Programme Associate

Volunteering

Overview

Assist in managing and implementing international water programs effectively.

You have:

• Experience in designing and implementation of projects and programmes on transboundary water resources management.
• Experience working with different stakeholders at strategic and technical levels.
• Knowledge of international development organizations or UN working environments.
• Experience in working in a multidisciplinary setup and across sectors.
• Working knowledge of developing countries and experience with national and regional governmental institutions.
• Demonstrated scientific/technical writing skills and report/document reviews.
• Ability to work within very short timelines and with minimum supervision.

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.

This position is located in UNEP’s Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya in GEF International Water Unit, Marine and Freshwaters Branch, Ecosystems Division. Ecosystems Division is responsible for ecosystem management for human well-being, which covers biodiversity and ecosystem ser-vices, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems; marine and coastal ecosystems, addressing the en-vironmental causes and consequences of disasters and conflicts, adapting to climate change and a poverty and environment initiative. The Marine and Freshwaters Branch coordinates UNEP’s water-related programme and work in close partnership with other UNEP divisions, UN agen-cies, regional offices, research institutions, NGOs, and Governments to achieve internationally agreed targets.

The GEF International Water Unit has a unique mandate that supports transboundary coopera-tion in shared marine and freshwater ecosystems. The GEF-IW projects and programmes under-pinned by strong institutional and scientific networks and knowledge management platforms to demonstrate best practices in managing most aspects of the water cycle in transboundary river basins, lakes, aquifers, seas, and oceans. In addition, the projects and programmes aim to capital-ize on UNEP’s normative work, support in advancing scientific understanding, and catalyzing regional and multi-country cooperation, including through the Regional Seas Programme as well as its innovative approaches and tools for the sustainable management of water resources and their ecosystems.

Under the direct supervision of Chief, GEF-International Waters Unit, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Compile, analyse, summarize, and present basic information and data on International Waters programmes and projects and relevant emerging information related to trans-boundary water resources and their ecosystems • Assist in programme and project concept note and proposals preparation • Take necessary action to ensure project documents are completed and submitted for ap-proval on a timely manner • Assist Task Managers in programmes and projects monitoring and evaluation, carrying out periodic status reviews, identifying issues and consulting with key partners to design joint solutions • Collaborate with Task Managers in reviewing project progress reports and, annual work plans and budget; support executing partners with reporting requirements, guidelines, rules, and procedures and ensure completeness and accuracy of data submitted • Supports in monitoring of programmes and projects implementation through liaising with executing partners, implementing partners (for joint projects), national and regional relevant government entities • Draft project legal instruments and terms of reference as required in the implementation of programmes and projects and follow up to obtain necessary clearances and approval • Maintain and update files in internal databases/dashboards; prepare periodic reports in-cluding visuals and graphics and other background materials/notes as appropriate • Contributes to preparation annual work plan and budgets, revisions, and other related is-sues, as well as preparation of Unit contributions for various periodic reports • Supports in updating projects implementation progress in project implementation moni-toring, and other System in UNEP as required • Contribute to project data reconciliation exercises within Ecosystems Division, the GEF Coordination Office and the GEF Secretariat • Prepare programme and project summaries, best practices, stories, case studies, and communication materials and identify media and platforms, including IW-LEARN and other outreach opportunities for dissemination • Participate and contribute to any events organized by projects, GEF and UNEP to dissem-inate information on projects results and lessons • Performs other duties as assigned. Results/Expected Outputs • Programmes and projects concept notes prepared • Project Identification Form (PIF), CEO endorsement document completed and submit-ted to GEF Secretariat • Legal instruments prepared and reviewed • Quarterly and Annual Project Implementation Review Report (PIR) compiled and up-loaded into portal • Programmes and projects implementation progress regularly reviewed • Dashboard kept up to date, lesson learned documented.

Accountability Adaptability and Flexibility Building Trust Client Orientation Commitment and Motivation Commitment to Continuous Learning Communication Creativity Ethics and Values Integrity Knowledge Sharing Planning and Organizing Professionalism Respect for Diversity Self-Management Technological Awareness Vision Working in Teams

designing and implementation of projects and programmes on transboundary water resources management of both freshwater or coastal and marine ecosystems or on natural resources management or climate change adaptation and mitigation, etc. is required ii. Experience in working with different stakeholders both at strategic and technical levels is required iii. Knowledge of international development organizations or UN working environment is required iv. Experience in working in a multidisciplinary set up and across sectors in support of transboundary water resources management is required v. Working knowledge of developing countries and experience working with national and regional governmental institutions is required vi. Demonstrated scientific/technical writing skills and report/document reviews is essential vii. Ability to work within very short timelines and with minimum supervision is essential.

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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Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org