International expert to support the final phase of the development of the 2023 MED QSR under the EU-funded EcAp MED III project (Level B)

Environment

Overview

Support the final phase of the 2023 MED QSR development

You have:

• An advanced university degree in marine science and/or environmental science is required.
• A minimum of 7 years of professional work experience on monitoring and assessment in the marine environment is required.
• Very good understanding of global and regional developments related to the environment is required.
• Very good understanding of the UNEP/MAP system, EcAp and IMAP policy is highly desirable.
• A minimum of 3 years relevant professional work experience on participation and contribution to regional consultation fora and meetings is highly desirable.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of French is an asset.

Result of Service The objective of this assignment is to ensure that the outcomes of EcAp MED III Output 2.1.1 related to IMAP clusters knowledge gaps are coherently and timely embedded within the process of 2023 MED QSR finalization, for the consideration of the 10th EcAp Coordination Group and the MAP Focal Points meetings of September, as well as the COP23 of December 2023.

Work Location Home Based

Expected duration 4 months

Duties and Responsibilities Background The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. 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. United Nation’s Environment 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. This consultancy assignment is for the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) – QSR and EcAp Unit, Athens, Greece. In line with the COP 22 Decision IG 25/19 on PoW 2022-2023 (Antalya, Türkiye, 7-10 December 2021) and the and COP 19 Decision IG 22/7 on the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) for the Mediterranean Sea and Coast and Related Assessment Criteria (Athens, Greece, 9-12 February 2016), all the Contracting Parties shall implement their respective national monitoring programmes. Accordingly, the Contracting Parties have developed national IMAP-based monitoring programmes addressing the respective IMAP Ecological Objectives (EO) and Common Indicators per each cluster of IMAP, namely Biodiversity and Non-indigenous species (NIS), Pollution and Marine Litter (Eutrophication, Contaminants, Marine Litter), Coast and Hydrography. Based on the UNEP/MAP Mid Term Strategies (MTS) of 2016-2021 (Decision IG.22/1 – COP 19) and 2022-2027 (Decision IG 25/4 – COP 22), as well as the Programmes of Work (PoW) of 2020-2021 (Decision IG.24/14 – COP 21) and 2022-2023 (Decision IG 25/19 – COP 22), this work has been supported through the EU-financed project “Support to Efficient Implementation of the Ecosystem Approach-based Integrated Monitoring and Assessment of the Mediterranean Sea and Coasts and to delivery of data-based 2023 Quality Status Report in synergy with the EU MSFD (EcAp MED III)”. In particular the project Output 2.1.1 foresees the analysis for each IMAP cluster on knowledge gaps, with a focus on the scales of assessment/reporting prepared/agreed and scales of monitoring for all IMAP Common Indicators agreed/progressed. The outcomes of this analysis feed the contents and the progressive finalization of the 2023 MED Quality Status Report foreseen under project Output 2.2.4 and allowing a major improvement if compared to the 2017 MED Quality Status Report, the first assessment report of such a scale. In this regard, there is a need for a regional expert to support the UNEP/MAP Coordinating Unit in the specific and complex process dedicated to streamlining the main achievements and outcomes of project Output 2.1.1 into the progressive revision and finalization of the 2023 MED QSR for its presentation and endorsement at the COP23 in December 2023 and subsequent publication.

Tasks: Under the direct supervision of the UNEP/MAP EcAp MED III Programme Manager Officer and overall guidance of the 2023 MED QSR Programme Management Officer, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: 1) Prepare a detailed work plan and timetable. 2) Participate in the 10th EcAp Coordination Group meeting of 11 September 2023 as well as the session of the MAP Focal Points meeting of 12-15 September 2023 dedicated to the 2023 MED QSR and follow up related discussions with reference to the IMAP clusters, including knowledge gaps focusing the scales of assessment/reporting and scales of monitoring for all IMAP Common Indicators; 3) After the meetings, provide technical support in embedding the outcomes of the abovementioned meetings on IMAP clusters knowledge gaps within the updated version of the 2023 MED QSR, including with reference to the data gap issues and further efforts required to improve data availability as well as in terms of recommendations in relation to data gaps to be addressed for the next QSR (2029) and the monitoring/assessment methods, while ensuring the coherence and consistency with the other chapters of 2023 Med QSR; 4) Provide technical support in preparing the version of the 2023 MED QSR to be submitted to the COP23 meeting of 4-8 December 2023 in Portoroz (Slovenia) also by supporting, if needed, the coordination of further contributions from MAP Components on IMAP clusters; 5) Provide technical support in finalizing the 2023 Med QSR version after the COP23 meeting and based on the potential indications and comments of the Barcelona Convention Contracting Parties, including those related to IMAP clusters knowledge gaps; 6) Provide technical advice on the finalization of the online version of the 2023 Med QSR, by verifying that the of the contents on IMAP clusters are consistent with the 2023 Med QSR document and recommendations and suggest potential adaptations, if needed. 7) Prepare final consultancy report.

Outputs:

1) Detailed work plan and timetable is prepared and agreed (Task 1); 2) The outcomes of the 10th EcAp Coordination Group meeting and of the session of the MAP Focal Points meeting dedicated to the 2023 MED QSR are timely and consistently embedded into the updated version of the 2023 MED QSR, including reference to the IMAP clusters knowledge gaps, with the further efforts required to improve data availability as well as with the recommendations in relation to data gaps to be addressed for the next QSR (2029) and the monitoring/assessment methods, while ensuring the coherence and consistency with the other chapters of 2023 Med QSR (Tasks 2, 3); 3) The technical support to the preparation of the version of the 2023 MED QSR to be submitted to the COP23 meeting of 4-8 December 2023 is provided on time (Task 4); 4) The technical support to finalise the version of the 2023 Med QSR after the COP23 meeting is provided on time (Task 5); 5) The technical advice on the finalization of the online version of the 2023 Med QSR, by verifying that the of the contents on IMAP clusters are consistent with the 2023 Med QSR document and recommendations approved by the Barcelona Convention Contracting Parties, is provided on time (Task 6); 6) Final consultancy report prepared (Task 7).

Qualifications/special skills An advanced university degree in marine science and /or environmental science is required; A minimum of 7 years of professional work experience on monitoring and assessment in the marine environment of biodiversity, marine litter, pollution, or hydrography is required; Very good understanding of the global and regional developments related to the environment, Ecosystem Approach and sustainable development of the Mediterranean is required; Very good understanding of the UNEP/MAP system, EcAp and IMAP policy related implementation challenges is highly desirable A minimum of 3 years relevant professional work experience on participation and contribution to regional consultation fora and meetings is highly desirable

Languages Fluency in English is required; Working knowledge of French is an asset.

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.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org