CBIT’s most important contribution will be to strengthen Argentina’s reporting capacities so as to adequately comply with the requirements of the Enhanced Transparency Framework through the new reporting format under the Paris Agreement: the Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR). In order to carry out the activities of Argentina’s CBIT project it requires the hiring of a Specialist in georeferenced data of forest plantations.
Ultimate Result of the Service:
¿ Technical assistance to the NCCD and MAGyP team on issues related to GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is provided.
¿ The technical qualities of products linked with the Forestry and Land Use Sector of Argentina’s reports are ensured.
¿ The completeness of the National GHG Inventory System is enhanced.
¿ The consistent representation of lands for the National GHG Inventory System is improved.
OUTPUTS
1. Develop a semi-automatic classification method to generate geographic information of forest plantations of the Northeast region (NEA) for the 2000–2010 time series, in collaboration with the GIS Area of the DNDFI.
2. Process and classify satellite images provided by the DNDFI and/or cartographic servers for the generation of geographic information of forest plantations of the NEA region for the 2000–2010 time series.
3. Elaborate annual vector (shapefile) and/or raster layers of the distribution of forest plantations in the NEA region for the 2000-2010 time series.
4. Document the procedure to elaborate the annual vector and/or raster layers of activity 3.
5. Prepare the metadata for the annual vector and/or raster layers of activity 3, according to IDERA´s recommendations.
6. Evaluate and develop a semi-automatic classification method to generate geographic information of forest plantations of the Patagonian region for the 2000–2010 time series, in collaboration with the GIS Area of the DNDFI.
7. Process and classify satellite images provided by the DNDFI and/or cartographic servers for the generation of geographic information of forest plantations of the Patagonian region for the 2000–2010 time series.
8. Elaborate annual vector (shapefile) and/or raster layers of the distribution of forest plantations in the Patagonian region for the 2000-2010 time series.
9. Document the procedure to elaborate the annual vector and/or raster layers of activity 8.
10. Prepare the metadata for the annual vector and/or raster layers of activity 8, according to IDERA´s recommendations.
11. Evaluate and develop a semi-automatic classification method to generate geographic information of forest plantations of the Delta region for the 2000–2010 time series, in collaboration with the GIS Area of the DNDFI.
12. Process and classify satellite images provided by the DNDFI and/or cartographic servers for the generation of geographic information of forest plantations of the Delta region for the 2000–2010 time series.
13. Elaborate annual vector (shapefile) and/or raster layers of the distribution of forest plantations in the Delta region for the 2000-2010 time series.
14. Document the procedure to elaborate the annual vector and/or raster layers of activity 13.
15. Prepare the metadata for the annual vector and/or raster layers of activity 13, according to IDERA´s recommendations.
16. Compile the layers elaborated with the existing geographic information of forest plantations developed in the GIS Area of the DNDFI.
DELIVERABLES
Product No. 1: Annual vector (shapefile) and/or raster layers of the distribution of forest plantations in the NEA region for the 2000-2010 time series
Product No. 2: Report documenting the procedure utilized in Product 1 including metadata following IDERA´s guidelines.
Product No. 3: Annual vector (shapefile) and/or raster layers of the distribution of forest plantations in the Patagonian region for the 2000-2010 time series
Product No. 4: Report (.pdf format) documenting the procedure utilized in Product 3 including metadata following IDERA´s guidelines.
Product No. 5: Annual vector (shapefile) and/or raster layers of the distribution of forest plantations in the Delta region for the 2000-2010 time series
Product No. 6: Report (.pdf format) documenting the procedure utilized in Product 5 including metadata following IDERA´s guidelines.
Product No. 7: Compilation folder of all annual layers generated, by region, (2000–2010 time serie) and reports documenting the implemented procedure, data sources, and files
Detail on documents expected format:
All documents presented by the consultant within the framework of this contract must be in editable format and must be revised by the DNCC. Likewise, the CTA must agree with the consultant on the preferred format and content of the documents and presentations to be generated. At a minimum, the documents must contain:
A. Reports, studies, papers
• Editable file, Word format (.doc).
• The structure of the draft and final product must be as follows:
o Cover
o Index
o Executive Summary
o Introduction
o Core content
o Conclusions
o APA-style bibliographic references
o APA-style bibliography
o Annexes
o Acronyms
• Pages must be numbered.
• Establish units of measurement.
• Reports must be presented in Spanish. The DNCC will indicate if it is necessary to present the document in English, this will depend on the type of document that is being generated.
• When information from external sources are included, it must be clearly referenced.
• When working on drafts, both the consultant and the reviewing technicians must work with the “change control” tool.
B. Formulas, calculations, graphs
• When the documents require calculations and formulas in Microsoft Excel, they must all be self-referential. This means that you must be able to modify and see the link between the formulas and calculations.
• Excel format (.xls). They must be able to be modified in such a way that data updating is possible.
• In the case of graphic figures that reflect results, calculations, etc. Excel sheets showing how they were done must be submitted.
C. Graphic or audiovisual pieces:
• Format (.mp4).
•Format (.ai).
•Format (.pdf).
•Physical format (printed).
•Web format (platforms).
•The final delivery, reviewed by the DNCC and approved by UNEP´s Regional Coordinator for Energy Efficiency of the Climate Change Unit of the Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of UNEP, must contain the entire editable package and final versions in high and low quality.
