Request from United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Environment for Europe and Sustainable Development Team Espoo Convention Environment, Housing and Land Management Job Description INT-200-10-P028-01-V 1. General Information Title: Duration: Date Required: Duty Station: 2. Supervision Direct supervision by: Title of the supervisor: Associate Expert (Capacity-Building Officer) 1 year (with possible extension for another year) As soon as available Geneva, Switzerland Mr. Nicholas Bonvoisin Secretary to the Convention Content and methodology of the supervision: For each assignment, general objectives, desired results and anticipated problems are discussed beforehand with the Associate Expert. The supervisor gives regular feedback on the progress of activities through review of the work in progress. All duties should be carried out under general supervision and the supervisor be consulted with on issues of policy or other sensitive matters. Final results of each set of activities will be reviewed for attainment of objectives and quality of work. The supervisor will introduce the Associate Expert to the Espoo Convention and its Protocol and its programme/projects. His or her work programme will be discussed and evaluated in light of the PAS (the UN Personal Appraisal System), including feedback on the frequency and nature of assessments of accomplishments, review of problems, discussions on job-satisfaction; and a discussion of the development plan and learning objectives. Guidance will be provided in developing the work plan and in project implementation. 3. Duties, responsibilities and output expectations: Under the direct supervision of the Secretary to the Convention and within the framework of the Environment for Europe and Sustainable Development Team, the incumbent will assist the Secretary to the Convention in: 1. The organization of fact-finding and capacity-building missions to Member States for the development of implementation strategies and the drafting of related analysis and guidance, by:
Liaising with relevant authorities within the member States and local experts, as well as international organizations and non-governmental organizations; Organizing the relevant pre-mission and mission to the selected country; 2. Assist with the development of capacity-building tools, including training and workshops, by: (c) (d) Developing capacity-building modules and training courses to be delivered in selected Parties; Drafting project proposals for fundraising activities in support of capacitybuilding activities; Making arrangements for, and supervising the preparation of related capacitybuilding material to be used during workshops; Preparing and delivering presentations in capacity-building workshops. 3. Assist relevant Parties in the organization of workshops on matters related to the Convention and the Protocol by: Providing substantial and logistical back up to the organizing countries; Ensuring the proper follow up to these workshops also by compiling the material produced and delivered at workshops and making it available to interested Parties. 4. Assist with the development of capacity-building material on the work of the Convention and the Protocol by: Monitoring that the information on the Convention and the Protocol is constantly updated (website, publications, communications to member States); Contribute to the work of the Secretariat on capacity-building activities, in particular by providing information on capacity-building needs of concerned Parties; 5. Assist with the day-to-day activities of the Secretariat, including by: Supporting the organization of the meetings of the intergovernmental groups under the Convention and the Protocol and the Bureau meetings; Gathering relevant information for the preparation of meeting documents and brochures;
(c) (d) Liaison with relevant international organizations on matters related to the work of the Convention and the Protocol; Attending relevant meetings. Output Expectations Overall, increased understanding by concerned Parties of the importance of good legislation and the use of appropriate administrative tools to implement the provisions of the Convention and the Protocol. Development of effective capacity-building tools, to be used at the national and local levels and thus increase the capacity of concerned Parties to use these tools appropriately. Enhanced capability of the Espoo Convention Secretariat to provide technical assistance to concerned Parties. Further improvement of the organization of workshops and better impact of results and guidance. Identification of expertise that can be deployed in capacity-building exercises in the region. Increased visibility and impact of the work of the Espoo Convention Secretariat. Increased synergies with other international organizations on issues related to the Convention and the Protocol. 4. Qualifications and experience Education: Work experience: Languages: Other skills: UN Competencies: Advanced university degree in law, economics, environment or another relevant discipline At least two years of relevant working experience. Fluency in English and good drafting and writing skills are required; a working knowledge of either French or Russian is useful. They should also have good computer, writing and communication skills. Knowledge of the fields related to the Convention and/or the Protocol is desirable. Professionalism: Ability to undertake research, analyze data, make recommendations and write reports. 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; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
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; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Team work: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; is willing to learn from others and supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Client orientation: Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. 5. Learning Elements On-the-job training in the administration and functioning of the intergovernmental bodies under the Convention and the Protocol On-the-job training, through missions on site, and interaction with local authorities, NGOs and other UN agencies Coordination with other UN agencies and partner organisations through the UN system Understanding of international UN negotiations and servicing of UN bodies Understanding of key issues regarding the implementation of the Convention and the Protocol at the international level Improvement of English writing skills Language courses in the UN languages are available as required (courses take place regularly on the UN premises), as well as other courses (negotiations, teamwork, etc) Further computer courses or other courses can be covered by the Associate Expert training budget During the first year, the Associate Expert will become familiar with all relevant activities under the Convention and the Protocol, with the requirements for capacitybuilding activities under the Convention and the Protocol and with the procedures for the organization and funding of missions and workshops. He/she will oversee the elaboration of capacity-building tools and activities and to finalize related documents with limited supervision. He/she will compile information on capacity-building activities and oversees its dissemination. He/she will have gained knowledge of the work of the Espoo Convention Secretariat. He/she should have become familiar with the systems for the management of information and have improved his/her English drafting skills, if necessary. He/she fully participates in the discussions, planning and work of the Espoo Convention Secretariat.
