Senior Knowledge Management Expert

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that 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. 

The loss of forest, and the accompanying loss of ecosystems and the services they provide, threatens the security and livelihoods of local communities, reduces access to clean water, decreases soil productivity and accounts for 12 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. In recent years, it has become apparent that the most significant threat to the world’s remaining forests is conversion for commercial agriculture – whether from large-scale operations or smallholder farmers – as well as other non-forest use. Many of the environmental benefits of intact forest are unpriced ‘externalities’, resulting in the market mispricing natural forest assets. By converting forest to land and then producing tradeable commodities that the market can price, land users are able to take advantage of this perceived arbitrage opportunity. Anticipated global economic growth and changing diets will strengthen the demand for agricultural commodities and place additional pressure on forests in the foreseeable future, meaning that the pressure will get even bigger than it is today without a changing paradigm how land is managed and agricultural commodities are produced. The challenge is to advance sustainable land use by developing business models that can manage sustainable commodity production while also maintaining forests and forest ecosystem services. 

UNEP’s Climate Finance Unit seeks to actively unlock and redirect public and private capital towards sustainable land use, including deforestation-free soft commodity production that lead to ‘net zero, nature positive’ impacts on the environment and improves rural livelihoods. Given the growing portfolio and the need to amplify impact by identifying common themes, insights and contribute to the development of the sector, the Climate Finance Unit is seeking to hire a Senior Knowledge Management Expert to actively support several projects of the Climate Finance Unit.

The consultant will work directly with various team members in the Climate Finance Unit team, and report to the Head of the Climate Finance Unit.

Under the supervision of the Head of Climate Finance Unit, the consultant will:

1. Provide Specialist support on knowledge management activities across the Unit’s funds and facilities. This includes engagement with the work of the Unit on financial innovation, with partners, and with the wider market of impact investment for nature with a view to identifying key trends and topics of importance to key internal and external audiences.

2. Analyse and synthesise key topics emerging in the work of the unit, its partners, and external stakeholders, to produce knowledge products of high quality and relevance to help meet the objectives of the Unit.

3. Coordinate with relevant units, the production of a variety of knowledge products including articles, blogs, social media posts, webinars, and in-person events.

4. Develop and implement annual knowledge management plans for the funds and facilities of the Unit and ensure alignment with other knowledge management and communications priorities of the Unit and the organisation.

5. Collaborate with the Unit’s communications lead,   to support the communications and media engagement activities related to the Unit’s funds and facilities.

6. Actively monitor and report on the success of the above knowledge management efforts in reaching key target audiences and enhancing the relevance of the Unit as a source of insight and knowledge.

• A master's degree or equivalent preferably in economics, finance, environmental studies, business, or development studies is required
• A bachelor’s degree preferably in economics,  finance, environmental studies, business, or development studies may also be acceptable with an additional two (2) years of relevant experience.

b. Experience

• At least five (5) years of working experience in agriculture or forestry, land use finance, sustainable finance, or related is required.
• Demonstrated capacity for analysis and synthesis of specialized and/or technical topics (e.g. in the fields of finance, business, or sciences) for a broad range of outputs and audiences is desired.

• Fluency in English is required.

Contract type: International Individual Contractor Agreement 
Contract level: IICA 2 / ICS 10
Contract duration: One year (12 months) initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• 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. For more information on a retainer contract 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.