Freshwater & Urban Resilience Expert

About the role

UNEP’s Ecosystems Division is looking for a Freshwater & Urban Resilience Expert to support the implementation of national‑ and global‑level water activities under an EC‑funded project. The consultant will work from the UNEP Marine and Freshwater Branch in Nairobi, providing technical assistance, capacity development and gender‑responsive guidance to countries and UN partners.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver coherent national and global activities, including technical assistance and gender‑responsive webinars, workshops and sessions that integrate water elements into planning instruments such as NDCs, NAPs and NBSAPs.
• Develop three joint project concepts with UN‑Water partners to scale UNEP’s contribution to the Collaborative Implementation Plan and support UNEA6 Resolution 6/13.
• Conduct demand‑driven south‑south and triangular exchanges documenting best practices on IWRM, drought resilience and urban‑rural linkages, incorporating traditional, local, gender‑responsive and Indigenous knowledge.
• Provide stakeholder engagement and resource mobilisation support for the Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action and joint proposal development with UN‑Water partners.
• Supply technical inputs and event‑preparation support for the UN 2026 Water Conference and other global water‑climate governance processes.
• Develop and publish two gender‑responsive guidance documents, accompanied by webinars and events at major COPs and related fora.

Required profile

• Proven experience in freshwater ecosystem management and urban water resilience.
• Familiarity with gender‑responsive approaches and integration of traditional, local and Indigenous knowledge.
• Knowledge of integrated water resources management (IWRM), drought resilience and urban‑rural linkages.
• Experience working with UN agencies, governments or international partners on climate‑related water initiatives.

Required skills