Call For Proposal :Consultancy on the Development of a project document on facilitating the global sharing of deep-sea genetic data and biological samples

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

Under the overall supervision of the Associate Programme Management Officer of OEMMR, and in consultation with other relevant officers, the consultant will produce the following outputs in accordance with the suggested timelines: • Output 1 : Final workplan • Output 2 : Consultation with relevant stakeholders finalized • Output 3 : First draft project document • Output 4 : Revised draft project document

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

3 months

Duties and Responsibilities

CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR CONSULTANCY ISA/2024/OEMMR/003 Consultancy on the development of a project document on facilitating the global sharing of deep-sea genetic data and biological samples Deadline for submission: 15 April 2024 BACKGROUND 1. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous international organization established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (the Convention) and the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (the 1994 Agreement). ISA is the organization through which States Parties to the Convention shall, in accordance with the Convention, organize and control activities in the Area (the international seabed area), particularly with a view to administering the resources of the Area for the benefit of all humanity. 2. Availability and accessibility of genetic data and biological samples play a key role in facilitating scientific research, particularly in the Area where scientific studies are challenged by its unique environmental conditions, requiring much more resources than research in shallow waters. Effective archiving and sharing of such data and samples will not only increase scientific understanding of deep-sea biodiversity, including through taxonomic descriptions, but also minimize duplication of efforts and enable efficient use of available resources for further research and capacity-building activities. With growing interests in marine genetic resources (MGR) and emerging technologies and policies related to MGR, enhancing sharing of biological samples and data on genetic resources in the Area, particularly for developing States, will be further demanded and vital to inform sustainable governance of areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). 3. Sharing of such samples and data will significantly contribute to advancing marine scientific research and scientific capacity of developing countries. This also contributes to accelerating efforts towards achieving the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030. In particular, this directly addresses Challenge 9 identified by the Decade, which aims to “ensure comprehensive capacity development and equitable access to data, information, knowledge and technology across all aspects of ocean science and for all stakeholders”. 4. ISA Contractors conduct environmental studies as part of their obligations under the current exploration regulations of ISA. Since 2001, the Contractors invested nearly USD 1.6 billion on activities in the Area and USD 264 million on environmental studies, conducting more than 100 exploration cruises. During their studies, the Contractors collect biological samples and submit environmental data to ISA, according to the recommendations of the ISA Legal and Technical Commission, which are made publicly available through ISA DeepData database. In particular, the recommendations on environmental baseline studies and annual reporting of data include sharing of data collected from assessing genetic connectivity of key and representative species. The recommendations also include methodologies to process and preserve biological samples, voucher specimens, and eDNA samples for further studies and processing, such as DNA sequencing. 5. Building on these recommendations, an initiative is being developed to further standardize and facilitate the use and sharing of deep-sea biological collections and genetic data for the benefit of humankind. It also aims at increasing the capacity of developing countries, especially small island developing States, the least developed countries and landlocked developing countries, to undertake studies on deep-sea biodiversity and genetic resources by supporting their access to the collections and data and facilitating research collaboration. Given ISA’s unique position to manage continuous influx of new data from its contractors’ required environmental studies in the Area, which also involve a collection of biological samples, this initiative will add considerable value to establishing a robust scientific basis for achieving sustainable ocean governance. The outcomes, including the knowledge generated, will further strengthen ISA’s evidence-based approach to its decision-making for ensuring the protection and sustainable use of the Area. 6. ISA is seeking a consultant with requisite experience in: (i) developing and implementing projects related to marine scientific research in biology and/or genetics; and (ii) designing international projects using a logical framework approach, in consultation with various stakeholders. 7. The consultant is requested to draft a project document on facilitating the global sharing of deep-sea genetic data and biological samples. Following a logical framework approach, the draft project document is expected to include an integrated results and resources framework, monitoring and evaluation indicators, as well as strategies for risk management, resource mobilization, and partnership-building, among others. As part of the preparation, the consultant is also requested to conduct consultations with relevant stakeholders and potential partners. 8. Proposals in line with the scope of work in the Terms of Reference below are to be submitted via email to [email protected] on or by 15 April 2024. 