Environmental Law 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.

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 the sustainable development agenda within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

This position is in UNEP’s Law Division at its Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. UNEP's Law Division is the lead Division charged with carrying out the functions of UNEP in the field of environmental law and environmental governance. The Law Division promotes the contribution of the environmental dimension of sustainable development through law, national and international governance and related policy issues, including those related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).

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). The Montevideo Programme V is ten-year intergovernmental programme adopted by the UN Environment Assembly at its fourth meeting in March 2019. The 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.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the International Environmental Law Unit, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

· Support one or more areas of international environmental law such as environ-mental rule of law, the progressive development of international environmental law, human rights and the environment, plastic pollution, oceans and the law of the sea, rights of nature and environmental crime. · Assist in providing legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions of considerable complexity, which may include those related to environmental justice and the sustainable management of natural resources through the rule of law, institutions support, capacity building, etc. · Assist in contributing to and promoting interagency initiatives such as the Secre-tary-General’s Call to Action for Human Rights, the Environmental Management Group, etc. · Perform extensive legal research and analysis in the field of international environmental law and correspondence. · Assist in performing UNEP’s roles and functions as Secretariat under the Monte-video Programme V – a global program on supporting countries to advance environmental rule of law - including the management of the Law and Environment Assistance Platform (LEAP), the servicing of meetings, preparation of back-ground documents, and preparing meeting reports. · Review, advise on and draft complex contracts, cooperation agreements, project documents, institutional and operational modalities. · Contribute to review and design of emerging legal principles, policies, guidelines, etc. · Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

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 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

Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment and Motivation, Communication, Ethics and Values, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Technological Awareness, Working in Teams

environmental law or environmental governance. Prior experience at the international level is advantageous

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.

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