Global Environmental Data Strategist

Contract

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Result of Service

The primary purpose of the Global Environmental Data Strategy (GEDS) consultant is to support UNEP in development and implementation of an effective data strategy to maximize the value of global environmental data assets. The GEDS consultant will facilitate consultation processes with various stakeholders, including but not limited to, internal UNEP groups, Governments, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, the secretariats of the multilateral environmental agreements, international and regional scientific bodies, and civil society.

Work Location

Remote based

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), established in 1972, 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. UNEP's Medium-Term Strategy 2022-2025 sets an ambitious course to harness data and digital technologies and innovations to better serve Member States and partners in their efforts to tackle the triple planetary crises of climate change, nature loss, and pollution. Through a process of scanning, testing, and scaling relevant digital technologies, UNEP aims to become an increasingly data-driven, agile, transparent, and effective organization.

Digital technologies are a key enabler for UNEP that provide unprecedented opportunities to: (i) support organizational change processes towards enhanced agility, results-orientation and collaborations; (ii) to identify new and innovative solutions to the most pressing climate, nature, and pollution challenges; (iii) to strengthen our capacities to effectively engage and collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders from government, the private sector and civil society: (iv) enhance accountability, results-orientation, and inclusiveness of development programs, empowering citizens by establishing by direct feedback loops. UNEP's digital transformation vision focuses on developing the organization's capability to leverage existing, emerging, and future data and digital technologies and the opportunities they offer to profoundly improve the way UNEP creates and delivers value and benefits for those we serve. The vision is based on an open innovation approach enabling the effective co-design of innovative solutions with strategic partners, civil society and citizens.

The primary purpose of the Global Environmental Data Strategy (GEDS) consultant is to support UNEP in development and implementation of an effective data strategy to maximize the value of global environmental data assets. The GEDS consultant will facilitate consultation processes with various stakeholders, including but not limited to, internal UNEP groups, Governments, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, the secretariats of the multilateral environmental agreements, international and regional scientific bodies, and civil society.

As an outcome of the consultation processes the consultant will:

Identify comparable methods for data collection and analysis and the promotion of their harmonization, taking into account existing standards, including those of the United Nations Statistical Commission System of Environmental-Economic Accounting, in coordination with other parts of the United Nations system and other relevant scientific institutions, building on international environmental data and statistical standards.

Within the GEDS scope propose improvement of platforms that provide a repository function, to allow open access to up-to-date, quality-assured, credible and relevant data, including geospatial data, statistics, indicators and data analysis on the environment, including the work of the Global Resource Information Database (GRID) centers.

Provide tools and policy advice for integrated approaches to support evidence-based decision-making.

Accelerate efforts to assist Member States in developing their national environmental data management capacities and their environmental monitoring systems with regard to air and water quality, deforestation, marine litter and environmental security, and their ability to use data analysis to support evidence-based decision-making.

Coordinate efforts with the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) to fully utilize Earth observations.

Work with citizen science groups on potential contribution as a complementary resource to fill data gaps.

Support common country analyses with robust environmental data and statistics, in line with Sustainable Development Goals indicators, by United Nations resident coordinator offices, and the integration of national environmental data management, geospatial information management and statistical capacity into United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks

This post is remotely located with minimal travel to Nairobi, and reports to the Data Specialist.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, Information Management, or a similar field is required. At least 15 years of professional working experience in domains such as information technology, digital marketing, data governance, data strategy, quantitative and qualitative research methods and statistics or data analysis is required Proven experience in developing and implementing data strategies aligned with business/organizational objectives is required Extensive, proven experience in collaborating with various stakeholders to drive data-driven culture is required. Experience with the United Nations, European Commission, or national governments is considered a strong asset.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this assignment, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.