The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the UN system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. 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.
This post is located in the Programme Coherence and Assurance Unit (PCAU), Policy and Programme Division, in UNEP at the Nairobi duty station. The PCAU is mandated with the accountability and oversight to decision makers on the quality of project design, strengthening the results-based management approach and achievement of concrete programmatic impacts; developing capacity across the organization in results-based management and other areas to improve project and thus programme delivery, for alignment to the Organization’s programmatic and project quality standards as well as providing secretariat services for the Project Review Committee.
The Programme Management Officer reports to the head of the PCAU and within delegated authority, will be responsible for the following duties:
Programme and Project Review process
• Contributes and supports the project review functions of the Project Review Committee (PRC);
• Provides high quality, substantive technical advice and practical guidance, in a timely manner, to project teams on ways to improve project designs, in line with results-based management principles, including theories of change, gender equality, safeguards and sustainability aspects);
• Gives quality inputs in the updating of PPMM (Programme and Project Management Manual);
• Contributes to the drafting of new guidance material and harmonization of PRC functions; and
• Supports the implementation of Programme/Project Management training courses.
Results-based Management and Project Cycle Management
• Provides strategic advice and develops results-based management processes (including the required business processes) to improve the quality of project and programme delivery;
• Supports the Concept Approval Group (CAG) and PRC Secretariat functions, participating in PRC processes in particular leading the CAG-PRC Secretariat representation;
• Supports effective management of all engagements with the Deputy Executive Director’s (DED) Office in relation to the CAG-PRC Secretariat process;
• Effectively contributes to the harmonization of PRC processes for all of the UNEP projects including GEF, GCF, MEAS and Regional Seas.
Programme and Project Management
• Assists in results-based management capacity development;
• Assists in the roll out and monitoring of the uptake of the project management training courses;
• Undertakes a proactive role in the annual update of the PPMM and production of any guidance material required by the quality assurance functions; and
• Contributes substantively to the roll out of project implementation support function currently under design, including on gender issues.
Data Review and Analysis
• Ensures the incorporation of lessons learnt from outcome of evaluation and self-assessments into UNEP’s project cycle;
• Researches, analyzes and presents information;
• Contributes to policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies;
• Undertakes survey initiatives; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions; and
• Prepares various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
Administrative, Budget and Finance
• Makes inputs to ensure logframes and other results-based frameworks (including work plans and related activities) are commensurate with budgets and planned timelines;
• Provides substantive technical support to consultative and other meetings, workshops and conferences; and
• Undertakes outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Collects and analyzes 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.
PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. 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 when 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.The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.
TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
PLANNING AND 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.
JUDGEMENT/DECISION MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.
An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in environment or development field, international relations, environmental policy/science, project planning and management, or related disciplines, is required.
A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two (2) additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.
A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible work experience in the environment development field, policy, inter-governmental and inter-agency activities related to results-based management, safeguards, gender equality, sustainable development, programme planning or related area, is required
Experience of project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in an environment and/or development context is required.
Experience in developing and implementing results-based management change processes,
focusing on training programmes and materials, is required.
Experience working within complex socio-economic contexts in developing countries is desirable.
Work experience with the United Nations or a similar international organization is desirable.
Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.
NOTE: ''Fluency'' equals a rating of ''fluent'' in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and ''Knowledge of'' equals a rating of ''confident'' in two of the four areas.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 March 2022, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, China, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.
Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension.
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 and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
Internal Applicants – When completing the Candidate Profile form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you.
Individual Contractors and Consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations.
At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.
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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, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, 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. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
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.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
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