Environmental Affairs Assistant

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The United Nations Environment Programme 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. This post is located in the Secretariat for the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Ozone Secretariat) at the Nairobi duty station.

Project results will lead to enhanced capacity of the Ozone Secretariat in dealing with scientific and technical issues through in-depth understanding of the reports of the Assessment Panels and the underlying, peer-reviewed material; increased number of high-quality briefing notes, public awareness materials, documents and publications on scientific and technical issues produced by the Secretariat and relevant partners; increased efficiency and effectiveness of the Secretariat in organizing and running the meetings.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Environmental Affairs Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Review technical and scientific reports with a view to preparing briefing notes on issues of importance to the work of the Secretariat and identifying possible follow-up actions, as appropriate, also viz-a-viz relevant decisions of the Parties; • Compile information received by the Secretariat on various matters for the consideration of parties and relevant Committees. • Draft relevant correspondence to parties and stakeholders and respond to general queries, when necessary; • Participate in various Committee meetings, as appropriate, taking notes and drafting meeting reports; • Provide substantive and organizational support for the meetings and associated events under the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol, organized by the Secretariat, assisting in coordination with relevant partners and Conference Services, as necessary; provide contact group support; assist in the issuance of conference room papers and in the review of meeting reports; • Contribute to the preparation of various written outputs such as presentations, meeting documents, briefing notes as well as to the content and design of the public awareness materials produced by the Secretariat; • Perform other duties as required.

Results/expected outputs: As an active UNEP/Ozone Secretariat team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to the Secretariat and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • Briefing notes on issues of importance to the work of the Secretariat; • Follow-up actions, as appropriate, also viz-a-viz relevant decisions of the Parties identified; • Information received by the Secretariat on various matters for the consideration of parties and relevant Committees compiled. • Relevant correspondence to parties and stakeholders and response to general queries, when necessary, drafted; • Participated in various Committee meetings, as appropriate, taking notes and drafting meeting reports; • Provided substantive and organizational support for the meetings and associated events under the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol, organized by the Secretariat, assisting in coordination with relevant partners and Conference Services, as necessary; provide contact group support; • Assisted in the issuance of conference room papers and in the review of meeting reports; • Contributed to the preparation of various written outputs such as presentations, meeting documents, briefing notes as well as to the content and design of the public awareness materials produced by the Secretariat;

• Professionalism • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Communication • Integrity • Commitment to continuous learning • Planning and organizing • Flexibility • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNEP/Ozone Secretariat’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

implementing programmes and activities in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development.

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighbouring 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 highland cool and warm tropical climate.