Project Management Officer

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. Its 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. UNEP’s Ecosystems and Economy Divisions work with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. 

Wastewater pollution has been widely recognized to impact the health of aquatic ecosystems, including coastal and marine ones. Over time, population growth has led to an increasing demand for water, food, and consumable goods. The rising number of anthropogenic activities and the intensification of productive sectors demanding growth in substance production and use has resulted in augmented pollution from point and non-point sources. In many areas of the world, waterways and coastal areas are still being used as dumping grounds to avoid costs for treatment and disposal. Also, extreme weather events and climate change pose additional stress on ecosystems and natural resources. Climate-induced natural disasters (e.g., floods) increase the risks of spillage of pollutants with major consequences on human health and ecosystems. 

UNEP’s Source-to-Sea Pollution Unit plays a crucial role in identifying and acting on the challenge of land-based pollution. The Unit focuses on issues including wastewater and its activities serve to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically SDG 6 and 14. They also contribute to UNEP’s Medium Term Strategy 2022-2025, and as well as to the implementation of UNEP’s Chemicals and Pollutions Action sub-programme. The work of the Unit also contribute to the implementation of numerous United Nations Environment Assembly’s (UNEA) resolutions, including for example “Addressing water pollution to protect and restore water-related ecosystems” (UNEP/EA.3/10), “Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities” (UNEP/EA.4/11).  

To counter the challenges posed by land-based pollution, the Unit is implementing the project titled “Protecting the Marine Environment from Land-Based Pollution through Strengthened Coordination of Global Action.” The project, with a duration of five years, aims to strengthen responses to land-based pollution, enhance co-operation and foster action to tackle the issues related to wastewater pollution, nutrient management, and marine litter. A new project entitled “Preventing and addressing the degradation of freshwater and marine ecosystems from source to sea”, which will follow project 522.4 “Preventing and addressing the degradation of freshwater and marine ecosystems from source to sea”, will start on early 2024.

Under this project two resource mobilization initiatives put forward by the SSPU were successfully attained: i) “Strategies, capacity and data for wastewater and environmental surveillance in Africa” duration of 36 months -EC DG HERA; ii) “Enhancing Wastewater, Nutrient Management and Sanitation Provision for Marginalized Coastal Communities in Sabah, Malaysia” duration of 18 months - UN SDG Malaysia Trust Fund. 

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The Project Management Officer (P3) will report to the Programme Management Officer (P4) of the UNEP’s Source-to-Sea Pollution Unit.

• The performance of the Project Management Officer (P3) will be measured based on the following criteria:
• Efficient and effective implementation of the initiative on “Strategies, capacity and data for wastewater and environmental surveillance in Africa”.
• Efficient and effective implementation of the initiative on “Enhancing Wastewater, Nutrient Management and Sanitation Provision for Marginalized Coastal Communities in Sabah, Malaysia”.
• Efficient and effective support on strategic resource mobilization efforts of the SSPU related with the new project “Preventing and addressing the degradation of freshwater and marine ecosystems from source to sea”.
• Quality and timely services provided to SSPU

The Staff will:

• Lead the implementation of the activities in South Africa, Ethiopia and Kenya under the initiative on “Strategies, capacity and data for wastewater and environmental surveillance in Africa”.
• Lead the implementation of the activities in Malaysia under the initiative on “Enhancing Wastewater, Nutrient Management and Sanitation Provision for Marginalized Coastal Communities in Sabah, Malaysia”.
• Provide specialized support on strategic resource mobilization efforts of the SSPU related with the new project “Preventing and addressing the degradation of freshwater and marine ecosystems from source to sea”.
• Performs consulting assignments, in collaboration with the client, by planning facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plan the client will use to manage the change.
• Researches, analyzes and presents information gathered from diverse sources.
• Assists in policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies.
• Undertakes survey initiatives; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions.
• Prepares various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
• Provides substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
• Undertakes outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Participates in or lead field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries.
• Participates in activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements,) and prepare related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget,).

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental management, water management or a related field is required.

• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management in the field of wastewater is required.

• A minimum of three (3) years of progressively professional responsible experience within the United Nations or similar organization is required.

• Experience in preparing analysis and convening action on wastewater, with strong understanding in wastewater management is highly desired.

Language

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required, and knowledge of French is an advantage.