Consultant to Support the MAP Secretariat with Technical Advice from a Legal Perspective (Level B)

Result of Service The ultimate result of services is the provision of effective technical support to the Governance Unit in relation to specific legal aspects.

Work Location Athens

Expected duration 6 months

Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The assignment is for the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), Athens, Greece.

The Mediterranean Action Plan, approved in 1975, was developed under the UNEP Regional Seas Programme. It is a regional effort involving 21 countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea and the European Union. The Barcelona Convention and its Protocols provide the legal framework for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean. In line with Article 17 of the Barcelona Convention, UNEP provides secretariat services to the Contracting Parties of the Convention through the MAP Coordinating Unit, based in Athens, Greece.

The Mediterranean Action Plan is in need for a consultant to provide support and technical advice to the governance unit in relation to specific issues related to activities linked to the environment and sustainable development of the Mediterranean, in line with relevant applicable provisions of international law, as well as to the preparation of legal instruments/agreements. These services are particularly important in view of the 23rd Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP23, Portoroz, Slovenia, December 2023).

Under the supervision of the Legal Officer and the MAP Programme Officer (Governance), and with the overall guidance of the MAP Coordinator, the expert will be responsible for the following tasks: 1. Prepare a detailed work plan for the assignment including timeline 2. Technical support to update the reporting format to include new elements coming from COP 22, for submission to the MAP Focal Points meeting and COP23 3. Prepare a technical position paper on the state of play regarding offshore wind farms 4. Prepare a technical position paper on the state of play regarding deep sea mining in the Mediterranean, considering the regional specificities 5. Prepare a concept note on monitoring and assessment in areas beyond national jurisdiction 6. Prepare a final report for the entire consultancy assignment

Qualifications/special skills Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advance university degree; A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible working experience in public international law, including legal analysis, research and writing is required; Very good understanding of the UNEP/MAP system, its structure and operation is highly desirable; Good knowledge of office software is required; Knowledge of gender mainstreaming issues is highly desirable.

Languages Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable;

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.