Consultant

NOTE:

Staff Members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.  This is a temporary vacancy.  Appointment against this post is for a limited duration and does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise for renewal.

                                                                                                               

VACANCY NOTICE NO.:	NA-13-10
ORGANIZATION:	UNEP Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI)
DUTY STATION:	Nairobi
FUNCTIONAL TITLE:	Consultant
GRADE:	P-4
DURATION:	11 Months ( 1/5/2013 to 31/3/2014)
CLOSING DATE:	8/4/2013

Background:

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems 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 Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI) works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This post is located in the Ecosystem Services Economics Unit of UNEP/DEPI in Nairobi. The consultant will work under the general guidance of the Chief, Ecosystem Services Economics Unit (ESE). 

The Ecosystem Services Economics Unit implements projects that aim to support efforts of Governments and other stakeholders in integrating an ecosystem service approach into their national economic and development planning and policy choices. A contractor will be requested to support various projects and activities of the Unit, including the United Nations Development Account (UNDA) 7^th tranche-funded project entitled, “Capacity-building in national planning for food security”, valuation studies on the role of forest ecosystems in national economies, implemented as part of UNEP’s support functions to countries under the UN-REDD Programme, as well as the European Commission-funded project entitled, “Capacity development for effective use of ecosystem assessment in developing countries”. A consultant is required to be located in UNEP/DEPI, ESE Unit at the Nairobi duty station.

Responsibilities

1.            Coordinate and provide substantive inputs to the implementation of the UNDA 7th tranche-funded project entitled, “Capacity-building in national planning for food security” in the Punjab State, India and Niger:

a.    Liaise with partner institutions in India and Niger on a regular basis, to monitor the progress made and ensure the timely delivery of outputs and achievements of results under the project;

b.    Provide technical backstopping to country teams in undertaking training workshops, trade-off analyses on the food production and ecosystem services and other activities;

c.    Prepare progress reports and other reports of the project for submission to the UNDA Secretariat;

d.    Plan and organize the final workshop where the outcomes of activities in India and Niger will be presented and follow-up plans will be discussed;

e.    Oversee the overall management of project funds; and

f.     Provide contents and oversee the maintenance of the project website and intranet.

2.            Coordinate and provide substantive inputs to the implementation of the valuation studies on the role of forest ecosystems in national economies, implemented as part of UNEP’s support functions to countries under the UN-REDD Programme in Indonesia, Panama, Tanzania and Zambia. A consultant will also oversee and provide inputs to the feasibility study to be undertaken in the Republic of Congo:

a.    Liaise with partner institutions in Indonesia, Panama, Tanzania, Zambia and the Republic of Congo on a regular basis, to monitor the progress made and ensure the timely delivery of outputs and achievements of results in line with the agreement with partner institutions outlined in legal instruments;

b.    Facilitate the communication between the country teams and focal points and other key stakeholders on REDD+ issues in five countries;

c.    Provide technical backstopping to country teams in undertaking feasibility studies and full economic valuation studies, organizing meetings and outreach events, as well as in the preparation of reports;

d.    Oversee the overall management of project funds provided to the ESE Unit to undertake REDD+ activities; and

e.    Liaise closely with the Terrestrial Ecosystems Unit of DEPI, to provide updates to the Unit regularly on the status of implementation of the studies in five countries and receive inputs from the Unit.

3.            Coordinate and provide substantive inputs to the implementation of the European Commission-funded project entitled, “Capacity development for effective use of ecosystem assessment in developing countries”:

a.    Plan and organize capacity building workshops in the field of ecosystem services economics, targeted for practitioners and experts who are part of the sub-global assessment (SGA) network;

b.    Provide technical inputs to designing training workshops, development of training materials, and act as a facilitator and a resource person at the workshops;

c.    Liaise closely with the SGA network secretariat at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, to provide updates regularly on the status of organization of the capacity building workshops;

d.    Oversee the management of funds provided to the ESE Unit to undertake capacity building activities under the European Commission-funded project for SGAs;

e.    Prepare contents to be uploaded on the website to disseminate the progress made and outcomes of capacity building activities under the project to a wide audience; and

f.     Prepare progress and other reports of the project for submission to the European Commission.

4.            Provide general support to the delivery of the ESE Unit’s work programme in relation to economic valuation of ecosystem services and ecosystems accounting:

a.    Prepare appropriate technical and progress reports on the activities of the Unit and/or the Division relating to economic valuation of ecosystem services and ecosystems accounting, for use by UNEP management as necessary;

b.    Prepare briefing notes, speeches and presentations on issues relating to ecosystem service economics-related issues;

c.    Organize and attend expert group meetings and seminars on economic valuation of ecosystem services and ecosystems accounting, including training workshops for government officials, and other appropriate stakeholders;

d.    Provide support to the Chief of the Unit in reporting on the progress and outputs through the Programme Information Management System (PIMS) and the UN Integrated Monitoring and Documentation Information System (IMDIS);

e.    Assist in coordinating activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, etc.); and prepare related documents and reports; and

f.     Undertake other activities and duties as assigned by the Chief of the Unit and the Division Director, relating to economic valuation of ecosystem services and ecosystems accounting.

Competencies:

Professionalism

Sound analytical skills, including good understanding of the economic valuation of ecosystem services, ecosystems accounting and trade-off analysis, ability to apply ecosystem services theory and concepts to environmental and development policy, ability to understand and assess the policy implications of particular proposals in ecological economics, solid publication record.

Communication

Strong drafting ability, particularly in preparing reports that are clear, logical, concise and intelligible; good interpersonal skills; good communication skills and good presentation skills.

Planning and Organizing

Good planning and organization of own work.

Teamwork

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues with different national and cultural backgrounds and respect for diversity.

Client Orientation

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with government officials from developing countries, donors and other external collaborators.

Education:    

An advanced university degree, preferably a Ph.D. in ecological / environmental economics.  A first university degree with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

                    

Experience:

Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible work experience in the programme areas associated with this post, including some at the international level.  Project management skills and proposal development experience is required. Experience in working with developing country and/or industrial country governments is highly desirable.  Publications in internationally peer reviewed journals would be an advantage.

Language: 

English and French are the official languages of the UN Secretariat.  For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.  Knowledge of other official UN languages is an asset.

Other Skills:  Excellent computer skills (Microsoft office, Internet, email) are required.

Ability to use relevant computer technology (Internet, word processing, database, statistical spreadsheet, and presentation packages).

Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

See UN website: http:www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/index.html

Preference will be given to equally qualified women candidates. All applications to be sent to the following address on or before the deadline of 09/04/2013           Applicants should send a completed United Nations P.11 or Personal History Form together with a covering letter of one to two pages summarizing how they meet the requirements of the job to: e-mail: recruitment@unon.org                                                                       UN staff members must submit scanned copies of their two latest Performance Appraisal System (PAS) reports at the time of application to the email address above. PLEASE QUOTE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NO.:            NA -13-10 (Applications without Correct Vacancy Number will not be Considered) The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.