To support the work around higher education and UNEP’s Youth and Education Alliance and provide strategic advice to scale up the work on higher education within the unit to get universities to act on the environmental agenda. The assignment will have a specific focus on strengthening and scaling up the work with higher education networks and alliances.
· Deepen the work of the Youth and Education Alliance;
· Work with Youth and Education Alliance members, as well as with other network members, to develop and strengthen UNEP’s work on higher education for key moments such as the YEA Summit in 2022 and COP27;
· Strengthen the overall higher education agenda of the unit.
Nairobi
Seven (7) months, part time.
Organization Setting and Reporting Relationship:
The UN 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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP’s Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
The Education, Youth and Advocacy Unit oversees the education outreach and a series of youth projects for UNEP at its headquarters in Nairobi. This includes everything from engaging Universities through the Youth and Education Alliance to engaging with partners in the gaming industry and youth movements.
Reporting: The consultant will report to the Chief of the Youth, Education and Advocacy Unit. The consultant will be located in UNEP / Ecosystems Division, Youth, Education & Advocacy Unit and the incumbent will report to the Chief, Youth, Education and Advocacy Unit.
Tasks and Responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Chief, Youth, Education & Advocacy Unit, the part-time consultant's duties will include:
· Building out the work of UNEP’s Youth & Education Alliance (75% of time):
o Supporting members: Working with YEA members on a bilateral basis to support the setting of commitments, the follow up and offering support along the way.
o YEA summit: Working with the unit and the YEA members to organize an impactful and successful internal YEA meeting at the YEA summit in June 2022.
o Expanding: The consultant would work with the unit and the YEA members to expand the Alliance and bring in new networks, as well as work with the new networks to set their priorities and commitments as part of YEA.
o COP27: Work with YEA members to identify an opportunity for higher ed and the Alliance at COP27.
· Ad hoc support for UNEP’s higher ed agenda (25% of time): The consultant would support the higher ed team in its efforts around other higher education related projects on an as need basis (could include developing a higher ed impact report and supporting work around the green jobs agenda, Race to Zero, building out case studies for the Sustainable University Framework, etc.)
Skills: Higher Education Sector: Experience working in the higher education sector and more specifically experience working in a higher education sustainability network for at least 5 years and with insight as to how to work with such entities around the tasks described in the job (Essential).
Project management: Able to deliver highly complex projects of a global nature efficiently and effectively. (Essential)
Innovation: Ability to think creatively about how to evolve pre-existing programmes to have maximum impact. (Essential)
Communications: Able to bring a diverse group of individuals and partners together act on a common agenda and able to write high quality texts and proposals as required. (Essential)
Project design: A strong track record of designing projects that secure buy-in and generate results. (Desirable)
Writing: Strong writer of stories and proposals that support the work (Desirable)
Academic Qualifications: Master’s degree in the area of communications, international relations, political science, sustainable development, environmental science or related field required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience: A minimum of 5 years’ relevant work experience required in the field of higher education/ sustainability field.
Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required
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.