Associate Legal Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The Law Division also leads UNEP’s role as Secretariat to the Fifth Montevideo Programme on the Development and Periodic Review of Environmental Law (Montevideo Programme V). Montevideo Programme V is ten-year intergovernmental programme adopted by the UN Environment Assembly at its fourth meeting in March 2019. Montevideo V Programme will promote environmental rule of law, strengthen the related capacities in countries, and contribute to the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Programme commenced in January 2020 and is a flagship initiative of the Law Division. The UNEP Law and Environment Assistance Platform (UNEP-LEAP) is the central digital platform to receive requests for support under Montevideo Programme V and to organize all environmental law information from UNEP, governments, and partner organizations.

The international UNV will support UNEP in its work for successful implementation of Montevideo V Programme, including the provision of technical legal assistance, capacity building, and knowledge management functions to maintain UNEP-LEAP. In addition, the UNV will support the National Environmental Law Unit in executing activities under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) project “Devel-opment and promotion of non-POPs (persistent organic pollutants) alternatives to DDT (Dichlorodi-phenyltrichloroethane) in India”, that aims to introduce bio and botanical pesticides and other locally appropriate cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to DDT, ensuring food safety, enhancing live-lihood and protecting human health and the environment.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the National Environmental Law Unit, or her/his designated representative, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Assist in performing UNEP’s roles and functions as Secretariat under Montevideo Programme V – a global programme on supporting countries to advance environmental rule of law – including the servicing of meetings, preparation of background documents, and preparing meeting reports; • Keep the UNEP-Law and Environment Assistance Platform up to date with environmental law news and knowledge products, and perform relevant data analysis; • Assist in administering technical support and capacity building activities for Member States on environmental law under Montevideo Programme V; • Assist in the preparation of legal briefs/advice and in the review of legal documents, instruments, or other material on environmental law and related areas under Montevideo Programme V; • Support the review from a legal angle of any documentation prepared under the GEF DDT project in India and provide comments; • Provide project management support by assisting in the planning, carrying out, and closing of project activities under the GEF DDT project in India, and in the periodic monitoring of the status of project activities and expenditures; • Assist in the organization and support of events (meetings, workshops and training, roundtables, and expert meetings), that are organized face-to-face or electronically by the Unit or in which the Unit is involved to raise awareness about the Unit’s and the Division’s activities, through e.g., liaising with partner entities/organizations and with participants, compiling materials, taking notes and preparing reports; • Perform other relevant tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Results/Expected Outputs

As an active UNEP team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to UNEP and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including through: • Ensuring that UNEP-LEAP is kept up to date and supported with high-quality data analysis; • Supporting Member States with UNEP-LEAP information products and assistance on environmental law; • Preparing documents that methodically analyze research information collected and logically lead to the conclusions set out therein; • Delivering assignments that are delivered in accordance with agreed standards of quality and within set deadlines;

• Commitment to Continuous Learn-ing • Communication • Integrity • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Technological Awareness • Working in Teams

environmental law or environmental governance. Prior experience at the international level is an ad-vantage. Experience in knowledge management is also an advantage; Proven ability to carry out research and familiarity with electronic research tools and databases Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management and office technology equipment

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighboring Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has forty-seven counties including the Nairobi Area. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s population of more than 39 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 a 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. The normal “lean season” is in June and July. Severe drought in 1999-2000 led to decreased agricultural production, and according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, “seriously undermined the food security of 4.4 million people, particularly in pastoral areas”. Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services are available locally at cost. 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 is serves as the headquarters for both the United Nations Human Settlements Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.