Regional Consultant to Support the Implementation of IMAP component of the EU-funded IMAP-MPA project for Marine Litter (Level B)

Result of Service The objective of this assignment is to ensure that national country teams of Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, are given the necessary technical support and guidance to effectively deliver project activities related to marine litter integrated monitoring and assessment, and related assessment scales aspects.

Work Location Home based

Expected duration The contract will be for fifty (50) days over ten (10) 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 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 – EcAp Unit, Athens, Greece.

In line with the Decision IG.23/14 on the Programme of Work and Budget for 2018–2019 (Tirana, Albania, 17-20 December 2017) and 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. This work has been supported through the EU funded EcAp MED II Project, GEF Adriatic and the Mediterranean Trust Fund (MTF). 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.

The “Towards achieving the Good Environmental Status of the Mediterranean Sea and Coast through an Ecologically Representative and Efficiently Managed and Monitored Network of Marine Protected Areas” (hereinafter IMAP-MPA) project aims at ensuring that additional support is provided for the national implementation of IMAP, and for the delivery of reliable data for IMAP indicators on three clusters: biodiversity and NIS, pollution and marine litter, and hydrography by the seven Contracting Parties eligible for funding under IMAP MPA project. IMAP-MPA project will also enable the development and implementation of integrated monitoring programmes at the sub-regional level which address the same above-mentioned IMAP clusters, and particularly in areas which are known to be under human activity pressure. As such, the project will enhance the level of capacity in each country to facilitate the implementation of the system and to facilitate the reporting of reliable data by each country for the selected IMAP common indicators, grouped into 11 EOs. An important aspect of this project is related to a better definition of assessment scales and monitoring as well as assessment criteria per each IMAP cluster and across the clusters with a particular focus on biodiversity and hydrography.

In this regard, there is a need for a regional consultant to support the UNEP/MAP Coordinating Unit and MED POL by providing scientific and technical guidance to the national teams and consultants for marine litter monitoring related activities under IMAP-MPA project. Up until June 2022 the following outputs have been delivered under the project:

• First draft of a report analysing integrative aspects of monitoring, with an indication of some identified monitoring and implementation gaps, to support the development of concrete monitoring plans for EO7 and EO8 Hydrography and Coast, complementary to the relevant chapters of national IMAPs for all countries (i.e., Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia). It provides recommendations and proposals on the integration potential for monitoring of IMAP EO7 and EO8/Contaminants with the other IMAP Ecological Objectives (i.e. EO1, EO2, EO5, EO9 and EO10).
  • This draft report was developed based on the analysis made per country (i.e., Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia), focusing in reviewing the EO7 and EO8 chapters of national IMAPs (i.e., proposed monitoring sites, techniques and methodologies) and its integration potential with EO5, EO9 and EO10 (IMAP Pollution Cluster), as well as with EO1-EO2 (IMAP Biodiversity Cluster).
  • An integrated field survey was drafted for some beneficiary countries and discussed with national stakeholders.
  • Training materials were prepared and are available for the up-coming capacity building workshops.
  • Tender documents for purchasing/renting of equipment were provided to some beneficiary countries.

The aim of this consultancy is to provide technical guidance and support to the national IMAP teams responsible for pollution monitoring as well as national consultants to monitor and assess marine environment with regards to IMAP Common Indicators (CIs) 22 and 23 in selected areas. The work will take into account the need for interlinkages with other ecological objectives (EOs), work undertaken on assessment criteria, monitoring, assessment and reporting, scales and integrated/joint monitoring as well as interlinkages between impact, pressures and activities.

¿he consultant will work under the direct supervision of the IMAP-MPA Project manager under the overall guidance of QSR Programme Officer. Substantive guidance will be provided by the MED POL Monitoring and Assessment Officer, in full respect of the reporting lines established within UNEP/MAP.

Tasks:

Under the direct cooperation with UNEP/MAP IMAP-MPA Project Manager and MED POL Programme Management and Monitoring and Assessment Officers, and the overall guidance of QSR Programme Officer, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

Prepare a detailed work plan and timetable.

Finalize the specific, thorough and elaborated analysis per country (i.e. Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia), focusing in reviewing the EO10/Marine Litter chapter of national IMAPs (i.e. proposed monitoring sites, techniques and methodologies) and its integration potential with EO5 and EO9 (IMAP Pollution Cluster), as well as with EO1-EO2 (IMAP Biodiversity Cluster) and EO7-EO8 (IMAP Coast and Hydrography Cluster).

Continue providing technical guidance to national country team and design concrete monitoring plans per country (i.e. Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia) for IMAP EO10/Marine Litter, specifying monitoring sites/transects, their respective Common Indicators, methodologies and protocols for their measurements, quality assurance and reporting schemes, costs of implementation and other elements necessary to build, support and implement a reliable process for project activities implementation;

Support national teams to identify the gaps and define a concrete roadmap to address the specific needs for the implementation of IMAP EO10/Marine Litter monitoring programme.

Participate in round-table discussions at national level aimed at streamlining of the roles and responsibilities for IMAP implementation as defined in national IMAP monitoring programmes for all three IMAP Clusters (i.e., Pollution and Marine Litter; Biodiversity; and Coast and Hydrography).

Contribute to the work of CORMON Pollution and related online Groups.

Provide input to the preparation of tender documentation for purchasing/renting of equipment (e.g., vessels for field surveys, laboratory equipment) to address the needs for IMAP implementation as part of the package of the field monitoring survey.

Provide technical support to national/sub-regional training workshops with national teams related to IMAP EO10/Marine Litter.

Guide and support the national teams in monitoring data reporting into IMAP Pilot Info System.

Test and integrate the scales of assessment and assessment criteria developed under UNEP/MAP MED POL framework, into the selected monitoring sites/activities for IMAP EO10/Marine Litter in relation to other relevant IMAP Common Indicators

Participate in round tables organized by the IMAP-MPA Project Manager in bringing together the other thematic consultants that will be engaged in the framework of the project to maximize coordination and effectiveness of work at all levels.

Recommend potential upgrades of national IMAPs for EO10/Marine Litter with a focus on scales and integration assessment aspects as appropriate

Support countries to integrate comments and feedback from MAP components regarding the assessment of the data available in the IMAP Info System with regards to the EO10, in order to proceed with their inclusion in the MED QSR 23.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree in marine science and /or environmental science is required;

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience on monitoring and assessment of marine litter in the marine environment is required in particular of at least in two of the aspects listed below:

a) organization and participation in field monitoring surveys;

b) preparation/application of good/standardized laboratory practices;

c) sampling and sample preservation;

d) sample preparation and analysis of all matrixes; analytical quality assurance and data reporting;

f) control of data processing and reporting including data collection and statistical processing;

Working experience in all aspects indicated above is a strong asset;

Skills: Good knowledge of the UNEP/MAP system, MED POL and IMAP, is a strong asset;

Good knowledge in office automation software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and understanding of GIS is required;

Language: 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.