Project Coordination Associate

Details

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 Early Warning and Assessment Division (EWAD) of UNEP is responsible for analyzing the state of the global environment, providing early warning information, and assessing global and regional environmental trends to catalyze and promote international cooperation and action on the environment. In response to requests from the Member States, the Climate Early Warning and Capacity Building Unit of EWAD builds country capacities in the collection, management, and use of environmental and climate data, information, and knowledge for early warning, planning, policy-making, preparedness, and response actions This is done through projects funded by funds such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Green Climate Fund (GCF), European Commission (EC), and a variety of other bilateral and multilateral donors. In addition, the Unit has been tasked to manage a project on “Capacity development for an inclusive science-policy interface using environmental information and knowledge systems at regional and country level” in the context of UNEP’s Science for Policy and Action Programme of UNEP.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Officer/Head of Unit, the UN Volunteer Specialist will undertake the following tasks: · Support oversight, management, and monitoring of assigned projects to ensure they are on track and promptly resolve any issues. · Coordinate periodic progress reporting on assigned projects in UNEP, EC, and other specified formats, portals, and platforms. · Maintain and coordinate close communication with project focal points in different countries and regions, ensuring responsiveness to their requests. · Draft, review, and edit various documents, including reports, studies, and results-based project documentation, following applicable UNEP and donor standards. · Support the internalization and implementation of the project on “Capacity development for an inclusive science-policy interface using environmental information and knowledge systems at regional and country level” (Follow up to Benchmarking Report). · Support implementation of shared environmental information systems (SEIS) funded by the EC in close cooperation with relevant UNEP Regional Offices. · Revise project documentation by incorporating feedback from internal and external partners received during the project life cycle review, focusing on timeline accuracy, coherence of UNEP science-policy contributions, budget considerations, and stakeholder engagement, adhering to UNEP documentation standards. · Maintain an overview of the status of assigned project portfolio, issue alerts, and propose remedial measures when necessary. · Document good practices, lessons learned, and success stories in project implementation on various platforms. · Manage a document repository of individual country/region project files, projects documentation, budgetary and finance records, progress reports, technical reports, mission reports and correspondence, etc. · Support, follow up, and actively engage in the administrative coordination of project implementation activities. This includes establishing extensive liaison with various organizational units to initiate requests and secure necessary clearances for smooth project execution. · Performs other duties as required. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: · Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take 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. · Provide annual and end-of-assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities. · 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. Results/expected outputs: · Actively contributing as a team member within the UNEP – EWAD Division, providing efficient, timely, and client-friendly support with a focus on high-quality assistance to UNEP – EWAD and its beneficiaries. Focused on the effective development, management, and coordination of assigned science policy capacity development projects and initiatives. · The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring, and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); · 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