9. Proposals must include: a) a general description of expertise and training in the relevant field; b) specific experience and skills relevant to the expected deliverables; c) A brief description of the potential stakeholders to be engaged to collect input for drafting the project document; d) A clear methodology to achieve the deliverables. 10. A financial proposal is also to be included. Fee range for these services will be based on Level B of ISA’s Administrative Instruction regarding consultants ISBA/ST/AI/2021/1. 11. A non-disclosure agreement signed by the selected consultant will be an integral part of the contract for services. TERMS OF REFERENCE Objective and Purpose The objective of the proposed consultancy is to develop a project document on facilitating the global sharing of deep-sea genetic data and biological samples and creating enabling conditions for all countries to benefit from enhanced scientific knowledge of deep-sea genetic resources. Scope of Work In close collaboration with the ISA Office of Environmental Management and Mineral Resources (OEMMR) and in consultation with potential partners and relevant initiatives, the consultant is to draft a project document on facilitating the global sharing of deep-sea genetic data and biological samples, using the logical framework approach (LFA). This includes: 1) Developing an integrated results and resources framework, including estimated budget and timeline, as well as clear linkages between activities, expected outputs, and outcomes; 2) Identifying strategies for risk management, resource mobilization, and partnership-building; and 3) Defining the metrics (e.g., indicators, baselines, and targets) that will be used to monitor and measure the progress towards the expected results identified. Outputs and Timeline Under the overall supervision of the Associate Programme Management Officer of OEMMR, and in consultation with other relevant officers, the consultant will produce the following outputs in accordance with the suggested timelines: • Output 1 : Final workplan • Output 2 : Consultation with relevant stakeholders finalized • Output 3 : First draft project document • Output 4 : Revised draft project document Terms of Payment The remuneration to be agreed with the contractor will be paid in three installments and it will be deemed to include all costs incurred in undertaking all the tasks outlined in the scope of work. Payments will be scheduled as follows: • 10% for Output 1 • 30% for Output 2 • 60% for Outputs 3 and 4 Selection / Evaluation All proposals will be reviewed by a committee. Selection will be based on the following: • Qualifications and experience • Proposed methodology • Financial proposal Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Modalities of work The work shall be performed at the consultant’s home base with scheduled virtual meetings with ISA Secretariat staff, as required. To facilitate timely and accurate outcomes by the consultant, the Associate Programme Management Officer of OEMMR will make reasonable and practical efforts to respond promptly to the consultant's queries and provide the necessary reference material as identified by the consultant, where feasible. GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CONTRACTS FOR THE SERVICES OF CONSULTANTS AND INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTORS 1. Legal status 1. The consultant or individual contractor shall have the legal status of an independent contractor vis-à-vis the International Seabed Authority. The contractor shall not be regarded, for any purposes, as being either a staff member of the Authority, under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the Authority, or an official of the Authority, for purposes of the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Seabed Authority. Accordingly, nothing within or relating to the contract shall establish the relationship of employer and employee, or of principal and agent, between the Authority and the contractor. 2. Standards of conduct 2. The contractor shall neither seek nor accept instructions from any authority external to the International Seabed Authority in connection with the performance of the obligations under the contract. Should any authority external to the Authority seek to impose any instructions on the contractor regarding the contractor’s performance under the contract, the contractor shall promptly notify the Authority and shall provide all reasonable assistance required by the Authority. The contractor shall not take any action in respect of the performance of the contract or otherwise related to the contractor’s obligations under the contract that may adversely affect the interests of the Authority, and the contractor shall perform the obligations under the contract with fullest regard for the interests of the Authority. The contractor warrants that the contractor has not offered and shall not offer any direct or indirect benefit arising from or related to the performance of the contract or the award thereof to any representative, official or employee of the Authority. The contractor shall comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations bearing upon the performance of the obligations under the contract. 3. The contractor acknowledges and agrees that any breach of any of the provisions hereof shall constitute a breach of an essential term of the contract, and, in addition to any other legal rights or remedies available to any person, shall give rise to grounds for termination of the contract. In addition, nothing herein shall limit the right of the Authority to refer any alleged breach of the foregoing standards of conduct to the relevant national authorities for appropriate action. 