UNEP’s Climate Change Division provides evidence-based data to inform policy decisions, collaborates with sectors for low-carbon transitions, provides climate finance mechanisms, and aids countries in adaptation and mitigation efforts. The Cities Unit is part of UNEP’s Climate Change Division’s Mitigation Branch, with substantial collaboration with the Adaptation and Resilience Branch, as well as the Ecosystems Division. The Cities Unit acts as a hub for UNEP’s work on sustainable urban development.

The Unit coordinates the Generation Restoration project (2023-2025), which aims to implement a package of measures to address selected political, technical, and financial challenges to promote restoration at scale, particularly in urban areas, within the framework of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the UNEA resolution on nature-based solutions, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. As part of the project, UNEP is seeking to increase work at the nexus between water risks reduction in cities and nature-based solutions.

Task Description

Under the direction of and reporting to the Cities Lead within the Cities Unit of the Climate Change Division, the Greener Cities Specialist will undertake the following activities:

• Support the development of tools, methodologies, and knowledge products to help cities increase knowledge and capacity of local and national governments on existing NbS solutions, urban cooling, and best practices in urban contexts.
• Assist in capacity building of cities in the design and implementation of NbS interventions to reduce water risks in urban areas.
• Support UNEP’s work on nature and climate with research and fundraising tasks in the context of green cities.
• Contribute to the development of a training package for the use of the NbS tool under development in partnership with UNEP-DHI.

In undertaking these duties, the Greener Cities Specialist will establish and maintain relationships to support collaboration with biodiversity, urban planning, and water management experts, as well as technical staff across UNEP and in UN as well as representatives in national governments, international organizations, consultants, and NGOs.

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

The Greener Cities Specialist will build on UNEP’s Generation Restoration efforts to support cities in the design and implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) strategies and interventions in urban environments. Additionally, they will play a crucial role in fundraising efforts to support the development of new NbS projects focused on implementing NbS in urban areas to increase resilience to climate and water risks. Furthermore, the analyst will engage in capacity-building activities to empower cities in the strategic application of NbS techniques.

Eligibility Criteria

Age: 18 – 80

Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required Experience:

• 3 years of experience in statistical information management and applied statistical analytics is required, with at least two years of progressively responsible experience.
• Proven experience in urban planning, water, and/or biodiversity management is required.
• Candidates must be able to demonstrate they are organized, reliable, and efficient. An understanding of how to work effectively as part of a team, and a willingness to learn and grow professionally by taking on new competencies and remaining abreast of developments in the statistical analytics field is essential.
• Proven ability to work effectively with a wide range of various actors is also required. UNEP highly values creativity and innovative thinking, coupled with a problem-solving mindset.

Area(s) of Expertise:

Architecture and settlements, Natural and life sciences, Development programmes

Languages:

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required Education Level:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Urban planning, environmental sciences, water management, biodiversity management/conservation, statistical analysis, or data analysis. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.