Translate the urban Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the Arab Region from Arabic to English

Contract

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Most countries in the Arab region are highly urbanized and characterised by rapid urbanization, water stress, food insecurity, environmental degradation overlaid by climate change. All these challenges leave their population and economic activities exposed to climate change impacts and extreme weather events. Moreover, cities across the Arab region still face major challenges in achieving sustainable urban development. The Arab region hosts diverse ecosystems, ranging from desert, mountains, fresh water, forests, marine and coastal ecosystems. Some of these ecosystems are already being degraded because they are located next to or within urban areas. The exploration and application of urban Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) as a solution for some of these challenges in the Arab region is needed at an early stage and the scientific regional literature on this issue is scarce. Urban EbA is an approach of Nature-based Solutions that uses biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change in urban settings. Urban ecosystems are the cities’ green infrastructure such as gardens, parks, and natural habitat that surround the urban clusters e.g., forest, wetland etc. Unplanned and rapid urban development usually lead to degradation of the green infrastructure of cities as well as the surrounding ecosystems. For example, the replacement of natural surroundings and green spaces with housing, grey infrastructure, and croplands can cause more flooding, water pollution in open water resources, reduction in water infiltration and soil erosion. These reduce the ability of ecosystems to provide services to the urban areas and increase the vulnerability of local communities. Aiming to achieve the region-wide adoption of Nature-based Solutions and specifically Ecosystem-based Adaptation, UN-Habitat, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Office for West Asia, initiated the regional project titled “Capacity Building of National and Local Governments on Urban Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) In the Arab Region” to promote urban EbA as a Nature-based Solution for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in cities and strengthen the capacity of adaptation experts and climate change policy makers on the national and local government levels in the region. Within that project, the Guidelines for Urban Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Arab States were developed in Arabic to guide different urban stakeholders on the mainstreaming of urban EbA into development planning.

We are seeking [one] Online Volunteer to support us by translating [Guidelines document] on [Urban Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the Arab Region] from [Arabic] to [English]. To this end the Online Volunteers are asked: - To translate the document, which is [12,600 words/39 pages] long into [English] - Ensure the translation is concise, in line with our communications guidelines, and fits the audience The selected Online Volunteers will be provided with the document in the original language and will receive guidance on the target audience and our communications guidelines as well as other guidance as needed. The Online Volunteers will have the opportunity to build connections with the [team/section] at [host entity/organization] and learn about the ways in which the translated product contributes to [objective the translated product contributes to/purpose of translated product].

Candidates should be native in Arabic and fluent in English. Familiarity with technical terms related to urban development, climate change, ecosystems and ecosystem-based adaptation will be considered an advantage. Previous translation experience is considered an asset.