Associate Programme Officer (Stakeholder engagement)

Volunteering Programme & Policy

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 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UN Environment's 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.

The Civil Society Unit in the Governance Affairs Office is mandated to engage with accredited civil society organizations such as non-governmental organizations, networks and associations that contribute valuable expertise and knowledge, play key advocacy functions and support the implementation of UNEP’s mandate. The Unit partners with Major Groups and Stakeholders in order to ensure transparency and inclusiveness in the intergovernmental decision-making process of UNEP’s governing bodies. The Unit also manages the accreditation of stakeholders to UNEP and its governing bodies.

UNEP recognizes the importance of engaging Major Groups and other Stakeholders as partners and appreciates the perspectives they bring to the table, the valuable research and advocacy functions they perform and their role in helping foster long-term, broad-based support for UNEP’s mission.

Intergovernmental decisions will have stronger and broader recognition and support by the public if governments take Major Groups and other Stakeholders views into account as early as possible in policy-making and decision-making processes.

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Officer and within delegated authority, the incumbent will

1. Assist with the implementation of the overall strategy for regular and structured engagement with non-state actors/ major groups and stakeholders in the meetings of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and its subsidiary organs.
2. Assist with liaison with non-state actors/ major groups and stakeholders and support their registration, participation, and engagement in the meetings of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and its subsidiary organs.
3. Assist and support the team in the preparation of the upcoming UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in December 2025 and all its associated events planned, such as the regional consultative meetings organised in collaboration with UNEP’s regional offices and alongside MGS from the regions. with the organization of meetings, preparation of documents and communication with non-state actors/ major groups and stakeholders.
4. Outreach and capacity building to relevant major groups and stakeholders with particular focus on underrepresented major groups accredited observers to UNEP (Indigenous peoples and farmers) as well as the Latin American and Caribbean and West Asia regions
5. Support the UN Permanent Forum on indigenous issues preparations, side events planning as well as follow up on UNEP’s inputs to the System-Wide Action Plan on indigenous issues in collaboration with colleagues from other UNEP offices.
6. Support the UNEP-wide Youth Working Group as well as the Indigenous Peoples is-sues working group within UNEP and contribute to project and programme developments.
7. Assist in the organization of the regular Major Groups Facilitating Committee meet-ings and webinars.
8. Engage in any communication related matters on substance: maintaining website up-dates, social media outreach, supporting the preparation and implementation of virtual meetings, hybrid and in-person and email communication to stakeholders.
9. Assist in the organization of the Youth Environment Assembly as well as the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum.
10. Prepare questionnaires, surveys etc. in their design and online mode and provide analysis of outputs and responses.
11. Support the accreditation of observers towards successful accreditation of non-gov-ernmental civil society organisations with environmental expertise.

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

The Associate Programme Officer (Stakeholder engagement) will be expected to assist with the accreditation of stakeholders and facilitate the engagement of accredited stakeholders in the work of UNEP and its governing bodies. She/he will be expected to support the work of the Unit through innovative tools and approaches. The Associated Programme Officer will be engaged in all main areas of the Unit’s responsi-bilities and hence gain a broad experience in terms of civil society engagement and participa-tory approaches in UNEP.

· 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.

· 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 part-nerships 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.

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

relevant fields of which at least two years of progressively responsible experience in engagement with civil society or other stakeholders is required.

· S/he should understand human rights and people-centered approaches in projects and programme development and implementation.

· Candidates must be able to demonstrate they are organized, reliable, and efficient. An understanding of how to work effectively as part of a team, and a willingness to learn and grow professionally by taking on new competencies and remaining abreast of developments in the field is essential. Proven ability to work effectively with a wide range of various actors is also required. As well, UNEP highly values creativity and innovative thinking, coupled with a problem-solving mindset.

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighboring Somalia, Ethio-pia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; National 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 popula-tion of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita esti-mated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% an-nually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Ken-ya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO). Nairobi is a modern metro-politan 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 person-nel 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 topo-graphic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate.

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Added 4 days ago - Updated 5 hours ago - Source: unv.org