Snr Environmental Coordinator

Senior Environmental Coordinator

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Senior Environmental Coordinator ensures that UNHCR policy and programming related to environment is in line with current UN-wide initiatives and global priorities, relevant cutting-edge technology and approaches. S/he develops environment policy for UNHCR and provides coordination and technical support to country level environmental programmes. The Senior Environmental Coordinator will work closely with colleagues in related technical sectors at Headquarters (including water and sanitation, shelter, nutrition, education, food, health as well as community services, gender and age, and livelihood) and with the regional bureaux to promote sound environmental management within UNHCR operations, support operations to mainstream environmental issues into UNHCR programmes and assist in the mainstreaming of refugees and other persons of concern into national environmental programming as part of the SDG, 'leave no one behind' agenda. S/he maintains and develops strong partnerships with relevant environmental actors in the donor, UN, NGO and private sector community.

The incumbent directly supervises the Environment Officer, technical consultants and co-supervises the Programme Officer and provides technical supervision of national and international volunteers or other technical personnel.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
- Refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR are included in national development planning and programming related to environment (making the case for 'no one left behind').
- Engage proactively in relevant fora and with relevant actors, including the World Bank, UN agencies, donors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), other humanitarian, development, conservation partners and foundations.
- UNHCR¿s Strategic Plan for Environment Mainstreaming in field operations is implemented.
- Current UNHCR environmental policy, guidelines and programmes are updated as needed to include current good practice, internationally accepted standards and guidance and disseminate within UNHCR and among partners.

Responsibility
- Lead the design and implementation of the assessment, planning, monitoring and evaluation system for environmental programmes for refugees, IDPs and returnees and other persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Lead and supervise the yearly global appeal and reporting on environment.
- Facilitate the inclusion of UNHCR programmes in inter-agency assessment and evaluation efforts.
- Facilitate training activities of UNHCR and its implementing partners to address key areas of environmental management of importance to refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Build the capacity and competence of UNHCR environmental focal points through exposure to training, field missions, and supervision.
- Ensure environment is seen as important in-house through its inclusion in emergency and operations training.
- Maintain leadership role with the Green Climate Fund.
- Engage proactively with PSP to identify private sector, individual and foundations who are committed to environmental issues and climate change.
- Lead the design of new programming and proposal development in full collaboration with regional bureaux and operations.
- Provide leadership and advocacy on all issues relating to environment.
- Work with others in UNHCR to advocate for refugees, IDPs, returnees and other persons of concern to UNHCR to have access to environmental/ natural resource management services, including support for them in national and international environment and climate change initiatives and in national development policies, planning and programming.
- Advocate for refugees, IDPs, returnees and other persons of concern to UNHCR, and host communities who often bear the environmental consequences of refugee influxes, benefit from funding sources that support access to healthy clean environments, promote climate adaptation and build individual and community resilience.
- Ensure timely, technically qualified support to contingency and emergency planning and response, including proactive engagement with DESS, SSS and WASH colleagues in settlement planning for refugee influxes to mitigate negative environmental consequences and encourage climate-smart interventions.
- Develop and ensure field operations have the best technical support to engage in key aspects of environment, including land and forest management, management of lakes and rivers, management of emissions to the atmosphere, climate change adaptation and mitigation and comprehensive environmental education and awareness raising.
- Review and provide technical input on reports and programme proposals from the field to ensure consistency with UNHCR environmental strategies and policy.
- Draw out good practices/ lessons learnt and support operations to learn from others.
- In collaboration with relevant Regional Bureaux and operations, develop ToRs, identify qualified talent and support in the interview process as needed.
- Maintain cutting-edge knowledge of the environmental field and adapt guidance and field support as necessary.

Authority
- Technically clear all environmental personnel (UNHCR staff, TA, consultants, UNV, JPO) for technical positions and provide necessary technical backstopping and support.
- Represent UNHCR in relevant meetings and technical conferences.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Advanced university degree in a Biological Sciences or Natural Resource Management.
- Minimum 10 years of relevant working experience at professional level.
- Minimum of 5 years in an international capacity with experience in developing countries in Asia and Africa.
- Minimum of 2 years project management experience, including budget management and donor reporting responsibilities.   
- Demonstrated practical experience of refugee-related environmental problems.
- Demonstrated experience in engaging with development actors in environmental issues.
- Demonstrated experience in leading environmental assessments, climate change adaptation and planning, monitoring and evaluation of integrated environmental programme/ projects.
- A history of successful resource mobilisation including developing concept notes and funding proposals.
- Familiarity with emerging environmental trends and appropriate sustainable development technologies.
- Demonstrated skills in data collection and analysis (research methods) related to environment.
- Field experience in diverse geographic locations in developing countries.
- Computer skills in Word processing, PowerPoint, Excel, and a statistical programme.
- Excellent drafting and presentation skills in English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Designing and facilitating training programmes.
- Experience in working both at headquarters and country level on environment.
- Knowledge of additional UN languages. X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X002L3 - Innovation and Creativity Level 3
X003L3 - Technological Awareness Level 3
X004L3 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 3
X009L3 - Change Capability and Adaptability Level 3
X006L3 - Policy Development & Research Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add. 1 to March 2017 Compendium is Wednesday, 3 May 2017 (midnight Geneva time).