4. The contractor may not at any time communicate any information to any other person, Government or authority external to the Authority or known to them by reason of their association with the Authority that has not been made public, except in the course of their duties or by authorization of the Secretary-General or any designate by the Secretary-General; nor shall the contractor at any time use such information to private advantage. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of the contract with the Authority. 3. Title rights, copyrights, patents and other proprietary rights 5. Title to any equipment and supplies that may be furnished by the Authority to the contractor for the performance of any obligations under the contract shall rest with the Authority, and any such equipment shall be returned to the Authority upon completion of work under the contract or when no longer needed by the contractor. Such equipment, when returned to the Authority, shall be in the same condition as when delivered to the contractor, subject to normal wear and tear, and the contractor shall be liable to compensate the Authority for any damage or degradation of the equipment beyond normal wear and tear. 6. The Authority shall be entitled to all intellectual property and other proprietary rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to products, processes, inventions, ideas, know-how or documents and other materials that the contractor has developed for the Authority under the contract and that bear a direct relation to or are produced, prepared or collected in consequence of, or during the course of, the performance of the contract, and the contractor acknowledges and agrees that such products, documents and other materials constitute works made for hire for the Authority. However, to the extent that any such intellectual property or other proprietary rights consist of any intellectual property or other proprietary rights of the contractor: (a) that pre-existed the performance by the contractor of the obligations under the contract; or (b) that the contractor may develop or acquire, or may have developed or acquired, independently of the performance of the obligations under the contract, the Authority does not and shall not claim any ownership interest thereto, and the contractor grants to the Authority a perpetual licence to use such intellectual property or other proprietary right solely for the purposes of and in accordance with the requirements of the contract. At the request of the Authority, the contractor shall take all necessary steps, execute all necessary documents and, generally, assist in securing such proprietary rights and transferring or licensing them to the Authority in compliance with the requirements of the applicable law and of the contract. Subject to the foregoing provisions, all maps, drawings, photographs, mosaics, plans, reports, estimates, recommendations, documents and other data compiled or received by the contractor under the contract shall be the property of the Authority, shall be made available for use or inspection by the Authority at reasonable times and in reasonable places, shall be treated as confidential and shall be delivered only to authorized officials of the Authority upon completion of work under the contract. 4. Confidential nature of documents and information 7. Information and data that are considered proprietary by either the Authority or the contractor or that are delivered or disclosed by one of them (“discloser”) to the other (“recipient”) during the course of performance of the contract, and that is designated as confidential (“information”) shall be held in confidence and shall be handled as follows: the recipient of such information shall use the same care and discretion to avoid disclosure, publication or dissemination of the discloser’s information as it uses with its own similar information that it does not wish to disclose, publish or disseminate, and the recipient may use the discloser’s information solely for the purpose for which it was disclosed. The recipient may not disclose confidential information to any other party unless with the discloser’s prior written consent. Subject to and without any waiver of the privileges and immunities of the Authority and its officials, the contractor may disclose information to the extent required by law, provided that the contractor will give the Authority sufficient prior notice of a request for the disclosure of information in order to allow the Authority to have a reasonable opportunity to take protective measures or such other action as may be appropriate before any such disclosure is made. The Authority may disclose information to the extent required pursuant to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982, and the rules, regulations and procedures of the Authority. The recipient shall not be precluded from disclosing information that is obtained by the recipient from a third party without restriction, is disclosed by the discloser to a third party without any obligation of confidentiality, is previously known by the recipient or is developed at any time by the recipient completely independently of any disclosures hereunder. These obligations and restrictions of confidentiality shall be effective during the term of the contract, including any extension thereof, and, unless otherwise provided in the contract, shall remain effective following any termination of the contract. 8. Confidential information means information that: (a) Is by its nature confidential; (b) Is designated by the Authority as confidential; (c) The contractor knows or ought to know is confidential. 