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 United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment and holds the universal membership of all 193 UN Member States. The Assembly functions as the agenda-setting forum for the global environment and provides overarching policy guidance that defines responses to address emerging environmental challenges. It undertakes policy reviews, engages in dialogue, experiences exchanges, and sets strategic guidance on the future direction of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). To achieve its objectives, the Assembly organizes a series of formal and informal meetings, including leadership dialogues in the form of panel discussions, a multi-stakeholder dialogue also in the form of a panel discussion, formal meetings with statements delivered by the participants, as well as selected side events, media engagements, exhibitions, and pavilions. Cultural opening and closing are also held and may involve artistic performance. Social events such as receptions, luncheons, dinners, excursions, awards, and recognition ceremonies may also take place. Environment Ministers and other high-level participants (including Heads of State and Governments and dignitaries such as the Secretary-General of the United Nations or the President of the General Assembly) are expected to attend the meetings of UNEA and similar events to deliver speeches and take part in high-level leadership dialogues. A series of preparatory meetings could be held in advance of the Environment Assembly or other major events, such as the meetings of the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives, Major Groups and Stakeholder Forum, and a Youth Environment Assembly. Major events continue to attract significant attention from representatives of Global Major Groups and Stakeholders, who have the right to attend and participate in the deliberations of these events. The number of participants expected for any major event, including the Environment Assembly, is usually 5000 to 6000 participants. Such events are usually webcast in all six UN official languages. Events (including side events) may require the provision of a hybrid format. The Secretariat of Governing Bodies and Stakeholders of the United Nations Environment Programme is responsible for supporting the UN Environment Assembly and its subsidiary inter-sessional bodies, including the Committee of Permanent Representatives. The Secretariat, which is also referred to as the Governance Affairs Office, consists of two units – the Governing Bodies Unit and the Civil Society Unit. The Governing Bodies Unit coordinates and services the meetings of the Committee of Permanent Representatives and the UN Environment Assembly in close cooperation with the Division of Conference Services of the UN Offices in Nairobi. It provides a channel of communication and disseminates timely information to Governments and coordinates UNEP´s relations with the Permanent Missions to the UN Environment Programme, Ministers of Environment, and other relevant authorities. The Civil Society Unit is responsible for facilitating the participation of Major Groups and Stakeholders in the intergovernmental decision-making process at UNEP. The Unit engages with the accredited civil society organizations, networks, and associations to support the implementation of UNEP’s mandate.

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the UN Environment Assembly Coordinator, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Support the organization of the UNEA Strategic Taskforce by preparing written materials such as background documentation, agenda, and taking notes for the file • Prepare presentations and briefing notes in support of outreach efforts to partners, service providers, member states, and participants. • Support the analysis of data related to travel and budget • Support the development of communication materials such as webpage entries, app notifications, and update live calendars • Support the preparation and management of invitation letters, track confirmations, and support registrations • Support administrative work such as preparation of routing slips, payment requests, and procurement and solicitations documentation • Support the organization of meetings of the Committee of Permanent Representatives when needed. • Perform any other duties requested by the supervisor Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking an active part in UNV activities (for instance, in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. Results/Expected Outputs • Support the development of high-quality outputs related to preparation documentation for the United Nations Environment Assembly, such as invitation letters, communication materials, PPTs, etc. • The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring, and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs); • The Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed

Competencies and values

Client Orientation Communication Planning and Organizing Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighbouring Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s population of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita, estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP), is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% annually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO). Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services, and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel, mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN-HABITAT and UNEP. The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse, and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment are modest. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate. The contract lasts for the period indicated above, with the possibility of extensions subject to the availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) per month and is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications, and other basic needs. The VLA can be computed by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate of US$1,602. The VLA base rate is a global rate, while the PAM is country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis according to the cost of living. This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations, irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website http://icsc.un.org. For example, kindly enter the link Calculator. In non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and also in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station. UNV provides life, health, and permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, and full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements). UN Volunteers are paid a Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). A resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment. UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including the Code of Conduct, to the successful candidate. Disclaimer The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture.