Research Associate (PSA-3)

Job description

United Nations University (UNU)

UNU is an international community of scholars engaged in

policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of

knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of

the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through

research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing

global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its

Member States.

For the past four decades, UNU has been a go-to think tank for

impartial research on human survival, conflict prevention, sustainable

development, and welfare. With more than 400 researchers in 12

countries, UNU's work spans the 17 Sustainable Development Goals' full

breadth, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global

change. UNU maintains more than 200 collaborations with UN agencies and

leading universities and research institutions across the globe.

United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS):

UNU-EHS, established in December 2003, is part of the UNU system, a

worldwide network of Research and Training Institutes. Its mission is to

advance human security through knowledge-based approaches to reducing

vulnerability and environmental risks.

The UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), is

one of 14 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks

in the UNU system. It contributes to the overall mandate of UNU, and

the UN, by advancing human security and well-being through reducing

current and future risks from environmental hazards and climate change.

UNU-EHS’s research is clustered in two main areas: “Risk and Adaptation”

and “Transformation”.  For more information, please visit www.ehs.unu.edu.

“Risk and Adaptation” Department:

The department Risk and Adaptation focuses on understanding and

addressing interconnected risks and the adverse impacts of climate

change in science and policy based on a variety of different, yet

complementary work streams. These include, inter alia, (i) understanding

and assessing systemic risk, (ii) developing pathways to

sustainability, (iii) supporting the international regime to respond to

climate impacts, (iv) fostering governance and the uptake of climate and

disaster finance, (v) understanding human mobility and immobility in

context of climate change, (vi) assessing and developing ecosystem-based

disaster risk reduction and adaptation, (vii) understanding and

assessing loss and damage, and (vii) enhancing climate risks analytics

and forecasting, with a focus on regions which are strongly exposed to

the adverse impacts of climate change and disaster risk, such as cities,

mountains, river basins and the low-lying coasts.

“Climate and Migration” Division:

The Environment and Migration: Interactions and Choices (EMIC)

Division undertakes pioneering research to strengthen the evidence base

on the multiple linkages between human mobility and environmental

change. EMIC research informs policy and action of UN organizations,

governments and civil society including on the circumstances under which

migration can be adaptive or when it should be considered as a form of

loss and damage. Specific themes include migration and displacement in

the context of environmental and climate change, planned relocation, and

voluntary and involuntary immobility. Cross-cutting research themes

include livelihoods, adaptation, ecosystem services, development,

urbanization, gender, conflict, social cohesion, culture, health and

well-being. EMIC researchers have also pioneered research on ‘loss and

damage’ from climate change, particularly non-economic loss and damage.

Responsibilities

Under the authority of the Director of UNU-EHS / Vice-Rector in

Europe and the supervision of the Head of the EMIC Division, the

successful candidate will be entrusted with predominantly

academic/scientific tasks, including some administrative activities as

following:

1. Contribute to UNU’s involvement in the

Horizon2020-funded project RethinkAction (Cross-sectoral planning

decision-making platform to foster climate action).

• Work with EMIC’s Associate Academic Officer on leading the
• stakeholder engagement strategy for the project including updating the
• approaches set out within already submitted deliverables.
• Work
• with EMIC’s Associate Academic Officer and wider consortium to develop
• approaches to model behavioural change, in relation to consumer and
• producer behaviour (including diet and transport).
• Co-ordinate
• UNU’s work as case study leader for Almería (Spain) to include
• literature reviews on risks and adaptation solutions, development of
• Impacts Chains, sourcing data for model parameterisation and
• relationships to effectively model land use in the context of climate
• change.
• Attend project meetings across Europe when required.
• Work
• with EMIC team and consortium partners on appropriate forms of
• scientific and policy dissemination including project deliverables and
• conferences.

2. Support the Section Head and EMIC team members:

• Research and outreach activities to address voluntary migration,
• displacement, plannedrelocation and immobility in the context of
• climate change.
• Work with team on Monitoring and Evaluation of Loss and Damage Funding.
• Contribute to academic output on the theme of Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change (HMCCC).
• Contribute to submitting funding proposals for the EMIC section.

3. Contribute to inter-UNU Institute

collaboration on research topics and themes related to Mental Health

Impacts of Climate Change (MHCC)

• Contribute to academic outputs and outreach activities on inclusive and holistic approaches to MHCC.
• Support
• the preparation and coordination of events such as UNFCCC side events
• and inputs to other related international conferences and symposia.

