Technical support for the implementation of UNEP Country Programming in Uruguay

Result of Service

The objectives of the consultancy are in line with UNEP’s Delivery Model and are relevant to the Environment Fund 2022 tranche 2 regional allocation, which distributed funds to five UNEP regional offices for the implementation of Country Programming in selected countries. These objectives are:

1. Determine the extent of UNEP presence and the mainstreaming of its programmes and projects in Uruguay.

The Delivery Model envisages tailored approaches in accordance with each national context UNEP may face in countries. It is important, first, to consolidate a panorama of UNEP presence in the country, including initiatives of all UNEP offices, at national, subnational and international scopes, to identify UNEP relevance against country needs and priorities, and then to harness this information for joint and future programming.

For this objective, the consultant will:
- Compile information of UNEP activities being performed in the country, based on what was informed in UNEP dashboards and Project Management platforms (PIMS, UN Info, Rimbi, etc.).
- Contact local and international UNEP staff to verify and/or update potential gaps in the information compiled.
- Map and analyze the scope of SCO’s outreach in the country as well as the scope of SCO’s internal collaborative/cooperative outreach targets, in relation to: the UNEP Delivery Model, the UNEP Programme of Work, the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) that the country is signatory, and the Common Country Analysis and the UN Cooperation Framework.

2. Identify main gaps regarding the engagement of UNEP with RCO and UNCT.

UNEP actively participates in the RCO and UNCT plan of activities in the country; other engagements also occur at UN-to-UN agency level and in multi-agencies alliances. However, UNEP Delivery Model warns that fragmentation within UNEP divisions and offices, and tensions between UNEP and other actors of the UN systems may keep UNEP from delivering its true potential. As a first step to overcome this, UNEP needs to identify the potential gaps and obstacles that may hinder a better integration of the agency with the rest of UN System in Uruguay.

For this objective, the consultant will:
- Be in contact with UN System actors and map and analyze related background information, to identify their main needs and gaps regarding their cooperation with UNEP, and vice versa.
- Map and analyze the working groups, events and related activities in which UNEP is engaged with RCO, UNCT and UN agencies.
- Analyze data and information from the mapping activity above and identify important interactions, key feedback loops and decision points.

3. Identification of opportunities for joint programmes.

The above activities should provide the basis for the development of a final Country Programme document, outlining recommendations on the specific and appropriate opportunities for joint programming with UN agencies and other relevant partners in the country and in the region. It will be guided by the template provided by UNEP's Policy and Programme Division and must include: a) an integrated analysis on mainstreaming climate, biodiversity, pollution in the country, based on the findings from previous assignments; and b) an overview of UNCT processes that UNEP will contribute to, their timelines, the areas/points in time which will require support or input from Divisions and other offices.

Further to this, the consultant will:
- Ensure communication within and among distinct divisions and offices from UNEP, in order to build a coherent approach for the Country Programming in the country.
- Participate in meetings with UNEP Southern Cone and other actors, when required.
- Provide constant update on the advance of the consultancy and any other relevant information concerning the work.

Output:Work plan to support the consultancy’s implementation.
Product 1: Detailed work plan specifying the main activities and timeline, and proposed methodology to achieve consultancy objectives.

Output:Panorama of UNEP presence and relevance in Uruguay.
Product 2: Brief report on the UNEP presence and the mainstreaming of its programmes and projects in Uruguay. Delivey

Output: Mapping and analysis of UNEP engagement with RCO, UNCT and UN System in Uruguay, to identify .
Product 3: Document with a Diagnosis of UNEP current engagement with RCO, UNCT and UN agencies in Uruguay.

Product 4: UNEP Country Programme Document, containing an integrated analysis on mainstreaming climate, biodiversity, pollution in the country, based on the findings from previous assignments; and an overview of UNCT processes that UNEP will contribute to, their timelines, the areas/points in time which will require support or input from Divisions and other offices.

Work Location

UNEP Sub-regional Office for the Southern Cone of Latin America, in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Expected duration

5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Purpose

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global 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.
The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work (PoW) approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), which aim to tackle the triple planetary crisis that humanity currently faces: climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.
UNEP´s Sub-Regional Office for the Southern Cone of Latin America (SCO), located in Montevideo, Uruguay, provides support to and coordinates efforts with the Governments of Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. Within its programmatic growth, the Sub-regional Office has increased its commitment to UNCTs, governments and other interested parties, to deepen its analysis of the environmental challenges and opportunities that the sub-region is currently facing.
The UNEP Country Programme aims to enhance UNEP engagement and delivery in the countries, strengthening the coherence and effectiveness of UNEP activities against national environmental agenda and, in particular, the UN Cooperation Framework (CF).
In this sense, the SCO required to hire of a consultant to support the UNEP Country Programming in Uruguay to aim the engagement with the Resident Coordination Office (RCO) and the UNCT (United Nations Country Team). The main objective of the consultancy will be to develop the UNEP Country Programme Document, containing an integrated analysis on mainstreaming climate, biodiversity, pollution in the country, based on the findings from previous assignments; and an overview of UNCT processes that UNEP will contribute to, their timelines, the areas/points in time which will require support or input from Divisions and other offices.
This consultancy will be supervised by the Head of the Sub-regional Office for the Southern Cone of Latin America, in coordination with UNEP SCO team and other relevant UNCT’ and UNEP´s working groups and Uruguay´s RCO; and the consultant will work 40 hours per week at the UNEP Sub-regional Office for the Southern Cone of Latin America, in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Qualifications/special skills

ACADEMIC:

- Bacherlor´s Degree in economics, natural resources management, sustainable development, international affairs, environmental science, political science or related fields is required.
- Master’s degree in the areas of natural resources management, sustainable development, environmental science, international affairs, political science, or related fields is required.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

- A minimum of 5 years of general work experience in the field of environmental affairs, multilateralism and/or public planning is required

Languages

LANGUAGE

- Fluency in Spanish and English is required.

Additional Information

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

- General knowledge of the structure, organization and functioning of the United Nations is required.
- Experience working in Uruguay and good knowledge of its environmental context is an asset.
- Experience drafting and reviewing documents is an asset.
- Strong analytical skills to understand complex situations and solve problems.
- Excellent organizational abilities to set priorities.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills as well as active listening.
- Adequate tone, style and format to match the audience.
- Capacity to gather, analyze and synthesize data and generate relevant information.
- Innovation, creativity and critical thinking.
- Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily.
- Willingness to promote gender equity.
- Cultural sensitivity / Appreciation of diversity.

No Fee

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.