9. Confidential information does not include information that: (a) Is or becomes public knowledge by means other than by breach of the contract; (b) Is in the possession of the contractor without restriction to disclosure before the date of receipt from the Authority; (c) Has been independently developed or acquired by the contractor; (d) Was in the possession of the contractor prior to the commencement date of the contract; (e) Is obtained by the contractor from a third party that is free to divulge the same. 10. The Authority may at any time require the contractor to give a written undertaking, in a form required by the Authority, relating to the non-disclosure of confidential information. In the written undertaking, the contractor is required to acknowledge that the provisions of article 168 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea related to the responsibilities of the staff of the Authority apply, mutatis mutandis, to the contractor. The contractor shall promptly arrange for all such undertakings to be given. 5. Travel, statement of good health and service-incurred death, injury or illness 11. If the contractor is required by the Authority to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place of residence, such travel shall be at the expense of the Authority and shall be governed by conditions equivalent to the relevant provisions of the administrative instruction of the Authority on official travel. In such cases, the travel expenses borne by the Authority shall not exceed the cost of travel by the least costly economy class regularly available or its equivalent when by air, unless a higher standard is approved in advance by, or on behalf of, the Secretary-General of the Authority. 12. Prior to the commencement of the contractor’s services in any offices or premises of the Authority or before engaging in any travel required by the Authority or connected with the performance of the contract, the contractor shall submit a certificate of good health provided by a medical practitioner for himself or herself, or for the representative or employee concerned, and certify that he or she, or the representative or employee concerned, is in possession of medical or health insurance during the period of the contractor’s services. The contractor shall provide such a certificate of good health and certification of the medical or health insurance that includes medical treatment as soon as practicable following the signature of the contract. The contractor warrants the accuracy of any such certificate of good health, including but not limited to confirmation that the contractor has been fully informed regarding the requirements for inoculations for the country or countries to which travel may be authorized. 13. The contractor shall be responsible for assuming all costs that may be incurred in relation to the certificate of good health and medical or health insurance. 14. In the event of the death, injury or illness of the contractor that is attributable to the performance of services on behalf of the Authority under the terms of the contract while the contractor is travelling at the Authority’s expense or is performing any services under the contract in any offices or premises of the Authority, [the representative or employee of] the contractor or his or her dependants, as appropriate, shall be entitled to compensation equivalent to that provided under appendix B to the Staff Rules of the Authority. 6. Prohibition on assignments and modifications 15. The contractor may not assign, delegate, transfer, pledge or make any other disposition of the contract, of any part thereof, or of any of the rights, claims or obligations under the contract except with the prior written authorization of the Authority, and any attempt to do so shall be null and void. The terms or conditions of any supplemental undertakings, licences or other forms of agreement concerning any goods or services to be provided under the contract shall not be valid and enforceable against the Authority or in any way constitute an agreement by the Authority thereto, unless any such undertakings, licences or other forms of agreement are the subject of a valid written undertaking by the Authority. 16. No modification or change in the contract shall be valid and enforceable against the Authority unless provided by means of a valid written amendment to the contract signed by the contractor or a duly authorized representative thereof and a duly authorized representative of the Authority. 7. Subcontractors 17. In the event that the contractor requires the services of subcontractors to perform any obligations under the contract, the contractor shall obtain the prior written approval of the Authority for any such subcontractors. The Authority may, at its sole discretion, reject any proposed subcontractor or require such subcontractor’s removal without having to give any justification therefor, and such rejection shall not entitle the contractor to claim any delays in the performance or to assert any excuses for the non-performance of any of the obligations under the contract. The contractor shall be solely responsible for all services and obligations performed by its subcontractors. The terms of any subcontract shall be subject to, and shall be construed in a manner that is fully in accordance with, all of the terms and conditions of the contract. The contractor shall not assign work to be performed under the contract to any person other than those accepted by the Authority in the form of written notification. 8. Use of the name, emblem or official seal of the authority 18. The contractor shall not advertise or otherwise make public for purposes of commercial advantage or goodwill that the contractor has a contractual relationship with the Authority; nor shall the contractor in any manner whatsoever use the name, emblem or official seal of the Authority or any abbreviation of the name of the Authority in connection with its business or otherwise without the written permission of the Authority. 