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 3 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 Safeguards Framework.
WFP is recruiting up to six Regional Environmental Management Advisors to facilitate the implementation of the EMS in country operation 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 report to the Environmental Unit within the Environmental Unit, part of WFP’s Management Services Division in the Rome Headquarters. They will be based in the regional bureaux of WFP, with a secondary reporting line within the regional bureau management structure, and are expected to work closely with the Environmental and Social Safeguards Advisors (who coordinate implementation of the risk screening process described above) as well as counterparts in Supply Chain, Administration, IT and Risk Compliance. It is expected that the Regional Environmental Management Advisors will be travelling in the region around 50% of their time with occasional travel outside the region as required.
ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Capacity building and training of country offices: Promote awareness of WFP’s safeguards 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 supply chain, administration etc).
- 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.
- 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 audit and oversight 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 closeout report summarising training delivered, missions completed and key achievements during the period of appointment;
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QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Education:
- An advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in one of the following areas: Environmental Studies, Environmental Management, Natural Resource management, Environmental Engineering, or a related field;
- Formal training and/or accreditation in ISO14001 will be highly regarded.
Experience:
- At least five (5) years of postgraduate 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 reports.
- 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 for all roles;
- In addition, the following regional bureaux require a second UN language at level C:
- Dakar (Senegal) – French
- Cairo (Egypt) – Arabic
- Panama City (Panama) – Spanish.
CLOSING DATE: 1 MARCH 2020
