Associate Specialist, Biodiversity, gender and human rights

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.

This assignment will contribute to UNEP’s partnerships, advocacy and outreach for conserving and restoring biodiversity by applying a “gender and human rights-based approach lens” to overcome these gender gaps and fulfil their potential as well as integrating human rights based approaches (HRBA). Within this area of work, the UNV will furthermore make youth central to the solutions. Specifically, the UNV will support the development and implementation, with partners, of a gender responsive and inclusive post-2020 global biodiversity framework action plan. The initiatives will build on UNEP’s existing partnerships including the partnership with OHCHR, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, IUCN, UN Women, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the UN Environment Program World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) to support countries in the Asia Pacific region and link to key intergovernmental platforms including ASEAN, South Asia Co-operative Environment Program (SACEP), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Asia Pacific Adaption Forum (APAN), The Pacific Community (SPC). Analysis of data and tools to inform providers and custodians of biodiversity resources and empower the users of biological resources and to bridge conversations and voices will be an important part of the assignment, as well as ensuring visibility in platforms of knowledge sharing and exchange for stakeholders. The voices of the youth will inform and be engaged in the planning and design of initiatives and their implementation.

Under the direct supervision of Ms. Makiko Yashiro, Regional Coordinator for Ecosystem Management, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and with technical guidance related to Environmental Rights by Ms. Georgina Lloyd, Regional Coordinator Environmental Law and Governance, and technical guidance related to Gender and environment from Ms. Annette Wallgren, Program Management Officer, Gender and Climate Change, UNEP, Bangkok, Thailand, the UN Youth Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Contribute to raising awareness and bridging linkages with partners for collective approaches to advance the gender related actions under the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework of the CBD, with multiple stakeholders, and links to other relevant MEAs.

Support coordination of youth engagement in environmental programming with the Asia Pacific focal points of the UNEP Major Group of Children and Youth.

Mapping and identifying capacity building initiatives for member states in the Asia and the Pacific region to enhance gender and biodiversity responsiveness and integration in actions to commitments in MEAS like CBD and in the SDG related VNR reporting.

Support the innovative financing initiatives with partners to champion outreach, awareness, capacity building activities on gender, human rights and biodiversity.

Work together with partners, such as policy makers, private sector, custodians/ providers and users of biological resources and youth champions on knowledge sharing and dialogue platforms on gender, human rights and biodiversity.

Engage with UN agencies, UN Country Teams, members states and CSOs through various events and initiatives to strengthen the work and visibility on gender equality, human rights and the environment.

Develop policy briefs to advocate key messages on gender, human rights and biodiversity for key events and outreach opportunities with policy makers, businesses and other stakeholders.

Support the implementation of the UNEP Asia Pacific Staff Capacity Building Plan for Gen-der Equality and Human Rights (2021-2023), particularly in areas of environment and biodiversity programming activities that engage with multi stakeholders.

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 publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;

Assist with the UNV Buddy Program 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 Member States in Asia and the Pacific are well informed about the gender-responsive targets and actions required under the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and have enhanced capacity of gender equality and biodiversity to support the implementation of the Framework.

Successful efforts of the Member States in the Asia Pacific region towards implementing the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that fully take into account gender equality and human rights-based approach, are summarized as policy advocacy and outreach materials.

Project proposals prepared and submitted for inclusion into UNEP’s resource mobilization projects pipeline as well as other potential donors, include a strong perspective of gender equality, human rights and biodiversity.

Greater awareness among UNEP and its partners on the right to a healthy environment and visibility strengthened on gender equality, human rights and biodiversity across Asia Pacific.

Increased visibility of UNEP’s work on gender equality, human rights and environment, built through strong engagement with UN agencies, UN Country Teams, member states and CSOs.

Successful implementation and monitoring of UNEP Asia Pacific Staff Capacity Building Plan for Gender Equality and Human Rights (2021-2023). Support in undertaking other functions of Asia and the Pacific Office provided in a timely manner

The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counter-parts, including Implementing Partners (IPs);

Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment

☒ Accountability

☐ Adaptability and Flexibility

☐ Building Trust

☒ Client Orientation

☒ Commitment and Motivation

☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning

☒ Communication

☒ Creativity

☐ Empowering Others

☐ Ethics and Values

☐ Integrity

☐ Judgement and Decision-making

☐ Knowledge Sharing

☐ Leadership

☐ Managing Performance

☒ Planning and Organizing

☒ Professionalism

☐ Respect for Diversity

☐ Self-Management

☐ Technological Awareness

☐ Vision

☐ Working in Teams

or demonstrated interest in advocating for human rights and/or gender equality and an interest for sustainable development, environmental management, environmental governance and justice and biodiversity conservation.

Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded;

Experience in gender response planning within environmental programming is desired.

Demonstration of experience in analysis and outreach on human rights-based approach, gender mainstreaming, and delivering trainings on human rights based approach and gender-responsive planning would be highly regarded

Bangkok has similar conditions to any relatively developed city in the world. The climate of Thailand is tropical, with three distinct seasons, i.e. a hot season from March to mid-May, a rainy season caused by the southwest monsoon, which generally runs from mid-May to October, and a dry and relatively cool season from November to February, when the north-east mon-soon, coming from the Asian continent, prevails. However, the relatively cool season is felt in the north and in inland areas, while on the coasts and in the south it's hot even in winter.