Team Leader in Charge of Coordination of Regional Consultants to Support the Implementation of IMAP component of the EU-funded IMAP-MPA project (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 monitoring and assessment, and related assessment scales aspects, and to support and coordinate the regional thematic/cluster experts. The data collected in the frame this monitoring and assessment need to be properly included in the up-coming MED QSR 23.

Work Location Home Based

Expected duration The consultancy is of ninety (90) days spread over eleven (11) 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 coast and hydrography by the seven Contracting Parties eligible for funding under the IMAP MPA project. The IMAP-MPA project is also enabling 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 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. Several regional experts are currently working under the IMAP-MPA project to implement this work at regional and national level, supporting beneficiary countries.

In this regard, there is a need for a regional consultant to support the UNEP/MAP Coordinating Unit and MED POL, in close collaboration with SPA/RAC and PAP/RAC, by coordinating the regional expert team and providing scientific and technical guidance to the national teams and consultants involved in monitoring related activities under the IMAP-MPA project.

The aim of this consultancy is to coordinate the team of regional experts who are providing scientific and technical guidance to the national IMAP teams responsible for biodiversity, pollution, and hydrography monitoring. These experts are also supporting countries for monitoring and assessing the marine environment with regards to IMAP Common Indicators (CIs). The CIs targeted in selected areas are 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5, (EO 1), 6 (EO 2),13, & 14 (EO 5),15 (EO 7), 16 (EO 8),17, 18, 19, 20, & 21 (EO 9), 22 and 23 (EO 10), taking into account the need for interlinkages between all ecological objectives, work undertaken on assessment criteria, monitoring, assessment and reporting, scales and integrated/joint monitoring as well as interlinkages between impact, pressures and activities. The consultant is also expected to support beneficiary countries in the application of sub-regional assessment methodologies and to harmonize the information and data collected in the frame the project for the up-coming MED QSR 23.

Under the direct supervision of the UNEP/MAP IMAP-MPA Project Manager and overall guidance of the MED QSR officer, in consultation with MAP component officers responsible for IMAP implementation, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

Prepare a detailed work plan and timetable.

Coordinate, compile and harmonize the work implemented by all the regional experts hired under the IMAP-MPA project especially the elaborated analyses per country (i.e. Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia), focusing on reviewing the EO 1, EO 2, EO 5, EO 7, EO 8, EO 9 and EO 10 chapters of national IMAPs (i.e. proposed monitoring sites, techniques and methodologies) and the integration approach between the different EOs.

Make sure that appropriate aspects of the integration approach are included in the technical guidance provided by all the regional experts to national country teams and regarding the design of concrete monitoring plans per country (i.e., Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia).

Gather and harmonize the prepared practical training modules (including on monitoring areas/sites definition, application of monitoring protocols, quality assurance and quality control, reporting of data) provided by regional experts, considering existing knowledge and practice for IMAP implementation.

Support the UNEP/MAP IMAP-MPA project manager in the organization of national/sub-regional training workshops with national teams.

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

Contribute to the work of CORMONs and related Online Working Groups.

Guide and support the national teams in submitting the monitoring data to IMAP Pilot Info System.

Support beneficiary countries in the application of appropriate assessment methodologies at sub-regional/areas to which countries belong.

Ensure that, to the extent possible, the results collected in the frame of the IMAP-MPA project are streamlined in the 2023 MED QSR , in close collaboration with the MED QSR Programme Officer and relevant MAP components as needed. Ensure that the assessment chapters of the 2023 MED QSR are harmonized.

Participate in roundtables 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.

¿he consultant will work under the direct supervision of the IMAP-MPA Project manager and overall guidance of the MED QSR officer, in full respect of the reporting lines established within UNEP/MAP. The consultant is required to hold close consultation with MAP component officers responsible for IMAP implementation.

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 in the marine environment of biodiversity, marine litter, pollution, or hydrography 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;

Track record experience regarding team coordination 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.