9. Indemnification 19. The contractor shall indemnify, defend and hold and save harmless the Authority and its officials, agents and employees from and against all suits, proceedings, claims, demands, losses and liability of any kind or nature, including but not limited to all litigation costs and expenses, attorney’s fees, settlement payments and damages, based on, arising from or relating to: (a) Allegations or claims that the use by the Authority of any patented device, any copyrighted material or any other goods or services provided to the Authority for its use under the terms of the contract, in whole or in part, separately or in combination, constitutes an infringement of any patent, copyright, trademark or other intellectual property right of any third party; (b) Any acts or omissions of the contractor or of any subcontractor or anyone directly or indirectly employed by them in the performance of the contract that give rise to legal liability to anyone not a party to the contract, including, without limitation, claims and liability in the nature of a claim for workers’ compensation. 10. Insurance 20. The contractor shall pay the Authority promptly for all loss, destruction or damage to the property of the Authority caused by the contractor or of any subcontractor or anyone directly or indirectly employed by them in the performance of the contract. 21. The contractor shall be solely responsible for taking out and for maintaining adequate liability and property damage insurance required to meet any of the obligations under the contract and in respect of any tort action or tort claim arising out of the contractor’s acts or omissions related to the contract, as well as for arranging, at the contractor’s sole expense or at that of its representative or employee, such life, health and other forms of insurance as the contractor may consider to be appropriate to cover the period during which the contractor provides services under the contract. The contractor shall, upon request by the Authority, provide proof of such insurance. 22. The contractor acknowledges and agrees that none of the insurance arrangements that the contractor may make shall in any way be construed to limit the contractor’s liability arising under or relating to the contract. 11. Encumbrances and liens 23. The contractor shall not cause or permit any lien, attachment or other encumbrance by any person to be placed on file or to remain on file in any public office or on file with the Authority against any monies due to the contractor or to become due for any work done or against any goods supplied or materials furnished under the contract or by reason of any other claim or demand against the contractor. 12. Force majeure and other changes in conditions 24. In the event of and as soon as possible after the occurrence of any cause constituting force majeure, the contractor shall give notice and full particulars in writing to the Authority of such occurrence or cause if the contractor is thereby rendered unable, wholly or in part, to perform the obligations and meet the responsibilities under the contract. The contractor shall also notify the Authority of any other changes in condition or the occurrence of any event that interferes or threatens to interfere with the contractor’s performance of the contract. Not more than 15 days following the provision of such notice of force majeure or other changes in condition or occurrence, the contractor shall also submit a statement to the Authority of estimated expenditures that will likely be incurred for the duration of the change in condition or the event. Upon receipt of the notice(s) required hereunder, the Authority shall take such action as it considers, at its sole discretion, to be appropriate or necessary in the circumstances, including the granting to the contractor of a reasonable extension of time in which to perform any obligations under the contract. 25. If the contractor is rendered permanently unable, wholly or in part, by reason of force majeure to perform the obligations and meet the responsibilities under the contract, the Authority shall have the right to suspend or terminate the contract on the same terms and conditions as provided for below, under “Termination”, except that the period of notice shall be five days instead of any other period of notice. In any case, the Authority shall be entitled to consider the contractor permanently unable to perform the obligations under the contract in the case of the contractor’s suffering any period of suspension in excess of 30 days. 26. Force majeure as used herein means any unforeseeable and irresistible act of nature, any act of war (whether declared or not), invasion, revolution, insurrection, strikes or other labour disturbances, riots, floods, storms, earthquakes, fires or any other acts of a similar nature or force, provided that such acts arise from causes beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of the contractor. 13. Termination 27. Either party may terminate the contract before the expiry date of the contract, in whole or in part, upon giving written notice to the other party. The period of notice shall be 5 days in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two months and 14 days in the case of contracts for a longer period. The initiation of conciliation or arbitral proceedings, as provided below, shall not be deemed to be a cause for or otherwise to be in itself a termination of the contract. 28. The Authority may, without prejudice to any other right or remedy available to it, terminate the contract forthwith in the event that: (a) the contractor is adjudged bankrupt, is liquidated or becomes insolvent, applies for a moratorium or stay on any payment or repayment obligations, or applies to be declared insolvent; (b) the contractor is granted a moratorium or a stay or is declared insolvent; (c) the contractor makes an assignment for the benefit of one or more of the contractor’s creditors; (d) a receiver is appointed on account of the insolvency of the contractor; (e) the contractor offers a settlement in lieu of bankruptcy or receivership; or (f) the Authority reasonably determines that the contractor has become subject to a materially adverse change in the financial condition that threatens to endanger or otherwise substantially affect the ability of the contractor to perform any of the obligations under the contract. 