Stakeholder Engagement Specialist

Details

Mission and objectives

Since its inception in 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been the global authority that sets the 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 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.
Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP works through its divisions as well as regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence.

Context

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. UN Environment’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 Civil Society Unit in the Governance Affairs Office is mandated to engage with accredited civil society organizations such as non-governmental organizations, networks and associations that contribute valuable expertise and knowledge, play key advocacy functions and support the implementation of UNEP’s mandate. The Unit partners with Major Groups and Stakeholders in order to ensure transparency and inclusiveness in the intergovernmental decision-making process of UNEP’s governing bodies. The Unit also manages the accreditation of stakeholders to UNEP and its governing bodies.
UNEP recognizes the importance of engaging Major Groups and other Stakeholders as partners and appreciates the perspectives they bring to the table, the valuable research and advocacy functions they perform and their role in helping foster long-term, broad-based support for UNEP’s mission.
Intergovernmental decisions will have stronger and broader recognition and support by the public if governments take Major Groups and other Stakeholders views into account as early as possible in policy-making and decision-making processes.

Task description

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Officer and within delegated authority, the incumbent will
1. Assist with the implementation of the overall strategy for regular and structured engagement with non-state actors/ major groups and stakeholders in the meetings of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and its subsidiary organs.
2. Assist with liaison with non-state actors/ major groups and stakeholders and support their registration, participation, and engagement in the meetings of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and its subsidiary organs.
4. Assist and support the team in the preparation of the upcoming UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in December 2025 and all its associated events planned, such as the regional consultative meetings organised in collaboration with UNEP’s regional offices and alongside MGS from the regions. with the organization of meetings, preparation of documents and communication with non-state actors/ major groups and stakeholders.
5. Outreach and capacity building to relevant major groups and stakeholders with particular focus on underrepresented major groups accredited observers to UNEP (Indigenous peoples and farmers) as well as the Latin American and Caribbean and West Asia regions
6. Support the UN Permanent Forum on indigenous issues preparations, side events planning as well as follow up on UNEP’s inputs to the System-Wide Action Plan on indigenous issues in collaboration with colleagues from other UNEP offices.
7. Support the UNEP-wide Youth Working Group as well as the Indigenous Peoples is-sues working group within UNEP and contribute to project and programme developments.
8. Assist in the organization of the regular Major Groups Facilitating Committee meet-ings and webinars.
9. Engage in any communication related matters on substance: maintaining website up-dates, social media outreach, supporting the preparation and implementation of virtual meetings, hybrid and in-person and email communication to stakeholders.
10. Assist in the organization of the Youth Environment Assembly as well as the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum.
11. Prepare questionnaires, surveys etc. in their design and online mode and provide analysis of outputs and responses.
12. Support the accreditation of observers towards successful accreditation of non-gov-ernmental civil society organisations with environmental expertise.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
· 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.
· 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 publica-tions/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 Associate Programme Officer (Stakeholder engagement) will be expected to assist with the accreditation of stakeholders and facilitate the engagement of accredited stakeholders in the work of UNEP and its governing bodies. She/he will be expected to support the work of the Unit through innovative tools and approaches.
The Associated Programme Officer will be engaged in all main areas of the Unit’s responsi-bilities and hence gain a broad experience in terms of civil society engagement and participa-tory approaches in UNEP.