Director, Climate Change, Environment & Natural Resource Management Division (CEND)

Established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN) in 1958 as one of the UN's five regional commissions, ECA's mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its member States, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa's development. Made up of 54 member States, and playing a dual role as a regional arm of the UN and as a key component of the African institutional landscape, ECA is well positioned to make unique contributions to address the Continent’s development challenges. The strategic objective of ECA is framed around delivering ideas and actions for an empowered, inclusive and transformed Africa in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union through its three core functions, namely, its function as a think tank, its convening function and its operational function.

This position is to be located in the newly constituted Climate Change, Environment & Natural Resource Management Division (CEND) at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme), in close collaboration with the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme Support) and under the overall supervision of the Executive Secretary.

Within delegated authority, the Director of the Climate Change, Environment & Natural Resource Management Division (CEND) will be responsible for the following duties:
•Provide support to Member States and their intergovernmental organizations in formulating and implementing policies in support of the key drivers of Africa’s structural transformation;
•Establish research aimed at improving the capacities of policymakers in analyzing and managing policies necessary to address the issues of climate change, environment and natural resource management;
•Establish policy-oriented research and promote policies, methods and strategies for the efficient utilization of information and communication technology by Member States and promote the use of ICT with climate change, green economy and other relevant areas of natural resources management.
•Enable the conduct of policy-oriented research to support the policy, legal and regulatory frameworks for the proper management of African natural resources which includes renewable and non-renewables resources (minerals and extractives, fisheries, forestry, water, ecosystems services and management, and blue economy), vis avis its rational utilization and its management for Africa’s transformation;
•Enable the conduct of research and promote policies aimed at stimulating green growth in Africa;
•Contribute to and strengthen the mechanisms for developing evidence based African common negotiating positions and strategies that enable the ECA’s Member States to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and to fully participate in climate change, environment and natural resource management related global, regional, sub-regional, national and local processes;
•Assist member States in the development of databases and indicators pertaining to climate change, environment and natural resource management and the application of relevant research findings for related policy formulation and implementation;
•Identify opportunities that would enable member states of ECA to design policies to support efforts towards mitigation of climate change, environmental hazards and impact linked to global and regional change and for effective use of natural resources as part of a growth and transformation plan of African economies.
•Promote the establishment of enabling legal, regulatory and legislative frameworks for inclusive development and the formulation of blue and green economies.
•Strengthen the knowledge , human and institutional capacities of key stakeholder and their participation in the protection of Africa’s environment and management of its mineral resources;
•Work towards nurturing current strategic partnerships with the AUC, AfDB NEPAD agency and like-minded southern and northern based think tanks and sister UN agencies in identifying new partnerships that can enable the CEND Division to leverage its outputs and to implement its activities.
•Perform other duties as assigned.

• Professionalism:
Has expert knowledge of the substantive field of climate change, environment and natural resource management in general and in the specific areas being supervised; has proven ability to produce reports and documents on such issues and to review and edit the work of others; is able to manage the work of a team requiring an in-depth understanding of its strategic direction and is able to integrate the work of the Division into the work programme of UNECA; Is able to provide expert advice on substantive issues and to defend and explain difficult issues with respect to key decisions and positions to staff, senior officials and members of the intergovernmental bodies; 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 faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

• Planning & 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.

•Accountability:
Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

•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 the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands.

•Managing Performance:
Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; Appraises performance fairly

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in natural or earth sciences, economics or development or related field is required. A Ph.D. in these areas is highly desirable. A first level university degree with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in climate change, environment, natural resource management, economics and policy research, analysis and development including at the international level, as applied to the climate change, environment, natural resource sector is required. Senior level experience in programme and project planning, and work in regional and sub-regional organisations are desirable. Experience with development issues in Africa is desirable. Experience in high-level dialogue on policy development with senior government representatives, heads of bilateral or multilateral institutions is desirable. Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the first-level university degree recognized by the United Nations.

Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French, (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

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.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 June 2018, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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