29. In the event of any termination of the contract, upon receipt of notice of termination by the Authority, the contractor shall, except as may be directed by the Authority in the notice of termination or otherwise in writing: (a) take immediate steps to bring the performance of any obligations under the contract to a close in a prompt and orderly manner and, in doing so, reduce expenses to a minimum; (b) refrain from undertaking any further or additional commitments under the contract as of and following the date of receipt of such notice; (c) deliver all completed or partially completed plans, drawings, information and other property that, if the contract had been completed, would have been required to be furnished to the Authority thereunder; (d) complete performance of the work not terminated; and (e) take any other action that may be necessary, or that the Authority may direct in writing, for the protection and preservation of any property, whether tangible or intangible, related to the contract that is in the possession of the contractor and in which the Authority has or may be reasonably expected to acquire an interest. 30. A contractor may terminate the contract if: (a) the Authority is in arrears of any payment due under the contract for more than 30 days; (b) the Authority is in breach of any of the terms or conditions under the contract. 31. In the event of any termination of the contract, the Authority shall only be liable to pay the contractor compensation on a pro rata basis for no more than the actual amount of work performed to the satisfaction of the Authority in accordance with the requirements of the contract. Additional costs incurred by the Authority resulting from the termination of the contract by the contractor may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the contractor from the Authority. 14. Non-exclusivity 32. The Authority shall have no obligation respecting, and no limitations on, its right to obtain goods of the same kind, quality and quantity, or to obtain any services of the kind described in the contract, from any other source at any time. 15. Taxation 33. Article 183 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides, inter alia, that within the scope of its official activities, the Authority, its assets and property, its income, and its operations and transactions, authorized by the Convention, shall be exempt from all direct taxation, and that goods imported or exported for its official use shall be exempt from all customs duties. The Authority shall not claim exemption from taxes that are no more than charges for service rendered. 34. In the event that any governmental authority refuses to recognize the exemptions of the Authority from such taxation and customs duties, the contractor shall immediately consult with the Authority to determine a mutually acceptable procedure. The Authority shall have no liability for taxes, duty or other similar charges payable by the contractor in respect of any amounts paid to the contractor under the contract, and the contractor acknowledges that the Authority will not issue any statements of earnings to the contractor in respect of any such payments. 16. Settlement of disputes 35. Amicable settlement. The Authority and the contractor shall use their best efforts to amicably settle any dispute arising out of the contract or the breach, termination or invalidity thereof. Where the parties wish to seek such an amicable settlement through conciliation, the conciliation shall take place in accordance with the applicable Conciliation Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), or according to such other procedure as may be agreed between the parties in writing. 36. Arbitration. Any dispute between the parties arising out of the contract, or the breach, termination or invalidity thereof, unless settled amicably as provided above, shall be referred by either of the parties to arbitration in accordance with the applicable UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. The number of arbitrators shall be three. The language to be used in arbitral proceedings shall be English. The decisions of the arbitral tribunal shall be based on general principles of international commercial law. The arbitral tribunal shall have no authority to award punitive damages. The parties shall be bound by any arbitration award rendered as a result of such arbitration as the final adjudication of any such dispute, controversy or claim. 17. Privileges and immunities 37. Nothing in or relating to the contract shall be deemed a waiver, express or implied, of any of the privileges and immunities of the Authority and its officials. 18. Miscellaneous 38. The contract may be executed by parties with the use of electronic signatures in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. 39. The contract embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the contractor and the Authority and supersedes any and all prior agreements and understandings between parties.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced degree (Master’s or above) in the field of deep-sea biology, marine genetic data, or other related fields. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two ( 2) years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. • A minimum of 5 years in developing and implementing projects related to marine scientific research in biology and genetics. • Experience in project designing, management, and evaluation. • Experience in handling deep-sea biological data and samples is desirable. • Experience in engaging various stakeholders, including scientific institutions, international organizations, and private entities, is desirable. • Experience in working with intergovernmental organizations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

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.