Quality Assurance Risk Officer

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 UN system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of Governments and the international community for action. This post is located at the UNEP Headquarters at the Nairobi Duty Station, in the UN Gigiri Complex. The incumbent will be positioned in the Project Review and Oversight Unit (PRO), which leads the development and effective implementation of UNEP’s project quality assurance mechanisms.

Institutionally, the Quality Assurance function is situated in UNEP’s Policy and Programme Division, and it works globally across all Technical Divisions and Regional Offices (Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific) to deliver UNEP’s Programme of Work (PoW and Medium-Term Strategy, 2022-2025) in Climate Action, Nature Action and Chemicals and Waste Action. The PRO Unit serves as the focal point for UNEP’s Concept Approval Group (CAG) and Project Review Committee (PRC). It reviews concepts, projects and programmes; strengthening the Results-based Management (RBM) across the project cycle and effective risk management; and orientating impactful implementation.

With its unique 360-degree bird’s view of UNEP’s extensive and growing set of concepts, projects and programmes designed to serve Member States, the function supports project teams and specialist project fund Units across the organisation (including Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF) Coordination Units amongst others); engages global and regional Sub-programme Coordinators; and coordinates with UNEP’s Corporate Services Division on project management controls and with UNEP’s Independent Evaluation Office.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of – the Project Review and Oversight Unit the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Project Management • Undertakes reviews of assigned concepts and projects, and supports the implementation of UNEP’s quality standard framework and risk-based quality assurance approaches (enshrined in UNEP’s Programme and Project Management Manual, PPMM); • Participates in the CAG and PRC processes, with particular emphasis on harmonisation of processes associated to interventions supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF); • Monitors and analyzes programme/project/concept development and implementation across the project cycle of assigned programmes/projects at risk; • Undertakes research and analysis, including through utilization and development of UNEP’s performance dashboards, by identifying problems and issues to be addressed, and proposes corrective actions to maintain quality standards and mitigate risk; • Identifies lessons learned from the concept and project review process, and makes recommendations for areas of improvement or management action; and • Prepares reports, and convenes discussions, as a basis for strengthening UNEP’s policies and procedures, tools, guidelines work slows, and operating procedures associated to projects at risk • Producing yearly updates based on the guidance to be provided and liaise with other relevant UNEP units under the coordination of the Head of the Unit.

Training and Learning Elements

Training: The incumbent will be required to undertake UNEP’s mandatory project management training course (certified, and in collaboration with the UN System Staff College). UNEP has an extensive e-learning platform hosting new and emerging environmental thematic areas at a global and regional level, for advanced to beginner learners. The United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON) offers substantive and varied professional and personal practical skills development opportunities for on-the-job application (e.g. language training, computer training, Performance Appraisal training, report writing training) and to advance career mobility in the UN system.

Learning elements: After one year the International UNV will be able to review and prepare programme/project/concept reports in accordance to UN/UNEP’s quality assessment and risk frameworks.

Results/Expected Outputs

• Application of UNEP’s risk frameworks and project management controls to solve problems by formulating remedial action proposals; producing diagnostic reports on risks to trigger wider engage and eventually lead to continued sophistication of policies and procedures governing management of projects at risk. • Concepts screened before CAG submission, and project quality enhancement and project reviews conducted, with particular emphasis on harmonisation of processes associated to projects funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF); • Risk analysis of programme/project/concept development and implementation across the project cycle of assigned programmes/projects conducted quarterly including through utilization and development of UNEP’s performance dashboards. • Lessons learned from the concept and project review process and recommendation from research and analysis provided, including by identifying problems and issues to be addressed, and corrective actions to maintain quality standards and mitigate risk. lessons learned from the concept and project review process. • Meetings and discussions convened on strengthening UNEP’s policies and procedures, tools, guidelines workflows, and operating procedures associated to projects at risk. Yearly update to provide in liaison with other relevant UNEP units under the coordination of the Head of Unit. • Appropriately updates and monitors databases for periodic reporting.

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 an 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. • Adequately demonstrates ability to learn and apply UN administrative rules, regulations, and policies. • The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring, and formal on-the-job training, when working with national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts. • Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment. • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed.

• Communication • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism

programme/project management and project implementation at all phases of the programme/project development cycle. Knowledge of project cycle management and results-based reporting (required).

• Good understanding and demonstrated experience on Results-Based Management (RBM), Quality Assurance of project design and or evaluation, risks identification/management (required) • Familiarity with data and indicators, database management, and data visualization (required). • Experience in programme/project management and implementation at all phases of the programme/project development cycle. Knowledge of project cycle management and results-based reporting (desired). • Good writing and oral communication skills in English is essential (required). • Ability to communicate in additional UN language professionally (desired). • Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to perform in a team and deliver on time (desired). • Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel with sensitivity and respect for diversity, including gender (desired). • Computer skills: proficiency in MS Word, Power Bi, Excel, and PowerPoint (required).

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.

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.