Freshwater & Urban Resilience Expert

Organizational Context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority, setting the environmental agenda and promoting sustainable development. The Ecosystems Division collaborates with partners to provide technical assistance and capacity development, particularly for developing countries. This consultancy is situated within the Marine and Freshwater Branch, Freshwater Ecosystems and Wetlands Unit.

Job Purpose

This consultancy aims to support the implementation of national and global activities under an EC-funded project focused on global water resolutions and preparations for UNEA-7 and UN Water Conferences. The role will provide technical expertise in freshwater and urban ecosystem resilience, contributing to enhanced implementation of water-related policies and projects. Key contributions include supporting national-level integration of water elements into planning instruments, developing joint project concepts with UN-Water partners, facilitating south-south exchanges, and producing technical guidance documents. The role is crucial for operationalizing dialogues on water and climate action and preparing for major global water and climate governance processes, ensuring inclusive stakeholder engagement and resource mobilization.

Responsibilities

The consultant will contribute technical expertise to UNEP’s Ecosystems Division, focusing on freshwater and urban ecosystem resilience and the EC-funded Global Water Resolutions project. Responsibilities include supporting national-level engagement in project focus countries by assisting with the integration of water-related elements into NDCs, NAPs, NBSAPs, and NAPAs/NDPs through technical assistance and gender-responsive sessions. The role involves developing three joint project concepts with UN-Water partners to enhance UNEP's contribution to the Collaborative Implementation Plan and support UNEA6 Resolution 6/13. Additionally, the consultant will conduct ad hoc south-south and triangular exchanges to document best practices in IWRM and urban-rural linkages, incorporating traditional and Indigenous knowledge. The role also includes organizing inclusive stakeholder sessions for the Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action, providing resource mobilization support, and preparing technical inputs for global fora and communication products.

Work Experience

A minimum of two years of professional experience at the national and/or international level in freshwater/water resources management, urban ecosystem conservation, and/or drought and climate resilience is required. Experience in stakeholder engagement, coordinating multi-country projects, and supporting intergovernmental processes is also necessary. Experience in preparing technical knowledge products and working with multidisciplinary teams is required. Proficiency in MS Office applications is essential.

Skills

Technical expertise in freshwater and urban ecosystem resilience; stakeholder engagement; coordination of multi-country projects; support to intergovernmental and policy processes (e.g., UNEA, UN-Water, UNFCCC); development of technical knowledge products (briefs, guidance materials); gender-responsive approaches; resource mobilization; project reporting and monitoring; proficiency in MS Office applications.

Explore related opportunities