The services of the consultant will result in the development of a Blue Public Finance Framework guidance note which could helps countries to apply it in the future and revise the SBE Transition Framework which embeds the BPFF.
Remote
1 September – 10 December
UN Environment Programme is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP acts as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use of the global environment and sustainable development. The Economy Division at UNEP plays a leading role in the Green Economy Initiative which aims to shift national economies on to a sustainable path, in which jobs and output growth are driven by increased investment in green sectors, and by a switch of consumers’ preferences towards environmentally friendly goods and services.
Located within the Economy Division, the Resources and Markets Branch examines how economics, trade, and finance interact with the environment and contribute to sustainable development at the local, national, regional and global levels. The Resources and Markets Branch support countries through analytical studies in partnerships with UN agencies, intergovernmental institutions, governments, academic institutes, businesses and environmental groups to support the shift to an inclusive green economy and help deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Among its areas of work, the Economic and Fiscal Policy Unit supports global efforts on green fiscal policy reforms and advises countries on how fiscal policies can support the inclusive green economy and delivery of the SDGs across different sectors from water, energy and extractives, to agriculture and fisheries among others. It works with a range of partners including fiscal authorities such as the International Monetary Fund, development agencies such as the German Development Agency, the Organisation for Cooperation on Economic Development (OECD), academic institutions, think tanks, and national research institutes, to provide policy advice, develop knowledge products and host technical workshops on the role of fiscal policy in the transition to a green economy.
A healthy ocean is key for a sustainable future and underpins several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the feedback loops underlying the Blue Economy (BE) are currently resulting in the deterioration of the marine ecosystem, with negative impacts on economies and societies. Marine biodiversity and ecosystems continue to face multiple threats, including habitat degradation and destruction, pollution, unsustainable and unregulated fisheries, and the effects of climate change. A strong global partnership is required to reverse these trends, by mobilizing resources, enhancing capacity and sharing knowledge to help countries and regions transition to a Sustainable Blue Economy (SBE).
Transitioning to a sustainable blue economy would reframe the development of ocean economies around the sustainable management of their natural capital, integrate sustainability in macro-economic planning and key sectoral policies, and deliver environmental, social and economic benefits. Prioritizing SBE would support ecosystem-based ocean and coastal governance systems that manage, restore and safeguard marine and coastal ecosystems, thus contributing to an SBE, healthier people, and a healthier planet. The transition to an SBE could also help countries, ‘Build back better’ from the current COVID-19 pandemic, enhance their resilience to future crises, and support Agenda 2030, biodiversity commitments, and the Paris Agreement.
Within this context, UNEP is developing a SBE Transition Framework that will help countries integrate SBE considerations in their policy and planning processes, thus making the transition to a SBE practical and implementable. The SBE Transition Framework follows four phases: 1) Understanding the system; 2) Strategic Policy Development; 3) Implementation; 4) Evaluation and Adaptation
The rationale for developing these tools, and the benefits they can bring to the SBE policy landscape, are discussed below.
Blue Economy Model Framework
Developing a Blue Economy Model Framework can provide countries with holistic information about the Blue Economy and its sustainability. It can also shed light on trends and patterns (especially when data is lacking) and forecast effects of policies on the Blue Economy. The insights provided by BE modelling can enable countries to embed SBE considerations in national economic planning, facilitating decision making and development planning that considers and incorporates Blue Economy opportunities. For example, SBE modelling could facilitate the repurposing and of harmful fisheries subsidies (e.g. those which reduce the cost of inputs such as fuel, vessels and gear) to support small-scale fishers and the scaling up of nature-based practices, contributing to the delivery of SDG 14.6.
As discussed in the feasibility study conducted, there are many existing models and tools that are currently used for Green Economy (GE) assessments. However, while the BE has similarities to the GE, current GE models are not yet well suited to the BE context due to the emphasis on land-based activities, lack of spatially explicit data and a lack of BE indicators used in current models. Further, while several tools have emerged to address niche areas of the BE, few tools provide a view of the BE in its entirety (especially the social dimension), and none allow for an integrated assessment of benefits/costs of SBE strategy implementation.
