Environmental Officer (Abyei ) – UNV
Job Description
| Organization | United Nations Volunteers |
| Description of the assignment title | UNV Environmental Officer |
| Host entity | UNISFA |
| Assignment country | Sudan |
| Type | Onsite |
| Number of assignments | 1 |
| Advertisement end date | 27/12/2023 |
Details
Mission and objectives
UNISFA was established in July 2011 under authority of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). UNISFA is mandated to Strengthen the capacity of the Abyei Police Service (APS) by providing support, including the training of personnel, and coordinate with the APS on matters of law and order, Monitor and verify the redeployment of armed forces from the Abyei area in accordance with the 20 June 2011 Agreement, Provide de-mining assistance and technical advice, Facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and free movement of humanitarian personnel in coordination with relevant Abyei Area bodies, When requested and in cooperation with the APS, provide security for oil infrastructure in the Abyei Administrative Area (AAA) and later to organize the referendum The Council also authorized UNISFA under Chapter VII to:
• Protect UN Personnel, facilities, installations, and equipment.
• Ensure the security and freedom of UN and humanitarian personnel and members of the Joint Military Observers Committee and Joint Military Observer Teams established by the 20 June Agreement.
• Protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence; and protect the Area from incursions by unauthorized elements and ensure security.
Context
UNISFA was established in July 2011 under authority of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). UNISFA is mandated to monitor and verify the redeployment of any Sudan or South Sudan forces in the Abyei area, to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and the free movement of relief workers in and around Abyei, to take the necessary actions to protect UN personnel (facilities, installations and equipment), to ensure security and freedom of movement of civilians in the area, and later to organize the referendum. The UNV specialist will collaborate with the Environmental affairs unit along with others Units within the Mission on a regular basis .
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Chief of Environmental Affairs Unit, the Environmental Officer will be responsible for coordinating and managing actions on environmental and cultural issues in the mission, establishing, implementing, monitoring and revising as necessary the mission’s Environmental Management System (EMS). The duties listed below are part and parcel of this task on the mission’s EMS:
Task description
•Support the of Chief of Environmental Affairs Unit in the drafting and/or review of the mission’s environmental policy and objectives (including directives, Annual Mission Environmental Statement, Standard Operating Procedures, etc).
•Contribute and be proactive in the development and co-ordination of cross-mission Environmental Sustainability Awareness Campaigns such as water and energy consumption reduction, solid/liquid waste reduction/recycling schemes and sustainable procurement;
•Within the existing setups, assist with the monitoring and lead on the analysis of data management with regards to consumption of water and energy and waste production against set targets in conjunction with the Water and Sanitation and Facilities Management team;
•Take environmental audits reports into considerations during the implementation of tasks.
•Advise on the promotion of best practices in relation to environmental management and sustainability, ensuring compliance with UN legislations and the UN Environmental Policy;
•Prepare and support the implementation of the requirements of the mission’s Environmental Management System, Environmental Preparedness and Response Plan and Environmental Strategy.
•Provide and analyses data from the Field Remote Infrastructure Management (FRIM) portal and integrate such information in the management of SMART camps across the mission.
•Implementation of DOS Environmental Strategy and Implementation of multi-year environmental projects in UNISFA as per budget requirement.
•FRIM implementation/identify requirements for smart camp concept in all team sites.
•Capacity building of Environment Focal Points and increase environmental awareness of UNISFA personnel.
•Collaborate with appropriate Units/Cells to ensure environmental and sustainable aspects are integrated into projects.
•Promulgate the Environmental Emergency Preparedness Response Plan.
•Review by Environmental Affairs Unit of all tender packages that have an impact on environment before submission to Procurement.
•FRIM data analysis to track the mission’s consumption on water, electricity and fuel.
•Encourage sustainable principles such as the use of recycled materials (e.g. compost, crushed bottles etc).
•Produce detailed contaminated land reports and provide guidance on land contamination risks and water pollution issues in all UNISFA sites;
•Provide full package of recommendations and scope of requirements for the implementation of soil remediation projects. Oversee the implementation of recommendations.
•Conduct environmental assessments and surveys of operations in the mission, including Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA);
•Produce the mission’s Environmental Baseline Study (EBS), if no such study has been done, or update existing EBS as necessary; Produce the mission’s
•Maintain a record of environmental issues and actions thereon at the mission, including, for example, a list of potentially hazardous installations within the mission (e.g., petrol station, warehouse storing flammables) in cooperation with fire marshals or other staff at the mission designated to deal with emergencies.
•Provide environmental briefings to all mission personnel including police and military contingents during induction training and to other personnel to improve overall environmental awareness of the mission.
