Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Policy Analysis and Intergovernmental Support Section of the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat (UNFFS), a division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Sustainable Development Officer will work under the overall guidance of the Director of the UNFFS and the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Management Officer, Forest Affairs, who acts as Chief of Section. The incumbent reports to the Senior Programme Management Officer, Forest Affairs. The UNFFS provides leadership in promoting the implementation of sustainable forest management of all types of forests at all levels, including the achievement of the Global objectives on Forests, and the effective implementation of the UN Forest Instrument. The UNFFS also contributes to the implementation, follow up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including its forest-related Sustainable Development Goals and targets. It provides substantive secretariat support to the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF). The UNFF is composed of all Member States of the United Nations and specialized agencies. More information on UNFF and the UNFFS can be found from

Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Director and direct supervision of the Senior Programme Management Officer, Forest Affairs, the Sustainable Development Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Monitors and analyzes sustainable forest management and the Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network (GFFFN) programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems on forest financing, climate and sustainable forest management issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions. Serves as the UNFFS’ focal point for the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) and support the CPF’s work as its secretary. • Serves as the UNFFS’ focal point for the major groups and facilitate their contributions to the UNFF sessions and intersessional activities. • Performs consulting assignments, in collaboration with clients, (e.g. Member States, regional and sub regional organizations), by planning and facilitating activities on forest financing, climate and sustainable development issues, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing action plans, policies, strategies and measures related to implementation of the activities of the International Arrangement on Forests (IAF) strategic plan and the GFFFN. • Researches, analyzes forest financing and climate and sustainable development issues and presents information gathered from diverse sources. • Develops draft policy recommendations on climate and sustainable development issues, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies, • Formulates survey initiatives; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies climate, forest financing and sustainable development problems/issues and prepares conclusions. • Organizes and prepares written outputs on climate change, forest financing and sustainable development issues, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. • Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., on the development of the international arrangement on forests strategic plan and quadrennial programmes of work, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations. • Provides substantive support and technical advice on means of implementation on forests and sustainable development issues to the United Nations Forum on Forests and other intergovernmental bodies such as the Economic and Social Council, UNFCCC, the High level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, and the General Assembly. • Participates in or take the lead in specific inter-agency or expert task forces or working groups either internally or with outside parties. • Initiates and coordinates outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on sustainable forest management. • Leads and/or participates in large, complex field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc. • Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.). • Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff on sustainable development issues. • Designs, manages and monitors the implementation of national, interregional/global capacity building projects and other activities, and increasing and enhancing countries’ capacities for sustainable forest management. • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of sustainable forest management, policy analysis at the national and international levels, particularly with emphasis on climate partnerships and means of implementation for sustainable forest management; Ability to develop sound policy options and recommendations; Familiarity with the UNFF, the Collaborative Partnership on forests (CPF), the Economic and Social affairs programme of the United Nations and the UN system at large, its programmes and intergovernmental processes; Knowledge of the working modalities of regional and multilateral financing mechanisms and institutions as they relate to sustainable forest management; Understanding of the political environment and the programmes and activities of the UN system in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. • Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. • Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in sustainable development, forest economics, forest policy/sciences, public administration, finance, natural resources management, engineering, law, social sciences or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable forest/environmental management, and forest policy-oriented work is required. Three years of work experience in an international organization on issues related to climate change, partnerships, and forest financing is required. Experience in development and implementation of policies and measures furthering sustainable forest management in an international organization is desirable. Experience on inter-agency coordination work and with non-governmental groups is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. This post has been approved by the General Assembly until 31 December 2030 only with no expectation of further extension. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30th September 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.