UNV Environment 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.

Assignment is renewable on an annual basis (1 July - 30 June) up to a maximum of 4 years. There is no expectation of automatic renewal. Contract renewals are granted based on Mission mandate, availability of budget, operational necessity and satisfactory performance.

Duty station can change in the course of an assignment based on operational necessity; UN Volunteers may be required to work and travel anywhere in the area of operations of the host organization, including in remote locations.

Under the supervision of the Chief of Operations and Resource Management and Chief Environment Unit, the Environment Officer will be responsible for managing the Environment Unit in the sector and for coordinating and managing actions on environmental and cultural issues in the mission, establishing, implementing, monitoring and revising as necessary the mission's Environmental Management System (EMS). The duties listed below are part and parcel of this task on the Mission's EMS: Policy and Guidance:

• Support the Chief of Operations and Resource Management and the Chief Environment Unit in review and/or development and implementation of the mission's environmental policy and objectives (including directives, audit follow-up, Mission Environmental Action Plan, Standard Operating Procedures, etc.); • Conduct environmental assessments and surveys of operations in the mission, including Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA); • Liaise with Military at camps to assure recommended actions are completed; • Provide environmental support and guidance to clients within the mission; • Produce the mission's Environmental Baseline Study (EBS), if no such study has been done, or update existing EBS as necessary; • Implement the Environmental Action Plan in the sector of responsibility; • Implement and collect data for the environmental Action Planning and Performance (eAPP) • Produce the Environmental Emergency Preparedness Plan with relevant offices; • Oversees the execution of all environmental actions in the sector of responsibility.

Environmental Action Plan - Implementation:

• Lead, coordinate and monitor the implementation of the environmental Action Planning and Performance (eAPP) including data collection and reporting in sector of responsibility; • conducting regular environmental inspections and risk assessment; • Maintain a record of environmental issues and actions thereon at the mission, including, for example, a list of potentially hazardous installations within the mission (e.g. petrol station, warehouse storing flammables) in cooperation with fire marshals or other staff at the mission designated to deal with emergencies; • Investigate complaints or reports of pollution, contamination, health hazards and other environment-related incidents; • Submit periodic reports on environmental issues at the mission, to the Chief Environment Unit including policy compliance status reports as required for DOS; • Recommend to the Chief Environment Unit to undertake such measures as may be required to prevent or mitigate environmental problems; • Advise relevant officers or offices on environmental issues arising from the assessments, studies and plans, including environmental information relevant to the operations of the mission.

Awareness and Training:

• Promote awareness on environmental issues; • Provide an environmental briefing to all mission personnel including police and military contingents during their induction training and as needed; • Conduct environmental training to all mission personnel.

Coordination and Partner Relations:

• Liaise on environmental issues with local authorities and the office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and relevant United Nations bodies and agencies present in the country or region hosting the mission; • Carry out any other tasks required to support the DPO/DOS Environmental Policy for Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions and the environmental objectives of the mission as directed by the Director of Mission Support.

Results/Expected Outputs:

Successfully manage environmental performance in the Sector of responsibility as evidenced by measurable progress against the Mission’s Environmental Action Plan key performance indicators; and be an environmental champion and example to colleagues.

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented. • Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities. • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within area of operations as may be necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

A minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible experience in the environmental management field with a national government/administration, a non-governmental organisation, the private sector or an international organization is required. Experience in project planning, evaluation and oversight of environmental compliance is desirable. Experience of coordination of multi-stakeholders initiative within a post conflict environment is desirable. Experience in wastewater, solid and hazardous waste management, or environmental auditing is desirable. Experience in Energy including renewable energy is desirable. Experience in management of data or database is desirable.

The Central African Republic is a non-family duty station with a difficult security and working environment. Security instructions from the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) need to be strictly complied with in all duty stations. The country security level is 4, restricting movement to official travel only. Currently a curfew applies from 10 pm to 5 am.

The country is landlocked, with very limited travel possibilities, and surrounded by countries with volatile and security problems (Cameroon, Chad, DRC, Sudan, South Sudan). There is an unstable socio-political situation and social unrest and grievance, in particular in the capital city Bangui, with frequent civil servant strikes causing interruption of health, education and civil service, due to years of unpaid salaries. Power cuts are a norm, causing insecurity in the city. The population in Bangui, including the expatriates, is concerned about increasing crime as a direct result of the March 2013 coup by the SELEKA, a coalition of rebel groups, and events in December 2013 that carried the country into chaos, and the recent creation of the Coalition of Patriots for Change, regrouping some existent armed groups. The country is entirely dependent on the Cameroon seaport, situated 1500 km away, causing regular shortage of basic domestic goods. Travel time for a truck from Douala in Cameroon to Bangui averages a week because of bad roads and roadblocks along the way.

This situation puts tremendous stress on personnel. There are very limited medical infrastructures and services do not function properly. Living conditions are difficult due to the high cost of living and the scarcity of basic products and food. Supermarkets having a variety of food and consumer goods are available, but are costly. Fresh vegetables and fruits are available in the market.

There is no MINUSCA guesthouse in Bangui. Private accommodation possibilities are limited and getting a house that is compliant with UN security measures can take several weeks. UN personnel in Bangui live on the local economy by renting apartments and houses. In comparison to a few years ago, more accommodation is available now, but at high cost. Sharing accommodation is recommended. Currently all serving UN Volunteers have access to decent accommodation ensuring minimum standards of comfort. The average monthly cost for accommodation varies from around 1000 USD for a small apartment with basic furniture, but no power generator and interrupted running water supply, to 2,000+ USD with all commodities.

Accommodation in all CAR duty stations outside of the capital Bangui is mandatorily inside the MINUSCA camps. In most cases, this is in the form of containerized accommodation with an individual bathroom, with 24/7 running water, electricity and wifi. This costs US$ 200 per month and is automatically deducted through the monthly payroll. When no self-contained accommodation is available immediately upon arrival, newly arriving personnel are housed in a container with a common bathroom until a self-contained container frees up.

A UN dispensary provides basic medical care for UN personnel and a UN hospital has been operational since August 2014. A Level II Hospital run by a military medical team exists as well.

A Rest & Recuperation (R&R) scheme has been re-established since August 2013 and maintained for all CAR duty stations at a 6-week frequency.

The Central African Republic is a unique country and MINUSCA is a unique operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural and security awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.