I. All relevant UN entities have been involved in the follow up and implementation of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, the EMG report and the common approach on biodiversity contributing to enhanced implementation and coherence and shared ownership of the Framework;
II. Knowledge and information is shared within the UN system to create opportunities for collective action and joint delivery in support of the implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; Raised awareness about the importance of integrating biodiversity and nature-based solutions for sustainable development into UN policies, programmes, facilities, operations and activities.
Homebased
The Consultant will be expected to deliver agreed-upon outputs and services within a period of 5 months starting January to June 2021 during which the consultant will work for 50 days
The United Nations Environment Management Group (UNEMG) was established in 1999 by the UN General Assembly as a UN system-wide coordination body on the environment. Its main goal is to integrate the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into the policies, plans and strategies of United Nations entities. As one of its activities, the EMG works to strengthen the biodiversity agenda in the UN system.
Contracting Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are in the process of preparing a post-2020 global biodiversity framework that is expected to be adopted at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the CBD and considered by the General Assembly in 2021. At the first meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (WG2020) on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, Parties to the CBD invited the EMG to facilitate the contribution of the United Nations system to the development and implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework . Following that, the 25th EMG Senior Officials Meeting in September 2019 established an inter-agency consultative process composed of 51 agencies to facilitate such a contribution from the United Nations system.
Building on that, the consultative process prepared a UN wide report on biodiversity describing the UN system’s approach both to engage in and support Member States in the implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, including a UN system high-level commitment to engage in its implementation. The report was approved by the 26th meeting of the EMG Senior Officials in October 2020. In follow up of that, the Senior Officials have decided to extend the Consultative Process to proceed with the follow up and implementation of the recommendations of the report with the EMG Secretariat playing a coordination role. Alongside the EMG consultative process, the Secretary-General’s Executive Committee (EC) on 25 March 2020 called for the UN system to mainstream biodiversity work in key areas, engage in cross-agency collaboration, and enhance UN communications and advocacy. The Secretary-General requested full engagement across the UN system at global and regional levels in the process established under the EMG to facilitate UN contributions to the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Subsequently, the Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) at their meeting on 14 May 2020 agreed to a stronger focus on nature across the UN system.
The meeting tasked the High-Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP) to develop, for the CEB’s adoption, a common approach to integrating biodiversity and nature-based solutions for sustainable development into the UN’s policy and programme planning and delivery (CEB/2020/1). Once the common approach is finalized, UNEP will be playing a key driving role in its follow up including through the EMG Secretariat and its consultative process.
The EMG Secretariat is therefore seeking a consultant to support the Secretariat with activities related to the follow up of the EMG biodiversity report, the EMG consultative process as well as the follow up of the CEB common approach on biodiversity in the UN system to be finalized in May 2021.
Academic Qualifications: An advanced university degree in the area of sustainable development and environmental science including biodiversity. A first level university degree in combination with four additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. And additional degree in the field of communication would be an asset.
Experience: Minimum 7 years of relevant work experience in the field of environment and sustainable development. Demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of biodiversity and related challenges. Work experience in UN-system coordination and knowledge management is an advantage.
Experience in preparing analytical reports, concept notes, branding, organizing multi-stakeholder roundtables or conferences at the global level in the area of sustainable development and theoretical and practical experience of knowledge sharing methodologies, tools and practices is an added advantage
Language: For the advertised post, fluency in oral and written English is an absolute requirement. Knowledge of French or any other UN language would be an additional advantage.
Skills: The candidate should demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research and analysis, excellent communications skills, and competence in data analysis and knowledge sharing methodologies. The candidate should have the ability to deliver outputs and work under pressure to meet the deadlines mentioned in this Terms of Reference.
Work assignments will include but not be limited to:
• A strategy and action plan to follow up on the EMG biodiversity report and the CEB common approach on biodiversity in the UN system in line with the post 2020 global biodiversity framework;
• A resource mobilization strategy for funding the long-term implementation of the EMG biodiversity report and the CEB common approach;
• Monitoring and reporting framework and related indicators to measure biodiversity integration in UN policies, programmes, facilities, operations, and activities; Workshops and webinars on biodiversity and nature-based solutions and their contributions to the work of the UN entities A knowledge brokering /information exchange system on biodiversity in the UN system;
• Support the organization of at least 4 UN events on biodiversity during relevant international meeting, such as the OEWG on post-2020 and the CBD COP 15;
• Identification for opportunities of EMG members to contribute to the implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.