Result of Service
I. A comprehensive desk review of existing biodiversity and environmental coordination mechanisms in Armenia and relevant international models, providing an evidence base for the design of a fit-for-purpose national biodiversity coordination mechanism; II.
A Coordination Mechanism Concept document, developed through structured stakeholder consultations, proposing options for establishing or adapting an inter-agency coordination body for biodiversity in Armenia – including an analysis of the potential to build on the existing Inter-Agency Council on Climate Change and the feasibility of adding a dedicated Secretariat function; III.
A Legal Mapping Note identifying the specific legal and/or administrative act(s) that will need to be developed to formally establish the proposed coordination mechanism under Armenian law (e.g. government decree, ministerial order, or amendment to existing mandates), including a description of the process and responsible authority for adoption of each act; IV. A stakeholder consultation report documenting the views of key government and non-government actors on coordination needs, institutional options, and governance design; V.
Strengthened national institutional capacity for cross-sectoral coordination on biodiversity, contributing to more effective and inclusive NBSAP implementation aligned with KMGBF Targets 14 and 21.
Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 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.
UNEP’s Ecosystems Division engages with governments and other partners to develop and promote ecosystem-based solutions for sustainable development. This assignment is in the Nature Frameworks Support Unit of the Biodiversity and Land Branch, Ecosystems Division. UNEP is also one of the key agencies hosting the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership.
The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is a country-led global initiative that supports the development and implementation of ambitious National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and collectively achieve the goals and targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and, ultimately, the global vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050. The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership provides technical and financial support for the implementation of GBF-aligned NBSAPs.
This includes strengthening country-driven coordination, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, facilitating knowledge sharing and best practices, and addressing country-specific needs. It also helps raise national profile of countries' NBSAPs, and fast-track implementation through a matchmaking service, increased access to expertise, knowledge and capacity development, and in-country facilitation support. A National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) is a country’s principal document for implementing the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
It outlines a nation’s approach to conserving its biodiversity, ensuring its sustainable use, and fairly sharing the benefits derived from genetic resources. Armenia is a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). They signed and ratified the convention in 1992 and 1993, respectively. The Country also acceded to the Cartagena Protocol in 2004 and the Nagoya Protocol in 2026.
Duties and Responsibilities The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership’s Facilitator Programme is looking for a consultant to assist the Government of the Republic of Armenia to develop a biodiversity coordination mechanism. The effective implementation of Armenia’s revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) requires more than strong policy commitments – it demands a fundamental shift in how biodiversity is governed across government and society as a whole.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) explicitly calls for the application of Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approaches, recognizing that the drivers of biodiversity loss and the levers needed to reverse it lie across all sectors of the economy and all segments of society, and cannot be addressed by the environment sector alone.
In practice, a Whole-of-Government approach requires that biodiversity considerations are systematically mainstreamed into the policies, budgets, and planning processes of all relevant government bodies – including the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Finance, local self-government bodies, and others.
A Whole-of-Society approach goes further, recognizing that civil society organisations, the private sector, academic and research institutions, indigenous and local communities, youth, and women’s groups are not merely stakeholders to be consulted but active partners whose knowledge, resources, and on-the-ground actions are indispensable to achieving the goals of the NBSAP.
Their participation should be organized through clearly defined modalities, distinguishing formal decision-making functions from advisory and thematic working-group arrangements, so that inclusive engagement strengthens rather than dilutes the mechanism's governance function. Without a structured, inclusive, and legally anchored coordination mechanism that operationalizes both principles, NBSAP implementation risks remaining siloed within the environment sector, under-resourced, and disconnected from the cross-sectoral decisions that most consequentially affect biodiversity.
Armenia has existing institutional structures that may offer a practical foundation for such a mechanism. The Inter-Agency Council on Climate Change ("IACC") already brings together relevant line ministries for climate-related coordination and policy coherence, offering one possible model for cross-governmental engagement.
