Associate Academic Officer: Water in context of Water, Energy Food Nexus Senior Associate

United Nations University Objectives:

The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars, engaged in research, postgraduate teaching and capacity development, and the dissemination of knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States. For more information, please visit: https://unu.edu.

The United Nations University Vice-Rectorate in Europe (UNU-ViE):

UNU-ViE, established in 2007, is one of two Vice-Rectorates and the only one located outside Japan. UNU-ViE seeks to strengthen the presence of UNU in Europe and supports the worldwide institutional development of UNU by facilitating collaboration across UNU and the UN, and sharing knowledge and expertise through the development of joint activities and projects. In addition to its core mandate, it administers the central units providing service to both UNU-ViE and UNU-EHS. For more information, please visit: https://vie.unu.edu/

The Pan African Cooperation and Educational Technologies (PACET) Program at UNU-ViE aims to strengthen research, educational, and institutional capacities of UNU-EHS in global South with a focus on Africa. PACET fosters cooperation between UNU and African institutions in higher education, research, policy, and practice to develop innovative methods and appropriated solutions to address challenges particularly within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Pairs Agreement, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Agenda 2063 of the African Union :

Water-Energy-Food (WEF) in context of Climate Change addresses from a nexus standpoint represents a main research pillar at PACET. Activities and projects on the topic aims at generating new scientific and policy-relevant knowledge to support sustainable socio-economic, environmentally-friendly transformation and increase resilience against climate change in Global South with a focus on Africa. Water in the context of WEF nexus addresses water-oriented research topics that enable the management of water in a sustainable and integrated manner. The research topics include strategic water use planning and efficiency, reliable water supply for agriculture, transboundary water management, integration of intelligent and smart systems to monitor and collect real-time data on water demand and allocation. Despite overall progress on capacity-building related to climate action at the national level, countries in the global south continue to face institutional, technical and financial capacity gaps and needs. Institutional capacity-building and Cooperation with global South represent another important pillar of activities at PACET which are geared among other toward strengthening institutional and individual capacities in southern countries to ensure national ownership in the implementation of Paris agreement.

Responsibilities:

Under the authority of the Vice-Rector in Europe and Director of UNU-EHS and the direct supervision of PACET head of section, the successful candidate will be entrusted with the following tasks:

• Coordinating PACETs activities and projects on Water in the frame of Water, Energy and Food (WEF) Nexus in context of Climate change and strengthening the research profile and scientific outputs of the program.
• Developing and strengthening PACETs activities on institutional and technical capacity-building of countries in Global South in UNFCCC reporting processes, Climate Actions and regional agendas i.e. Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
• Coordination of projects at PACET on Water in context of WEF nexus (APV-MAGA, WESA, etc.). This includes content generation and delivery, supervision and management of resources (financial and personnel) for the implementation activities and all required administrative tasks such as implementation, communication with partners and donors, monitoring and reporting (achievement, progress and accounting)
• Support the coordination of projects RETO-DOSSO and Global Cooperation for Climate Action at PACET
• Acquisition of third party funding
• Contributing to fund-raising activities respectively application for grants particularly on the themes of Water in context of WEF nexus and institutional and technical capacity-building of countries in UNFCCC reporting processes
• Liaise with African, German and international actors and institutions of higher education, research and development cooperation in/with Africa.
• Publish in scientific journals
• Supervise PhD and MSc theses on relevant topics; engage in MSc-level teaching as required
• Support to the organization of educational activities and events: semester and block courses, seminars, workshops, summer schools in Germany and abroad.
• Take up other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

· PhD in environmental sciences, natural sciences, of geography.

· A minimum of two (2) years of working experience in a relevant field, preferably in an international and multi-cultural environment

· Proven experience of successful project management in the context of development cooperation/science-policy interface and in coordinating with a broad range of actors;

· Excellent skills in writing applications for research grants;

· Experience in fund raising for research projects from German and international donors

· Ability to negotiate with partners and funding institutions;

· Advanced statistical skills and experience with statistical software packages essential;

· Previous experience in teaching at MSc-level, including the supervision of MSc- and/or PhD theses;

· Excellent writing, presentation and communication skills with a fluency in spoken and written English. Additional languages such as German and French, Spanish or further UN languages are an asset;

· Track-record of representing your organization at international fora with a specific focus on presenting research results to inter-disciplinary audiences;

· Strong network with institutions in research, policy and educational in global South particularly Africa

· Strong team player with strong interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;

· This position entails a high degree of travel.

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply and become part of the organization.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

Remuneration:

We offer a competitive net salary (tax-exempted) at P-2 level commensurate to the level of experience and allowances including post adjustment. Post adjustment is subject to change.

The post carries the standard set of United Nations benefits and entitlements for international positions in the UN Common System, including participation in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, the possibility of participation in a health insurance programme, education grant, removal expenses and home leave.

For more information about United Nations salary and entitlement/benefits, please visit; https://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/index.html.

UNU Rector reserves the right to appoint a suitable candidate at a lower level than advertised.

Duration of Contract:

This is a full time fixed-term appointment and an internationally recruited post. The initial appointment will be for a period of one (1) year with the possibility of renewal on a rolling fixed-term appointment basis, subject to satisfactory work performance. The combined duration of fixed-term appointments shall not exceed six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for United Nations staff is 65 years old.

Staff members of the United Nations University are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Rector and may be assigned to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations University.

Starting Date: as soon as possible**

Application Procedure:

Interested applicants should submit their applications by e-mail to ([email protected]), and must include the following:

· a cover letter setting out how the qualifications and experience match the requirements of the position;

· a curriculum vitae and a completed and signed UNU Personal History (P.11) form downloadable from UNU website. Please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organizations

· full contact information of three referees; and the application must also indicate the reference number of the vacancy announcement (2021/UNU/ViE/FTA/AAO/PACET/00151526)