Job description

Mission and objectives

Anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in line with the priorities outlined in the UNDP Strategic Plan, the Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) supports the Arab States region to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development, and building resilience to crises and shocks.

In addition to its presence in New York, RBAS has its main office in the Regional Hub based in Amman, Jordan with some staff based in Beirut (Lebanon) and Dubai (UAE).

The Amman Regional Hub hosts regional initiatives under the Regional Programme for Arab States 2022-2025 which touches upon the following areas of work: governance and anti-corruption, regional cooperation for the reduction of poverty and inequality, knowledge economy, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, climate security, youth engagement and empowerment, gender equality, resilience building, among others.

Context

This UNV assignment is part of UNDP Jordan’s biodiversity portfolio and its support to the Ministry of Environment, particularly through the Nature Protection Directorate and related national biodiversity coordination mechanisms.

The Biodiversity Assistant will be embedded within the Ministry of Environment and will support both UNDP biodiversity projects and Ministry-led biodiversity functions. Approximately 50% of the Assistant’s time will be dedicated to UNDP biodiversity projects, mainly the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) and support to the implementation and follow-up of Jordan’s NBSAP. The remaining 50% will support the Ministry of Environment in maintaining and operationalizing the national biodiversity monitoring framework (which is a UNDP initiative under the NBSAP), including collecting, organizing, validating, and uploading data to the biodiversity monitoring platform, supporting its continued development, and maintaining the national Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM).

The assignment will contribute to improved coordination between UNDP and the Ministry, stronger data flows for biodiversity reporting and decision-making, and more effective implementation of Jordan’s biodiversity priorities through project, administrative, data-management, and stakeholder coordination support.

Additional Information:

National UN Associate Volunteers in Jordan are entitled to:

• Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of JOD 916.06;

• Annual and learning leaves;

• Free Medical and life insurance; and

• Free access to different learning platforms.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Biodiversity Officer, and in close coordination with the Ministry of Environment’s Nature Protection Directorate and UNDP Environment Portfolio team, the UN Volunteer will perform the following duties:

A. Support to UNDP biodiversity projects - approximately 50%

• Provide day-to-day administrative, operational, and coordination support to UNDP biodiversity projects, particularly BIOFIN and NBSAP-related support activities.

• Support the planning, organization, and follow-up of meetings, workshops, consultations, trainings, and public events related to biodiversity

conservation, biodiversity finance, NBSAP implementation, protected areas, restoration, and biodiversity mainstreaming.

• Prepare draft agendas, participant lists, invitation letters, background notes, presentations, meeting minutes, action points, and summary reports for

biodiversity-related activities.

• Support project implementation tracking by maintaining workplan follow-up sheets, deliverable trackers, stakeholder contact lists and organized

electronic and hard-copy filing systems.

• Assist in compiling information and documentation required for project reporting, donor updates, annual work planning, procurement planning, and

coordination meetings.

• Support travel, logistics, payment processing, consultant/vendor follow-up, and operational transactions related to UNDP biodiversity projects in

coordination with UNDP Operations and Finance teams.

B. Support to Ministry biodiversity monitoring framework, platform and CHM - approximately 50%

• Support the Ministry of Environment in maintaining and operationalizing the national biodiversity monitoring framework and the associated online

platform.

• Collect, organize, clean, and validate biodiversity data and indicators from relevant government institutions, protected area managers, academic

institutions, civil society organizations, and other partners.

• Upload and update biodiversity data, indicator information, metadata, documents, maps, and supporting material on the biodiversity monitoring

platform, ensuring consistency, completeness, and clear filing.

• Support the continued development and improvement of the platform by documenting user needs, identifying data gaps, coordinating with technical

service providers or IT teams, and testing platform updates.

• Maintain and update the national Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM), including uploading relevant biodiversity documents, news, project updates,

national reports, NBSAP materials, and other approved content.

• Prepare simple data summaries, dashboards, presentation inputs, and progress updates to support Ministry decision-making, NBSAP follow-up, CBD

reporting, and stakeholder coordination.

• Support the development of practical templates, standard operating procedures, and guidance notes for data collection, indicator updates, and

content submission to the monitoring platform and CHM.

C. Stakeholder coordination, communication and knowledge management

• Maintain updated stakeholder databases for biodiversity-related institutions, task forces, UN agencies, private sector representatives, civil society

organizations, academia, and development partners.

• Facilitate information flow and follow-up between UNDP, the Ministry of Environment, consultants, service providers, and national partners involved in

biodiversity initiatives.

• Draft routine correspondence in Arabic and English, follow up on requests for information, and support timely circulation of documents and action

points.

• Organize and archive knowledge products, reports, meeting records, datasets, and communication materials related to biodiversity projects and

monitoring systems.

D. Additional support

• Provide administrative and coordination support to relevant Ministry of Environment biodiversity requests handled in collaboration with UNDP.

• Perform any other related duties as required to support the effective delivery of UNDP’s biodiversity portfolio and Ministry biodiversity functions.

Application deadline is on 05 Aug 2026

Skills

Relevant experience

1 year

Languages

English, Level: Working knowledge, Required

Arabic, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor's degree in Environmental studies, biodiversity conservation, ecology, biology, natural resource management, environmental management, sustainable development, Agronomy, or a related field.

A first-level university degree combined with relevant training and/or professional experience in project, administrative, data, or environmental programme support may be accepted as relevant experience.

Competencies and values

• Competencies and values: Accountability

• Adaptability and flexibility

• Creativity

• Judgement and decision-making

• Planning and organising

• Professionalism

• Self-management

Skills and experience

• At least 1 year of relevant professional experience in administrative support, project coordination, operations, programme assistance, data

management, or monitoring support, preferably within development, environmental, biodiversity, or public-sector programmes.

• Experience supporting biodiversity conservation, NBSAP (National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan)implementation, biodiversity monitoring,

protected areas, restoration, sustainable biodiversity finance, or related environmental initiatives is an asset.

• Previous experience working with government institutions, UNDP, the UN system, international organizations, or donor-funded projects is an

advantage.

Technical skills and knowledge

• Good understanding of environmental and biodiversity issues in Jordan, including national biodiversity priorities and institutional coordination needs.

• Experience organizing meetings, workshops, consultations, and events, including logistics, participant coordination, documentation, and on-site

support.

• Experience collecting, organizing, cleaning, tracking, and presenting data using Excel or similar tools; familiarity with online platforms, databases,

monitoring frameworks, dashboards, or CHM-type knowledge platforms is an asset.

• Experience in travel arrangements, payment processing, vendor coordination, consultant follow-up, filing, and administrative documentation is

desirable.

• Have affinity with or interest in the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and other Biodiversity frameworks and mechanisms, and

knowledge of the CBD is highly desirable.

• Familiarity with UNDP corporate systems such as Quantum and UNALL is a strong asset.

Core competencies

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Arabic.

• Strong drafting, reporting, documentation, and follow-up skills with attention to detail and accuracy.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with government counterparts, UN agencies, consultants, private sector actors,

academia, civil society partners, and development partners.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize work, meet tight deadlines, and work with minimum supervision.

• Demonstrated interest in biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and the values of the United Nations system.