Result of Service
The consultancy will result in the development and adoption of a regional Ecosystem Indicator Monitoring Framework (EIMF) with agreed ecosystem indicators, strengthened technical capacity of participating countries to monitor and report on ecosystem indicators at the national level, and improved regional coordination and reporting on the status and trends of marine and coastal ecosystems within the Nairobi Convention area.
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. UNEP administers the Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of Coastal and Marine Environment of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO).
The Contracting Parties to the Convention are Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa and United Republic of Tanzania. UN Environment's 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.
Under the general supervision of the Head of the Nairobi Convention Secretariat, the consultant will be responsible for the following:
1. Work with the Nairobi Convention Secretariat to prepare for a three-day meeting of regional experts to be held in August 2026 to discuss and technically finalise the indicators to be used in the regional EIMF. The consultant will lead the meeting with the objective of reaching consensus on the range of common indicators to be used at a regional level.
2. Finalize the EIMF document based on the meeting outcomes and incorporate relevant global ocean indicators, such as the Regional Seas Indicators under Strategic Directions 2026-2029.
3. Develop training materials for two workshops on implementation of EIMF at a national level.
4. Lead a two-day training workshop in August 2026 with the regional experts to develop capacity to implement the EIMF at a national level.
5. Lead a second three-day regional training workshop in April 2027 with national authorities on implementation of the EIMF.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced university degree (a Master's degree or equivalent) is required in Marine Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management or similar disciplines.
A minimum of 2 years of professional experience is required, working on regional marine and coastal-related projects at a technical level.
Excellent knowledge of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region and experience of working with the Governments of the WIO region is required
Experience in stakeholder engagement for ecosystem monitoring, ocean governance and other multidisciplinary environmental and developmental matters in the WIO region is required.
Demonstrated ability to deliver quality assignments in a timely manner is desirable.
Working with different stakeholders at both strategic and technical levels is desirable.
Demonstrated competency in excellent scientific/technical writing and consistency in critical writing and review of documents is desirable.
Ability to work within very short timelines and with minimum supervision is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in both oral and written English is required.