UNEP Platform Development and Analytics Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda. Established to promote the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, UNEP serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The organization operates in a complex and ambiguous global environment, focusing on environmental governance that requires anticipatory capacity to detect weak signals and interpret emerging patterns. UNEP's mission includes coordinating the development of environmental policy consensus and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The organization has a significant presence in various countries, working towards sustainable environmental practices and policies.

Job Overview:
The UNEP Platform Development and Analytics Consultant will play a crucial role in enhancing system efficiency and optimization for various UNEP projects. This includes the UNEP GEF Project Implementation Report (PIR) platform for the Financial Year 2026 cycle, migrating the CITES Monitoring of the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) application from PHP to Drupal, and developing a foresight application portal. The consultant will be responsible for integrating user management modules, updating configuration files, and creating pipelines for data management. The role requires a strong background in data analytics and system development to support UNEP's mission of keeping the environment under review and developing appropriate actions and policies. The consultant will also be involved in the development of a Household Waste Categorization web application for Lesotho using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be tasked with several key responsibilities, including: 1) Development of the MIKE Content Management System in Drupal; 2) Migration of current MIKE content to the new system; 3) Support for the deployment of the newly developed system to UNICC servers; 4) Performance improvements to the UNEP GEF Project Implementation Report (PIR) system; 5) Preparation of the GEF PIR system for the FY2026 reporting period, ensuring accessibility of results from the FY2025 reporting period; 6) Reduction of repetitive data entry by updating 2026 entries from 2025 results; 7) Design and development of the Household Waste Categorization web application for Lesotho using AI. These responsibilities require a proactive approach to problem-solving and a commitment to enhancing UNEP's digital capabilities.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree in the same fields, combined with two additional years of qualifying work experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Additionally, a minimum of two years of progressively responsible professional experience in relevant fields is required, including experience in Drupal CMS development, API integration, application development using MS SQL and relational databases, and web technologies such as HTML5, CSS3, React, and Python. Advanced programming skills in PHP, MVC frameworks, and Docker Hub are also essential. Experience in the United Nations or similar international organizations is desirable.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a related field. Candidates with a first-level university degree in the same fields may be considered if they have two additional years of qualifying work experience. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the complexities of system development and data analytics within the context of UNEP's mission.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of two years of progressively responsible professional experience in computer science, information technology, information systems, or a related field. This experience should include practical knowledge of Drupal CMS development, API integration, and application development using MS SQL and relational databases. Familiarity with web technologies such as HTML5, CSS3, React, and Python is also necessary, along with advanced programming skills in PHP and experience with MVC frameworks and Docker Hub. Work experience in the United Nations or similar international organizations is considered an asset.

Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English is required for this consultancy position, as English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of another UN language is desirable and may enhance a candidate's qualifications for the role.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for 12 months, and it is important to note that the United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. The organization is committed to ensuring a transparent and fair recruitment process, and it does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.