Therefore, to develop a Blue Economy Model that can provide usable information to policymakers, it is important to go beyond the tools developed for the Green Economy. This involves clearly setting out the inputs, outputs, and system dynamics (stocks and flows) that are needed to accurately model blue economy policies and their impacts. To achieve this, a Blue Economy Model Framework will be developed, which a) builds upon an existing model previously developed for the Green Economy b) focuses on adding appropriate and relevant SBE indicators; c) provides a pilot simulation of the model in a country of relevance, including running sample scenarios and assessing the importance (e.g. through a cost benefit analysis) of SBE indicators and; d) documents the key system dynamics underpinning the SBE in a technical report, with a brief overview of the results from the modelling exercise.
Blue Public Finance Framework
Making a strong, influential case for Sustainable Blue Economy action requires analysis that anchors SBE in fiscal and economic policies. The Blue Public Finance Framework will examine how government policies support or hinder the achievement of Sustainable Blue Economy goals, thus helping countries integrate sustainability into their Blue Economy (BE) policies and choice of implementation instruments. For example, the Blue Public Finance Framework could help a country determine that their public financial support for fossil fuel leads to harmful offshore oil exploration, prompting the re-allocation of that support to natural capital projects that sequester carbon, protect against flooding and create jobs.
As part of the feasibility study, seven dimensions have been identified for inclusion in the Blue Public Finance Framework’s assessments, coupled with a catalogue of questions, tools and sources that can be used to assess these dimensions. In this second phase, the dimensions and corresponding assessment questions will be adjusted and aligned with the Transition Framework’s phases and associated activities. The Framework will be finalized so that it can be operationalized as part of the SBE Transition Framework in 2022.
The Blue Public Finance Framework helps to assess economic and fiscal policies, institution capabilities and gaps (activities 1.1 and 1.2), and provides a tool for developing policy and planning public expenditure and sustainable blue finance (2.2 and 2.4). The SBE Policy Toolkit and BPFF shall form an integral part of the SBE Transition Framework and related
guidance resources.
To create further knowledge products, contribute to international discussions, initiate consultations with relevant institutions and respond to requests for guidance from governments in the area of green fiscal policy, as well as to create the SBE tools and approaches, and to assist the Ecosystem Division colleagues in establishing a SBE Transition framework, UN Environment requires support from a consultant with expertise in this area.
The UN Environment, Economy Division, Resources and Markets Branch currently does not have the relevant expertise in house, to carry out the required tasks.
Specific tasks and responsibilities:
The consultant’s responsibilities will include supporting
The development of a Public Finance Framework for Sustainable Oceans as part of the SIDA funded project on Sustainable Blue Economy
The main duties and responsibilities of the consultant, include, but are not restricted to, the following
• Map the full coverage of the Blue Public Finance Framework. This would involve mapping the phases and associated activities of the SBE Transition Framework and understanding how they are related to one another. This mapping exercise could build on the mapping draft shown in the feasibility study in Section 7.2: "Links to other Sustainable Blue Economy Decision Support Modules"
• Seek cooperation with the Green Public Finance Framework methodology team to explore synergies and cross-fertilize outputs.
• Consult with relevant partners and stakeholders about the appropriateness and applicability of the BPFF, including an assessment of errors, gaps, and areas of potential improvement.
The expected outcomes are as follows:
• The BPFF will provide the specific framing and analysis that would need to be applied to understand and improve the scale, efficiency and efficacy of public finance investment in a sustainable blue economy as framed in context of the UNEP Sustainable Blue Economy Transition Support
• The BPFF will provide an improved evidence base and tool for Member States to use public finance tools and instruments to underpin action on Sustainable Blue Economy policy aligned with Agenda 2030, Paris Agreement and post-2020 biodiversity targets.
Skills: Communication
• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Demonstrable communication skills, both oral and written, including the ability to write clearly and concisely on technical, socio-economic, fiscal and environmental topics.
• Proven ability to analyze and communicate complex information at a simpler level to a wide audience.
Academic Qualifications: A university Masters' degree in a relevant field of economics, agroeconomics, environmental economics, public policy, natural resource management, development, environment is required
Experience: 10 years of experience of using and applying public finance frameworks (assessments, reforms, sector analysis) is required. 5 years of experience in Established track record in implementing policy assessment or monitoring frameworks
• Established track record in implementing public finance monitoring or assessment frameworks
• Experience in working with international organizations or national governments in developing guidelines and frameworks is required
• Demonstrated experience in undertaking research and producing economic policy analysis related to oceans or marine ecosystems would be highly desirable.
• Proven capacity for conceptual, analytical, and critical thinking.
Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage. French and Spanish would be assets reviewing cases
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