About UN University (UNU)
The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organization within the United Nations System. UNU engages in policy-relevant research, capacity development, and knowledge dissemination in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The work of UNU contributes to solving pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.
For the past five decades, UNU has been a source of impartial research on sustainability, human security, and economic development. With hundreds of researchers working at institutes in 12 countries, UNU's expertise spans the full breadth of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU collaborates closely with other UN entities and leading research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit http://unu.edu
About Office/Institute
United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) is one of 13 research and training Institutes that comprise that think tanks in the UNU system and is based at the university's headquarters in Tokyo, dedicated to advancing global efforts towards a more sustainable future. UNU-IAS serves the international community through policy relevant research and capacity development focused on sustainability, integrating its social, economic, and environmental dimensions. The activities of the institute are in four thematic areas: i) governance for sustainable development, ii) biodiversity & society, iii) water & resource management, and iv) innovation & education. The work of UNU-IAS is directed towards priority issues for the UN system and Member States, contributing to high-level policymaking and debates to address problems of global concern. For more information, please visit http://ias.unu.edu
UNU-IAS serves as secretariat for three well-established networks of higher education to advance SDGs at national, regional and global level. The SDG University Platform (SDG-UP) functions as a national platform in Japan that strengthens engagement of higher education institutions in implementing and localizing the SDGs. The Promotion of Sustainability in Postgraduate Education and Research (ProSPER.Net) serves as UNU's regional network in Asia and the Pacific, supporting collaboration and capacity development across universities and sustainability-focused partners. Finally, the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) provides a global convening space that connects UN entities and higher education stakeholders to advance sustainability in higher education. Strengthening collaboration among these three networks is critical to link global policy dialogue with regional knowledge exchange and national implementation, enabling structured pathways towards sustainable development at scale.
Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of Director of UNU IAS, and the direct guidance and supervision of the Head of the Postgraduate Degree and Training Programme (PDT), in close consultation with the Academic Programme Officer of Innovation and Education (IVE), the Consultant will facilitate collaborative works among member universities of UNU-IAS higher education networks in promoting SDGs related activities, organise the network activities and support the development of the network outputs. Specific responsibilities will include:
1.Support the coordination of the activities of the UNU SDG University Platform focusing on achieving the platform's objectives:
- Support of the planning and implementation of SDG-UP activities, and assist the coordination of the organisation of workshops and symposia under the SDG-UP;
- Liaise with SDG-UP member universities, including coordination of expert speakers, and provide logistical support of events organized under the SDG-UP;
- Communicate and liaise with international guest speakers for the SDG-UP Working Sessions;
- Prepare written summaries and reports of SDG-UP activities including Working Group meetings, Working Sessions and Symposia).
2. Assist outreach and communication activities of the UNU SDG University Platform to enhance visibility and engagement focusing on achieving the following results:
- Draft promotional and outreach materials including text, photographs, and figures, in both English and Japanese to effectively showcase SDG-UP activities;
- Disseminate SDG-UP information and related materials to enhance the visibility of SDG-UP initiatives and efforts by the member universities toward achieving SDGs, in close coordination with UNU-IAS Communication Team.
3. Support the coordination of Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) with UNDESA and other key partners
- Provide assistance in UNU's co-leading roles in the HESI activities, including creating the annual work plan, drafting concept notes, communicating with HESI partners, and participating in the regular meetings;
- Support the design and implementation of the annual HESI Global Forum (as part of High-Level Political Forum), including designing sessions, identifying speakers, inviting and coordinating the panel members, providing operational support, drafting the activity reports;
- Liaise with members of the HESI Action Group on Futures of Higher Education and Artificial Intelligence, including supporting the organization of Learning Lab Webinars and the production of AI and Sustainability Podcast production.
4. Facilitate the inter-network taskforce and knowledge sharing between SDG-UP, HESI and other UNU-IAS networks
- Contribute to setting up and maintaining systemic measures to ensure the synergy between HESI and SDG-UP, including formulation and coordination of the inter-network taskforce;
- Closely collaborate with the Communication teams of UNU and UNU IAS to raise the visibility of SDG-UP and UNU-HESI initiatives;
- Engage other programmes and activities of UNU IAS in HESI, including the thematic programmes (WRM, BDS, GSD) and networks (IPSI, RCE, ProSPER.Net, Satoyama Initiatives, etc.);
- Assist the Head of PDT and IVE and provide inputs to strategies to involve other UNU Institutes in HESI's activities;
- Expand outreach of HESI beyond UNU, namely other UN agencies, leading universities and private sectors
5. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors
Key performance indicators
- Timely and quality development and implementation of SDG-UP and HESI activities and collaborative initiatives
- Timely and good communications with SDG-UP member universities and Secretariat office, and HESI Secretariat.
- Timely and quality submission of the activity reports
- Timely and quality delivery of knowledge products with inter-network collaboration
- Enhanced network of universities in Japan and overseas as well as business community and civil societies contributing to the visibility of UNU-IAS
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
Education and certification
- Bachelor's or master's degree in education, public administration, information technology, sustainable development, business administration or a related field to the sustainability science
Experience
++ Required:
- At least six (6) years of relevant, progressively responsible experience with a bachelor's degree or three (3) years with a master's degree is required
- Experience in managing complex programs and projects, resource mobilization, and partnerships (including international partnerships);
- Demonstrated abilities to organize webinars and online/offline events; and
- Excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.+Desired:
- Experiences in the existing network in higher education
- Knowledge of the UN system and of its functions and activities;
- Demonstrated expertise in transformative education with digital and AI technology;
- Proficiency in using technologies and familiarity with AI tools (GenAI, Agentic AI, etc.)
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