General
Description of assignment title
Environmental Technical Expert
Assignment country
Ukraine
Expected start date
01/05/2025
Sustainable Development Goal
13. Climate action
Volunteer category
National UN Volunteer Expert
Host entity
UNDP Ukraine
Type
Onsite
Duration
6 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments
1
Duty stations
Kyiv
Details
Mission and objectives
UNDP supports strategic capacity development initiatives to promote inclusive growth and sustainable human development. Together with national, regional and local authorities, civil societies, private sector, UNDP strives to support Ukraine in its efforts to eliminate poverty, develop people’s capacity, achieve equitable results, sustain the environment, and advance democratic governance. UNDP is in line with 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to achieve national strategic capacity development.
Context
The purpose of the Environmental Damage Assessment project is to enable the State Environmental Inspectorate to effectively fulfil its responsibilities in calculating the damage, losses, and harm caused to the environment and state natural resources within its jurisdiction, as a result of accidents, emergencies, military aggression, terrorism, or other criminal acts, particularly since the onset of martial law. The project involves creation of an Interactive Environmental Damage Register Platform as an information and analytical subsystem integrated into the State Inspectorate’s existing electronic document circulation system, and platform will facilitate and accurately document activities related to calculating the damage, losses, and harm caused to the natural environment and state natural resources within the Inspectorate’s jurisdiction, due to accidents, emergencies, military aggression, terrorism, or other criminal acts, particularly since the onset of the martial law. Additionally, the upcoming module of the integrated information and analytical subsystem will equip state inspectors of Ukraine in environmental protection with the necessary information support, facilitate the preparation, approval, and processing of documents, and aid in the implementation of environmental measures to enhance control over environmental protection, sustainable use of natural resources, and radiation safety.
Task description
To provide technical support for the implementation of the activities within the framework of the UNDP project “Mitigating the Risks of Long-Term Environmental Disasters in Ukraine Through the Establishment of a Coordination Centre on Environmental Damage Assessment” within the Energy and Environment portfolio. To review and analyse the best international experience on existing methods (services) for detecting and assessing environmental damage using international remote sensing services, GIS technologies. Tasks: 1) Review of the existing and planned environmental information and relevant environmental information systems (EIS), different electronic tools in USA and EU (EEA, EIONET, Copernicus, Inspire, Sentinels, and others) by institutional structures for environmental monitoring, environmental damage assessment, and environmental control. Preparation of recommendations on the use of those tools and structures that are possible for implementation and use in Ukraine, even before Ukraine’s full accession to the EU; 2) Under the provisions of the resolution of the CMU dated March 20, 2022 No. 326 to use the results of remote sensing, including satellite images, OSINT results, and other structured sources of information to analyse and assess the environmental damage caused by military actions on the territory of a specific national park (NRF object). Prepare relevant methodological recommendations for the use of the results of remote sensing, including satellite images, OSINT results, and other structured sources of information; 3) Preparation of recommendations on the use of remote sensing results and services and OSINT results for collecting evidence of military activities and assessing environmental damage (chain of custody); 4) Development proposals for the technical requirements for the Register, that determine the dimensions and parameters necessary for calculating damage, the use of existing spatial data from the domestic and international sources of information. 5) Prepare a concept of training materials for civil servants of the State Environmental Inspectorate on the use of data or different electronic tools to determine the extent of damage caused and conduct appropriate training; 6) To analyse and create a list of information processing standards from (ISO/EN) that should be recommended to be applied in the State Environmental Inspectorate in the field of collection, analysis of samples and assessment of environmental damage, which should ensure the efficiency of these processes; 7) Prepare proposals, technical requirements, and digital layers for cartographic display on modernized web portals of relevant and requested information of the State Information Service; 8) Prepare analytical or research papers in the area of environmental damage assessment; 9) Ensure that all project needs are met through the timely provision of technical support under the supervision of the Project Manager; 10) Perform other duties as may be required by UNDP management. 11) Preparation of the Report on the performed tasks above
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 80
Required experience
7 years
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Assignment requirements
Relevant experience
7 years
Languages
English, Level: Working knowledge, Required Ukrainian, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Information Technologies or Environmental related fields
Competencies and values
• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management
Skills and experience
• Strong skills in statistical analysis and data systematization. • Experience in contributing to large-scale environmental projects. • Understanding of environmental modelling and environmental monitoring techniques • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills. • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various GIS, Database, Office applications (ArcGIs, Qgis, Mapinfo, Access, Excel, Word, Microsoft Project), email, and internet; experience with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Have affinity with or interest in volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system. • Experience in analysing remote sensing results to identify and assess environmental changes will be asset.
Area(s) of expertise
Crisis and emergency response, Energy and environment , Information technology
Driving license
–
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
The contract lasts for the period indicated in the vacancy with the possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. This is a full-time contract. Allowances: • Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) USD 2076 (equivalent in UAH) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities, and normal cost of living expenses. This includes Well-Being Differentials for the period while the ICSC applies hardship classification to duty stations in Ukraine as “E”. • USD 400 entry lump sum, one-time payment. • USD 101.78 Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment) for each month served, paid on completion of contract Medical and life insurance: • Medical insurance: The UN Volunteer and eligible PFU dependents will receive UNV provided medical insurance coverage. Coverage for UN Volunteers begins from the Commencement of Service and normally ceases one month after the last day of the UN Volunteer Contract date. • Life Insurance: UN Volunteers are covered by life insurance for the duration of the UN Volunteer assignment. If a UN Volunteer dies during the UN Volunteer assignment, the eligible designated beneficiaries will be entitled to receive a life insurance lump sum. Leave entitlements: • Annual leave: UN Volunteers accrue an entitlement to 2.5 days of Annual Leave per completed month of the UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave up to a maximum of 30 days is carried over in case of a contract extension within the same UN Volunteer assignment. Unused accrued Annual Leave may not be carried over in case of reassignment or a new assignment. • Learning leave: Subject to supervisor approval and exigencies of service, UN Volunteers may request up to ten working days of Learning Leave per consecutive 12 months of the UN Volunteer assignment, starting with the Commencement of Service date, provided the Learning Leave is used within the contract period. • Certified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers are entitled to up to 30 days of certified sick leave based on a 12-month cycle. This amount is reset every 12-month cycle. • Uncertified Sick Leave: UN Volunteers receive seven days of uncertified sick leave working days in a calendar year. This amount will be reset at the established interval period.
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
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