Expert in biodiversity and heavy metal pollution
Assist in enhancing the Minamata Convention's contribution to biodiversity efforts
Overview
Assist in enhancing the Minamata Convention's contribution to biodiversity efforts
You have:
- An advanced university degree in environmental policy or related field is required.
- A bachelor’s degree may be accepted with two additional years of experience in environmental conservation and policy development.
- At least seven years of experience in environmental conservation, policy development, or sound management of chemicals is required.
- Proficiency in English and excellent writing skills in English are required.
- Proficiency in French is an asset but not mandatory.
Result of Service The overall aim is to support the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention in its consideration of actions to enhance the contribution of the implementation of the Minamata Convention to other relevant international regulations and policies related to biodiversity. The expected outcome is to lay out a path on which basis Parties, other stakeholders and the Secretariat are enabled to identify specific actions that may simultaneously advance the implementation of the Minamata Convention and contribute to halting biodiversity loss and supporting the GBF vision.
Work Location Home based
Expected duration 2 months
Duties and Responsibilities 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 Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. The Convention was adopted in Kumamoto, Japan in 2013 and came into effect in 2017. The Secretariat functions of the Convention are performed by the UNEP. This post is located in the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention in Geneva.
The purpose of the consultancy is to develop a report in response to paragraph 7 of decision MC-4/12, where the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, at its fourth meeting in March 2022, requested the Secretariat to prepare, subject to the availability of resources, a report, including possible recommendations, on how the Convention could contribute to the post-2020 global biodiversity framework for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its fifth meeting.
The specific objectives of the report are to (i) identify how the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury can contribute to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), including its goals and targets; (ii) develop or identify indicators to measure the contribution of the Minamata Convention to the GBF, as well as identify knowledge gaps and barriers that prevent the full realization of the Minamata Convention’s contribution to biodiversity-related goals; and (iii) prepare draft recommendations for consideration by the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention, at its fifth meeting, including possible actions to be undertaken at international, national and sub-national levels by Parties, other relevant stakeholders, such as international organizations, Indigenous peoples, local communities, civil society, academia and private sector, and the Secretariat, while taking into account ongoing processes and the availability of resources.
Under the supervision of the Programme Management Officer, the consultant will perform the following tasks: - Review relevant literature, including resources provided by the Secretariat and other sources of information obtained by the consultant through internet searches and other means, and develop an initial draft of the report for review by the Secretariat. - Review the comments submitted by the Secretariat, make the necessary revisions and submit a full final draft of the report for review by the Secretariat, including proposed indicators for monitoring the contribution of the Minamata Convention to the GBF, identified gaps and barriers, and draft recommendations for action at international, national and subnational levels by Parties, other relevant stakeholders and the Secretariat. - Finalize the report on the basis of input provided by the Secretariat.
Qualifications/special skills An advanced university degree in environmental policy or related field. A bachelor’s degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying working experience in environmental conservation and policy development may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. At least seven years of experience in the field of environmental conservation, policy development, and/or sound management of chemicals.
Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, proficiency in English, along with excellent writing skills in 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.
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe a successful project where you influenced biodiversity policies? | This assesses your hands-on experience in impacting policy through your work. | Focus on the project’s objectives, your role, and the outcome. |
| What strategies would you use to engage stakeholders for biodiversity conservation? | This question evaluates your approach to collaboration and engagement. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you keep current with environmental regulations and policies? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a time when you identified a barrier to environmental policy implementation. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How would you measure the success of a biodiversity project? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |