Result of Service

The ultimate result of this consultancy is the advancement of digital development of WESR tools, including EDC Toolkit and the WESR Knowledge Hub, supporting their operational readiness for pilot implementation and broader rollout. This includes:

Core EDC Toolkit digital components (GEDS Assessment Tool including backend and front end, Capacity Pathways modules, and Assessment Tool integration) developed, tested and transitioned to production on the WESR Knowledge Hub;
GEDS Toolkit containerized React UI WebApp + resources federation through CKAN API integration;
Technical documentation produced and knowledge transfer sessions conducted to support internal maintenance and continuity beyond the consultancy period.
Advisory and technical development support provided to WESR infrastructure as needed.

Work Location

Remote

Expected duration

3 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP`s vision for the Digital Transformation of the organization is rooted in responding to a changing digital development landscape and the evolving needs of our partners, including government, businesses, finance, and civil society. As such, UNEP continues to seek out and embrace existing and emerging digital technology in all aspects of its work to better serve its partners in their efforts to tackle the triple planetary crises of climate change, nature loss and pollution. Through a process of scanning, testing and scaling relevant digital technologies, UNEP aims to become an increasingly data-driven, agile, transparent and effective partner. UNEP's approach to Digital Transformation is not only about digitalizing our products and services but also using them to drive transformation changes in five areas: environmental decision-making, economic incentives and business models, human behaviors, and environmental governance. The World Environment Situation Room (WESR) is a global environmental data and applications platform with overarching environmental policy relevance and impact, and an essential knowledge instrument to support progress on delivering the environmental dimension of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Develop UNEP's Global Environmental Data Strategy (GEDS) was finalized in 2025 and submitted to the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), marking the shift in 2026 from strategy development to active implementation. The Environmental Data Capacity (EDC) Toolkit is the primary implementation vehicle for GEDS, and comprises three components — an Assessment Tool, a Capacity Pathways resource framework, and a Policy Guide — and is being deployed on the World Environment Situation Room (WESR) Knowledge Hub as a modular, user-guided system. To advance the digital development of the EDC Toolkit and the broader WESR Knowledge Hub, UNEP requires dedicated software engineering capacity to build, integrate, and maintain the underlying digital tools. This includes front-end and back-end development of the Assessment Tool and Capacity Pathways modules, integration with WESR's existing architecture, and general support to the development and maintenance of the WESR Knowledge Hub. There is an immediate operational need to:

Support the design, development, and deployment of the WESR use cases, including the digital EDC Toolkit (Assessment Tool, Capacity Pathways and Policy Guide modules) on the WESR Knowledge Hub;
Contribute to front-end and back-end development of WESR tools and applications, including content modules, navigation, and user interface components;
Support testing, troubleshooting, and iterative refinement of digital tools based on user feedback and pilot implementation;
Contribute to technical documentation and knowledge transfer to support long-term internal maintenance of WESR tools. Engaging a Software Engineer (Consultant) for a three-month period will enable UNEP to maintain development momentum on the EDC Toolkit and WESR Knowledge Hub, supporting timely delivery of GEDS implementation milestones for 2026. This post is fully remote and reports to DevOps and Infrastructure Unit Lead, Office of the Chief Digital Officer (CDO), UNEP.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Management, Advanced Statistical Analysis, Information Technology, or Software Engineering is required. A Bachelor's degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree. A minimum of 5 years' experience related to database development and archiving, and software systems analysis, design, and development is required. Experience in developing workflow automation and service request tracking solutions is required Experience working in teams, including coordination of junior members and engaging with clients is required Experience in complex web application projects; experience with UN agencies or similar international organizations is desirable. Experience working with multicultural teams is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this assignment, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Software Engineer - Environmental Data Capacity (EDC) Toolkit