Technical Advisor - Environmental Facilitator

The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. Supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices—spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa—the office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security, Middle-Income Country Support, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Regional Office provides strategic leadership, operational support, and oversight in key areas including Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management, and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Based in Nairobi, UNOPS East and Southern Africa supports sustainable development across 14 countries, including Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe. Since 1995, UNOPS has expanded its footprint in Kenya, delivering services in project management, infrastructure, procurement, and financial management. Across the region, the office implements diverse, partner-funded initiatives that respond to national priorities. In Mozambique, this includes delivering specialized equipment (EU), supporting health services (UNICEF), promoting agro-processing (KOICA), and advancing peacebuilding efforts through a Multi-Donor Fund. UNOPS also supports agricultural input distribution and the Northern Crisis Recovery Project, both funded by the World Bank. In Malawi, efforts include developing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres in partnership with the EU and the British Council. These initiatives reflect UNOPS’ commitment to strengthening national capacities, enhancing service delivery, and supporting progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region.

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. UNEP's 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.

The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is a country-led global initiative to support the development and implementation of ambitious National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP) and collectively achieve the goals and targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and, ultimately, the global vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050. Under the leadership of the governments of Colombia and Germany, the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership brings together countries with a Whole of Government and a Whole of Society approach to strengthen global, regional, and national ambition on biodiversity action. The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is raising the profile of NBSAPs and promoting nature-positive action, fast-tracking implementation support through a matchmaking service, increasing access to expertise, knowledge, and capacity development and providing coordination and facilitation support to countries/regions.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Country Engagement Coordinators, who report to the Global Coordinator, the Facilitator is responsible for the effective delivery of the assigned tasks below.

• Facilitators represent the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership but are embedded in relevant ministries or regional institutions to support and fast-track NBSAP implementation. The facilitator will act as a bridge between the host government and the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership.
• The in-country facilitator of the NBSAP Acceleration Partnership plays a crucial role in supporting the implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The primary objective for the role of the in-country facilitator is to facilitate the identification and prioritization of NBSAP needs, mobilize support, foster collaboration among stakeholders, and accelerate NBSAP implementation through supporting a Whole of Government and Whole of Society approach.

1. Assess NBSAP Landscape:

• Identify and monitor country/region-specific biodiversity priorities, capacity needs/demands and implementation challenges if needed. This might include, e.g., conducting high-level mapping of stakeholders to identify key players, their motivations, commitments, and potential synergies.
• Facilitate national, country-specific, multi-stakeholder dialogues.
• Develop a comprehensive work plan outlining goals, objectives, activities, and timelines for NBSAP implementation support together with the host government/institution.
• Monitor country/region-specific NBSAP priorities and implementation progress, providing ongoing support and guidance as needed.

2. Mobilize Support:

• On behalf of host country/region, identify specific needs and requests e.g. technical capacity, financial resources and increased political will.
• Through a Whole of Government & Whole of Society approach, assist the host government/institution in the design and development of specific requests for support.
• Submit requests for support to relevant stakeholders, e.g. through the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership match-making mechanism or other platforms.
• Support the host government/institution in selecting the best fit of the offered support packages.
• Monitor the implementation of the support packages.
• Identify and support resource mobilization

3. Coordinate Action:

• Foster alignment and collaboration among existing and emerging initiatives to ensure a Whole of Government and Whole of Society approach with activities, programs and partnerships to streamline efforts, leverage investments and maximize synergies across the 3 Rio Conventions.
• Support the strengthening and monitoring of existing national structures for NBSAP implementation.
• Sharing global best practices, guidance, tools materials in country/region but also taking learning, case studies, sharing with other facilitator
• Identify and coordinate knowledge and information exchange e.g. peer-to-peer, south-south, north-south and triangular knowledge exchange opportunities for host government/institution.
• Facilitate and coordinate exchanges between key partners working on NBSAP implementation and link to services and activities to ensure alignment and avoid duplication.

4. Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Maintain regular communication with designated host country National Focal Points to ensure alignment with other ongoing activities.
• Maintain regular communication with the Country Engagement Coordinator of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, providing updates on progress, challenges, and achievements.
• Prepare periodic reports on the status of NBSAP implementation, including key milestones, lessons learned, and recommendations for improvement.
• Prepare quarterly financial reports of expenditures to the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership.
• Performance Evaluation (PER) conducted annually by Country Engagement Coordinator and national Focal Points.

Required

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent), preferably in environmental science, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management or other related discipline, is required.
• First-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in environmental science, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management or other related discipline combination with two (2) additional years of relevant experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Required

• At least 7-10 years of relevant experience in biodiversity conservation, project management, facilitation, stakeholder engagement or other relevant areas.
• Proven track record of working effectively with government institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to act as a bridge and mobilize support across diverse stakeholders.
• Previous experience working with NBSAPs and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and other international biodiversity frameworks is required.

Desired

• Previous experience working for regional or international organisations is an advantage.
• Fluency in English (additional languages relevant to the country/region are an advantage).
• Proven experience working with government institutions, including the coordination of inter-institutional processes and support to national policy implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to foster multi-stakeholder collaboration and partnerships across government, civil society, academia, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, the private sector, and international organizations.
• Proven experience in the development, formulation and coordination of international cooperation projects, including the preparation of project proposals, engagement with development partners and resource mobilization for biodiversity and sustainable development initiatives.
• Demonstrated commitment to country ownership, ensuring that facilitation processes are aligned with nationally determined priorities and implemented in close coordination with national authorities.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.