Youth Officer

Details

Mission and objectives

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. UNEP works closely with its 193 Member States and representatives from civil society, businesses, and other major groups and stakeholders to address environmental challenges through the UN Environment Assembly, the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment. The organization hosts the secretariats of many critical multilateral environmental agreements and research bodies. The Executive Director and Senior Management Team lead the implementation of UNEP’s Medium-Term Strategy (MTS). The four-year MTS articulates UNEP’s role in delivering the promises of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) as well as its outcome document, “The Future We Want.” UNEP supports Member States to ensure that environmental sustainability is reflected in development and investment planning and provides countries with the necessary tools and technologies to protect and restore the environment. Through its campaigns, particularly World Environment Day, UNEP raises awareness and advocates for effective environmental action. UNEP categorizes its work into seven broad thematic areas: climate change, disasters and conflicts, ecosystem management, environmental governance, chemicals and waste, resource efficiency, and environment under review. Its work is made possible by partners that fund and champion the mission. UNEP depends on voluntary contributions for 95 per cent of its income.

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.
The Youth and Education Unit oversees the education outreach and a series of youth projects for UN Environment at its headquarters in Nairobi. UN Environment is seeking to scale-up the outreach and engagement work in this space, with new partners brought on board in video gaming, youth movements such as Scouts and Girl Guides as well as a deepening of the engagement with universities. A broader vision of creating “young environment leaders” will be at heart of the programme.
This UNV is part of the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge programme. Through the “Tide Turners Plastic Challenge Badge” UNEP, together with youth organizations is working to educate young people on the topic on marine plastic pollution and how they can help to address it in their communities. Since February 2019, the programme has already been rolled out in twenty-eight countries and engaged over 588,000 young people.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Youth, Education and Advocacy Unit, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
i. Project Design: With the UNEP team in Nairobi and the region, to oversee the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge Badge in the Pacific Region to secure youth to participate in the programme in the selected target countries.
ii. Stakeholder management: Working closely and communicating with the identified implementing partners in the region.
iii. Project Management: Supporting the implementing partners to deliver on the objectives of the programme and report back as per the requirements of the funding agreement.
iv. Advocacy and communications: Implementing the communications plan and ensuring that the delivery of the Tide Turners Programme is amplified through advocacy and communications across the region.
v. Donor reporting and evaluation: Supporting donor reporting and monitoring partner performance.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
i. 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).
ii. Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
iii. Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.
iv. Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
v. Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers;
vi. Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organisations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
Results/Expected Outputs:
i. Programme delivery plans have been agreed and finalized with partners.
ii. Work with PNG Olympic Committee to plan Tide Turners integration in PNG and other National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in Pacific region including Solomon Islands, Palau, and others.
iii. Work with Solomon Islands Ministry of Education and Human Resources Division (MEHRD) to implement Tide Turners/SUP curriculum in formal education sector.
iv. Continue to support International Olympic Committee (IOC) efforts to bolster TT presence in Oceania National Olympic Committees, as part of the Sports and SDGs plans for the region in lead up to Brisbane 2032.
v. Liaise with ISLANDS National Focal Points and Country Technical Assistants to monitor progress and provide support and oversight for countries delivering TT.
vi. Represent and present progress on behalf of Tide Turners at ISLANDS Project Steering Committee meetings and other various events throughout the year.
vii. Work closely with ISLANDS Admin & Finance Officer to ensure timely and proper submission of all SPREP Legal and Finance protocols for contracts, funding, and reporting.
viii. Provide timely quarterly narrative reports to YEA and ISLANDS Project Coordinator
ix. The development of capacity through coaching, mentoring and formal on-the-job training, when working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-) governmental counterparts, including Implementing Partners (IPs)
x. Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and activities throughout the assignment.
xi. A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed.