Mission and objectives

Since its inception in 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been the global authority that sets the environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP works through its divisions as well as regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence.

Context

The SDG Digi Ken Project brings together multiple UN agencies working collaboratively to achieve its goals. Key partners include UNESCO, leading on digital literacy and information access; UNCDF, focusing on financial inclusion and access to capital for digital MSMEs; UN Women, promoting gender equality and empowering women in the digital space; and UNEP, driving the integration of sustainability and environmental solutions through digital platforms. Together, these agencies work alongside the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator and the Government of Kenya to catalyze a robust, inclusive, and sustainable digital ecosystem.

Task Description

The SDG DigiKen Project brings together multiple UN agencies working collaboratively to achieve its goals. Key partners include UNESCO, leading on digital literacy and information access; UNCDF, focusing on financial inclusion and access to capital for digital MSMEs; UN Women, promoting gender equality and empowering women in the digital space; and UNEP, driving the integration of sustainability and environmental solutions through digital platforms. Together, these agencies work alongside the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator and the Government of Kenya to catalyse a robust, inclusive, and sustainable digital ecosystem. Objective: The UNV/Project Assistant will provide day-to-day support to the DigiKen project, ensuring smooth coordination, and supporting key project management functions. Under the direct supervision of Regional Coordinator, Digital Transformation Unit, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: Key Responsibilities: a) Project Coordination Support: • Assist in coordinating project activities, including scheduling, preparing, and following up on meetings with the Ministry of ICT, the digital economy, the UN agencies implementing the project and other partners. • Maintain a tracker of ministry meetings, key action points, and deliverables to ensure timely follow-up. • Liaise with key stakeholders to schedule consultations, project reviews, and key workshops. b) Documentation and Reporting: • Keep track of all project documentation, reports, and communications, ensuring they are well-organized and accessible. • Assist in drafting and editing reports, presentations, and minutes from stakeholder meetings. • Help prepare monthly and quarterly project progress reports. c)Monitoring of Activities: • Support the monitoring of project timelines, deliverables, and budgetary allocations. • Assist in updating the project’s work plan and ensuring that activities are on schedule. d)Stakeholder Engagement: • Coordinate communication and engagement with government counterparts, UN agencies, and other project partners. • Track and document stakeholder feedback from consultations and workshops for incorporation into project plans. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Competencies and values

• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines. • Excellent communication skills (oral and written), with the ability to draft high-quality re-ports, minutes, and presentations. • Proven stakeholder engagement skills, including working with government and non-governmental partners. • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with digital collaboration tools (e.g., Teams, SharePoint). • Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation processes and ability to track project progress and outputs effectively. • Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team setting in a multicultural environment.

Living conditions and remarks

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighboring Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s population of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% annually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO). Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP. The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate. Link to the Entitlement Calculator: https://app.unv.org/calculator

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements