United Nations Environment Programme is looking for an Environmental, Natural Resources and Political Economy Expert (French-speaking)

Result of Service

Dialogues and collaborative planning on natural resources and climate resilience among Eastern Mediterranean/West Asia regional states is supported and facilitated by the United Nations through coordinated delivery of relevant, science-based evidence about environmental and climate change, and co-created adaptation ideas, strengthening the foundations for cooperative climate action.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

8 months

Duties and Responsibilities

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. Minimizing environmental threats to human well-being from the environmental causes and consequences of conflicts and disasters has been a key priority for UNEP since 1999 when the Disasters and Conflicts Branch was established to deliver high-quality environmental expertise to national governments and partners in the UN family as part of crisis response and recovery. The Branch has a strong track record of partnering with a broad range of actors and organizations – both within and outside the UN system – to develop, test and disseminate innovative approaches to complex multidimensional problems.

UNEP Disasters and Conflicts Branch currently seeks an international consultant to provide environmental advisory services and support UN system-wide and broader international efforts to address transboundary climate risks in the Euphrates-Tigris basin, Eastern Mediterranean/West Asia regions. Under the guidance of the Senior Advisor, Disasters and Conflicts Branch and in coordination with UNEP Regional Office Focal Points, the consultant will contribute to ongoing work across regional countries, with a particular focus on delivering support to address transboundary climate risks and scale up adaptation and resilience in conflict-affected settings. The consultant’s work will include:

• Sustained partnership between the UN, national and international partners, including International Financial Institutions (IFIs) at country and regional level to provide and communicate evidence to support identification and adaptation/resilience initiatives, strengthening the foundations for cooperative climate action across the region;
• Supporting and facilitating online discussions and in-person meetings among regional environment/climate practitioners, including in-person meetings (to be convened during Q1-2 2026), leading to the joint identification of climate resilience-building actions including nature-based solutions;
• Identifying the potential socio-economic and peace gains expected to arise from actions to increase environmental protection and drought resilience, building on science and relevant experience from the region and beyond;
• Supporting UNEP to communicating the findings of research, analysis and dialogues to government UN, IFIs, national partners and potential donors in the lead-up to international meetings and conferences scheduled for Q3-4 2026.

More specifically:

1. Deliver technical support (on request) to UN teams working in the ET Basin on environment, climate change, water, peace and security issues with transboundary dimensions
2. Engage national interlocutors to provide technical support and solutions-design, drawing where relevant on local/traditional knowledge and practices, and on relevant technologies or emerging climate solutions
3. Support in-person meetings among regional environment/climate practitioners to be convened by UNEP during Q1-2 2026, which will lead to the identification of climate resilience-building actions including nature-based solutions;
4. Provide contextual analysis, identify socio-economic and peace gains that might arise from actions to increase environmental protection and drought resilience;
5. Communicate findings of the above work in the lead-up to international meetings and conferences scheduled for Q3-4 2026. Generate shareable knowledge for relevant stakeholders on good practices and lessons learnt.

Qualifications/special skills

• A Master’s Degree in environmental science, engineering, hydrology, development studies, international relations, international law or similar is required. A bachelor’s degree with an additional two years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a master’s degree.
• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in environmental and natural resources policy development and planning is required;
• Professional experience of the Western Asia and/or Eastern Mediterranean region is required;
• Prior experience in producing high-quality reports/analysis for different international audiences is required;
• Demonstrated ability to draft clear analysis in English of climate- and environment-related risks to people, ecosystems and regional economies is required.
• Prior experience assessing and integrating climate and environmental dimensions into programme development is an advantage.
• Professional experience in climate adaptation, ecosystems management and/or water resources management is desirable;
• Experience of work with UN entities, multilateral development banks and government partners is desirable;
• Experience of work in contexts affected by conflict is desirable;
• Experience in designing and implementing peacebuilding approaches is desirable;

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in English, including the ability to draft/edit a broad range of written reports, presentations and communications materials, and communicate complex ideas and concepts in a clear and concise manner, is required.
• Ability to speak and understand regional languages is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

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