Job Opportunity at the United Nations World Food Programme

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

JOB TITLE:                     Regional Environmental Management Advisor
TYPE OF CONTRACT:   International Regular Consultancy Contract (Level I)
UNIT:                               Administration
DUTY STATION:             Bangkok, Thailand
DURATION:                    06 months (Extendable)

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to WFP is recognition that ending hunger is a critical first step towards global peace. WFP recognizes that one of the greatest contributions it can make to humanity is to provide a voice to the 690 million hungry people in the world. The Nobel Peace Prize gives us a platform to make their needs heard and to mobilize support for the assistance they need.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

WFP strives to be a leader in environmental sustainability within the UN system. In pursuit of this goal, WFP adopted a new Environmental policy in February 2017, which commits the organization to avoiding unintended harm to the environment, its beneficiaries, or any other affected populations as a result of our operations and programmes, and to maximise environmental benefits. The policy contains three tools: a set of environmental and social standards, risk screening of activity design, and an environmental management system (EMS) consistent with the international standard ISO 14001. Collectively, these three elements are known as WFP’s Environmental and Social Sustainability Framework (ESSF).

WFP is recruiting up to six Regional Environmental Management Advisors to facilitate the implementation of the EMS in country operations within their region. They will also support country offices in researching and delivering local actions to reduce environmental impacts on a continuous improvement basis, develop and deliver training to colleagues, and support global environmental mainstreaming efforts across WFP, within the UN system and in collaboration with the wider humanitarian community.

These roles will be based in the regional bureaus and report to the regional head of admin, with a secondary functional reporting line to senior staff within the Environmental Unit, part of WFP’s Management Services Division in the Rome Headquarters. The regional environmental advisor is expected to coordinate with the Environmental and Social Safeguards Advisors (who support country office teams on the risk screening process described above) as well as counterparts in Administration, Supply Chain, TEC and other units as necessary. It is expected that the Regional Environmental Management Advisors will ordinarily be travelling in the region up to 50% of their time with occasional travel outside the region as required.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Capacity building and training of country offices: Promote awareness of WFP’s ESS Framework among senior management and staff; promote understanding of the organization’s environmental impacts and of EMS as a tool for systematically managing those impacts. Contribute to the development and lead delivery in the selected region of specific training for key functional areas (within administration, supply chain etc.). Contribute to the continuing development and review of guidance materials, SOPs, data collection tools and other EMS documentation.
• Technical support to country offices: in line with WFP’s EMS Manual, undertake and document environmental assessment missions and support country operations to secure senior management approval for priority actions. Within the framework of WFP’s EMS, support WFP staff from diverse functions to research, plan and implement environmental improvement solutions to address significant environmental aspects and impacts and deliver continuous improvement in environmental performance. Advise country operations during an emergency response to promote adherence to WFP’s environmental and social standards. Collect and share best practices and seek opportunities to promote regional and global solutions to common environmental challenges, where applicable.
• Contribute to the strategic direction and guidance to country offices: Support country offices to identify and comply with national environmental regulations, specific requirements from donors and other stakeholder obligations. Support the application of sustainable procurement principles in procurement processes (develop guidance, conduct market research, draft specifications, suggest minimum requirements etc.). Seek opportunities to collaborate with other UN agencies in the same locations, and as part of UN Reform processes; contribute proactively to UN and humanitarian networks to promote mainstreaming of environmental sustainability practices and collaborative solutions. Work to identify regional and country-specific funding sources to support implementation of improvement projects.
• Management oversight: Support country operations to monitor and report periodic progress of implementation of the EMS action plans, and to compile indicator data for WFP’s annual environmental footprint and to meet UN and WFP corporate reporting commitments. Support country operations staff in preparation for EMS spot checks and reviews as required.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT

• Completed environmental assessments and action plans for agreed countries within their region.
• Completed environmental footprint data for 2020 (compiled early 2021) for all countries within the appointed region
• Project implementation documented in corporate software (ARCHIBUS) and selected projects written up as published case studies;
• A standalone final report summarising training delivered, missions completed and key achievements during the period of appointment.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in one of the following areas: Environmental Studies, Environmental Management, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.

Experience: 

• At least five (5) years of professional experience in environmental management, including site assessment, EMS implementation and corporate sustainability reporting;
• Experience in delivering training is required;
• Professional experience must include implementing, or supporting implementation, in developing country contexts, in environments similar to WFP field operations;
• Prior experience working within, or in connection with, a UN system organization or in the humanitarian sector will be highly regarded.

Knowledge& Skills: 

• Detailed knowledge of the ISO 14001 standard and its application, including auditing and development of supporting documentation.
• In-depth knowledge of at least two of the following disciplines: waste management, energy/GHG management, water management, environmental compliance, and sustainable procurement, preferably in a developing country/humanitarian context.
• Proficiency in MS Office software, particularly Excel and communication tools.
•  Ability to expertly write and translate complex concepts for a variety of audiences, with the ability to facilitate training workshops/meetings and write reports for internal and external audiences.
• Persuasive public speaking skills and proven ability to coordinate and effectively communicate across multiple units and departments (including headquarters, regional, and country office levels) and with external private and public parties/stakeholders
• Ability to work and coordinate with multiple teams and with offices in remote locations
• Proven ability to successfully operate within the different geographic and cultural contexts in which WFP operates. In-depth understanding of environmental and social sustainability and links with food security.

Languages: Excellent written and spoken English (Level C) is a requirement.

DEADLINE FOR THE APPLICATIONS

Thursday 23 September 2021, Midnight, Bangkok Time.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Female applicants and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 

WFP is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organisation. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the selection & recruitment process, and for work-related needs upon joining the Programme. WFP has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, abuse of authority or discrimination. All selected candidates will, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service