Chief, Poverty and Environment

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Dec 28, 2007
ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: United Nations Environment Programme
DUTY STATION: Nairobi
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: 07-PGM-UNEP-415659-R-NAIROBI

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

Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s 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 Regional Cooperation (DRC) helps to implement UNEP’s global programs in the regions by initiating, coordinating and catalyzing regional and sub-regional cooperation and action. Under the overall guidance of the Division Director, the incumbent will perform the following functions: a) Develop and coordinate the United Nations Development Programme-United Nations Environment Programme (UNDP-UNEP) Global Poverty-Environment Initiative including the Poverty and Environment Initiative (PEI) scale-up and joint Poverty-Environment Facility; b) Formulate and develop a high level political profile to fully reflect UNDP-UNEP’s joint partnership on poverty and environment activities, and on Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and United Nations Development Group (UNDG) activities aimed at mainstreaming environment into national development processes; c) Manage UNEP’s input to the UNDP led MDG Support programme, which will be prepared under the umbrella of the UNDP-UNEP PEI. Coordinate and implement UNEP’s work on poverty and environment, plus MDGs and the UNDG activities which apply to mainstreaming environment into development processes in collaboration with UNDP, key donors, and high level officials in developing countries; d) Formulate, monitor and update a five year comprehensive strategy for UNEP’s work on poverty and environment, plus in relation to MDGs and UNDG activities which apply to development processes. Oversee the poverty and environment team and work programme by determining priorities and allocating resources for the completion of outputs to ensure that programmed activities are carried out in a timely manner; e) Prepare reports and provide strategic advice to the Executive Director on UNEP’s work on poverty and environment through regular and timely briefings on important and urgent issues; f) Oversee and implement the poverty and environment component of the UNDP-UNEP cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in close liaison with UNDP; g) Undertake the programmatic and administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the unit; h) Manage, guide, develop and train staff under his/her supervision.

Competencies

Professionalism: Proven ability to perform extensive inter-agency and inter-governmental negotiations and networking functions; proven experience in providing technical and substantive support in the field of environmental policy development. Strong research and analytical skills, and ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources. Integrity: Demonstrated ability to put into practice the values of the UN in activities and behaviour. Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills together with the ability to defend and explain difficult issues with respect to key policies, decisions and positions in inter-agency, inter-governmental and other fora. Managing Performance: Ability to delegate responsibility with corresponding accountability; ensuring that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear. Leadership: Empowers others to translate vision into results, proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives, establish and maintain relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support.

QUALIFICATIONS
Education

Advanced university degree in natural resources, social sciences, development and economics or a first university degree with a relevant combination of professional and academic qualifications.

Work Experience

At least 15 years of professional working experience of which 8 years should be at the international level in economic, social sciences and/or environment fields, and 5 years at the country level. Experience with developing and managing comprehensive programmes on an interagency or donor-UN agency basis. Dealing with the linkages between environment and development issues and environmental and resource management policy development at national or international level.

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 with knowledge of French as an asset.

Other Skills

Knowledge of inter-agency networking and negotiations as well as diplomatic and policy analysis skills. Knowledge of the UN system, including experience in working with members of UN programme governing bodies.

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). English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

How to apply
All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement. Because applications submitted by United Nations (UN) staff members are considered first, provided the eligibility requirements set out in ST/AI/2002/4 are met and the application is submitted in a timely fashion, staff members should apply within 15-day or 30-day mark.

Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please go to “My UN” page and check the status of your application by clicking on “View Application History”, and resubmit the application, if necessary.

1. To start the application process, applicants are required to register by opening a "My UN" account. Go to Login, and Register as a User. Fill in the form and choose a User Name and Password.
2. After opening the account, applicants may apply for vacancies using the Personal History Profile (PHP) provided. Once the PHP has been completed for a particular vacancy, it can be saved and used for future applications. The PHP may be up-dated, when necessary, for future applications.
3. In completing the PHP, please note that all fields marked with an asterisk must be completed.
4. UN staff members must submit scanned copies of their two latest Performance Appraisal System (PAS) reports at the time of application to the appropriate Human Resources Office (HRO)/Personnel Office (PO) to the email address below, clearly indicating the vacancy announcement number. In case you have no access to the digitizing equipment, please submit hard copies of the two latest PAS reposts to the relevant HRO/PO via fax.

E-mail: Recruitment@unon.org

Fax: 254-20-762-4212