Result of Service

Opening of a Geneva based liaison facility: The establishment of a UNCCD Liaison facility in Geneva, a major multilateral headquarters bringing together 181 Permanent Missions, United Nations specialized agencies, international organizations, and private sector stakeholders, would undoubtedly strengthen the Secretariat's ability to engage, mobilize, and raise awareness among the Geneva-based specialized hub and further promote consensus building around core aspects of the process. It will also strengthen the secretariat’s ability to access funding from donor countries, the private sector, philanthropic foundations, and the City and Canton of Geneva. Collaborate closely with the Swiss Permanent Mission, the City and Canton of Geneva and UNOG's Legal Office on opening procedures for the Liaison Office, including drafting the letter and reference documents, as required. Liaise with UNOG's administration to arrange the allocation of office space.

Work Location

Home-based.

Expected duration

80 days between November 2026 and February 2027.

Duties and Responsibilities

Background note: Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention seeks to support countries to address Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD). (www.unccd.int) Climate crises, high temperatures, extreme heat, increasing drought, and land degradation are all factors that threaten global food security and contribute to conflicts and population displacement in several regions of the world. Duties & Responsibilities: Under direct supervision of the Director of New York Office the C/IC will have the following tasks : Representation and Institutional Liaison: - Represent the UNCCD, before international organizations and multilateral processes based in Geneva. - Maintain relations with Permanent Missions and the relevant Swiss Federal and Geneva authorities. - Participate in inter-agency coordination mechanisms and relevant international meetings. - Monitor international processes that may have an impact on the implementation of the Convention. Development of Partnerships and Synergies: - Identify and develop partnerships with United Nations agencies, international organizations, and other Geneva-based actors. - Facilitate informal briefings, consultations, and bilateral exchanges with Geneva-based interlocutors, factoring in elements stemming from the UNCCCD process. Support to Resource Mobilization and Development Cooperation: - Contribute to the mobilization of financial and technical resources for the implementation of the Convention and the outcomes and recommendations of COPs. - Develop relationships with donors, foundations, financial institutions, and development partners based in Geneva. - Identify opportunities for joint financing and inter-institutional cooperation. Advocacy, Communication, and Knowledge Sharing: - Promote the UNCCD's priorities and key messages in Geneva-based international forums. -Disseminate knowledge and best practices related to land restoration, sustainable land management, and drought resilience. Foresight Analysis and Support to the Secretariat: - Conduct strategic monitoring of relevant international policies and negotiations. - Identify opportunities to integrate UNCCD objectives into the programmes and strategies of international partners.

Qualifications/special skills

A first-level university degree in political science, international relations, international economics or other related area is required. - A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, development management, or related areas is required.

Languages

Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.

Additional Information

Only individuals who can act as independent, individual economical operators are qualified to apply. Individuals who can provide their services only on account of an institution or enterprise are not eligible under this procedure. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations Secretariat and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultant and individual contractor is responsible for determining tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. For remote consultancies, the selected candidate will be required to have a laptop or desktop PC (with Windows 11 or newer) or Mac (with the latest MacOS update), as well as a reliable, high-speed internet connection. An Office 365 license will be provided by the UNCCD to enable the candidate to access official emails, SharePoint, OneDrive and other office applications, such as Word and Excel. Further computer requirements: An antivirus application which receives regular updates; Browsers must be a newer version with regular updates enabled; Regular Windows 11 updates should be enabled with Windows laptop or PC. In addition, a mobile phone will be required to enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) through SMS or the Authenticator App.

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.

Political Coordinator