Organization: UNEP – United Nations Environment Programme
Location: Nairobi
Grade: Level not specified – Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
Legal – Broad
Waste Management
Closing Date: 2024-11-06
Result of Service
The consultant will support UNEP Law Division’s work on pollution, in particular related to plastics and textiles. The consultant, under the supervision of the Head of the Frontiers in Environmental Law Unit, will carry out the activities as per the ToR.
Work Location
Home Based
Expected duration
12 months
Duties and Responsibilities
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 Law Division is the lead Division charged with carrying out the functions of UNEP in the field of environmental law, governance, and related policy issues, including those related to multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). To fulfil its mandate, the work of the Law Division focuses on: leading the international community in the progressive development of environmental law; supporting States in the development and implementation of legal, institutional and policy measures that address emerging and important environmental challenges; facilitating cooperation and coordination among MEAs and between UNEP and those agreements; working with MEA Secretariats to support Parties to the respective MEAs in implementing their treaty obligations; and facilitating policy dialogue among States on issues relating to international environmental law and governance. The activities of the Frontiers in Environmental Law Unit (FELU) in the Law Division are founded on the mission of UNEP to provide leadership and advice on matters related to international environmental law and emerging environmental law issues to governments and other stakeholders. The Unit is responsible for the progressive development of international environmental law and the promotion of environmental rule of law across the UN system. The Unit implements decisions from UNEP’s Governing Body – the United Nations Environment Assembly – where it is responsible and provides legal advice to programmes and activities of UNEP’s other substantive Divisions in the area of international environmental law. UNEP has been working on creating enabling and empowering environments to accelerate the transition towards circular and sustainable economies, thereby reducing pollution. In this regard, the development and implementation of policies and legislation play a pivotal role to enable a just transition. UNEP Law Division wishes to engage the services of a consultant to support the Division’s legal work on addressing pollution, in particular to advance timebound policy components of the One UNEP Textiles and Plastics Initiatives and UNEP’s work on minerals governance. Duties and Responsibilities: Under the guidance of the Head of the Frontiers in Environmental Law Unit and in consultation with the Industry and Economy Division, the consultant is expected to handle a range of pollution-related legal issues including those connected with UNEP’s Plastics and Textiles Initiatives and UNEP’s work on minerals governance. Specifically, the consultant is expected to: (a) conduct extensive legal research and analysis on regulatory measures to assist countries to transition towards a circular economy for plastics and textiles. (b) undertake basic or extensive review of legal documents, instruments, and other materials on environmental law matters, with a focus on pollution-related legal issues. (c) draft legal opinions/advice, as well as background papers, studies, briefs, reports, legislative texts, and correspondence on a range of environmental law matters, with a focus on pollution-related legal issues. (d) provide legal technical guidance/advice to programme to support countries to transition towards a circular and sustainable economy, with a particular focus on plastics, textiles and minerals; including partnership arrangement with the governments, non-governmental organization, other public and private entities. (e) provide expert support to the international environmental law seminars, conferences, or other fora, including the preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of delegations, meeting outcome reports, etc. (f) collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting; and (g) provide substantive guidance to the delivery/implementation of the pollution action work.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental law, international law, human rights or a related field. A first-level university degree in law in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing is required. Prior experience working on international and/or national environmental law relating to pollution issues is required. Prior experience working with the UN or similar international organizations is required A minimum of two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English, (both oral and written) is required.
Additional Information
Not available.
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.