Under the direct supervision of the Regional Director, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

Responsibilities

• Lead the engagement of UNEP with the UNDS: continuously assess requirements for improved engagement with the UNDS at the country and regional level and make recommendations to management for consideration; strengthen internal coordination within UNEP for purposes of building, strengthening and maintaining a coherent approach in its support to countries through the UNCT and RCP; oversee implementation of agreed protocols and approaches for engagement with the RCP, UNCT and UNRC systems; work to improve UNEP’s agility and visibility at country and regional level in Africa, including through continuously integrating lessons learned in its approaches and processes.
• Provide strategic environmental and policy advice to the UNRCs: provide strategic and technical advisory support to UNRCs, based on the request, on specific environmental issues and especially those related to climate change, nature and biodiversity, and pollution and chemicals; work with the UNRCs to promote advocacy for the environment, including through improving their access to policy briefs, knowledge materials and environmental assessments.
• Provide support to the Regional Director by coordinating the UNEP’s work with the RCP and OIBCs, including in the role of co-chairing OIBCs, where UNEP is a co-convener; support the Regional Director to engage with Divisions, Branches and other UNEP entities to contribute to UNCT/UNRC, led processes, including preparation of the Common Country Analyses (CCAs), development and implementation of CFs, agency and joint programmes, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting through UN Info, including reporting on non- monetary contributions.
• Enhance UNEP’s political and strategic engagement on environmental priorities at the national and sub-national levels in Africa in support of UNEA resolutions, Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and inter-governmental processes such as G20. Coordinates policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, and preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies.
• Promote prioritization of actions to address the triple-planetary crises by UNCT: Consistent with the cross-cutting nature of the poverty issue, be responsible for improving the cross- sectoral cohesion of policy development in the Law Division by providing strategic advice on how cross-sectoral linkages (e.g. between poverty, environment and water; poverty, environment and health; poverty environment and urban issues) should be better reflected in environmental policy development policy and law. The advice must also reflect environmental-economic-social interlinkages. The viability of, operationalizing the concept of sustainable development under the poverty and environment umbrella should also be assessed.
• Generates survey initiatives; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identify problems/issues and prepares conclusions;  Organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
• Identify National priorities and develop interventions: Gather and provide information on national and regional priorities, and in close collaboration with the regional sub-programme coordinators and division leads, contribute to the preparation of specific interventions for the countries and the region in line with UNEP’s medium-term strategy and programme of work.
• Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
• Initiates and coordinates outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by management of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM – Solid understanding of the environment and climate change. Knowledge of the UN Development System processes at country and regional level. Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities, and risks. Ability to establish and maintain relationships with a broad range of individuals and institutions to understand needs and gain support. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction; Ability to develop strategies and communicate clearly links between the organization’s strategy and programme of work the region’s and sub-regions and countries’ goals; Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management; Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation; Demonstrated ability to negotiate, apply good judgment and the ability to influence others to reach agreement; Mastery of the diverse scope of capacity building and a clear vision of UNEP’s role at the national, sub-regional, regional and global levels; Ability to resolve complex and politically sensitive problems with governments, cooperating institutions, and other stakeholders. Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations.
• COMMUNICATION – Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• TEAMWORK – Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• PLANNING AND ORGANIZING – Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.
• LEADERSHIP – Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; Empowers others to translate vision into results; Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; Drives for change and improvement, does not accept status quo; Shows the courage to take unpopular stands; Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives into substantive work and commitment to the goal of achieving gender balance in staffing.

Requirements

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Studies, Economics, Law, International Relations, Social Sciences, or related discipline is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible work experience in programme/project management, environmental management, policy development or related field is required.
• Five (5) years experience at the international organization equivalent to United Nations at a senior level is required.
• Experience in strategic policy setting is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of other UN languages is desirable.
• NOTE: ”Fluency” equals a rating of ”fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand)and ”Knowledge of” equals a rating of ”confident” in two of the four areas.