Associate Legal Officer, Associate Legal Officer, Nairobi, Kenya

General

Description of assignment title: Associate LegalOfficer

Assignment country: Kenya

Duty stations: Nairobi

Work location: On UN premises

Expected start date: 08/31/2026

Duration: 12 months(with possibility ofextension)Long-term benefits and allowances

Sustainable Development Goal: 16. Peace, justice andstrong institutions

Host entity: UNEP

Modality: Onsite

Type: International

Volunteer category: Specialist UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule: Full-time

Number of Assignments: 1

Details

Mission and objectives:

• Since its inception in 1972, the United Nations EnvironmentProgramme (UNEP) has been the global authority that sets theenvironmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of theenvironmental dimension of sustainable development within theUnited Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate forthe global environment.
• UNEP's mission is to provide leadership and encouragepartnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing,and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of lifewithout compromising that of future generations.
• Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP works through itsdivisions as well as regional, liaison and out-posted offices and agrowing network of collaborating centres of excellence.

Context:

• The Law Division leads UNEP's role as Secretariat to the FifthMontevideo Programme on the Development and Periodic Review ofEnvironmental Law (Montevideo Programme V). The MontevideoProgramme V is ten-year intergovernmental programme adopted by theUN Environment Assembly at its fourth meeting in March 2019. TheMontevideo Programme V promotes the environmental rule of law,strengthens the related capacities in countries, and contributes tothe environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for SustainableDevelopment. The programme formally commenced in January 2020 andis a flagship initiative of the Law Division.
• The UNV is required to support the work of UNEP in successfullyimplementing the Montevideo Programme V. There is a significantamount of work needed to fulfil UNEP's functions as Secretariat,including it raising its visibility and profile, as well as inundertaking and supporting the substantive environmental lawactivities required to be implemented under the programme, and theassociated reporting, at the request of Member States. The UNVwould play an important role in supporting these functions.

Task description:

• Under the direct supervision of the Special Assistant of theLaw Division, the UN Volunteer will undertake the followingtasks:
• Assist in performing United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP)'s roles and functions as Secretariat under MontevideoProgramme V, including servicing meetings, preparing backgrounddocuments, and drafting meeting reports;
• Conduct legal research on a diverse range of assigned issues inenvironmental law under Montevideo Programme V, including but notlimited to environmental rule of law, human rights and theenvironment, and emerging issues such as rights of nature andenvironmental crime;
• Assist in reviewing legal documents, instruments, or othermaterial on environmental law and related areas under MontevideoProgramme V;
• Support the Special Assistant in providing effectiveadministrative services to implement the Division's mandate andfunctions, including enhancing the Law Division's digital andknowledge platforms;
• Support the communications needs of the Law Division, includingupdating and enhancing UNEP's website, InforMEA, and UNEP Law andEnvironment Assistance Platform (UNEP-LEAP), and assist in theDivision's reporting needs;
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned.
• Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept ofvolunteerism by reading relevant United Nations Volunteers (UNV)and external publications and actively participating in UNVactivities (for instance, events marking International VolunteerDay);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local formsof volunteerism in the host country;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action they areundertaking, including participation in ongoing reflectionactivities;
• Contribute articles or write-ups on field experiences andsubmit them for UNV publications, websites, newsletters, pressreleases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UNVolunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of onlinevolunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals andorganizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenevertechnically possible.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 - 80

Required experience: 3 years

Nationality: Candidate must be a national of a countryother than the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience:

• 3 years

Languages:

• English, Level: Fluent, Required
• French, Level: Fair, Desirable
• Spanish, Level: Fair, Desirable

Required education level:

• Bachelor's degree in Law, with a specialization inenvironmental law and governance

Competencies and values:

• Communication
• Planning and Organizing
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity

Skills and experience:

• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsibleexperience in environmental law and governance.
• Progressively responsible experience in environmental law andgovernance, including legal analysis, research and writing.
• Prior work experience at the international level isdesired.
• Prior work experience with communications is desired.

Area(s) of expertise:

• Project management, programme development, strategy, Climatechange, environment, Legal affairs

Driving license:

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