4. Contribute to UNU-EHS’ Joint-Master’s program

• Develop content for teaching in the fields of Risk and
• Adaptation, with a particular focus on how Human Mobility in the context
• of Climate Change (HMCCC) relates to mental health.
• Fulfill teaching duties including but not limited to holding lectures, grading assessments and supervising theses.
• Contribute to Global Health Masters module with University of Bonn.

5. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor(s)

Key Performance Indicators

• Timely and quality collection, synthesis and generation of scientific information.
• High quality engagement with project team and implementation partners.
• Timely and quality delivery of inputs to annual reports, presentations and communication products for UNU-EHS.
• Contribution to project, institute and UNU mission.

Competencies

Values:

• Inclusion - Take action to create an environment of dignity and
• respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity,
• gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language,
• nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual
• orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity.
• Integrity
• - Act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United
• Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or
• unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards.
• Humility - Demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others.
• Humanity - Act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.

Behaviours:

• Connect and Collaborate - Build positive relationships with
• others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as
• One UN
• Analyse and Plan - Seek out and use data from a wide
• range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose
• evidence-based solutions and plan action
• Deliver Results with
• Positive Impact - Hold oneself and others accountable for delivering
• results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that
• the United Nations serves
• Learn and Develop - Pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others
• Adapt and Innovate - Demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways

Qualifications

1) Education and certification

Master’s degree or its equivalent in a (social) scientific

discipline, preferably in the area of Geography, Environmental

Science, Sustainability Science, Behavioral Science, Psychology or in

another relevant thematic area for the EMIC division

2) Required skills and experience

• At least 1 (one) year of professional experience related to
• vulnerability and risk assessment, disaster risk reduction and climate
• change adaptation; Peer-reviewed academic publications would be a strong
• asset;
• Strong methodological skillset for quantitative or qualitative empirical research in the above areas of work is required;
• Demonstrated
• ability to synthesize complex information, and to translate into
• impactful communication products such as
• publications/reports/presentations for scientific and general audiences
• is required;
• Strong interpersonal skills to work in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity is required;
• Strong ability to carry out work independently by meeting deadlines is required;
• Demonstrable experience in planning, organization and documentation of events, conferences, and strategic meetings;
• Knowledge
• and experience of processes and procedures of United Nations agencies
• or international organizations would be an asset.

3) Language Requirements:

• Fluency in spoken and written English is required;
• Knowledge in any additional language, especially Spanish is an asset.

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be employed under a national PSA

contract. UNU offers an attractive compensation package including an

annual net salary, commensurate with the experience and qualifications

of the candidate. Benefits include 30 days annual leave and a health

insurance scheme.

UNU is not liable for any taxes that may be levied on the

remuneration you receive under this contract. Payment of any such taxes

remains the sole responsibility of PSA holders.

Duration of contract

The duration of the initial contract is 1 year. This is Personnel

Service Agreement (PSA) contract with UNU, with the possibility for

renewal subject to requirements and satisfactory work performance. The

combined duration on a PSA contract with UNU may not exceed six (6)

years. The mandatory age of retirement for PSA holders is 65

years.  This post is open to applicants from all countries and UNU will

aid the

successful applicant in securing a work visa for Germany, as

necessary. It is, however, a locally recruited post and no relocation

allowances

apply. The duty station will be Bonn, Germany.

Starting date: As soon as possible

How to Apply

To apply to UNU, you will not need an account. Instead, we ask that you:

• Fill out the UNU P11 Form (please avoid using similar forms provided by other United Nations organisations);
• provide a motivation statement (in the P11 form);
• provide a cover letter setting out how the qualifications and experience match the requirements of the position;
• answer a few questions that are tailored to the position; and
• You may wish to refer to the UN Values and Behaviours Framework for more information.
• apply via the apply link.

Application Deadline: 22 May 2024

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise

which may be followed by a competency-based interview, background

checks, and references.

Special Notice

Staff members of the United Nations University are international

civil servants subject to the Rector's authority. They may be assigned

to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations University.

The Rector reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below

that advertised.

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and

encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality,

religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with

disabilities to apply and become part of the organisation. Applications

from developing countries, and from women are strongly encouraged.

Eligible internal applicants are also encouraged to apply.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the

aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual

exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and

discrimination.

If you have supervisory function you need to have awareness on gender related issues.

Information about UNU rosters

UNU reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this

vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider

candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNU at

the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and

educational requirements.

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