Knowledge and Learning Consultant

Result of Service The work of the consultant is expected to contribute to the sound foundation of the interim Global Coordination Unit and its functions, including its monitoring and reporting systems and its relationship with other relevant initiatives and result in increased access to and use of existing biodiversity knowledge products and learning opportunities, enhanced technical and institutional capacity of relevant government agencies and national organizations, which will ultimately contribute to the acceleration and upscaling of NBSAP implementation, monitoring and reporting and to ensuring that the NBSAP Accelerator’s learning and knowledge is captured and effectively disseminated and used to further improve the NBSAP implementation, monitoring and reporting.

Work Location Montreal duty station (SCBD offices)

Expected duration Six months.

Duties and Responsibilities Organizational setting

The United Nations Environment Programme 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. At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for 'sustainable development'. The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature in Rio in 1992. The Convention has three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is located in Montreal and administered by United Nations Environment Programme. Its main tasks are to arrange for and service meetings of the Conference of the Parties, including preparation of pertinent documentation, operation of the central node of the clearing-house mechanism, liaison and coordination with other international bodies and processes and, in close collaboration with these partners, the provision of technical support for the effective implementation of the Convention.

The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership was established to raise the ambition and political profile of NBSAPs and to accelerate their implementation to contribute to the achievement of the GBF goals and targets. This will be achieved through facilitating coherent access to financial and technical support, providing in-country/regional facilitation and matchmaking support, developing the technical and institutional capacity of relevant government agencies and national organizations; supporting knowledge management, increasing access to biodiversity knowledge products and tools, facilitating peer-to-peer learning and exchanges across countries, and strengthening biodiversity governance and synergies with other initiatives to enhance the implementation of NBSAPs.

The consultant will design and coordinate the knowledge management and learning activities of the Partnership, including analysing the country capacity needs and identifying strategic response actions and establishing a knowledge base of existing and emerging initiatives and tools supporting the revision and implementation of NBSAPs; establish procedures and protocols for monitoring and reporting of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership; promote alignment of the Partnership's activities with relevant decisions of the CBD COP and foster synergies with other relevant initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the overall guidance of the Director of the Implementation Support (IMS) Division, direct supervision of the Head of the Capacity Building and Knowledge Management Unit, advice from the Head of the Monitoring, Review and National Reporting Unit and in close collaboration with the Global Coordinator of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, the consultant will be responsible for performing the following duties:

1. Deputize and support the Global Coordinator of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership in providing strategic leadership and programmatic coordination of the Partnership’s activities, ensuring the engagement of the Partnership in intergovernmental processes related to biodiversity, including the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the subsidiary bodies of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the alignment of its support activities with relevant decisions of the CBD COP, including those related to the enhanced mechanisms for planning, monitoring, reporting and review.

2. Design and coordinate the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership's capacity development, technical and scientific cooperation, and knowledge management activities to facilitate the accelerated implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs).

3. Establish procedures and protocols for monitoring and reporting of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership's support activities and achievements, including the preparation of consolidated narrative progress reports and final reports and the compilation and sharing of best practices and lessons learned.

4. Facilitate collaboration and linkages between the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership and other initiatives and organizations that support NBSAP revision and implementation, with a view to fostering synergy and complementarity, knowledge sharing and mutual learning, and facilitates collaboration among relevant organizations and initiatives of the United Nations, governments, civil society and the private sector in order to ensure programmatic synergy and complementarity for the effective delivery of the goals of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership.

5. Participate in relevant activities, meetings and events in order to increase awareness of and the political visibility and profile of NBSAPs and the Accelerator Partnership and to mobilize high-level support and action by countries and stakeholders for the accelerated implementation of NBSAPs.

6. Undertake other related and relevant tasks as required.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications:

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in natural resources management, environmental management/sciences, environmental law and policy, project management, international relations, or other related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Working Experience:

At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in programme or project management is required.

Experience working directly with governments in the context of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, or related processes is desirable.

Experience in designing, coordinating, and facilitating capacity development and/or technical and scientific cooperation activities is desirable.

Experience leading teams and building and maintaining partnerships with various stakeholders, including donors, is desirable. Knowledge and experience of engagement in intergovernmental processes is desirable.

Skills:

Excellent written and verbal communication skills is required.

Ability to work both independently and as an active member of a team is required.

Ability to align multiple strategies and ideas is desirable.

Ability to prioritize, multitask and manage time efficiently is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable.

NOTE: "Fluency equals a rating of "fluent" in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and "Knowledge of" equals a rating of "confident" in two of the four areas.

Additional Information Special conditions:

Local recruitment: Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, or have permission to work in Canada.

Consultant must be available to work onsite in the CBD Secretariat Office in Montreal, Canada, if need be, to participate physically in team meetings. Commuting/travelling costs to and from the Secretariat are not reimbursed.

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.