Project Officer – Water Sciences Division, Nairobi

## Project Officer – Water Sciences Division, Nairobi - Organization:UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - Office:UNESCO Nairobi Description of assignment title:Project Officer – Water Sciences Division Assignment country:Kenya Duty stations:Nairobi Work location:On UN premises Expected start date:10/01/2026 Duration:12 months(with possibility of extension)Long-term benefits and allowances Sustainable Development Goal:6. Clean water and sanitation Volunteer category:Associate UCoS from Apr2026 Work schedule:Full-time Number of Assignments:1 Mission and objectives: - UNESCO is the scientific arm of the United Nations, established in 1945 to foster global peace through international education, science, culture, and communication collaboration and international cooperation. UNESCO promotes its scientific and technology mandate to address global challenges through resilience and sustainable development. - UNESCO’s international science programmes have long-standing experience in mobilizing the best available fundamental and applied science in their respective fields to serve Member States. They work to develop: - • international cooperation, networking and knowledge-sharing ; - • research, monitoring, and the generation of knowledge; - • human and institutional capacity and educational initiatives; - • sound policies and governance; - • responses to requests for technical assistance from Member States; - • awareness on scientific issues among policy-makers and the general public. - • Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP); - • Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB); - • International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP); - • International Basic Sciences Programme (IBSP). - Additionally, UNESCO's Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems programme (LINKS) promotes local and indigenous knowledge and its inclusion in global climate science and policy processes, and its World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) produces policy-relevant, timely and reliable information in various fields of water resources developments and management. - These programmes are supported by extensive networks and benefit from the concrete experience gained from the UNESCO designated sites: biosphere reserves, UNESCO Global Geoparks and natural sites inscribed on the World Heritage list. - This UNV assignment is expected to be focusing mainly, but not only, on the UNESCO’s project Sustainably Unlocking the Economic Potential of Lake Turkana. This is a 10-year programme funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and led by UNESCO and WFP. Lake Turkana is the world largest desert lake. It is located in the north of Kenya, an area characterised by high level of food and water insecurity. The project focuses on the sustainable management of the Lake resources (water and fish), and on nutrition and sustainable livelihood, that have been heavily impacted by climate change. Lake Turkana National Park is in the List of the World Heritage Sites in Danger, and the project supports the implementation of the corrective measures to ensure the Desired State of Conservation. - UNESCO leads several activities and the UNV will support their implementation. A particular focus of the UNV will be the support of the UNESCO Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA), which is a bottom up and participatory methodology to support decision making for natural resources management. The UNESCO team leading the project is the Natural Sciences team of UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, situated in the UN compound in Nairobi. The newly established team consists of 20 colleagues, and the atmosphere is extremely collaborative and welcoming. - The UNESCO Nairobi office has more or less 80 staff members. The UN compound includes all the UN agencies and offers great opportunities to network and interact with many colleagues. - Under the direct supervision of the Head of Natural Sciences Sector and Coordinator of the Division of Water Sciences, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: - • Support the Lake Turkana project management and project rollout - • Support logistics and planning of the project’s activities including fieldworks and data collection - • Support logistic, planning and implementation of project workshop, dissemination events and engagement events with stakeholders, and with the communities - • Support the activities within the UNESCO Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA), and Water Quality Monitoring programme for natural resources management; - • Support hydrological studies and groundwater assessments in the project area. - • Support the development and design of monitoring programs for water resources. - • Support the creation of content for social media, newsletters, and other communication channels to raise awareness about UNESCO’s work and achievements in the region; - • Regularly attend meetings of the project steering committee, support preparing minutes of meetings and action plans with clear responsibility and timeframe. - • Support preparing reports on project progress - • Support resource mobilisation strategy - • Supporting projects on other topics for example flood management and early warning systems. - Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment. Additional eligibility criteria: - This assignment is funded by the Government of France, and therefore specific criteria apply: - • Applicants must be French nationals. - • Applicants must hold a Master II certificate. - • Individuals who have previously served on a UN Volunteer assignment or JPO position funded by the Government of France are not eligible. - UN Volunteer Associate assignments - • Applicants must be between 21 and 28 years of age at the time of application. - UN Volunteer Specialist assignments - • Applicants must be between 21 and 35 years of age at the time of application. - -Candidates may apply to a maximum of three assignments per advertisement. Please indicate the order of preference in the ‘Additional remarks’ section, including country and title of assignment. - - Application deadline: 7 June 2026 (Midnight UTC) - - Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. The selection will be done by the UN Host Entity at the level of the country of assignment. Interviews will be conducted by UN Host Entities in June/July 2026. - INFORMATION DAY IN PARIS - Prior to deployment in October 2026, selected candidates must attend the Information Day in Paris, organized by MEAE. - +++ UN Volunteer entitlement calculator: https://app.unv.org/calculator +++ Assignment requirements - English, Level: Fluent, Required Required education level: - Master's degree in Hydrology / Environmental Engineering / Civil Engineering (Water) / Water Resources Management / Environmental Monitoring Competencies and values: - • Adaptability and Flexibility - • Commitment and Motivation - • Commitment to Continuous Learning - • Judgement and Decision-making - • Planning and Organizing - • Respect for Diversity - • Technological Awareness Skills and experience: - Experience in combating Climate Change, in Climate Adaptation strategies, Flood Management, Water Resources Management, Water Resources Quality, Climate Change Scenarios for water and natural resources management, Hydrological processes monitoring and modelling. Area(s) of expertise: - Project management, programme development, strategy, Community development, Climate change, environment