Marine and Coastal Environmental Management Consultant at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Job Description

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. This is a Project Post located in the Ecosystems Division, Nairobi duty station. The NOCAMO project aims at the protection and the joint management of the northern part of the NMC covered by the exclusive economic zones of the countries of the region: Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Union of the Comoros, Seychelles and France (Reunion). The Nairobi Convention, in executing the NOCAMO project, requires a highly motivated international consultant to work with the Secretariat on the technical management of the Project. Duties and Responsibilities Under the general supervision of the Head of the Nairobi Convention Secretariat, the consultant will be responsible for the following: • Develop a case for MSP in the NMC region, including concepts and methodologies, and drawing from the WIO MSP strategy, emphasizing on enhancing national readiness for MSP, institutional capacities, policies, and regulations, particularly in the NMC countries, and giving examples of best practice in implementation where appropriate. • Participate in MSP related workshops in the NMC region and provide an analysis report to showcase Component 1 activities and share best practices. The report will include information on the status of MSP-related training programs in the NMC countries, partners involved, participants and any existing national MSP roadmaps.
• Identify priority mapping needs for marine and coastal ecosystem assets and services in the NMC and provide finalized geo-spatial analysis outputs to support MSP initiatives in the NMC region.
• Assess the implications for the set of scenarios that were developed for the NMC region under Outcome 1.2 of the NOCAMO project, with respect to future developments in key economic sectors, demographics and climate change patterns in terms of the potential of building a sustainable blue economy in the NMC and achieving the targets of SGD 14.
• Design and analyze key trends and identify new or emerging issues to enrich the substantive work on the NOCAMO project and links with ongoing initiatives in the western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, to guide MSP in the NMC region.
• Work in synergy with the project teams of WIOSAP, SAPPHIRE, SWIOFC Partnership and ACP MEAs projects on the development of a common technical approach to support the Ocean Governance Strategy implementation process and blue economy development in the WIO region.
• Review and advise on the technical reports received from technical partners and provide guidance for activity extension.
• Develop fundable proposal/s to support MSP implementation at regional and national levels within the Convention area working with the regional MSP TWG and other partners.

Qualifications/special skills
Academic qualifications: advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) is required in Marine Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management or similar disciplines. A first level degree with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:
A minimum of six (6) years of relevant progressive experience in organizations with a mandate or relevancy to the marine and coastal environments or a related area is required. Experience working on coastal and marine environment issues in the WIO is required. Familiarity with regional development objectives of WIO countries and the goals and procedures of international development organizations is highly necessary. Experience in MSP is compulsory.