Programme Assistant

Strengthened strategic and cost-effective delivery of UNEP’s mandate.

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UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Thursday 15 May 2025 at 03:59 UTC

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Overview

Strengthened strategic and cost-effective delivery of UNEP’s mandate.

You have:

  • University degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environment sciences, natural resources management, international development or related fields.
  • At least 2 years at the national level, or at the international level in sustainable development, natural resources management, engineering, and implementation of environmental related programmes, projects and activities is required.
  • Fluency in English (oral and written) is required. Working knowledge of another UN language would be an asset.
  • Prior experience with developmental projects, climate change, and developing country contexts is an asset.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

Strengthened strategic and cost-effective delivery of UNEP’s mandate.

Work Location

UNEP

Expected duration

12 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

The Climate Action subprogramme is responsible for the organization's climate action strategy, overseeing special initiatives, and the organization's performance review and monitoring. This position is in the Climate Action Subprogramme Unit of the Climate Change Division at the Nairobi Duty Station and reports to the Senior Programme Officer, Coordinator, Climate Action, and UN Environment Programme. Specific tasks 1. Portfolio Coordination: supports the coherent design and implementation of the subprogramme, across Divisions and Regional Offices, and complementarity across other subprogrammes in support of common delivery of the MTS strategic objectives on climate, nature, and pollution. • Assists in reviewing project and programme concepts and documents in alignment with the MTS Strategic objectives while ensuring cross-fertilization and synergies among programmes. • Provides guidance on thematic alignment with strategic priorities, working with Programme and Project Direct Responsible Individuals (DRIs). • Assists the Global Subprogamme Coordinator and programme and/or project DRIs on project design/project strategic orientation and project results alignment to Programme of Work (PoW) results framework and on project revisions. • Participates in Project Review Committee secretariat analysis of projects related to the subprogramme to ensure consistency with the Mid-Term Strategy (MTS), PoW, and decisions and guidance of UNEA and its subsidiary body. • Monthly review of the portfolio status including pipeline projects with the Divisions and identification of any rectifying measures necessary. 2. Strategic Planning: assists strategic planning processes that result in the MTS, PoW and Programme Budget Fascicles. • Working closely with the SPC, facilitates the drafting of climate action sections of the 2026-2029 Medium-Term Strategy, and Programmes of Work by: o working with the Regional SubProgramme Coordinators to ensure regional and country engagement and relevance. o facilitate collecting the ambitions of Directors, Programme DRIs and staff. o reviewing the Subprogramme successes and challenges in the previous MTS and POW implementation. o support the establishing and revising baselines. • Supports the development of the results framework for climate action. 3. Reporting and analyzing results: compile results related to the Climate Action subprogramme, such as Quarterly, Annual and the Programme Performance Reports. • Support Programme Performance Reporting on the delivery of the Climate Action subprogramme in the MTS and PoW to the Governing Bodies and identification of risks and mitigation measures through: • Performance data and evidence gathering and validation, development and review of PPT and Subprogramme performance with SPC. • Development, dissemination and monitoring of use of tools such as Subprogramme POW progress tracker. • Regular briefings with data contributors to ensure they implement and gather data relevant for the SP performance. • Preparation of subprogramme inputs to the quarterly reports to the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR), quality check and recommendation for improvements on draft submissions from Divisions and Regional Offices, verification of sources, and provision of additional material (e.g. photos); • Assist in preparation for and at substantive CPR debates related to the subprogramme. • Conduct quality checks and recommends improvements on submissions from Divisions and Regional Offices as inputs to the UNEP Annual Reports. • Identifies challenges in results and impact reporting and proposes corrective actions to the project managers and divisions. • Supports capacity building on Results-Based Management (RBM) across UNEP.

Qualifications/special skills

University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environment sciences, natural resources management, international development or related fields. A first-level university degree in combination with 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. At least 2 years at the national level, or at the international level in sustainable development, natural resources management, engineering, and implementation of environmental related programmes, projects and activities is required. Prior experience with developmental projects, climate change and developing country contexts is asset as well.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (oral and written) is required. Working knowledge of another UN language would be 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.

Potential interview questions

Describe a time when you contributed to the successful implementation of an environmental program. This question assesses your experience in project execution related to the role. Provide specific examples of programs you managed or supported, detailing your contributions.
How do you ensure alignment between different stakeholders in a project? This question evaluates your stakeholder management skills in a programmatic context. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you give an example of how you used data to influence a strategic decision? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What steps do you take when you identify risks in project execution? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Discuss a time when you had to learn quickly to adapt to a new situation at work. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Tell me about a time when you used your communication skills effectively in a challenging situation. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you prioritize tasks in a project with tight deadlines? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What do you consider the most significant global challenges related to climate change? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org