Associate Administrative Officer

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading environmental authority in the United Nations system. UNEP uses its expertise to strengthen environmental standards and practices while helping implement environmental obligations at the country, regional and global levels. UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

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 Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This position is located in the Ecosystems Division, at the Coordinating Unit for the Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) in Athens duty station.

Under the overall guidance of the MAP Coordinator, and the direct supervision of the MAP Deputy Coordinator, the incumbent will provide programming and administrative services to the UNEP/MAP Coordinating Unit related to the preparation, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of the MAP Programme of Work (PoW) and Budget.

Within delegated authority, under the direct supervision of the UNEP/MAP Deputy Coordinator and overall guidance of the UNEP/MAP Coordinator, and in close collaboration with the UNEP/MAP Administrative/Fund Management Officer, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Works with the Contracting Parties and UNEP/MAP Components to facilitate the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects, etc.; monitors and analyzes specific aspects of programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and recommends corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and tracks follow-up actions.
• Provides programmatic support to the UNEP/MAP Barcelona Convention Secretariat for the preparation, implementation and monitoring of result-based MAP PoW, according to the MTS and other relevant COP Decisions, taking into account global developments.
• Provides support to the UNEP/MAP Barcelona Convention Secretariat for the preparation of Project Documents with all MAP Components operationalizing the PoW adopted by the Contracting Parties.
• Contributes to the monitoring of implementation of the PoW Project Documents from a programmatic and financial reporting perspective, as well as of legal instruments with other Partners.
• Carries out basic research on selected aspects of programmes, operations and other activities, etc., to include collecting, analyzing and presenting statistical data and other information gathered from diverse sources.
• Provides substantive support for policy coordination and evaluation functions, including the review and analysis of emerging development issues and trends, participation in impact evaluation or equivalent studies, etc.
• Assists in performing consulting assignments, in collaboration with the Contracting Parties and MAP Components, by planning facilitating workshops, and through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plan the client will use to manage the change.
• Participates in survey initiatives; issues data collection tools, reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares preliminary conclusions.
• Contributes to the preparation of various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analytical notes, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.
• Provides administrative and substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying and proposed participants, preparation of background documents and presentations, handling logistics, etc.
• Undertakes outreach activities; participates in the development of training workshops, seminars, etc.; participates in and makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Participates in field missions, including provision of substantive and administrative support, data collection, etc.
• Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
• Performs other related duties as required.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take 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.
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• 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:

• As an active UNEP/MAP team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNEP/MAP and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including the following outputs:
o Milestones and steps of the Programming Paper for the PoW and Budget 2026-2027 preparation are delivered in the foreseen timeline.
o Implementation progress of the PoW and Budget 2024-2025 is monitored through available tools, i.e. Planning and Priorities Table, MTS Indicators/Targets, progress reports from the Components etc. and findings shared with Coordinator/Deputy Coordinator.
o Implementation of the Bilateral Cooperation Agreement with MASE supported in coordination with relevant MAP Components and links with POW 2024-2025 implementation ensured.
o At least one coordination meeting with MASE held and documents submitted timely.
o Implementation of the Agreement with France followed up in coordination with relevant MAP Components.
o Additional French voluntary contribution formalized as appropriate between UNEP and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and integrated into the PRODOC and Legal Instruments with RAC for the POW 2024-2025.
o Liaison supported between Senior Management and Administration Unit.
o Administrative tasks timely performed, as requested.
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment.