Regional Environmental Assessment for the Indian Ocean

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ISA - International Seabed Authority

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Sunday 17 Jul 2022 at 23:59 UTC

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Result of Service GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS * Proposals must be expressed in English and should be valid for a minimum period of 60 days. The currency for fees quoted must be United States American dollars (USD). * Potential contractors must complete Annex A (Bidder Information Form) and attach it to the proposal. * It shall remain the responsibility of bidders to ensure that proposals reach the Authority on or before the deadline. * Submission of a proposal shall be deemed to constitute an acknowledgement by the bidder of the General Conditions of Contracts for the services of Consultants and Individual Contractors (Annex C). * The Authority implements a zero-tolerance policy on fraud and other proscribed practices, including corruption, unethical practices and obstruction. ISA is committed to preventing, identifying and addressing all such acts and practices against the Authority, as well as third parties involved in its activities. * The Authority requests that every bidder prevent and avoid conflicts of interest, by disclosing clearly to the Authority any involvement or possible conflict of interest in the preparation of their proposal. * Potential contractors are to send their request for clarifications or questions regarding this call for proposal, via email to [email protected]. * Proposals should be concise but thoroughly and sufficiently demonstrate the competence and expertise of the applicant to meet the requirements contained in the Terms of Reference (Annex B). * The Curriculum Vitae of the applicant should be attached to the proposal.

Work Location Home Based

Expected duration Duration: from the signing of the contract to July 2023

Duties and Responsibilities The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an international organization established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Authority is the organization through which States Parties to the Convention shall, in accordance with the regime for the seabed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof beyond the limits of national jurisdiction (the Area) established in Part XI and the Agreement, organize and control activities in the Area, particularly with a view to administering the resources of the Area. The ISA is required to take the measures necessary to ensure effective protection for the marine environment from harmful effects, as set out in the Convention . In line with this mandate, the Council took note of a strategy (ISBA/24/C/3) for the development of Regional Environmental Management Plans (REMPs) for key provinces in the Area where exploration activities under contracts were being carried out, identifying the Indian Ocean triple junction ridge and nodule-bearing province as one of the priority areas. As highlighted in this strategy, the development and implementation of REMPs in the Area require a collaborative and transparent approach, including the compilation and analysis of available data from multiple sources, as well as a consultation with recognized experts from the international scientific community, contractors and relevant international organizations.

In line with above, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) is seeking an individual consultant or a group of consultants with requisite experience to carry out the related tasks identified in the attached Terms of Reference (Annex B) and invites proposals to be submitted via email to [email protected] no later than 6 July 2022.

In this context, the ISA is convening a series of workshops to support the development of REMPs in priority regions. For details of the REMP workshops held, please refer to the website https://isa.org.jm/minerals/environmental-management-plan-clarion-clipperton-zone. The ISA secretariat also plans to organize a workshop in the first half of 2023 to support the development of a REMP in the Indian Ocean where exploration activities are taking place, in collaboration with the Ministry of Earth Science and the National Institute of Ocean Technology of India. The aims of the REMP workshop are to: - review, analyze and synthesize scientific data and information on biogeography; physical, geological and environmental settings; and biodiversity, ecosystem features and habitats, from the Indian Ocean triple junction ridge and nodule-bearing province; - review current exploration activity within contract areas and distribution of resources (polymetallic sulphides and nodules) along the Indian Ocean triple junction ridge and nodule-bearing province; - describe potential areas that could be affected by the exploitation of mineral resources in the Area and would require enhanced management measures and precautions, and - discuss a framework to address cumulative impacts from exploitation in order to achieve effective protection of the marine environment.

In this context, the Regional Environmental Assessment (REA) aims to provide relevant background scientific information in support of the above-mentioned Workshop on the Development of a REMP for the Indian Ocean. The detailed scope and outline for the REA can be found in the Appendix.

OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF WORK Working under the supervision of the Programme Manager (Marine Environment) and other officers of the Office of Environmental Management and Mineral Resources (OEMMR) at the ISA secretariat, this consultancy will provide scientific and technical inputs in the preparation of REA for the Indian Ocean. 1. Scope of the assignment Working closely with OEMMR, the consultant shall undertake the following tasks: 1) Prepare a draft REA for the Indian Ocean region a. Conduct a comprehensive review of scientific literature and information on aspects related to regional environment settings, as outlined in the Appendix; b. On the basis of this review, prepare a draft REA report in line with the aims, scope and outline of the REA as explained in the Appendix; and c. In discussion with the ISA secretariat, incorporate relevant unpublished information if available and considered feasible within the scope of this consultancy.

2) Review and update the draft REA based on feedback a. Address comments from the ISA secretariat and co-chairs of the REMP workshop on the draft REA before the REMP workshop; b. In discussion with the ISA secretariat, prepare a short presentation on the REA during the REMP workshop; and c. Revise the REA based on workshop discussions and feedback from the workshop participants.

Expected outputs and timeline for completing the REA report The expected outputs will be a REA report, prepared following the outline in the appendix and containing a review and synthesis of the best available literature, and other information if available. The first draft of the REA is expected to be submitted to the ISA secretariat by 28 February 2022. The revised REA is to be completed one month after the completion of the REMP workshop (tentatively scheduled for May 2023).

SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS Payment will be made in several phases based on deliverables. The payment details will be discussed with the selected applicant.

MODALITIES OF WORK The work shall be performed at the Consultant's home base with scheduled virtual meetings with ISA Secretariat staff as required.

Where travel is deemed necessary, a round trip airline ticket (economy) as per prevailing ISA policies on official travel and DSA at the prevailing ICSC rates established on the travel days would be provided to the Consultant.

In an effort to facilitate timely and accurate outcomes by the Consultant, the OEMMR Director and Programme Manager (Marine Environment) will make reasonable and practical efforts to respond promptly to the Consultant's queries and to provide the necessary reference material as identified by the consultant, where feasible.

MONITORING The Consultant will report to and receive guidance from the Programme Manager (Marine Environment) who, after close consultation and cooperation with the relevant officers within the Secretariat, will review and approve the deliverables/outputs.

Qualifications/special skills SELECTION / EVALUATION All proposals will be reviewed by a committee and selection will be based on: - The knowledge, skills and experience of the applicant - The financial proposal Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Additional Information BIDDER INFORMATION FORM Date: (day, month, year) Page ___ of ___ 1. Full name: 2. Legal address: 3. E-Mail address: 4. Nationality: 5. Provide a general description of your related experience, including how it meets/exceeds the requirements listed in Annex B. IN the case the application is submitted by a group of experts, please list the names, affiliation and areas of expertise of each expert. 6. Are there any indicting circumstances that the ISA should be made aware about? Please provide details : 7.Bidder’s signature:

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.

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