Job Description
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is inviting applications from motivated, highly organized, and results-oriented professionals for the position of Junior Consultant – Program Coordinator based in Nairobi, Kenya. This consultancy presents an outstanding opportunity to contribute to international environmental programs that support sustainable development, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, pollution reduction, and green economic transformation across multiple regions. The successful consultant will become part of a dynamic multidisciplinary team responsible for coordinating program activities, supporting strategic implementation, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring that project objectives are delivered efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of accountability and professionalism.
The Junior Consultant – Program Coordinator will provide comprehensive program coordination support throughout the entire project lifecycle. This includes assisting with operational planning, coordinating stakeholder engagement activities, supporting implementation schedules, preparing technical documentation, monitoring program milestones, maintaining accurate records, facilitating communication among internal and external partners, and contributing to high-quality reporting requirements. The consultant will work closely with program managers, technical experts, government representatives, donor agencies, regional offices, and implementing partners to ensure smooth execution of environmental initiatives.
The role requires an individual who demonstrates exceptional organizational capability, analytical thinking, adaptability, and excellent communication skills. The consultant will contribute to research assignments, consolidate information from diverse sources, prepare briefing materials, coordinate workshops and meetings, monitor project deliverables, and assist in identifying opportunities for continuous program improvement. The position also involves supporting knowledge management initiatives by organizing documentation, maintaining databases, and ensuring that lessons learned are effectively captured for future program development.
Successful performance in this consultancy requires strong attention to detail, the ability to manage competing priorities, sound judgment when handling confidential information, and commitment to delivering quality outputs within established deadlines. The consultant will collaborate across different functional teams while promoting innovation, inclusivity, integrity, transparency, and environmental responsibility in every aspect of program delivery.
This consultancy offers valuable exposure to international environmental policy, sustainable development initiatives, and global program coordination practices. It is ideal for professionals seeking to strengthen their expertise within an international organization while making meaningful contributions toward environmental protection and sustainable development objectives. UNEP offers an inclusive and collaborative professional environment where individuals are encouraged to develop innovative solutions, build international experience, and contribute to impactful programs that benefit communities and ecosystems worldwide.
Key Responsibilities
- Coordinate daily program implementation activities in accordance with approved work plans and project schedules.
- Support program managers in monitoring progress against established objectives, milestones, and deliverables.
- Prepare detailed meeting agendas, background papers, presentations, minutes, and action trackers.
- Maintain comprehensive program documentation using established organizational standards.
- Facilitate communication between internal departments, regional offices, consultants, implementing partners, and stakeholders.
- Organize workshops, technical meetings, webinars, consultations, and stakeholder engagement sessions.
- Monitor implementation timelines and proactively identify scheduling conflicts or operational risks.
- Compile technical reports, progress summaries, briefing notes, and management updates.
- Conduct background research on environmental policies, sustainable development priorities, and emerging program opportunities.
- Collect, organize, validate, and analyze program information from multiple sources.
- Support donor reporting by consolidating financial and technical implementation updates.
- Coordinate administrative arrangements for program missions, events, and official activities.
- Track program indicators and contribute to performance monitoring frameworks.
- Assist with procurement coordination and consultant engagement processes when required.
- Maintain accurate electronic filing systems for contracts, reports, correspondence, and reference materials.
- Support knowledge-sharing initiatives by documenting lessons learned and best practices.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary technical teams to ensure effective program integration.
- Monitor compliance with organizational procedures and consultancy requirements.
- Prepare correspondence with stakeholders while maintaining professional communication standards.
- Assist in developing implementation schedules and operational work plans.
- Review program documentation for accuracy, consistency, and completeness before submission.
- Coordinate follow-up actions arising from meetings and project reviews.
- Support quality assurance processes throughout program implementation.
- Maintain effective relationships with government institutions, development partners, and implementing agencies.
- Participate in project monitoring activities and contribute to performance assessments.
- Assist with risk identification and recommend practical mitigation measures.
- Coordinate information requests from internal and external stakeholders.
- Contribute to the preparation of presentations for senior management and donor meetings.
- Support data management activities while ensuring confidentiality and accuracy.
- Perform additional program coordination duties assigned within the scope of the consultancy to support successful delivery of UNEP environmental initiatives.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Applicants should possess a bachelor's degree in environmental science, Environmental Management, International Relations, Project Management, Public Administration, Sustainable Development, Natural Resources Management, Development Studies, or another closely related discipline from a recognized institution. A postgraduate qualification will be considered an added advantage. Candidates should demonstrate excellent organizational, analytical, planning, and coordination capabilities supported by outstanding written and verbal communication skills. Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and virtual collaboration platforms, is essential. Familiarity with program management methodologies, reporting frameworks, stakeholder engagement processes, and monitoring techniques will strengthen an application. Candidates should possess excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments while managing competing priorities under tight deadlines. High standards of integrity, professionalism, confidentiality, initiative, accountability, adaptability, and attention to detail are expected. Knowledge of international development programs, environmental governance, sustainability initiatives, climate change, biodiversity, pollution control, or natural resource management is desirable. Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory, while knowledge of another United Nations language will be considered advantageous. Applicants should demonstrate sound problem
- solving ability, collaborative teamwork, excellent time management, strong research capability, critical thinking, and a commitment to delivering high
- quality professional results that contribute to UNEP's global environmental mission.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their application through the official United Nations careers recruitment portal before the closing date. Applications should include all required supporting documents as outlined in the vacancy announcement. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for the subsequent stages of the recruitment process.