Associate Legal Officer (Climate Law)

Volunteering Legal

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 Pro-gramme V is a ten-year intergovernmental programme adopted by the UN Environment Assembly at its fourth meeting in March 2019. Montevideo V Programme will promote the 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.

One of the Programme’s strategic activities is to encourage research, including studies and reports, on emerging environmental issues and the relationship between environmental law and other, related legal fields. UNEP’s vision is among others to develop responses and deploy solutions that aspire to achieve “climate stability” where net zero greenhouse gas emissions and resilience in the face of climate change are achieved, and the Montevideo national focal points have identified that legal responses to address the climate crisis is a key area of development under the Programme.

The international UNV will support UNEP in its work for successful implementation of Montevideo V Programme, with a special focus on the thematic area of legal responses to address the climate change, including the conduct of cutting-edge research on evolving legal frameworks, and the provision of targeted technical legal assistance, capacity building, and knowledge management functions to maintain the UNEP-LEAP (Law and Environment Assistance Platform).

Data Analytics – You Can’t Know What You Don’t Measure:

UNEP-LEAP is the digital backbone of the Montevideo Environmental Law Programme, which provides a platform for the submission of technical legal assistance requests, databases of legislation, and importantly legal toolkits on climate, plastics, and ambient air quality (under development). The UNV will be expected to draw data from the LEAP and support reporting to the integrated planning, management, and reporting solution (IPMR) for the Division’s programmatic work on climate law.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Montevideo Coordination and Development Unit, or her/his designated representative, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

· Support the work of the Law Division in the area of climate and law of the atmosphere more in general, for the preparation of knowledge materials and reports on this area of environmental law; · Assist in administering technical support and capacity-building activities for Member States on environmental law under Montevideo Programme V, as well as on regulatory frameworks on climate legislation to support transition to a green economy; · Assist in the preparation of legal briefs/advice and in the review of legal documents, instruments, or other material on environmental law; · Assist in work related to the maintenance and development of the Law and Climate Change Toolkit and the development of the ambient air quality Toolkit; · 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; · 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.

In undertaking these duties, the International Specialist (climate law) will establish and maintain relationships to support collaboration with other specialists in the Division, as well as technical staff across UNEP and in UN as well as representatives in national govern-ments, international organizations, consultants, and NGOs.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

· 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. · Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities. · Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/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

· 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: o Supporting Member States with UNEP-LEAP information products and assistance on environmental law, with a focus on climate and the law of the atmosphere in genera; o Preparing documents that methodically analyze research information collected and logically lead to the conclusions set out therein; o Delivering assignments that are delivered in accordance with agreed standards of quality and within set deadlines; · The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring, and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); · Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment · A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

· Professionalism: Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and rec-ommendations; shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional com-petence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commit-ments, 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 perspec-tives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

· Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appro-priate 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.

· Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly inter-prets messages from others and responds appropriately; proven interpersonal skills; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors lan-guage, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing infor-mation and keeping people informed; good spoken and written communication skills, in-cluding ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, artic-ulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, vol-unteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of differ-ent target groups.

· Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes sol-idarity, compassion, reciprocity, and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

international/environmental law or environmental governance (multilateral environmental agreements).

Proven ability to carry out research and familiarity with electronic legal research tools and databases; Excellent oral and writing skills; excellent drafting and reporting skills; Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing;

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.

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Added 8 days ago - Updated 8 hours ago - Source: unv.org