Carbon Markets Specialist

The Climate Change Division of the UN Environment Programme is primarily responsible for identifying opportunities and implementing actions to accelerate the decarbonization of the global economy.

As part of this work, the Climate Change Division is paying increasing attention to carbon markets, which can play an important role in accelerating the achievement of the goals of the Paris Agreement, promoting sustainable development, and reaching net zero emissions by 2050 globally.

To achieve this, both the generation and use of carbon credits would need to develop the rigor, integrity, and credibility needed to contribute to transformational decarbonization efforts in line with 1.5 degree aligned pathways.

Carbon markets can leverage climate finance from public and private sources.

If the appropriate safeguards are achieved, they can provide direct financing to regions and projects that need it the most.

Carbon markets – Integrity and Scale

Trust, integrity, and credibility remain key challenges across carbon markets. Without such integrity and credibility, carbon markets could risk adding to global emissions rather than contributing to their reduction. Carbon markets need to substantially increase the social, accounting, and environmental integrity of emission reductions being traded.

Without it, carbon markets will not scale up to the level required to make a significant contribution to support the transition to net zero.

In this context, UNEP, through the Climate Change Division, is supporting countries to put in place the required infrastructure and policy for carbon markets of high-integrity.

Building upon the recently developed "UN Principles for Carbon Markets with Integrity and Credibility", UNEP aims to support countries in establishing a robust architecture and provide clear guidance on integrity and credibility across the full cycle of carbon market activities.

The Programme Officer will provide support and expertise for the operationalization of these objectives.

Under the direction of, and reporting to, the Head of the Climate Mitigation Unit at the Climate Change Division the Programme Officer will support the team in analysing carbon markets, including carbon pricing mechanisms, emissions trading schemes, and carbon offset projects.

The incumbent will assist in research, data analysis, and report preparation to facilitate decision-making and strategic planning related to carbon markets.

Key responsibilities:
Market research and analysis

• Conduct research on global and national carbon markets, including regulatory frame-works, market trends, and policy developments.
• Analyze carbon pricing mechanisms, emission reduction targets, and their implications on business and industries.
• Monitor carbon prices, trading volumes, and market dynamics to identify opportunities and risks.

Data collection and management

• Collect and organize data on carbon emissions, mitigation projects, and market trans-actions of various sources.
• Maintain databases and spreadsheets to track carbon market indicators and perfor-mance metrics.
• Assist in the development of tools for forecasting and scenario analysis.

Reporting and documentation

• Prepare regular reports, presentations, and briefs summarizing key findings and insights from carbon market analysis.
• Assist in the preparation of documentation for internal and external stakeholders.
• Support the team in responding to inquiries and requests for information related to carbon markets.

Project support

• Support programme officers and senior management in conducting studies and market assessments of carbon offsetting and compensation projects.
• Assist in the evaluation of project proposals, including technical feasibility, financial viability, and environmental integrity.
• Collaborate with other units and divisions to ensure alignment with the UNEP Program of Work.

In undertaking these duties, the Programme Officer will establish and maintain relationships to support collaboration with other staff members and experts across UNEP and in the UN system, as well as representatives in national governments, international organizations, consultants, and NGOs.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and participating actively in UNV activities (for instance, in events marking International Volunteer Day).
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
• Promote or advise local groups on using online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected Outputs

The expected results of this position include:

The Programme Officer is expected to produce market analysis reports, providing insights into carbon pricing mechanisms, trading dynamics, and regulatory changes.

Through solid data analysis, these products will generate actionable recommendations for stakeholders, aiding in strategy development and risk mitigation.

Her/his work will contribute to clearly conveying key findings and recommendations to UNEP teams and regulatory authorities, facilitating informed decision-making processes.

Additionally, she/he will provide timely responses to inquiries and requests for information, supporting project development and evaluation efforts.

Furthermore, the Programme Officer will continuously enhance her/his skills and knowledge through ongoing learning and professional development, staying abreast of developments in carbon markets and related fields.

By contributing to the achievement of organizational goals and objectives in sustainability and climate action, she/he will play a crucial role in advancing the organization's efforts to address climate change and promote responsible business practices.

• Professionalism: Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and rec-ommendations; shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly inter-prets messages from others and responds appropriately; proven interpersonal skills; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors lan-guage, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing infor-mation and keeping people informed; good spoken and written communication skills, in-cluding ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, artic-ulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, vol-unteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of differ-ent target groups.
• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity, and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

relevant fields, of which at least one year of progressively responsible experience in carbon pricing, carbon markets, or a related area of work is required.

• Proven experience in data and policy analysis is required.
• Candidates must be able to demonstrate they are organized, reliable, and efficient. An understanding of how to work effectively as part of a team, and a willingness to learn and grow professionally by taking on new competencies and remaining abreast of developments in the statistical analytics field is essential. Proven ability to work effectively with a wide range of various actors is also required. As well, UNEP highly values creativity and innovative thinking, coupled with a problem-solving mindset.

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighboring Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean.

Kenya has two levels of Government; National Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya's population of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%.

The country's GNP per capita estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% annually.

More than 26% of Kenya's people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Ken-ya's main food crops are "maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers." (FAO).

Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services, and educational facilities are readily available.

The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations.

The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN-HABITAT and UNEP.

The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest.

The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climates.

---