During the second and the third year, the Associate Expert will be able to oversee the elaboration of capacity-building activities and workshops and to organize missions and workshops, including the finalization of related documents with minimal supervision. He/she monitors the implementation of activities and projects, and undertakes the technical evaluation of the results of the activities. He/she makes suggestions on possible follow up action and initiates contacts with relevant organizations or the Parties. He/she autonomously replies to queries to the Espoo Convention Secretariat concerning capacity-building activities. He/she has gained experience in the organization and servicing of the relevant intergovernmental meetings. Represent on request the Espoo Convention Secretariat at meetings and other events. During the whole period, the Associate Expert will gain experience in the role of the Espoo Convention Secretariat, and be increasingly able to take a proactive and valueadded role in supporting its functioning. 6. Background information UNECE and the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. It is the forum where the countries of Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and North America 56 countries in all come together to forge the tools of their economic cooperation. That cooperation concerns such areas as economic cooperation and integration, energy, environment, housing and land management, population, statistics, timber, trade and transport. UNECE provides analysis, policy advice and assistance to governments, and it gives focus to the United Nations global mandates in the economic field, in cooperation with other global players and key stakeholders, notably the business community. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an important tool for an integrated approach to the protection of the environment, as it requires a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of an activity on the environment at the planning stage. It has been included in the national legislation of most countries for many years and there is much experience with its implementation. The UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (often called the Espoo Convention after the Finnish city where it was adopted) supports environmentally sound and sustainable development by providing information on the interrelationship between certain economic activities and their environmental consequences, in particular in a transboundary context. The Espoo Convention was adopted on 25 February 1991and entered into force on 10 September 1997. Currently, it has 44 Parties. The Convention has been supplemented by a Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which was adopted on 21 May 2003 in Kiev, Ukraine. Currently, the Protocol has 18 Parties and will enter into force on 11 July 2010. The Espoo Convention is the one of the first multilateral treaties to specify the procedural rights and duties of Parties with regard to transboundary impacts of proposed activities and to provide procedures, in a transboundary context, for the consideration of environmental impacts in decision-making. The Convention stipulates that an EIA
procedure as provided for in this Convention has to be undertaken for a proposed activity planned by one Party, which is likely to have a significant transboundary impact within an area under the jurisdiction of another Party. The workplan under the Convention, as adopted by the Fourth Meeting of the Parties (May 2008, Romania), includes a part on capacity-building activities related both to the Convention and the Protocol. It is expected that the workplan to be adopted by the Fifth Meeting of the Parties (June 2011, Geneva) will increase capacity-building related to the Protocol, while maintaining capacitybuilding for the Convention. The secretariat to the Espoo Convention comprises two professional staff: the Secretary to the Convention paid from the regular budget of the United Nations, and a project officer financed through voluntary contributions by Parties to the Convention. They are supported by 50% of a programme assistant. The secretariat to the Espoo Convention is part of the Environment for Europe and Sustainable Development Team, one of three teams within the Environment, Housing and Land Management Division of UNECE. Capacity-building: an area to be strengthened in the application of the Convention and the Protocol Despite the quantity and diversity of guidance and advice developed through the work under the Convention and the Protocol, limitations remain in the level of dissemination and use of such guidance by the Parties, in particular local authorities, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders at the community level. There seems to be a gap between the high-level information produced and available to the Parties and their ability to permeate and assist the work of those for which it was meant to be useful at the local level (local developers, local governments, planners, decision-makers at the local and national levels, officers in ministries, NGOs, local associations, etc). In order to facilitate implementation of international decisions and guidance, capacitybuilding and training, including through pilot projects and other multilateral cooperative approaches, are identified as the most important means for mainstreaming guidance within the network of local decision-making and management processes and into practice. The Espoo Convention Secretariat is therefore frequently expected to provide the Parties with practical assistance to ensure that the guidance adopted by the Meeting of the Parties is effective and increases the ability of the countries to successfully address all aspects of the application of the Convention and the Protocol, at all levels.