Mission and objectives

Since its inception in 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been the global authority that sets the 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 mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP works through its divisions as well as regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence.

Context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nation’s system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. 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. UNEP’s Early Warning and Data Analytics Branch under the Early Warning and Assessment Division (EWAD) provides timely, scientifically credible, policy-relevant environmental analyses, data, and information for decision making and action planning for sustainable development. It monitors, analyses, and reports on the state of the global environment and national environmental trends, and provides early warning of emerging environmental threats. The Early Warning and Data Analytics Branch works closely with a large number of partners and collaborating centres in various regions of the world, and has established functional networks for data, information, assessments, and capacity development for accelerating SDGs. Amongst others, the Early Warning and Data Analytics Branch manages a portfolio of projects aimed at building national and regional capacities for collecting, managing, and using environmental and climate information for early warning, planning, decision-making, policies, and response actions. These include projects funded by Zero Waste Foundation under the umbrella of a project – Data Analytics and Early Warning for the Environment. The UNV will ensure that the activities agreed under the partnership between Zero Waste Foundation and UNEP, Early Warning and Data Analytics Branch are running smooth. One of the key activities under the abovementioned project – Data Analytics and Early Warning for the Environment is to develop an Environment Centre in Istanbul for the Zero Waste Foundation. This project will focus on communities addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature, and biodiversity loss. By recognizing and supporting such communities, the centre aims to contribute to sustainable urban development and resilience. In this backdrop, the Environment Centre in Istanbul, seeks to be a critical tool, providing data-driven insights and actionable recommendations for urban sustainability. The Environment Centre aspires to integrate geospatial, real-time, and statistical data concerning urban sustainability, aiming to inform urban planners, policymakers, businesses, and the general public. This initiative acts as a pivotal knowledge hub guiding efforts aligned with the urban dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, additionally, fully aligns with the UNEP project “Data Analytics and Early Warning for the Environment”, managed by the Early Warning and Data Analytics Branch. The UNV will work in the Data Analytics and Early Warning for the Environment project, managed by Early Warning and Data Analytics Branch of the Early Warning and Assessment Division and report to the Alexandre Caldas who also serves as Task Manager.

Task Description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Task Manager or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV will be supporting the Programme Management Officer responsible for managing the partnership between UNEP and the Zero Waste Foundation, as well as UNEP partnerships with UN Habitat and UN Geospatial Network. Specific duties and responsibilities include: i) Manage daily activities on the partnership with Zero Waste Foundation • Support in the provision of services on Data Analytics and Early Warning for the Environment. • Support in stakeholder engagement and consultation sessions, with a special focus on involving youth. • Develop and implement programs aimed at achieving Zero Waste for communities tackling the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature, and biodiversity loss. • Partner on a zero-waste knowledge hub and institute to compile and share best practices, success stories, case studies, and lessons learned. • Execute pilot projects on zero waste and offering technical support in crafting proposals for investments promoting zero waste-friendly cities. • Facilitate discussions on establishing a framework for a zero-waste fund or facility to support zero waste solutions in urban areas and human settlements. ii) Contribute to the Localization of SDGs and Environmental Indicators • Analyse and synthesis data from the State of the Environment Reporting and National Development Plans into policy for customising platforms towards Localization of SDGs. • Develop a framework for taking stalk of all common indicators from various data platforms like the Common Country Analysis, SDG Reports, Global Urban Framework a propose a way to synergise all the three data platforms into one. • Assist in selection of countries from the list of 39 countries under CCA and create a policy paper/document on the best approaches of localizing SDGs (through used case studies across developing countries). iii) Contribute to Communication and Outreach • Prepare and facilitate workshops or capacity building sessions as an overarching partnership requirement with UN-Habitat. • Assist in developing project proposals as an outcome of the workshop and discussions with UN-Habitat. iv) Managing other Partnerships • Support and contribute to the implementation of the partnership with UN Foundation and / UN Geospatial Network • Follow-up and coordinate on most partnerships as will be guided from the Chief of Branch desk.

Competencies and values

• Accountability: where appropriate take high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNEP in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; • Adaptability and flexibility be resourceful and willing to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures. • Creativity: commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance to other colleagues wherever appropriate. • Judgement and decision-making: discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy, and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgment; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; resist undue political pressure in decision-making. • Planning and organising: effective organisational 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 • Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNEP; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNEP procedures and rules; ability to manage information, objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Self-management: the ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality, and age.

Living conditions and remarks

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighboring 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 are modest. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is a highland cool and warm tropical climate. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”