Research Associate

Volunteering Finance & Economy

Overview

Support biodiversity conservation through research and stakeholder engagement.

You have:

• A background in research, documentation or related areas;
• Excellent analytic and writing skills;
• Ability to aggregate and synthesize research literature and extract key messages and arguments;
• Excellent coordination and network skills
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship.

Contract

This is a UNV National Youth contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Youth contracts.

Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), a global programme of UNDP, was launched in 2012, in response to the identified need by the CBD, to have better and adequate information to assess current expenditures and financing needs for countries to implement their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and need to have a comprehensive methodology to develop resource mobilization strategies and Biodiversity Finance Plans to implement NBSAPs. BIOFIN provides an innovative methodology for countries to measure their current biodiversity expenditures, assess their financial needs for biodiversity conservation in the medium term and identify most suitable finance solutions to reduce their national biodiversity finance gaps.

BIOFIN was launched in India in May 2015. It is being led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), hosted by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and managed by UNDP. The BIOFIN process presents a coherent and comprehensive national approach to biodiversity finance that encompasses a full suite of finance solutions, well beyond the mobilization of new and additional resources, engaging the public sector, private sector, and civil society. The aim is to produce a nationally validated Biodiversity Finance Plan that proposes steps to implement a mix of finance solutions in order to expand and improve the country’s biodiversity finance and achieve the NBTs.

Under BIOFIN, 4 finance solutions out of 12 potential finance solutions enlisted in the Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) -working document, have been selected for demonstration and implementation. These include Corporate Social Responsibility, Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Public sector (Agriculture Sector), Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) and Fintech for Biodiversity. As part of the BIOFIN Extended Phase II (2021-25), the project aims to leverage the potential of these finance solutions to ‘green’ the key economic sectors and enhance resource mobilization for biodiversity conservation activities.

Other Effective Area Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) are a new conservation approach, separate from protected areas, where effective conservation of biodiversity is achieved mainly as a byproduct of other area management. Together, PAs and OECMs can create an ecologically representative and well-connected network of area-based conservation, integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes. Recognizing this conservation potential, OECMs were included in Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 and subsequently in India’s National Biodiversity Target 6. OECMs also find mention in the upcoming Target 3 under the Post-2020 GBF. Together with the PAs, OECMs can also help to achieve the 30 × 30 movement — a goal to conserve 30% of the planet by 2030. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), National Biodiversity Authority of India (NBA) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) along with other partners are engaged in the process of identifying, mapping and documenting OECMs in India. A wide range of sites in India have the potential to be recognised as OECMs, which can be government managed, community managed, privately managed, and co-managed. Based on a number of ecological and social characteristics, the Government of India with support from UNDP has developed a 14-category classification organised into 3 major sub-groups- terrestrial, waterbodies, and marine.

The UN Volunteer will work under the direct supervision and guidance of Head, Climate Adaptation and Biodiversity/ Programme Manager, Climate Change, Resilience, Biodiversity and, Chemicals Management, UNDP and will perform the under mentioned tasks: • Support the submission, analysis and consideration of 4 biodiversity conservation proposals to corporates to ensure funding
• Contribute to preparation and finalization of training modules on biodiversity conservation for corporate professionals with the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs • Support planning and finalization of a training calendar and training curriculum at Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs • Support organization of a sensitization meeting with corporates in Telangana with a focus on Access and Benefit Sharing • Facilitate scale up of the FinTech for biodiversity solutions identified and awarded under Youth Co:Lab 2023 through strategy planning, connecting to startup accelerators and investment opportunities • Contribute to the research and compilation of a compendium of good practices on the use of FinTech for nature conservation • Contribute to preparation and finalization of sector-specific nature-related reporting templates in conjunction with SEBI and MoEF&CC • Support designing and conducting a training and certification programme for environmental auditors on standards of sustainability reporting • Organize, manage and coordinate consultations, stakeholder engagements and training programmes with government, civil society and corporate sector stakeholders for technical partnerships and future collaborations. • Review the work assigned to the consultants and monitor the timelines and deliverables • Perform background research (qualitative and quantitative) on project activities. • Support in identification and documentation of best practices and outcomes across thematic areas relevant to the project and prepare concept notes and proposals for the same • Attend webinars conducted by the global team • Perform any other tasks assigned from time to time by the Head, Climate Adaptation and Biodiversity/ Programme Manager

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management • Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

research, documentation or related areas; • Excellent analytic and writing skills; • Ability to aggregate and synthesize research literature and extract key messages and arguments; • Excellent coordination and network skills • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.

The assignment will be based in New Delhi. New Delhi is the capital city of India, experi-ences a diverse climate and has distinct living conditions influenced by its weather, infra-structure, and culture. A melting pot of cultures, languages, and cuisines, reflecting the diverse nature of India. Overall, living in Delhi offers a mix of modern urban life with deep-rooted traditions and challenges typical of a large, bustling metropolis.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for ar-ranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. This position is based in New Delhi. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. National UN Volunteers are expected to be culturally sensitive and adjust to the prevailing culture and traditions.

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses.

You can check full entitlements at https://app.unv.org/calculator.

This Entitlements specific to this volunteering assignment is below:

• Monthly Voluntary Living Allowance (VLA): INR 51,969.20 • Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 400 (equivalent in INR) • Relocation costs: $200 at beginning and end of assignment if duty station is outside of commuting distance (as determined by UNV) • Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment): INR 5,413.46 for each month served • Comprehensive coverage for health and life

Leave entitlements: • Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month • Certified sick leave: 30 days • Uncertified sick leave: 7 days • Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months • Maternity leave: 16 weeks • Paternity leaves: 10 days

For more information on entitlements please read the Conditions of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos).

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Potential interview questions

Added 7 months ago - Updated 6 months ago - Source: unv.org