Openings at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities

Organization Setting: UN Environment 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. UN Environment 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 consultant will work for the Economics of Nature Unit in the Ecosystems Division to perform the execution of different work packages of The Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity (TEEB) projects, and specifically on the project "Promoting biodiversity and sustainability in the agriculture and food sector through economic valuation" funded by the European Commission. The UN Environment TEEB initiative supports the implementation of TEEB studies of agro-ecological value chains in accordance with the TEEBAgriFood Evaluation Framework, which is broad in scope and requires considerable technical capacity related to quantification and valuation of natural capital and ecosystem services.

The Steering Committee for TEEBAgriFood India, co-chaired by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare (MoAFW) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), recommended the policy focus area for the project in India to be an assessment of organic farming and agroforestry in selected districts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand states in the Ganga basin. Nodal officers were subsequently appointed for the project from the states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh to further refine and streamline the scope of project implementation.

The project will entail a TEEBAgriFood Framework application to identify differences between Business as Usual (BAU) and at least two Alternative Policy Scenarios, at every step along the value chain, based on modeled future projects. The study shall quantify or evaluate qualitatively changes in social, manufactured, natural, and human capital stocks and associated flows under each scenario. With reference to natural capital, changes in the flows of ecosystem services (or dis-services and residuals) between scenarios are to be used to identify how natural capital contributes to agri-food value chains and how in turn agri-food value chains may impact natural capital stocks.

UNEP requires the support of an experienced natural resource economist and ecosystem services modelling expert, proficient in the InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) suite of models and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), to provide training and guidance to the selected research institutes in the application of biophysical modelling and valuation of ecosystem services under alternate scenarios.

The consultant will report to the Head of the Economics of Nature Unit (TEN) in the Ecosystems Division.

Duties and Responsibilities: Duties and responsibilities of the consultant will entail conducting training and providing on-going technical support to the policy scenario analysis, including guidance on biophysical modelling and valuation of ecosystem services using InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT).

Specific duties include the following:

• Prepare a list of background documents and online modules for training participants to undertake prior to the in-person training session in consultation with the responsible programme officer.
• Facilitate two three-day interactive, in-person training sessions on InVEST and SWAT for national research partners for TEEBAgriFood India: G.B. Pant University and Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (ICAR-IIFSR).
• Provide guided technical support to the research partners in India on application of InVEST to the policy scenario analysis, including advice on suitability of data sources, hands-on support during the modelling process, and feedback and refinement of results.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent), preferably with a specialization in environmental geoinformatics, environmental management, law, social anthropology, environment and development, sustainable development, economics, applied economics, agriculture, or related fields is required. A first level degree in combination with five additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years teaching or training with governments, non-governmental organizations, or research institutions with a focus on environment and development
• A proven track-record of application of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for biophysical modelling and InVEST suite of models for the valuation of ecosystem services results of policy scenario analysis is desirable.
• Experience in working on environmental issues in the Indian agriculture sector is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in spoken and written English is required. Fluency in spoken Hindi is desirable.

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Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Develops project document for GFCR Secretariat for the operationalization of the M & E framework Develops, implements and evaluates of assigned programmes/projects, etc.; monitors and analyzes programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with Global Fund for Coral Reef (GFCR) secretariat, relevant parties; identifies and tracks follow-up actions.
• Conducts periodic review and updates the GFCR M&E Framework (draft); Develops a M&E framework implementation Plan (project proposal/document) for GFCR and projects under implementation by different partners including the incorporation with key social, economic and environmental indicators to monitor in line with GFCR Global Core Indicators and other indicator categories; these include different investments and blue economy sector specific indicators such as specific to waste management, fisheries, MPAs, mariculture, etc.
• Provide secretariat services and support GFCR Executive Board meeting as well as prepare procedural pre and post meeting documents/reports for the co-chairs of the Executive Board of GFCR in the timely and accurate manner, submission and issuance of all procedural pre-session, in-session and post-session documents.
• Coordinate and provide oversight on harmonization and collaboration with ICRI, GCRMN, CBD, AIMS, RRN on indicators, restoration best practice, climate refugia, etc. and the design methodology/strategy for the same.
• Conducts or leads regular projects monitoring, evaluation, field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials, donors and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
• Undertakes outreach activities; prepare training guidelines, conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on monitoring and evaluation tools and techniques and initiatives on coral reefs protection and restoration to project executing partners, relevant government sectors and other key partners.

Qualifications/special skills

Competency:

• Strong analytical, reporting, and writing abilities
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards
• Positive, constructive attitude to work
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in ecological monitoring and evaluation, marine biology, oceanography, environmental science, natural resources management or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive professional experience in monitoring and evaluation of complex project and or programme management, in different regions, including at least three (3) years at the international level is required.
• Demonstrated successful experience in large-scale project design, management, supervision, monitoring, and evaluation is required.
• Hands on experience in designing and implementing M &E framework for Coral Reef and other marine and coastal ecosystems, marine protected areas and ecosystems restoration projects and programmes in different countries or regions is required.
• Senior level experience in ecosystem management, blue economy and/or blue finance in SIDS is desirable
• Experience in working with multi-disciplinary teams, including local and expatriate technical experts is desirable
• Working experience in United Nations system, international Funds and organisations is an advantage

Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations language is an advantage.