•Videos: The final delivery must have a low-quality web version with and without subtitles; and a high-quality version with subtitles and another without subtitles.
The final version of the products must have been reviewed by the UNEP´s Regional Coordinator for Energy Efficiency of the Climate Change Unit.
Home-based
6 MONTHS
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
UNEP´s Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).
The Argentine Republic ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1994 (Law No. 24,295), the Kyoto Protocol in September 2001 (Law No. 25,438) and the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol in May 2015 (Law No. 27,137). As a signatory of the UNFCCC, the country undertook obligations including the report of the national greenhouse gases inventories, national programs with mitigation and adaptation actions against climate change and any other relevant information regarding the fulfilment of the objective of the UNFCCC. As part of the country’s undertaken obligations, Argentina submitted its First National Communication in July 1997, and a revised communication in October 1999. The Second National Communication was submitted in December 2007 and the Third National Communication and the First Biennial Updated Report (BUR) were both submitted in December 2015. The Second BUR was submitted in August of 2017 and the Third BUR was presented to the UNFCCC in November 2019. The Fourth BUR was submitted in December 2021.
In December 2015 during the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21), the Paris Agreement (PA) was adopted; its article No. 2 established the objective of “holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels”. In September 2016, Argentina ratified the Paris Agreement (Law No. 27,270), then in December 2019, the National Congress approved the National Law No. 27,520 on Global Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. Finally, in December 2020, the country submitted its 2nd Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) which reflects its enhanced commitment to combat climate change and its effects. Argentina´s 2nd NDC outlines an absolute economy-wide reduction target of limiting its GHG emissions to 349 MtCO2e by 2030.
One of the most relevant challenges that the implementation of the Paris Agreement poses on countries is to count with strong Transparency Frameworks. Article No.13 of the PA establishes the need for Parties to implement national robust and transparent reporting and accounting systems to give clarity on action and support while providing clear information to stakeholders. As part of building and enhancing their Transparency Frameworks, Parties of the UNFCCC will progressively implement better tools and institutional practices, many of them not sufficiently developed in the countries. This is especially true for developing countries.
The UNFCCC Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) demands substantial and immediate progress in the countries’ domestic Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems and strategic de-carbonization planning. This entails moving from often disintegrated and often different-methodological approaches in data management to an integrated and robust system. The success of the Paris Agreement hinges on enhanced transparency of action and support, as a critical foundation to making its bottom-up, country-led approach work, as well as building mutual trust and confidence amongst Parties.
The Global Environment Facility - Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (GEF-CBIT) will support the Argentinian government for four years, mainly in strengthening its ETF. This will happen by improving the accuracy, completeness and consistency of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories and increasing its capacities to domestically track and evaluate mitigation measures and related finance support received and provided, as well as generating the technical inputs needed for medium and long-term planning contributing to the improvement of climate-related decision-making in the country. In order to achieve this objective, Argentina’s GEF-CBIT project, which was approved in July of 2019, is organized into three components:
- National and subnational GHG inventory System
- Domestic tracking of mitigation actions and support received
- Medium and long-term projections
In this sense, the Climate Change Unit of UNEP is recruiting a Specialist in georeferenced data of forest plantations in the form of a consultant to strengthening Argentina’s reporting capacities so as to adequately comply with the requirements of the Enhance Transparency Framework-ETF through the new reporting format under the Paris Agreement: the Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR). The incumbent will work from home and will be supervised by UNEP´s Regional Coordinator for Energy Efficiency of the Climate Change Unit. He or she will work in close collaboration with the National Climate Change Directorate (NCCD) within the Secretariat of Environment, Sustainable Development and Innovation of Argentina’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MAyDS), and the Sustainable Productions Directorate (SPD) and the National Directorate of Industrial Forestry Development (DNDFI) both within the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Argentina’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAGyP).
ACADEMIC:
¿ Bachelor´s degree in Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Engineering, Forest Engineering, Informatics Engineering, Electronic Engineering (required).
PROFESSIONAL:
¿ A minimum of 3 year of professional experience in technical work in remote sensing (required);
¿ One year of verifiable professional experience in projects related to environment within the 3 years of professional experience remote sensing (desirable);
¿ 2 years of academic experience teaching environmental management related classes (desirable).
¿ Verifiable experience using satellite image processing tools such as Google Earth Engine / PostgreSQL / PostGis / SQL /QGiS (desirable);
¿ Demonstrates good understanding of Argentina’s national policy related to climate change with particular focus on the AFOLU sector (desirable);
LANGUAGE:
¿ Fluent in Spanish (required);
¿ Basic level in English (required).
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
¿ Very good knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches related to the AFOLU sector (desirable);
¿ Experience in mass processing satellite images with Python / JavaScript and Database management (desirable);
¿ Knowledge of Google Earth Engine, SEPAL, AWS, R studio (desirable);
¿ Verifiable experience using IT tools such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Powerpoint) and related apps (desirable);
¿ Verifiable knowledge of environmental equipment related to monitoring the waste sector (desirable);
¿ Confident with numbers and equations, as well as drafting reports with procedures and results.
¿ Relationship skills with public and private sector officials;
¿ Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems;
¿ Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements;
¿ Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns;
¿ Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations; Shows leadership capacities;
¿ Experience in teamwork, with recognition in the field of their specialty to cooperate with consultants of other specialties;
¿ Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
¿ Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
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.