Expanding the IACC's mandate to encompass biodiversity is one option to be assessed: the consultant should assess and compare this option against alternatives, including the establishment of a dedicated interagency biodiversity council or other high-level coordination mechanisms, and recommend the model best suited to Armenia's institutional context. Whichever model is selected, it should be capable of supporting a dedicated Secretariat function to manage day-to-day coordination across governmental and non-governmental actors and to serve as the operational hub for Whole-of-Society engagement.
A biodiversity coordination mechanism that is grounded in Armenian law, designed around Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society principles, and owned by national institutions is essential for the long-term governance of biodiversity policy in Armenia. This activity will recruit a consultant to conduct a systematic analysis of existing coordination mechanisms, develop a concrete and inclusive coordination concept in consultation with key government and non-government stakeholders, and identify the legal and policy steps required to formally establish the mechanism.
The assignment directly contributes to KMGBF Target 14 (mainstreaming biodiversity across all sectors and levels of government and society), Target 21 (ensuring knowledge and information are available to guide policy and action), and Targets 22 and 23 (equitable participation of indigenous peoples, local communities, youth, and women, and gender-responsive governance). It supports the broader goal of building durable, inclusive national capacity for NBSAP implementation that endures beyond the life of the project. Specific Task I.
Review of existing inter-agency coordination mechanisms in Armenia (with a focus on the Inter-Agency Council on Climate Change and other environment-related bodies) and analysis of international good practices in biodiversity coordination mechanisms. II. Design and facilitate consultations (online or in person) with key government stakeholders (Ministry of Environment and relevant line ministries), civil society organisations, private sector representatives, academic institutions, and UN agencies including UN RCO.
Consultations to cover: gaps in current coordination; preferred institutional model; legal anchoring options. III. Based on the desk study and stakeholder consultations, develop a Coordination Mechanism Concept document presenting:
(a) recommended institutional model (including analysis of expanding IACC mandate vs. establishing a standalone body);
(b) proposed mandate, membership, and governance structure;
(c) role and functions of the proposed Secretariat;
(d) resource and sustainability considerations. IV. In consultation with the Ministry of Environment and relevant legal experts, identify the level of legal and/or administrative act(s) required to formally establish the coordination mechanism under Armenian law. This may include a government decree, ministerial order, or amendment to an existing legal instrument. V. Prepare a consolidated Final Report integrating all workstreams, incorporating NBSAP AP and government feedback, and including actionable recommendations for the adoption and operationalisation of the coordination mechanism.
The mechanism's objective should be defined in operational rather than purely advisory terms: it should facilitate coordination of NBSAP implementation, alignment of actions among responsible institutions, progress monitoring, data exchange, coordination of donor-supported initiatives, and annual reporting.
Its legal basis and institutional status – whether established through a Government Decree, a Prime Minister's Decision, a Ministerial Order, amendments to existing legal acts, or another appropriate instrument – should provide it with adequate authority to engage multiple public authorities and require information or action from them. The respective roles of the Ministry of Environment, other government institutions, and any dedicated Secretariat should be clearly specified as part of this design.
The mechanism should also be explicitly linked to the BIOFIN process, particularly with respect to biodiversity financing gaps, subsidy reform, review of harmful incentives, the efficiency of biodiversity-related public expenditure, and the implementation of biodiversity finance solutions. The consultant will report to the Programme Management Officer of the Nature Frameworks Support Unit in close coordination and collaboration with the NBSAP AP facilitator in Armenia and relevant government representatives.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in environmental law, public administration, environmental policy, political science, or a related field. A first level degree with additional two years of qualifying experience maybe accepted in lieu of advanced degree.
Minimum 7 years of professional experience in environmental governance, public administration, or institutional policy is required Demonstrated experience in institutional analysis and/or the development of coordination mechanisms, inter-agency bodies, or governance frameworks is required Familiarity with Armenia’s environmental institutional landscape, including the mandate of the Ministry of Environment and relevant line ministries is required Knowledge of biodiversity policy and/or the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is desirable Prior experience working with UN agencies, international organisations, or development partners is desirable
Languages
English is the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in Armenian and English (written and spoken) is required.