•Liaise on environmental issues with local authorities and the office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator and relevant United Nations bodies and agencies present in the country or region hosting the mission; and
•Carry out any other tasks required to support the DOS Environmental Policy for UN Field Missions and the environmental objectives of the mission as directed by the Chief of Mission Support.
•Performs other duties, as assigned.
Furthermore, UNVs are encouraged to:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications. They should actively participate in UNV activities, such as events that mark International Volunteer Day (IVD).
• Familiarize themselves with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Engage in reflection on the type and quality of voluntary action they are undertaking. This includes participating in ongoing reflection activities.
• Contribute articles or write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications, websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme, offering support and guidance to newly arrived UNVs.
• Promote or provide advice to local groups on the use of online volunteering. They should also encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
Eligibility criteria
Age
27 – 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
5 years of experience in the environmental management/engineering or related field with a national government/administration, a non-governmental organization, the private sector or an international organization is required. Experience with methodologies for project planning, execution and evaluation of environmental compliance standards and proven ability in analytical work is desirable. Experience of writing and assessing complex detailed environmental, waste management and contaminated land reports, detailed remediation Schemes and verification reports is desirable. Excellent report writing skills to write professional detailed technical and complex information, with the ability to effectively communicate detailed technical information to specialist professionals and non-specialist elected members, officers and the public.
Area(s) of expertise
Energy and environment
Driving license
Manual transmission Required
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Desirable
Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in Area(s) of environmental management, science, engineering or related area. A first specialization university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Contaminated land assessment, resources consumption and management, environmental impact assessment studies, development of environmental compliance monitoring protocols and regimes, site assessment and investigation, capacity building and training, among others.
Competencies and values
Professionalism: in-depth understanding of environmental issues, with a particular knowledge on environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment; ability to develop comprehensive arguments for and against the suitability of pragmatic and robust solutions that provide benefits towards sustainability improvements in field Mission operations. Proven ability to organize and service intergovernmental bodies and technical meetings. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensures equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Planning And Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
Teamwork – Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals -Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others -Places team agenda before personal agenda -Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position -Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
General: This assignment is based in the UNISFA Headquarters – Abyei – Sudan. Currently this duty station is designated as non-family. Due to the terrain, the area is prone to flooding during the rainy season which lasts from late May until Mid-November. The average rainy season temperature is 30°C and temperatures in the dry season average 37°C. Accommodation: Due to the security situation in Abyei, coupled with the fact that there are limited residential accommodation options in the community that meet UN security and safety standards for staff, expatriate UN staff deployed to Abyei are generally provided secured UN accommodation in a camp-style environment. The UN-provided accommodation is equipped with minimum room furniture and is configured as single room with bath and toilet facilities. Power and water (including purified water) is provided inside the camp by the UN. As per OHRM rules, a reasonable cost recovery for accommodation is made from VLA. Due to the duration of the issuance of the Sudanese visa, UNVs may temporary and/ or permanently be assigned to Gok-Machar which is one of the UNISFA sectors where visas for Sudan are not required. Accommodation and conditions in Gok Machar are similar to those in Abyei. Food and Diet: There is a UN managed cafeteria inside the UN Camp in Abyei. The standard and quality of food is limited with a repetitious daily menu. Wide varieties of food are not available and may not be to the personal taste of UNVs. Volunteers may wish to cook their own meals in common kitchen facilities situated at convenient locations within the camp. This would require the volunteer to obtain basic cooking items such as saucepans, fry pans, plates, knives, etc. Health: UN Volunteers should be aware that they could be exposed to a number of tropical diseases and should complete all medical formalities specified in the Offer or Travel Advisory before traveling. Yellow Fever vaccination is compulsory before coming to the mission area, while vaccinations for Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Tetanus/Diphtheria, Polio and Meningitis are recommended if confirmed by the volunteer’s physician. UN Volunteers, like other international personnel, are to bring their Vaccination Card to the mission. Malaria prophylaxis is highly recommended. Due to large numbers of various types of insects in the mission area, it is also recommended to use insecticide-impregnated nets and insect repellants. UN personnel have access during working hours to a Civilian Clinic (Level 1) inside the UN Camp at Abyei and 24-hour access to a fully operational military hospital (Level 2) within same camp at Abyei. Rest and Recuperation: International personnel in UNISFA, including UN volunteers, are entitled to a 6 -week Rest and Recuperation (R&R) cycle. This means that after every 6 weeks of being in the mission area, the volunteer is entitled to take a break in either Entebbe (UNISFA designated R & R location) or any other destination outside the mission area. The entitlement is 5 calendar days R&R, 1 day official (Admin) and 2 travel days. The UN flight from Abyei or any other deployed site in the mission area to Entebbe can be used for free (return flight). However, personnel are responsible for their accommodation, meals and any other expenses while on R&R. R & R trips must be approved by the supervisor. https://www.unv.org/
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policyLive chat:
