Consultancy on the Impacts of COVID-19 on Biosphere Reserves - Arab Region

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**OVERVIEW** ------------ Parent Sector : Natural Sciences Sector (SC) Duty Station: Cairo Job Family: Natural Sciences Type of contract : Non Staff Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 24-Apr-2021 (EXTENDED) UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism **Background** -------------- The MAB programme is an intergovernmental scientific programme that aims to establish a scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and their environment. It combines the natural and social sciences with a view to improving human livelihoods and safeguarding natural and managed ecosystems, thus promoting innovative approaches to economic development that are socially and culturally appropriate and environmentally sustainable. Through its Biosphere Reserves, it promotes solutions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use while contributing to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNESCO biosphere reserves are learning spaces for sustainable development under diverse ecological, social and economic conditions. It fosters integrated approaches where people blend into nature for sustainable development through participatory dialogue; knowledge sharing; poverty reduction and human well-being improvement; respect for cultural values and society’s ability to cope with emerging changes and crisis. In this context, the World Network of Biosphere Reserves is one of the main international tools to develop and implement sustainable development approaches in a wide array of fields. Consisting of a dynamic and interactive network of sites of excellence, it includes 701 biosphere reserves in 124 countries, including 21 transboundary sites. The biosphere reserves, distributed in five regions, are grouped in sub-regional networks, which emerged gradually to exchange experiences and collaborate on best practices. The ArabMAB Network, which officially launched in Jordan in 1997, brings together 33 Biosphere Reserves distributed in 12 countries. The emerging COVID 19 pandemic has affected societies, economy and the environment. The Biosphere Reserves in the Arab Region had their shares from the pandemic whether positively or negatively. Assignment ---------- Within the framework of the Ecology and Earth Sciences Programme of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States in Cairo (UCO), under the overall supervision of the Director of UCO and the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist for Ecology and Earth Sciences at UCO, the consultant shall undertake the necessary tasks to assess the positive and negative impacts of COVID 19 in at least **3 Biosphere Reserves (BRs) from the Arab Region**. To this end, the consultant shall undertake the following tasks: 1. Collect data, gather information and perform a desk review of all peer-reviewed articles, working documents, grey literature published on impacts of COVID 19 on the environment, society, and economy at global and regional levels; 2. Review the assessment sheet designed for the collection of data on positive and negative impacts of COVID19 in the selected BRs (data sheet attached) and make necessary changes as deemed necessary; 3. Collect the necessary data from the selected biosphere reserves from the Arab Biosphere Reserves for the development of comprehensive showcases on the negative and positive impacts of COVID19 on the selected BRs; 4. Perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of the collected data and generate results including negative and positive externalities of the COVID-19, the monetary values of these externalities, their uses as indicators and guidelines for the development of post COVID19 plans of actions within BRs; 5. Develop the framework of a peer reviewed article to be published in international journal. Long Description ---------------- VI. Develop and write an article of 30 to 40 pages ready to be published in one of 5 potential peer reviewed journals. The article shall include the following: 1\. Abstract 2\. Introduction including context, background, research objective (s) and research question (s) 3\. Material and Methods 4\. Results illustrated in tables, graphs, figures. The results section shall include the following: - List of negative and positive externalities of COVID 19 on society, economy and the environment, - Monetary values of positive and negative externalities, - Mitigation measures and / or practices adopted by local governance and communities living within the targeted biosphere reserves and in their neighborhoods; - Guidelines for the development of post COVID19 plans of actions within biosphere reserves. 5\. Conclusion 6\. References 7\. Acknowledgments Coordination/ Consultation -------------------------- 1. Regular contact, on weekly basis with EES Programme Specialist (PS) and the EES team at UCO on the advancement of the assignment and copy the PS and assistant on all correspondences made for the purpose of this assignment; 2. Communicate, coordinate, schedule virtual meetings when deemed necessary with the managers of the selected BRs to ensure the completion of the data collection exercise, analysis and writing of the article; 3. Address the feedback provided by the PS and EES team in a timely manner on deliverables; 4. Perform other tasks as needed for this consultancy assignment. **Deliverables:** 1. Assessment sheet for data collection as deemed necessary to ensure data availability for analysis and representativeness/validity of result for publishing; 2. Synopsis of the article sections (Abstract, Introduction, Material & Methods, Results, Conclusion); 3. Collected data presented in a user-friendly spreadsheet; 4. List of 5 potential peer reviewed journal; 5. Article ready to be published in the selected peer reviewed journal. **COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)** ------------------------------------ Accountability (C) Communication (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) Professionalism (C) **Timetable** ------------- The consultant shall submit the deliverables by the following dates Revised assessment sheet for data collection as deemed necessary to ensure data availability for analysis and representative / valid result for publishing May 31, 2021 Synopsis of the article sections (Abstract, Introduction, Material & Methods, Results, Conclusion). June 30, 2021 User-friendly spreadsheet including all data collected. July 31, 2021 List of 5 potential peer reviewed journal July 31, 2021 Full article of 30 to 40 pages ready to be published in the selected peer reviewed journal August 30, 2021 **REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS** --------------------------- ***Education*** *At least MSc. degree in environmental valuation, economy, political ecology, conservation and management of biodiversity, or in other fields closely related to the focus of the consultancy assignment.* ******Work Experience****** Five (5) to ten (10) years of relevant professional experience focused on one or more of the areas cited below with records of published articles in peer reviewed journals: 1. Environmental valuation, 2. Political Ecology, 3. Natural/biological hazards impacts on environment, society and economy, 4. Economy and Sustainable development. **Languages** ------------- Fluency (oral and written) in English and knowledge of Arabic is desirable **SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS** ------------------------------------- Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the [UNESCO careers website.](https://careers.unesco.org/careersection/2/joblist.ftl) No modifications can be made to the application submitted. Application Deadine is 24-Apr-2021 (EXTENDED). Please attach the following docuemnts in the Employment History Field: 1. Technical proposal including the methodology of work, and timeline; 2. Financial offer that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs per activity and excluding any travel if necessary and DSA from the lump sum amount. The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided. **CONTRACT FOR SERVICES – AUTHOR APPLICABLE FOR THIS CONSULTANCY** ------------------------------------------------------------------ [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1khXHSKprHNsLQRnVKX7o0XW7\_SQEDUk3/view?usp=drivesdk](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1khXHSKprHNsLQRnVKX7o0XW7_SQEDUk3/view?usp=drivesdk) **Footer** ---------- UNESCO applies a zero tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieve and sustain gender parity. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities, as well as nationals from non-and under-represented Member States [(last update here)](https://en.unesco.org/careers/geographicaldistribution) are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.