Circular Economy Specialist

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.

UNEP's Industry and Economy Division provides solutions for economic decision-makers and helps change the business environment by offering platforms for dialogue and cooperation, innovative policy options, pilot projects, and creative market mechanisms. It works through three main branches: Chemicals and Health; Energy and Climate and Resources and Markets.

The Resources and Markets Branch promotes Resource Efficiency, Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), and Circular Economy policies, practices, and initiatives through the engagement of governments, the business community, and civil society organizations. It further works on building circularity in high-impact sectors (textile, plastics, electronics, and metals), by implementing innovative actions on policy, business, and technology, as well as convening relevant stakeholders to promote the transition towards sustainability and circularity in sectors.

This post is in the Resources and Markets Branch of the Industry and Economy Division (IED) at UNEP HQ in Nairobi, Kenya.

The UN Volunteer position is in the Resources and Markets Branch of the Industry and Economy Division (IED) at UNEP HQ in Nairobi, Kenya. Under the direct supervision of the Head of Global Opportunities for Sustainable Development Goals, and the Chief of the Resources and Markets Branch.

Specifically, the International UNV will undertake the following tasks: • Lead consultation process with stakeholders, including businesses, governments, and other stakeholders and regional and global platforms on the circular economy, and coordinate public reviews of documents • Support the organization of meetings, webinars, conferences, workshops on the issues of circular economy and its application in different industrial sectors • Critically analyse value chains to assess their impacts, and identify hotspots for reduc-ing resource consumption and waste • Use your knowledge and technical expertise to carry out research and offer innovative solutions and circular economy recommendations for stakeholders • Collaborate with partners like WTO, UNIDO, Regional Economic Commissions, Regional Development Banks in order to develop a high-quality and consistent strategy including policy and programs that benefit the environment. • Keep a mapping on UNEP’s circular economy activities and support coordination of internal cooperation meetings. • Structure a set of tools and services that supports national implementation of SDG 12. • Undertake other related or administrative tasks, when assigned.

Results/Expected Outputs • Fully acquainted with UNEP’s approach to circular economy to support its implementation of projects and activities, also working with the private sector and other stakeholders. • Coordination of UNEP’s work on circular economy facilitated • Circular economy-related projects and assignments that contribute to the implementation of the UNEP Programme of Work project successfully implemented • Contributed to technical delivery of related project activities • Contributed to the development of fundraising activities • Successful outreach and communication activities to inform and connect stakeholders and build a partnership network

• Professionalism: Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations; shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, 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 gen-der perspectives 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 appropriate 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 in-terprets messages from others and responds appropriately; proven interpersonal skills; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing in-formation and keeping people informed; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, ar-ticulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military person-nel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse back-grounds; 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 different target groups. • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core

relevant fields; of which at least two years in economics, public policy, environmental management, or sustainable development is required. Prior experience with governments and/or at the international level is advantageous. • Proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel, and data analysis • Be reliable and efficient; know how to organize oneself and coordinate one’s work • Be creative, enthusiastic, curious, and willing to learn more, with a problem-solving approach. • Be confident to work well in teams and efficient in delivering work.
• Communicate effectively and persuade diverse audiences, and work effectively with a wide range of clients • Know how to handle complexity and evolve in a fast-paced environment by yourself, and take impactful initiatives

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 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 population of more than 40 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 an average 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.” (FAO). Nairobi is a modern metropolitan 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 personnel 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 topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is a highland cool and warm tropical climate.