Associate Environment Officer, Kathmandu

General

Description of assignment title: Associate Environment Officer

Assignment country: Nepal

Duty stations: Kathmandu

Work location: On UN premises

Expected start date: 12/12/2026

Duration: 13 months (with possibility of extension)

Sustainable Development Goal: 13. Climate action

Host entity: UNESCO Nepal

Modality: Onsite

Type: International

Volunteer category: Specialist UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule: Full-time

Number of Assignments: 1

Details

Mission and objectives

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in education, sciences and culture. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.

Context

Nepal faces growing climate and disaster risks, increasing water insecurity, and persistent gaps in access to scientific knowledge and innovation. UNESCO Kathmandu’s Sciences portfolio addresses these challenges through work on climate adaptation and resilience, sustainable water management, climate finance, and science, technology and innovation (STI). The assignment will support programme continuity by translating technical evidence and stakeholder priorities into finance-ready project ideas, policy inputs and practical knowledge products. Working within the multidisciplinary UNESCO programmes, the UN Volunteer will contribute through research, knowledge generation, technical analysis, ideation, drafting and programme support.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of The Head of the Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Climate adaptation and finance: Support research and synthesis on climate adaptation, water resilience and disaster-related issues in Nepal, and contribute to the identification of relevant programme and funding opportunities and the preparation of project concepts and proposals.
2. Biodiversity management: Generate and synthesize knowledge for biodiversity initiatives, including work related to UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme, International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists; develop ideas and technical inputs; and contribute to background papers, concept notes, workplans and materials for consultations led by UNESCO.
3. Science, technology and innovation: Support research, coordination and knowledge management activities related to UNESCO's Science, Technology and Innovation portfolio in Nepal, including preparation of reports, policy briefs, presentations, meeting documentation and other knowledge products. Contribute to stakeholder engagements, events and related follow-up activities.
4. Project development, resource mobilization and results management: Support the development of concept notes, project proposals, donor submissions and partnership documents, including results frameworks, budgets, indicators, monitoring tools, progress tracking, risk analysis, reporting, evaluation and learning products.

WORKPLAN

During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 - 80

Required experience

3 years

Donor priorities

This assignment is funded by the Government of Norway and therefore specific criteria apply:

• Applicants must be Norwegian nationals.
• Applicants who already served on a UN Volunteer assignment funded by the Government of Norway are not eligible.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

25 October 2026 (23:59 UTC)

SELECTION

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. The selection will be done by the UN Host Entity at the level of the country of assignment. Interviews will be conducted by UN Host Entities in November.

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Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Additional eligibility criteria

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Assignment requirements

Relevant experience

1 year

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Master's degree in Environmental Science, Climate Change, Natural Resource Management, Water Resource Management, Sustainable Development, Development Studies or another relevant field.

A bachelor’s degree may be considered in lieu of the standard educational requirement for candidates with three years of relevant experience.

Competencies and values

• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Communication
• Creativity
• Knowledge Sharing
• Leadership
• Planning and Organizing
• Technological Awareness
• Vision
• Working in Teams

Skills and experience

Minimum of one year of relevant experience (three years of relevant experience required for candidates holding a bachelor's degree):

• Demonstrated experience in programme/project support, research, coordination or project development in the areas of climate change, environment, water resilience, natural resource management, sustainable development or related fields.
• Experience or knowledge of climate-change adaptation, water resilience, natural resource management and/or biodiversity would be an advantage.
• Experience in project proposal development, resource mobilization, monitoring and reporting would be an advantage.;

Skills in:

• Project and programme support and coordination
• Research, analysis and knowledge management
• Report, proposal and concept-note writing
• Strong professional writing and communication skills
• Good planning and organizational skills
• Proficiency in standard MS Office applications
• Knowledge of climate finance and/or resource mobilization would be an advantage

Area(s) of expertise

Energy, Natural resources management

Driving license

Other information

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Living conditions and remarks

Kathmandu is in Low level (Level 2) of the UN Security level but may change depending on the development of the security situation. English is widely spoken and understood by both locals and expats and is the business language in Kathmandu although Nepali and Nepal Bhasa are the official national languages of Nepal. Kathmandu has a multi-ethnic population with the majority being Hindu and Buddhist. Religious and cultural festivities form a major part of the lives of people residing in Kathmandu. In terms of living costs, Kathmandu is considered as a very inexpensive city with average living expenses being significantly low compared to numerous other Asian cities. The climate in the city of Kathmandu is characterised by warm days followed by cool nights and mornings and unpredictable weather can be expected given that winter temperatures can drop to 1ºC or less. During the monsoon season (June to August) heavy rainfalls reach the city with average humidity of about 75%. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

Scam warning

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