Strategy Development Consultant

Result of Service Final CEP Strategy and Resource Mobilization Strategy incorporating feedback from the Secretariat and PowerPoint Presentation Summarizing Strategy

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration 6 weeks

Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of global consensus on environmental issues by keeping the environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.

UNEP’s Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

The Caribbean Regional Co-ordinating Unit (CAR/RCU) was established in 1986 in Kingston, Jamaica and is the Secretariat for the Cartagena Convention. The Cartagena Convention promotes the protection and development of the marine environment of the Wider Caribbean and is supported by three Protocols on Oil Spills, Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW), and Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS).

Under the Capacity building related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Countries - Phase 111 (ACP-MEAs) programme, UNEP CAR/RCU is supporting components focused on marine biodiversity, marine pollution and public awareness. This programme is a joint partnership between the European Union, the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, UNEP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The programme aims to build capacity in 79 countries in Africa, Caribbean, and the Pacific (ACP) to support them in fulfilling their obligations as parties to Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) to tackle the environmental issues they face.

This third phase of the programme is designed to consolidate achievements of previous phases and focuses on the effective implementation, enforcement, monitoring, and reporting of MEAs and related commitments in the chemicals and waste and biodiversity clusters. Regional Seas Conventions are responsible for Component 2 of the Project which focuses on better management of coasts and oceans and effective implementation of the related Regional Seas Conventions. Under Result 2.1, UNEP CAR/RCU is supporting the reinforcement of Regional Seas Conventions Governance Frameworks and associated protocols.

This short-term consultancy post is in the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat under the direct supervision of the Coordinator for the Secretariat.

The consultant will:

• Review and incorporate comments and recommendations received intersessionally from Contracting Parties to the Cartagena Convention received following the presentation of the Strategy to the Cartagena Convention Conference of Parties held in 2021;
• Consider Decisions of the 2021 Cartagena Convention Conference of Parties and the recommendations from the Functional Review of the Cartagena Convention Secretariat;
• Update the strategy to reflect objectives of the 2022-2025 Regional Seas Strategic Directions;
• Further develop the Cartagena Convention Strategy’s Objective on Ocean-Based Economies to reflect recent global discussions on oceans governance and the development of Blue Economy approaches in the Wider Caribbean Region;
• Develop a detailed Annotated Outline and Terms of Reference for development of a Resource Mobilization Strategy to support the implementation of the Strategy.

The tasks and responsibilities are as follows:

• Review and analyze all comments received on the existing draft Strategy for the Cartagena Convention Secretariat to determine, in discussion with the Secretariat, how best to incorporate it into a revised final version.
• Review and analyze Decisions of the last Conference of Parties to the Cartagena Convention and Recommendations relating to the Functional Review of the Cartagena Convention Secretariat.
• Consultation, with regional partners to ensure coherence and consistency with other MEA and Ministerial Decisions on Oceans Governance, Marine Pollution, Marine Biodiversity, Knowledge Management and Ocean-Based Economies.

• Prepare a final strategy for consideration at the next Conference of Parties to the Cartagena Convention scheduled March 2023.

  Qualifications/special skills Graduate degree (Master’s) in the field of environmental management marine sciences, or environmental sciences. At least 15 years of professional experience in environmental management and development of regional strategies and action plans is required. Knowledge of the work of UNEP, Regional Seas Projects would be an asset. Experience in work on ocean governance for the Wider Caribbean Region would be an asset. Demonstrated capacity to write UN documents in English is required.

  Languages English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Proficiency in oral and written English is required.

  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.