Organization: UNV – United Nations Volunteers
Location: Nairobi
Grade: Administrative support – Administrative Services and Support – Generally no need for Higher Education
Occupational Groups:
Administrative support
Project and Programme Management
Closing Date: 2024-10-31
Details
Mission and objectives
Since its inception in 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been the global authority that sets the 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.
UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP works through its divisions as well as regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence.
Context
The post is located within the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Unit of the Disasters and Conflicts Branch. The post is based at the Nairobi duty station under the overall guidance of the Head of the Branch and direct supervision of the Head of the DRR Unit
The Disasters and Conflicts Branch and its Units provide innovative and efficient environmental solutions that help countries respond to crises and prepare for future disasters, while also working to minimize the harmful effects of environmental degradation on human well-being. The Branch delivers high-quality environmental expertise to national governments and partners in the UN family, through conducting field-based assessments, working to reduce the risk of disaster, and promoting environmental cooperation for peacebuilding, among other activities.
Within the Branch, the DRR Unit provides support on promoting Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) for helping support mandates defined by international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. Through upscaling Eco-DRR initiatives and the Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDRR), the Unit provides technical expertise to stakeholders, programme partners, and vulnerable communities to help advocate and adopt Eco-DRR within various contexts, with a focus on nature-based solutions for enhancing disaster and climate resilience. Furthermore, the DRR Unit addresses rising industrial risks, fortifying environmental governance to mitigate pollution incidents, and safeguard public health.
UNEP works closely with national and local Governmental institutions, communities, industry partners, academia, and civil society to promote environmental best practices. The DRR Unit also liaises with other Units of the Branch in addressing environmental drivers and impacts of disaster risks and conflict as well as supporting conflict and disaster-affected countries in addressing pressing environmental risks to help promote sustainable stabilization, recovery, and reconstruction efforts.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Unit and the Head of the Branch, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
1. Support to Governments and UN System in Disaster Risk Reduction efforts
• Support the provision of technical assistance on Eco-DRR in identified geographic priori-ty areas and drawing on best practices for using Nature-based Solutions and improved environmental governance to enhance resilience, and address rising industrial risks.
• Provide inputs to the Unit’s global and regional normative engagements on DRR, includ-ing the Sendai Framework and the Rio Conventions including backstopping the organi-zation and delivery of workshops and side events and preparing normative inputs.
• Assist the Unit in its function as Secretariat to the Partnership for Environment and Dis-aster Risk Reduction (PEDRR) including liaising with members, communication, and outreach.
• Support the Unit’s engagement and coordination internally within UNEP, including with the Climate Change Division, the Early Warning and Assessment Division, and GRID Geneva.
2. Knowledge and Capacity Development
• In collaboration with DRR Team member, undertake research assignments on topics related to Eco-DRR including but not limited to Eco-DRR in humanitarian and post-conflict settings, gender-related aspects of Eco-DRR, and Nature-based solutions for coastal and urban resilience.
• Support the preparation, review, and finalization of research and reports related to DRR and support follow-up and implementation of recommendations.
• Support the documentation, systematization, and dissemination of Eco-DRR knowledge including inspiring practices and success stories.
• Support the production of capacity-building materials and the delivery of training courses and on environmental governance and Eco-DRR.
• Prepare communications and visibility materials, such as stories, fact sheets, briefing notes, social media content, newsletters, and press releases.
3. Project development and Partnership Building
• Support project and programme design and acquisitions and the scaling-up of the Eco-DRR portfolio and expanding the application of Eco-DRR in humanitarian settings.
• Contribute to DRR project implementation, monitoring and reporting to financing part-ners.
• Support partner management process including regularly updating and maintaining the Project partners’ contact list.
• Assist the Unit in initiating, developing, and maintaining partnerships with UN system partners, national governments, regional institutions, academia and technical experts in the Eco-DRR field.