Project Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is a regional commission established to serve Arab States. Its mission is to support capacity building on climate change and sustainable development issues, particularly through the Arab Centre for Climate Change Policies. ESCWA operates within the Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster, focusing on enhancing regional cooperation to address climate resilience and related challenges. The organization plays a crucial role in facilitating dialogue and collaboration among member states to tackle pressing environmental issues.

Job Overview:
The Project Assistant will play a vital role in supporting the preparation and delivery of meetings, activities, and services aimed at strengthening climate resilience through regional cooperation. This position focuses on various climate change processes, including combating sand and dust storms and addressing related challenges. The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Climate Change and Natural Resources Sustainability Cluster Lead and a project pillar coordinator, contributing to the overall objectives of the ESCWA by ensuring effective communication, coordination, and documentation of project-related activities. The role requires a strong commitment to teamwork, attention to detail, and a client-oriented approach, as the Project Assistant will be involved in various aspects of project management and communication.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Project Assistant will be responsible for a comprehensive set of duties, including: taking meeting notes, drafting meeting summaries, and preparing task lists to facilitate work planning and follow-up actions related to climate resilience and sand and dust storms; drafting, formatting, proofreading, and translating information notes, agendas, and flyers for meetings, workshops, and events in both English and Arabic; creating narratives for web pages and social media content for upcoming events, ensuring that online postings are updated to reflect the latest developments; drafting emails and troubleshooting coordination issues while supporting communication with meeting partners, speakers, and participants; monitoring and maintaining meeting registration lists, speaker lists, and confirmed participant lists using digital applications; tracking the finalization and proofreading of meeting documents in both English and Arabic; supporting the setup and conduct of online meetings and webinars; and assisting with the logistical and administrative organization of meetings, workshops, and events, including coordinating participant registrations and travel-related issues. The Project Assistant will also perform other related tasks as required, emphasizing the importance of detail orientation and teamwork.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in environment, climate change, natural resource management, economics, project management, or communications. Additionally, a minimum of 5 years of experience in the field of environment, climate change, or natural resource management is required, along with at least 1 year of demonstrated experience in project management, project coordination, or communications. Professional experience in drafting and proofreading meeting documents related to climate change or natural resource management is desirable, highlighting the need for strong writing and communication skills.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as environment, climate change, natural resource management, economics, project management, or communications. Candidates must submit a copy of their educational degree as part of their application, and incomplete applications will not be reviewed, emphasizing the importance of meeting the educational requirements.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in the fields of environment, climate change, or natural resource management. Additionally, candidates must have at least 1 year of demonstrated experience in project management, project coordination, or communications. This level of experience is essential to ensure that the Project Assistant can effectively contribute to the objectives of the ESCWA and support the various activities related to climate resilience and regional cooperation.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is required for this position, as these are the working languages of ESCWA. Candidates must demonstrate fluency in all four areas of language proficiency: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding. Knowledge of French is also beneficial, as English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. The requirement for fluency ensures effective communication within the organization and with external stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
Recruitment for this position is conducted on a local basis, meaning that candidates must have the legal right to live and work in Lebanon. The position is for a duration of 6 months, and it is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. This policy underscores the organization's commitment to transparency and fairness in its hiring practices.