Legal Consultant

Provision of high-quality legal and procedural advisory services that support the effective functioning of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), strengthen UNEP’s governance and decision-making processes and facilitate the development, negotiation and adoption of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution through rigorous legal analysis, strategic advice and expert support to intergovernmental bodies and treaty negotiation processes.

Nairobi

8 Months

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. The fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) adopted resolution 5/14 on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, and provided the mandate for the establishment of an intergovernmental negotiating committee to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. The international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, could include both binding and voluntary approaches, based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic. This consultant will be based at the INC Secretariat in Nairobi, under the direct supervision of the Executive Secretary of the INC Secretariat with an additional reporting line to the Principal Legal Adviser in the Law Division. UNEP’s Law Division is the lead Division charged with carrying out the functions of UNEP in the field of environmental law and environmental governance. The Law Division promotes the contribution of environmental dimension of sustainable development through law, national and international governance and related policy issues, including those related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). Under the overall guidance of the Executive Secretary and the direct supervision of the Senior Legal Adviser to UNEP, the Legal Consultant will be responsible for the following duties: 1. Provides legal and procedural support to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC). 2. Carry out research into substantive and procedural questions. 3. Contribute to the preparation of in-session documents that address legal questions including drafts texts of a legal instrument. 4. Provides authoritative legal and strategic advisory services on the mandate, international legal status, and governance framework of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), including its governing and subsidiary bodies, rules of procedure, and applicable United Nations regulations, rules, and resolutions. Conducts in-depth legal research and complex analysis to develop evidence based legal opinions, policy guidance, position papers, studies, briefs, and reports that inform institutional decision-making, enhance governance effectiveness, and support the Programme’s strategic objectives. 5. Handles a wide range of multidiscipline and complex legal matters involving issues of international public, law. 6. Attends meetings and services diplomatic conferences, the meetings of treaty bodies including processes convened under the auspices of UNEP such as the INC, commissions, committees, taskforces, expert groups and other bodies, including preparation of background materials, summaries of issues and views of delegations and meeting reports. Advises presiding officers. 7. Coordinates and directs teams of junior officers, including United Nations Volunteers. 8. Reviews draft decisions of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR), United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and the Conference of the Parties of treaty bodies or intergovernmental platforms as well as draft decisions to be adopted by the INC.

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in law is required. A first-level university degree in law in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in law, including legal analysis, research and writing, including at least two (2) years of service with the legal office of a government department or ministry or of the secretariat of an international organization with a specialization in international law, procedures of intergovernmental meetings and governance, is required. Experience in professional legal work relating to the rules of procedure and institutional questions of intergovernmental bodies administered by the United Nations that focus on the environment is required. Experience in professional legal work addressing issues related to plastics manufacturing or plastic pollution, is required. Experience supporting meetings, consultations, or multistakeholder processes is required.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (oral and written) is required.

Not available.