General
Description of assignment title
Environment Analyst
Assignment country
Egypt
Expected start date
10/02/2025
Sustainable Development Goal
13. Climate action
Volunteer category
International UN Youth Volunteer
Host entity
UNDP
Type
Onsite
Duration
12 months
Number of assignments
1
Duty stations
Cairo
Details
Mission and objectives
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. As the lead UN development agency, UNDP is well-placed to help implement the Goals through our work in some 170 countries and territories. We support countries in achieving the SDGs through integrated solutions. Today’s complex challenges—from stemming the spread of disease to preventing conflict—cannot be tackled neatly in isolation. For UNDP, this means focusing on systems, root causes and connections between challenges—not just thematic sectors—to build solutions that respond to people’s daily realities. UNDP has been on the ground in 2017, supporting the Government of Egypt and delivering to people the best solutions particularly the most vulnerable, women and youth. Since 2015, 195-member states of the United Nations, including the Government of Egypt, committed to the Sustainable Development Goals, an ambitious action plan that pictures a better world by 2030, with serious commitment from countries to meet the set targets. In terms of policy and partnership development, UNDP is establishing new partnerships with new partners and both local and global levels. UNDP is also keen to strengthen already developed partnerships with different organizations and initiatives that support UNDP mandate.
Context
This UNV assignment is part of one of UNDP team contributing to the development and oversight of national climate change and biodiversity programmes
Task description
Under the direct supervision of Climate Change and Biodiversity Team Leaders, Assistant Resident Representative, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Support Environment Unit in developing new project ideas and drafting of project concepts and documents • Prepare background information through research, summary notes, etc. on various environment related issues; • Identify and suggest linkages and synergies of new projects with other CO projects; • Support in ensuring quality of documents, concept notes and related documents; • Support missions of International Consultants and national consultants • Undertake research on new topics as needed and advised; • Support and backstop Environment Team Leaders as needed and advised by RR; • Assist in arranging meetings, seminars, missions, workshops, functions, field visits, etc. • Support in data collection, processing, and analysis; • Draft different documents and prepare excel spreadsheets for project budget.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 80
Additional eligibility criteria
This assignment is funded by the Government of Switzerland and therefore specific criteria apply: • Candidates must be Swiss nationals. • Candidates must be between 18 and 29 years of age at the time of application. • Only candidates who have been pre-selected by Switzerland (cinfo) are eligible to apply.
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Donor priorities
.
Requirements
Required experience
1 years of experience in (minimum three months) environment, climate change and/or biodiversity. Further, the UN Volunteer is/brings: • Familiar with global environmental issues and governing international agreements • Previous work experience in developing countries is an asset • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.
Area(s) of expertise
Energy and environment
Driving license
–
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in environmental science, natural resources management, engineering, sustainable development, or related topic.
Competencies and values
– Commitment and Motivation; – Commitment to Continuous Learning; – Communication; – Creativity; – Empowering Others; – Ethics and Values; – Integrity; – Judgement and Decision-making; – Knowledge Sharing.
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
• UN Volunteers should be provided equal duty of care as extended to all host entity personnel. Host entity support to the UN Volunteer includes, but is not limited to: • Introductory briefings about the organization and office-related context including security, emergency procedures, good cultural practice and orientation to the local environment; • Support with arrival administration including setting-up of bank accounts, residence permit applications and completion of other official processes as required by the host government or host entity; • Structured guidance, mentoring and coaching by a supervisor including a clear work plan and performance appraisal; • Access to office space, equipment, IT support and any other systems and tools required to complete the objectives of the assignment including a host entity email address; • Access to shared host entity corporate knowledge, training and learning; • Inclusion of the volunteer in emergency procedures such as evacuations; • Leave management. The duty station will be Cairo, which is a family duty station with a wide range of services (health, education and leisure) and good living conditions. Cairo (and Egypt) has long been a center of the region’s political and cultural life, with high levels of tourism. Like other similar cities, Cairo offers good quality of life in terms of access to shopping centres, banks, medical services, educational facilities, cultural events, etc. The Arab Republic of Egypt has a unique geographical position in Northeast Africa, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, on the Mediterranean and Red Sea, and its connection to Sub Saharan Africa through the Nile Valley. The country is defined by desert and the Nile, the longest river on Earth. Egypt is bordered by the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Gulf of Aqaba to the east, the Red Sea to the east and south, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west. With over 90 million inhabitants, two-thirds of which are below 30 years, Egypt is Africa’s third most populous country after Nigeria and Ethiopia and has the highest population in the Arab world’s most densely populated areas, especially in greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta. The country has witnessed significant political and economic changes since 2011. Through this transition, which includes periods of political unrest, the main income sources of the economy have been negatively impacted, particularly in the tourism sector, as well as revenues from the Suez Canal, oil and remittances from Egyptians working abroad, affected by the global economy. However, with the current political stability, tourism is getting improved, and touristic activities are going back to normal. UN staffs are not directly targeted in Egypt and for the most are vulnerable to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is recommended to keep dwell time in the immediate vicinity of military, police and other prominent official installations to the minimum.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy