Consultant on International Waters and Chemicals

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

 ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.

Small Grants Cluster

UNOPS executes the UNDP-implemented Small Grants Programme though the Small Grants Cluster. Funded by the Global Environment Facility, the Small Grants Programme efficiently channels direct grants to non-governmental and community-based organizations to help them cope with climate change; conserve biodiversity; protect international waters; reduce the impact of Persistent Organic Pollutants; and prevent land degradation. Helping communities with their initiatives for sustainable livelihoods while generating global environmental benefits is the core inspiration of the Small Grants Programme.

Launched in 1992, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) has been promoting grassroots actions to address global environmental concerns.  SGP aims to deliver global environmental benefits in the GEF focal area of biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, protection of international waters, prevention of land degradation (primarily desertification and deforestation), and elimination of persistent organic pollutants through community-based approaches.  SGP is a corporate programme of the GEF.  It is implemented by UNDP and executed by UNOPS.  As of today, SGP has funded over 20,000 community-based projects covering more than 120 countries.  It has gained considerable experiences at the community level, including adapting to climate change while addressing issues of the GEF focal areas.  Further information can be found at: https://sgp.undp.org/
Purpose and Scope of Assignment 

Under the supervision of the Programme Advisor—International Waters and Chemicals, the consultant

• Provide research, coordination and logistics assistance on SGP’s participation in international meetings and conferences including the first meeting of the Mercury Convention Conference of Parties (September 2017), and the fourth International Marine Protected Area Congress (September 2017) and other international meetings and workshops.
• Collect data and information on SGP’s contribution to Sustainable Development Goals and GEF programmatic goals and targets in international waters and chemicals, liaise with SGP national teams, and consolidate data and information for global reporting and dissemination,
• Assist in the follow-up of the implementation of the community component of UNDP/UNEP IWEco Project in the Caribbean, and collect progress reports to consolidate for the annual reporting of Project Implementation Review as required by GEF.
• Support the coordination of partners and assist in the implementation of the strategic initiative of “local to global coalitions,” including the preparation and organization of possible thematic and regional workshops
• Identify and develop good cases for wider dissemination, and assist in the preparation of publications and awareness-raising materials.
• Provide other research, management and administrative support as needed by the Programme Advisor

• A mercury prevention, reduction and management booklet is produced and printed before the first COP meeting of the Mercury Convention (24-28 September 2017)
• The Project Implementation Review report is prepared and submitted to UNDP and UNEP by the end of August 2017
• Presentations on mercury, marine protected area management and other topics are prepared
• Workshops and meetings are well organized and supported

• Graduate degrees in international development, environment management or related field.
• 2 years of environment and sustainable development experience in international organizations, particularly related to GEF work is desirable.
• Experiences with UNDP, GEF and SGP on chemicals and waste management and international waters management highly desirable Understanding of international environmental and development policies and practices.
• Strong writing, research and analytical skills.

• Excellent communications and team work

  
  

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.