IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network - a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by more than 1,000 professional staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. Its headquarters are based in Gland, Switzerland.

IUCN’s work focuses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice.

IUCN seeks to play a constructive role in shaping our collective urban future. A political mandate for this work has emerged from successive IUCN World Conservation Congresses. In Hawaii, 2016, IUCN Members voted to establish an ‘Urban Alliance’ (WCC 2016 Res 029) charged with “incorporating urban dimensions of nature conservation into the work of the IUCN.” In Marseille, 2021, IUCN Members adopted two relevant motions: one to strengthen the Urban Alliance (WCC 2020 Res 067); and another to create a new membership category for subnational governments (WCC 2020 Dec 138). IUCN Members also adopted the Marseille Manifesto comprising a bold commitment “to expand universal access to high-quality green spaces and to enhance urban biodiversity in 100 cities, representing around 100 million citizens by 2025, and assess their impact according to the IUCN Urban Nature Index.” To date, over 30 cities have expressed their intention to implement the IUCN Urban Nature Index. Meanwhile, the Nature 2030 IUCN Programme comprises a prominent ‘Impact Target’ to ensure “Nature and people thrive in cities while delivering solutions to urban challenges and a sustainable ecological footprint.”

Harnessing this political momentum, IUCN is now seeking to expand its urban work globally, focusing on:
• Enhancing urban capacity and competence across the IUCN Secretariat by developing and administering a new IUCN Academy module;
• Creating value for subnational governments, particularly cities, by developing a toolbox of IUCN products and services—including the IUCN Urban Nature Index—tailored and packaged to address urban challenges; and
• Developing new business lines, rendering technical services to cities and working towards a certification scheme for urban ecological performance.

The Programme Officer will work in collaboration with IUCN regional offices, primarily, ORMACC and EURO to implement the Urban Innovation Priority project. Additionally, the Programme Officer will collaborate with the Science and Knowledge Unit.

Under the supervision of the Head of Urban Alliance, the Programme Officer will undertake a range of activities pursuant to the development and implementation of urban projects. Such activities may include:

• Supporting cities worldwide to implement the IUCN Urban Nature Index, and compiling and analysing results;
• Tailoring and packaging existing IUCN tools and resources to meet the needs of cities;
• Identifying and compiling urban case studies for publication on PANORAMA Cities portal;
• Developing learning materials and delivering training to increase urban capacity within the IUCN Secretariat;
• Compiling and publishing website content including news articles, blogs and events;
• Developing and implementing a communications strategy to promote IUCN’s urban work;
• Attending and presenting in relevant webinars, meetings and conferences, and reporting on the outcomes;
• Monitoring news, developments, events and funding opportunities of relevance to the IUCN’s urban work; and
• Undertaking a range of administrative functions on a day-to-day basis (e.g., processing of invoices, contracts and financial reports).