Social Mobilization, Stakeholder Engagement & Environmental Projects Specialist

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in approximately 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequality and exclusion. The program helps countries to developing policies, leadership skills, partnership skills, institutional capacities, and to building resilience to sustainable development results. UNDP implements several projects in different areas, offering its partners technical, operational and management assistance through access to methodologies, specialized knowledge, specialized advice and a wide international network of technical cooperation. To contribute to human development, poverty reduction and the country's growth in priority areas, UNDP Brazil has a constant mission to align its services with the needs of a dynamic, multifaceted and diverse country. The projects are carried out in partnership with the Brazilian government, international financial institutions, the private sector and civil society.

Context

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Officers of the Sustainable Environmental Development Unit and technical coordination of the State Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainability of Rio de Janeiro (SEAS-RJ), the National UN Volunteer Specialist will support the implementation of activities in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The assignment directly supports the 'Projeto Gestão Integrada das Paisagens do ERJ' (Integrated Landscape Management Project of the State of Rio de Janeiro), specifically focusing on Component 1 (Plano Estadual de Restauração Ecológica / State Ecological Restoration Plan) and Component 2 (Fortalecimento do Setor Florestal do ERJ / Strengthening of the Forestry Sector of ERJ). The Specialist will act as a key technical bridge ensuring horizontal integration and technical consistency across project workstreams, supporting the quality assurance of technical deliverables, facilitating rural mobilization for restoration land banking, Payment for Environmental Services (PES / PSA), and carbon increment generation, as well as providing strategic and administrative support to the Superintendence of Climate Change and Forests (SUPCLIF).

Task Description

The Specialist will play a central role across three main operational pillars (Eixos 1, 2 e 3): Pillar 1 (Eixo 1): Mobilization and Engagement of Rural Actors and Institutions - Emphasis on building participatory processes for restoration land banks, Payment for Environmental Services (PSA), carbon increment generation, and CAR/PRA alignment:

• Provide technical advisory to project coordination on social mobilization, facilitation of participatory processes, dialogue with traditional and rural communities, stakeholder engagement, conflict management, and participatory project structuring for restoration land banks, PES, and carbon increment generation.
• Develop and implement methodologies for social engagement and territorial development within ecological restoration, PES, and carbon projects, including technical analysis of priorities, bottlenecks, and opportunities.
• Contribute to institutional and stakeholder articulation for applying methodologies relevant to public policies in forest restoration and bioeconomy.
• Promote technical alignment with government bodies, development partners, and strategic actors to support coordination and decision-making.
• Support the elaboration/revision of terms of reference, reports, and technical products.
• Support the articulation and promotion of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and Environmental Regularization Program (PRA). Pillar 2 (Eixo 2): Monitoring Components 1 and 2 of the Integrated Landscape Management Project - Focus on Component 1 (State Ecological Restoration Plan) and Component 2 (Strengthening of the ERJ Forestry Sector):
• Support the elaboration and technical review of instruments (terms of reference, reports, technical notes, opinions, and guidelines) for deliverables under Components 1 and 2, aiming at establishing the State Ecological Restoration Plan and Forestry Sector Strengthening Strategy.
• Support the formulation of strategies to establish the restoration land bank across the State of Rio de Janeiro.
• Identify bottlenecks and improvement opportunities in ecological restoration procedures, as well as environmental licensing applicable to the forestry sector and integrated production systems.
• Draft technical workflows, guides, and instruments to guide producers, entrepreneurs, and sector stakeholders.
• Conduct technical articulation between SEAS, INEA, environmental agencies, public and private institutions, rural producers, and forestry sector representatives.
• Participate in meetings, workshops, and technical events regarding ecological restoration and environmental licensing in forest districts.
• Support the integration of restoration and licensing actions with state policies on forest development, restoration, low-carbon agriculture, and climate change.
• Analyze and systematize legislation and standards under the State System of Environmental Licensing and Control Procedures (SELCA) applicable to forestry development in ERJ forest districts.
• Monitor state environmental licensing processes within SELCA related to forest development/promotion in forest districts. Pillar 3 (Eixo 3): Strategic Support, Technical Coordination, Quality Assurance & Knowledge Production - Cross-cutting technical alignment, consultancy supervision, and administrative support for SUPCLIF:
• Support project coordination in strategy execution and ensuring horizontal integration across different workstreams.
• Support planning, review, and monitoring of work plans, ensuring consistency, deadline compliance, and alignment with governance arrangements.
• Elaborate and review reports, presentations, technical notes, and official documents in Portuguese and English as required.
• Elaborate and review communication materials and knowledge products (technical notes, policy briefs, working papers, publications, and capacity-building programs).
• Provide technical supervision to hired consultants during social mobilization and ecological restoration workshops, including methodology reviews, work plans, reports, databases, and stakeholder engagement processes.
• Ensure technical quality, methodological robustness, and analytical consistency across all technical products and deliverables.
• Elaborate and review Terms of Reference (ToR) and supervise specialized consultants and designated counterparts.
• Contribute to monitoring, systematization, and knowledge management, participating in technical missions, meetings, and national/international forums.
• Provide technical advisory in supervising and evaluating community engagement deliverables for ecological restoration projects.
• Provide direct technical and administrative support to transversal demands and emerging activities of SUPCLIF

Competencies and values

• Planning and Organizing: Ability to plan, prioritize, and structure multi-stakeholder workstreams.
• Communication: Excellent oral and written communication skills in Portuguese and English.
• Technical Writing & Quality Assurance: Rigor in drafting clear, well-founded technical notes and reports.
• Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving: Capacity to identify bottlenecks and translate technical data into administrative decisions.
• Teamwork & Inter-institutional Articulation: Demonstrated capability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and government partners.
• Accountability & Ethics: Professional posture oriented toward ethical responsibility, transparency, and results.
• Adaptability, Flexibility & Proactivity: Self-management, judgment, and ability to operate effectively in field conditions.

Living conditions and remarks

Rio de Janeiro is a major city with modern infrastructure, good healthcare facilities, and international connections. The city offers a range of housing and services; usual urban safety precautions apply. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. Brazil is security level 3 (moderate). United Nations Department of Safety and Security UNDSS Brazil advises to exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to high levels of serious and violent crime, particularly in major cities. Violent crime as muggings, armed robbery, kidnappings, and sexual assault, is very high. Avoid shanty towns (favelas) in the big cities and if you are attacked or robbed, do not resist. Demonstrations can occur at any time and may turn violent with little or no warning. All United Nations personnel must scrupulously comply with UNDSS procedures and recommendations during their assignment in Brazil. For missions in rural areas or indigenous reservations, special procedures may apply; UN personnel should consult with the local DSS office in advance. You may check the full benefits and allowances applicable to the duty station using the UVP calculator. Please see the Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers for more information and details.