REIN Coordinator

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

Objectives. • The main objective of the consultancy is that of assisting the Secretariat of the Forum (UNEP) in the full implementation of Decision 5 of the XXII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers, related to the establishment of an Integrated Regional Environmental Information System (hereafter SIRIA for its acronyms in Spanish of “Sistema Integrado Regional de Información Ambiental”) and the continuous updating and data enrichment of the Biennial “State and Outlook of the Environment in LAC” produced by UNEP for the Forum of Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean (hereafter SAO-LAC). • In addition, the consultant will serve as Coordinator of the Regional Environmental Information Network (REIN), providing Secretariat services to the REIN and ensuring the implementation of the REIN Statute and Work Plan as proposed and adopted by Member States. Outputs 1. Coordinate the implementation the REIN’s biennial workplan, according to the governance defined in the approved statute, including follow up of products and activities. 2. Identification of data needs for SIRIA and coordinate uploading of information to its database. 3. Coordinate with the Science-Policy Unit at LAC office to develop a robust science policy interface in the LAC region. Responsibilities Under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer of the Subprogramme “Science-Policy” for Latin America and the Caribbean, the consultant will perform the following duties: 1. In close coordination with countries, multilateral organisms, academia and other relevant actors, lead and facilitate the process of data identification and loading and definition of operational aspects of the SIRIA. 2. Develop an Action Plan to Strengthen the REIN increases the capabilities of countries and government and scientific-academic institutions to generate and communicate environmental information for decision-making in the region. 3. Coordinate REIN activities and related products, including those identified in the REIN Statute and related to the function of Scientific Assessment Body of the Forum of Ministers of LAC. 4. Defining services that the REIN will provide according to the needs expressed by the members, including regular REIN products such as the updating of SIRIA’s contents, the SAO-LAC Biennial Report, and possible contributions to the Regional Global Environment Outlooks (GEOs). 5. Coordinate and moderate meetings with REIN Focal Points, as well as representatives of relevant Agencies, Funds and Programmes of the United Nations and other scientific organizations to receive inputs and feedback on SIRIA and SAO-LAC structure, design contents and their use to facilitate decision making and policy formulation in the region. 6. Coordinate with the Science-policy Unit in the preparation of events, seminars, workshops and training courses, including preparation of technical documents, notes and presentations for different audiences.

Work Location

Panama City, Panama

Expected duration

10 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. 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. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). Since its creation in 1972, UNEP has been supporting member States to enhance institutional and individual capacity for systematic production and use of environmental information and data, to keep the environment under review, and to promote a more effective and widespread adoption of evidence-based policy and decision making. Along these lines, this consultancy represents a step forward in the implementation of a series of Decisions of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean including those endorsed by Ministers at the XX Meeting in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia (2016), reinforced at the XXI Meeting in Buenos Aires (2018), the inter-sessional meeting in Bridgetown, Barbados (2019) and more recently, through the approval of Decision 5 at the occasion of the XXII Meeting in Bridgetown (February 2021) (see at: https://www.unep.org/events/unep-event/xxii-forum-ministers-environment-latin-america-and-caribbean). This consultancy is also contributing to the implementation of the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, known as the Escazú Agreement, which have laid the groundwork for the development of solid environmental information systems that directly reach out to citizens, who are increasingly eager for this information. This background provides an opportunity to move forward in strengthening environmental information at the regional level to increase and facilitate the development of capacities and tools that make it possible to measure and investigate the state of the environment, as well as to identify trends, pressures, and impacts. In this framework, the Forum of Ministers of LAC, through Decision 5 of the XXII Meeting (2021), has recognized the need for a solid framework of environmental information for the entire region, based on updated, reliable, disaggregated, and open data. This consultancy is published in response to Forum’s Decision 5 proposing the designing, development, and set up of an Integrated Regional Environmental Information System and the elaboration of a State of the Environment Report for the Forum. The incumbent will conduct his/her work under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer of the Sub-programme Environment Under Review of UNEP LACO (hereafter UNEP). The REIN coordinator will work full time, 40 hours per week at the UNEP LAC Office, located in Panama City, Panama.

Qualifications/special skills

ACADEMIC: - Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences, Earth Sciences, Natural Sciences, Statistics, Mathematics, Physical Geography, Agriculture / Forestry Engineering, Economy, Natural Economy, or related areas is required. - Master’s degree in environmental sciences, Earth Sciences, Natural Sciences, Statistics, Mathematics, Physical Geography, Agriculture / Forestry Engineering, Economy, Natural Economy, or related fields is required. PROFESSIONAL: - A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible professional experience in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Analysis or related areas is required. LANGUAGE: - Fluency in Spanish, English and French is required. SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: Professionalism: - Narrative capacity combined with knowledge of environmental and sustainable development issues, combined with knowledge of Environmental Assessments (at regional/national and or/local levels) - Documented experience in the development of reports, and technical briefings. - Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to environmental reports related the implementation of the 203 Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Multilateral Environmental Agreements and other relevant international treaties and conventions is desirable. - Knowledge of the GEO Methodology and DPSIR framework is desirable. - Knowledge and familiarity with UNEP and the Forum of Ministers of Environment of LAC is a clear asset. Communication: - Good communication skills, written and spoken as well as ability to draft or edit a variety of written reports. Teamwork: - Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others, and able to work in multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment.

Languages

Not available.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.