UNEP Vacancy: Director, Water and Environment Centre, Project

POSITION: Director, Water and Environment Centre, Project
DIVISION/OFFICE/SECRETARIAT: Division of Environmental Policy Implementation
DUTY STATION: Hoersholm
DEADLINE TO APPLY: 10 November 2008

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated
entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to
coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global
environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the
international community for action. UNEP's Division of Environmental Policy Implementation
(DEPI) works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and
advisory services for the implementation of environmental law and policy, and strengthening the
environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in
transition. The UNEP - DHI Centre for Water and Environment (UDC) was established in 2001
as a facility to backstop UNEP through specialized technical expertise in the implementation of
the UNEP Water Policy and Strategy. A memorandum of understanding MOU between UNEP,
DHI and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark establishes the legal basis of the Center while
a four year workprogramme and annual planning process determines the work of the Center.
The role of the Centre is to provide direct technical support/assistance and capacity building for
the implementation of the UNEP's Water Policy and Strategy during the period 2008-2011.
The overall goal of the UNEP Water Policy and Strategy (WPS)
(www.unep.org/Themes/Freshwater/Policy_And_Strategy/index.asp) and therefore of the
Centre is to contribute substantively to environmental sustainability in the management of all
water resources, utilizing integrated ecosystems approaches as a contribution to the
internationally agreed targets and goals relevant to water and social-economic development.
Under the general guidance of the Director, Division of Environmental Policy Implementation
(DEPI), the direct supervision of the Deputy Director of (DEPI) and in close coordination with the
Chief of the Freshwater Ecosystems Unit (DEPI), the incumbent will be responsible for the dayto-
day management of the UNEP-DHI Water and Environment Centre in Hoersholm, Denmark.
The overarching responsibility of the Director is to ensure that the Centre implements the
workplan in accordance with the UNEP Water Policy and Strategy.