Environmental Data Consultant

Result of Service Enhancement of the Environmental Data Repository in West Asia.

Work Location Home-Based

Expected duration From: 01 December 2021 To: 30 April 2022

Duties and Responsibilities 1. Organizational Setting, Purpose and Objective:

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. The Regional Office for West Asia delivers advisory services and capacity building support to countries to achieve environment and sustainable development objectives.

Effective data collection and management and sharing is key for empowering stakeholders to make evidence-based decisions. As the custodian agency for 25 indicators of the SDGs, UNEP is actively involved in the development and refinement of data collection methodologies, particularly for those indicators that remain without internationally established methodologies and standards (tiers II and III). As such UNEP provides capacity-building to countries on the environment data management and monitoring the progress on the implementation of the SDGs in collaboration with regional economic commissions, United Nations Statistical Division and other UN Agencies.

Many countries in West Asia region are reporting on SDG indicators, however, reporting on progress on many of the SDG indicators, remains limited in the region. Insufficient availability and quality of statistical information on SDG indicators hamper the capacity of policymakers to generate evidence-based and effective policy responses needed to implement the 2030 Agenda. Towards this aim, UNEP West Asia Office is supporting West Asian countries to enhance their capacities in SDGs data reporting, especially, on the what and how of national data collection, and the reporting format and usage of tools and platforms for these indicators. The objective of the consultancy is to recruit an Environmental Data Consultant to enhance the environmental data repository building on what has been generated throughout different processes including the preparation of the different state of environment reports. The Consultant will report to the Science Programme Coordinator at UNEP West Asia Office.

2. Duties and Responsibilities:

- The consultant will support UNEP West Asia in: (a) Enhancing the availability and quality of statistical information on the environmental SDG indicators. (b) Strengthening the countries capacities in different methodologies used to calculate the main environmental variables (estimates versus direct collection of data etc.) to guarantee the best possible data coherence and quality of environmental data pertaining the West Asia region.

- Responsibilities Under the direct supervision of the Regional Coordinator for Science, West Asia Office, the selected consultant is expected to perform the following activities: The Consultant will carry-out, inter alia, the following duties & responsibilities: - Conducts a methodology analysis on the main environmental variables (e.g. land) and develops a proposal on how to select and integrate the best methodology (FAO, UNIDO, UNDP etc.). - Organizes technical presentations for countries focal points to evaluate and validate the existing environmental datasets; - Creates the necessary templates for country tailored platforms and to be used and integrated by other statistical systems (GCC-Stat, MANARA and WESR). - Puts in place the statistical processes required to facilitate the interoperability of the data repository with the existing knowledge platforms such as GCC-Stat, MANARA, WESR; - Provides technical and substantive support to develop policy analyses and communication products based on various data sets and information; - Displays the data with an interactive dashboard using a dedicated template; - Other duties as required by the hiring Manager.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: - Master’s degree in environmental sciences, earth sciences, economy, or environmental statistics. or similar. Experience: - At least 10 years of relevant experience, especially, in general data management and business intelligence analysis with minimum 5 years dedicated to Environmental data and information. Research experience on monitoring and reporting systems and indicators related to the environment is desirable, especially if related to the Sustainable Development Goals. Working experience in the West Asia region as well as previous experience with a national government and/or the UN is an asset. Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

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.