Duties and Responsibilities
The 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 Cities Unit supports integrated approaches across all sectors to drive low-carbon, resilient, inclusive, pollution-free urban development with specific thematic focus on built environment and urban infrastructure, cooling and urban energy, urban food systems, circularity, and nature-based solutions. The Cooling specialist will be engaged in the overall implementation of the Cool Coalition Workplan and the Global Cooling Pledge Implementation Strategy and contribute to the achievement of its goals and targets by supporting: policy and technical analysis, organisational and logistical activities, and communications for partner and country engagement in the Cool Coalition workstreams and in the operationalisation of Pledge governance. The incumbent will be responsible for the following deliverables: Policy and technical analysis: • Research support in collecting guidelines and resources for Pledge Implementation commitments • Contribute with research writing to the development of a policy toolkit dedicated to Pledge Implementation • Technical committee, steering committee coordination for reviews etc for publications being brought out under the Cool Coalition • Support in the identification of case studies that showcase best practices in cooling policy, technology deployment, and finance models from signatory countries of the Pledge. • Partnerships o Organizing quarterly coordination calls across the cool Coalition membership o Support in tracking workplan progress and reporting against it on a quarterly basis o Regularly engaging with membership and partners to map strategic priorities across workplan o Tracking working group progress across the team o Convening finance and MEPS working groups in 2025; and an additional two working groups in 2026 o Responsible for bi-annual Steering Committee meetings (coordination and content preparation) • Country Engagement: o Organize and facilitate Contact Group meetings for the Intergovernmental Committee on Cooling (IGCC) to facilitate and guide governance discussions on development of the IGCC’s Terms of Reference. o Support on Pledge Focal Points (FPs) meetings to advance Pledge’s implementation. o Provide technical support for Annual Ministerial Roundtable at COP30 o Support in development structured country engagement strategies, ensuring key milestones in Pledge implementation are met. o Support in conducting needs assessment for Pledge’s signatories. • NDC Cooling activities: o Support in facilitating working groups. o Organizing and delivering trainings and capacity-building activities • Communications • Preparing briefing notes, presentations and other internal and external engagement material • Convening/organizing calls, workshops, webinars in keeping with the governance and workplan of the Cool Coalition
Qualifications/special skills
An advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent additional experience) in environmental science or engineering. At least 3 years of professional experience with energy efficiency and climate policies, programmes and technologies related to refrigeration, air conditioning and related cooling solutions. Prior experience in analysis and research, preferably within a cooling context is desired. Experience working with emerging economies is a plus.
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.
