Sustainable Environmental Management Specialist

Organizational Context

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is the UN's lead entity for human rights, mandated to promote and protect all human rights. The Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) focuses on economic, social, and cultural rights, including the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment (R2HE). This assignment supports ROCA's Green Office Policy to reduce its environmental footprint and advance R2HE through research and programming.

Job Purpose

This UN Volunteer assignment supports the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) in implementing its Green Office Policy and advancing the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment (R2HE). The role involves reducing the office's environmental footprint through sustainable management practices and contributing to ROCA's programming on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR), with a focus on R2HE. The assignment will contribute to research, reporting, awareness-raising, and coordination with stakeholders, including government and civil society, to promote environmental rights and build inclusive green initiatives.

Responsibilities

The UN Volunteer will advance the implementation of ROCA’s Green Policy through staff engagement, capacity building, and awareness-raising on sustainable environmental management. Responsibilities include supporting Greenhouse Gas (GHG) data collection and reporting for ROCA and its country presences under the Greening the Blue initiative, in compliance with the UN Sustainability Strategy. The role involves supporting office-wide advocacy on sustainable environmental management (SEM) and human rights, coordinating environmental assessments, and implementing green initiatives. Additionally, the volunteer will research and analyze information on R2HE and its human rights impacts, assist in drafting reports and correspondence, support regional mapping of environmental human rights trends, and engage with government counterparts, UN partners, and civil society on environmental issues.

Work Experience

Requires 3 years of experience in human rights, environmental policy, climate change, sustainability, or related fields. Experience in environmental assessment, research, monitoring, and advocacy is beneficial. Familiarity with the UN system, the sustainable development agenda, or the Greening the Blue initiative is desirable. Strong analytical and organizational skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in Microsoft Office are expected.

Skills

Key competencies include accountability, adaptability, creativity, judgment, planning, professionalism, self-management, respect for diversity, and teamwork. Expertise areas include community development, energy and environment, and legal affairs. Proficiency in Russian and English is required.

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