Project Officer – Water Sciences Division

Host entity: UNESCO

Volunteer type: International

Areas of expertise: Project management, programme development, strategy, Community development, Climate change, environment

Application deadline: 22/09/2026

Mission and objectives

UNESCO is the scientific arm of the United Nations, established in 1945 to foster global peace through international education, science, culture, and communication collaboration and international cooperation. UNESCO promotes its scientific and technology mandate to address global challenges through resilience and sustainable development.
UNESCO’s international science programmes have long-standing experience in mobilizing the best available fundamental and applied science in their respective fields to serve Member States. They work to develop:
• international cooperation, networking and knowledge-sharing ;
• research, monitoring, and the generation of knowledge;
• human and institutional capacity and educational initiatives;
• sound policies and governance;
• responses to requests for technical assistance from Member States;
• awareness on scientific issues among policy-makers and the general public.
The programmes are:
• Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP);
• Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB);
• International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP);
• International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP).
Additionally, UNESCO's Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems programme (LINKS) promotes local and indigenous knowledge and its inclusion in global climate science and policy processes, and its World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) produces policy-relevant, timely and reliable information in various fields of water resources developments and management.
These programmes are supported by extensive networks and benefit from the concrete experience gained from the UNESCO designated sites: biosphere reserves, UNESCO Global Geoparks and natural sites inscribed on the World Heritage list.

Assignment context

This UNV assignment is expected to be focusing mainly, but not only, on the UNESCO’s project Sustainably Unlocking the Economic Potential of Lake Turkana. This is a 10-year programme funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and led by UNESCO and WFP. Lake Turkana is the world largest desert lake. It is located in the north of Kenya, an area characterised by high level of food and water insecurity. The project focuses on the sustainable management of the Lake resources (water and fish), and on nutrition and sustainable livelihood, that have been heavily impacted by climate change. Lake Turkana National Park is in the List of the World Heritage Sites in Danger, and the project supports the implementation of the corrective measures to ensure the Desired State of Conservation.

UNESCO leads several activities and the UNV will support their implementation. A particular focus of the UNV will be the support of the UNESCO Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA), which is a bottom up and participatory methodology to support decision making for natural resources management. The UNESCO team leading the project is the Natural Sciences team of UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, situated in the UN compound in Nairobi. The newly established team consists of 20 colleagues, and the atmosphere is extremely collaborative and welcoming.

The UNESCO Nairobi office has more or less 80 staff members. The UN compound includes all the UN agencies and offers great opportunities to network and interact with many colleagues.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Natural Sciences Sector and Coordinator of the Division of Water Sciences, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Support the Lake Turkana project management and project rollout
• Support logistics and planning of the project’s activities including fieldworks and data collection
• Support logistic, planning and implementation of project workshop, dissemination events and engagement events with stakeholders, and with the communities
• Support the activities within the UNESCO Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA), and Water Quality Monitoring programme for natural resources management;
• Support hydrological studies and groundwater assessments in the project area.
• Support the development and design of monitoring programs for water resources.
• Support the creation of content for social media, newsletters, and other communication channels to raise awareness about UNESCO’s work and achievements in the region;
• Regularly attend meetings of the project steering committee, support preparing minutes of meetings and action plans with clear responsibility and timeframe.
• Support preparing reports on project progress
• Support resource mobilisation strategy
• Supporting projects on other topics for example flood management and early warning systems.

Skills and experience

Experience in combating Climate Change, in Climate Adaptation strategies, Flood Management, Water Resources Management, Water Resources Quality, Climate Change Scenarios for water and natural resources management, Hydrological processes monitoring and modelling.

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Building Trust
• Commitment and Motivation
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Communication
• Ethics and Values
• Integrity
• Judgement and Decision-making
• Knowledge Sharing
• Planning and Organizing
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity
• Self-Management
• Technological Awareness
• Working in Teams

Living conditions

Kenya is a unique and beautiful country and its capital city, Nairobi, is a vibrant metropolitan city and serves as a major UN hub where it hosts 2 headquarters, UNEP and the UN-HABITAT. Since the city provides an enriching environment, the UN plans to establish three more HQs in Nairobi and these proposed offices include UNFPA, UNCEF, and UN Women. The city experiences an all-year round mild temperatures weather, with short rains between October and December, long rains between March and May, and dry seasons between July and October and January and February. The city is well connected to other states by Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and Wilson Airport, with good a good road network with many transport options including buses, taxis, and motor bikes.

The country has multiple tribes, and one needs cultural awareness due to the diversity. The city has several public hospitals and more private hospitals with better services. The banking facilities are widespread and easy to access, and the internet access in the city is efficient. The cost of living is relatively affordable with ease access of food, water and electricity. The security in the city varies depending on the neighbourhood with some areas (normally not lived by international communities) having incidents of theft and carjacking. It is important to be familiarized with area’s security recommendations.

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) per month and is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station. UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements).

UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). A resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment. UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate. You may check the full benefits and allowances applicable to the duty station using the UVP calculator. Please see the Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers for more information and details.

Disclaimer
The United Nations Volunteers programme (UNV) is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.