Academy.

b) Plan, prepare and coordinate the REDD+ Academy regional workshops

• Lead preparations of the REDD+ Academy regional workshops: Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and Caribbean), bringing together a range of stakeholders to address key questions 
• Liaise with the different UN-REDD Programme partners and relevant academic institutions, including GUPES members.
• Lead selection process for the academic institutions that will host the regional workshops.
• Coordinate activities related to budget funding for the workshops (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepared related documents/reports (work programme, programme budget, SSFAs, etc.).

Core Competencies:

• Professionalism: The candidate must be experienced in supporting environmental policy development in countries and have a working knowledge of REDD+ technical issues, and environmental education and curriculum development with focus at the tertiary level. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. 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.
• 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Teamwork: For this position, the team is the wider UN-REDD Programme team working on knowledge management, so it involves staff from FAO and UNDP as well as UNEP, in addition to academic and training institutions. Candidates must be able to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicit input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; are willing to learn from others; place team agenda before personal agenda; support and act in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; share credit for team accomplishments and accept joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• 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.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

The incumbent should have either an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in natural resources management, environmental education, environmental sciences or related fields. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, administration or related area. Experience with the UN system is a definite advantage, and experience with communicating complex ecosystem management issues is an asset. Familiarity with academic and training networks in Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean an asset. Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the first level university degree recognized by the United Nations.

Languages:

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the advertised post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French and/or Spanish is desirable.

Other Desirable Skills:

Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office, Internet, email) are required

The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8).

The United Nations Secretariat is a Non-Smoking Environment. English and French are the two official working languages of the United Nations.

UNEP, UN-HABITAT and UNON do not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee please contact Recruitment@unon.org 

ONLY applications to specific VAs will be considered, general applications should not be sent.

How to apply:

1. All applicants must indicate the following on their applications;
o Vacancy Notice Number
o Functional title of the post
o Attach an up-to-date CV, United Nations P-11 form or United Nations
o Personal History Profile (PHP)
2. Due to the volume of applications received, receipt of offline paper applications cannot be acknowledged individually. 
3. UN staff members must attach copies of their last two Performance Appraisal System (PAS) evaluation & Fact Sheets to their applications.
4. Applications received after the deadline [closing date] will not be considered.
5. There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the process.

All applications should be submitted by email to: anne.ogoti@unep.org AND cc: michael.wamache@unep.org

PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED