Environmental Affairs Officer

Org. Setting and ReportingThe mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote sustainable and inclusive development and regional connectivity in the Asian and Pacific region. ESCAP’s role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership with policy oriented research and analysis, normative support and technical assistance and capacity building, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asian and Pacific region. This position is located in the Environment and Development Policy Section, in the Environment and Development Division. The incumbent reports to the Chief of Environment and Development Policy Section. ResponsibilitiesUnder the direct supervision of the Chief of Environment and Development Policy Section, and overall supervision of the Director, Environment and Development Division, the incumbent is required to perform the following duties with the aim of strengthening policy and decision-making by members and associate members on environment and development challenges: Providing technical cooperation by: • Designing, delivering and monitoring technical cooperation projects and activities that respond to the needs of member states, integrating the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development policies. • Developing partnerships, and deploying innovative approaches to deliver high-quality, policy-relevant analyses and other services to support policy and decision-making by government entities. • Developing project documents to support fund-raising efforts from diverse donors that respond to the needs of member states and demonstrate good understanding of the issues and challenges addressed, and practical project implementation challenges. • Designing and working with others to deliver high-impact forums (of all sizes, including regional dialogues, expert group meetings) for capacity building, consensus building and/or the exchange of knowledge among government officials and other stakeholders, engaging relevant UN and other partners as far as possible. • Liaising with, and developing productive working relationships with government officials, maintaining consistent and responsive communications. • Undertaking missions to member States, either alone or as a participant in a diverse team, as part of ESCAP’s technical cooperation activities, ensuring that the organization’s role is constructive and credible. • Organizing capacity development workshops and study tours for government officials and others, ensuring that the material is appropriate for the needs and based on effective needs assessment. Producing knowledge products, research and analysis by: • Designing and supervising high-quality analytical work as a basis for policy advocacy, intergovernmental dialogue or cooperation, or projects in the areas of natural resources management. • Managing all aspects of the publication process of knowledge products from concept to layout. • Organizes expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on development issues to inform substantive work, ensuring appropriate engagement of team members and highest quality expert inputs. • Contributing to inter-disciplinary work with other Divisions and entities and ensuring contributions of diverse perspectives in substantive work. • Keeping up to date on environment and development challenges facing the region and global developments. Providing support to intergovernmental and multistakeholder processes and dialogues by: • Providing substantive support to regional cooperation on environment and development to intergovernmental bodies including the Commission and Committees and other ad hoc intergovernmental meetings, including the preparation of documents, taking stock of relevant mandates, latest developments and stakeholder perspectives. • Providing organizational support to regional cooperation on environment and development to intergovernmental bodies including the Commission and Committees and other ad hoc intergovernmental meetings, ensuring appropriate consideration of government perspectives and organizational processes. • Providing substantive and organizational support to multistakeholder processes and forums, including the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development. • Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff, taking into account the audience and up-to-date developments. Contributing to the work of the Environment and Development Division by: • Manages project team members and interns, as applicable, in line with staff rules and regulations. • Supporting administrative and substantive processes of the Division and the UN Organization, through various inputs and in specific roles, as required. • Participates in intra- and inter-Departmental undertakings of broader concern to represent the views or interests of the organizational unit. • Ensures smooth administrative arrangements for all activities, working in close collaboration with administrative teams, and ensuring adherence to respective administrative instructions. • Collects and analyzes data to provide insights and supports data visualization to support data-driven planning, decision-making, and reporting. CompetenciesProfessionalism: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Ability to identify and develop sources for data collection. 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. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. 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. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental management, natural sciences or social sciences with environment-related courses, or other related interdisciplinary field of study, is required. A relevant first-level university degree in the above fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in research and analysis, policy advocacy, regional cooperation, and/or technical cooperation projects related to environment and development challenges, including one or more of the following areas: water resources management, transboundary environmental management, air pollution, oceans, climate mitigation, climate adaptation, environmental governance, and/or nature-based climate solutions, is required. Experience in working with multilateral environmental agreements is required. Demonstrated experience with data analysis and the use of data related to natural resources management is required. Demonstrated experience with producing publications and knowledge products is required. Demonstrated experience in establishing partnerships with key stakeholders, including academic institutions, civil society and/or the private sector is required. Demonstrated experience working in and/or with developing countries is required. Experience working with the national government in an area relevant to environment and development is desirable. Experience in policy-relevant and innovative research and analysis related to environmental development is desirable. Relevant work experience in the Asia-Pacific region as demonstrated by living and working in the region outside of home country is desirable. Experience in the United Nations Common System or in international organizations similar to those in the UN Common System is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage. AssessmentQualified applicants may be evaluated through a competency-based interview and/or other assessment methods. Special NoticeStaff 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. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30th November 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. 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. Pursuant to section 6.9 of ST/AI/2010/3/Rev. 1, interns, consultants, individual contractors and gratis personnel may not apply for or be appointed to any vacancy in the Professional or higher categories within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. United Nations ConsiderationsAccording 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. No FeeTHE 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.