Organization Mission

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 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. Within UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division (IED), the Industry Innovation Branch (RMB) supports public policies and private-sector initiatives that advance efficient, clean and safe industrial production methods while creating the enabling conditions for sustainable consumption within value chains in high-impact sectors.

The Industry Innovation Branch hosts the Secretariat of the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP), an initiative led by UNEP, UNIDO, the World Bank, the OECD and GGGI that aims at facilitating the sharing, promotion and application of green and circular economy best practices and impactful solutions, capitalizing on the knowledge and experience generated across the globe by those who are leading the transition through innovative policy instruments, business models and technologies, financing mechanisms and investments, as well as through international cooperation and technical assistance.

GGKP relies on its knowledge partners to fulfill its mandate and is in the process of renewing, expanding and further engaging this network with the objectives of intensifying international cooperation on green and circular economy knowledge exchange as well as of consolidating and diversifying the GGKP federated knowledge base. To achieve this, GGKP is planning to identify and engage with new technical knowledge partners with expertise in green and circular economy at regional, national and local levels.

Key Responsibilities

We are looking for 1 Online Volunteers with experience in desk research and a good understanding of green and circular economy, including in the context of industry and/or value chains.
The Online Volunteers will support the identification, classification, and analysis of potential new technical knowledge partners with experience and expertise in green and circular economy practices, operating at regional, national and local levels in Asia (including Central Asia). Such technical knowledge partners should represent diverse types and sources of experience and experience, and a broad range of organizations (e.g. scientific and technical centers, business/industry associations, financing institutions, local NGOs and associations, and other major groups such as youth, indigenous people or women). Knowledge resources developed by those entities may be available in Mandarin Chinese, English or Russian (for Central Asia) (UN official languages).- Online Volunteer will research and map potential technical knowledge partners with working language in English.For the Online Volunteer, the assignment will include the following responsibilities:
• Mapping – research and identify between 20 and 40 potential new technical knowledge partners with highly credible experience and/or expertise on green and circular economy at regional, national or local level in Asia, including those with a sectoral focus, using established criteria and guidance from the responsible GGKP team members. Such potential knowledge partners should produce or disseminate knowledge resources on green and circular economy in English for Central Asia.
• Classification and synthesis – Organize the list of GGKP potential new partners by type of organization, sectoral focus if any, type of knowledge resources, using a methodology and categories established with the responsible GGKP team members, and synthesize the profile of each entity identified.
• Prioritization: identify priority entities to engage as potential technical partners of GGKP in Asia, in relation to their level of influence or relevance in promoting green and circular economy practices at regional, national and/or local levels, and other criteria established with the GGKP team.
Deliverables:
• Detailed list of potential new technical knowledge partners of GGKP in Asia (producing knowledge resources in either English including short description of each entity, and organized as per established categories and criteria (Excel format, in English).
• Short recommendation report highlighting priority entities to engage with as potential technical knowledge partners of GGKP (in English).The Online Volunteer will have the opportunity to contribute to strategic knowledge partnerships on green and circular economy within the United Nations system and gain

Required Skills and Experience

Candidates should have experience in green/circular economy and/or sustainable development, possibly related to industry and value chains. Previous work with international development organisations or NGOs, would be considered an asset.
Demonstrated ability to work independently, excellent attention to detail, and strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to synthesize large amounts of information into actionable insights or recommendations.