Result of Service
The objective of this assignment is to effectively execute the 4 Child Projects of the MedProgramme and provide necessary technical support and guidance to the Stakeholders and beneficiary Countries in order to ensure effective delivering of the objectives and targets committed by the Programme and beyond.
Work Location
Athens – UNEP/MAP Coordinating Unit
Expected duration
The contract will be for ten (10) months starting from the date of the last signature.
Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. 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. United Nation’s Environment 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 consultancy assignment is for the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) – MedProgramme Coordinating Unit (MedPCU), Athens, Greece in the framework of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded Mediterranean Sea Programme (MedProgramme): Enhancing Environmental Security.
The MedProgramme represents the first GEF programmatic multi-focal area initiative in the Mediterranean Sea aiming to operationalize priority actions to reduce major transboundary environmental stresses in its coastal areas while strengthening climate resilience and water security and improving the health and livelihoods of coastal populations. The MedProgramme is implemented in nine beneficiary countries sharing the Mediterranean basin: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Montenegro, Morocco and Tunisia. It involves a wide spectrum of developmental and societal sectors, ranging from banking institutions, the private sector, governmental and non-governmental bodies, industry, research, media, and various other organizations. It builds on the work of UNEP/MAP and previous GEF investments in the region which have enriched the knowledge on the Mediterranean environment and unraveled the implications of climate change and variability; strengthened countries’ mutual trust, cooperation and common purpose; consolidated the partnership among countries, UN bodies, civil society organizations, bilateral donors and the European Union (EU); and tested on the ground the feasibility and effectiveness of technical and policy instruments aimed at addressing major present and future threats to environmental sustainability and climate related impacts. The MedProgramme is expected to deliver a set of complementary results embracing three categories of priorities identified by the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) for the Mediterranean Sea which are translated into three components of the Programme: i) Reduction of Land-Based Pollution in Priority Coastal Hotspots and measuring progress to impacts; ii) Enhancing Sustainability and Climate Resilience in the Coastal Zone; and iii) Protecting Marine Biodiversity.
In line with the GEF Council approval of the MedProgramme and the GEF CEO endorsement of its related Child Projects 1.1 (GEF ID 9684), 2.1 (GEF ID 9687), 2.2 (GEF ID 9685) and 4.1 (GEF ID 9686), the MedProgramme should execute a set of activities aligned with the GEF IW priorities focusing on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM); Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM); coastal aquifers management; reduction of land sources of pollution; Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystems Nexus; climate change adaption; protection of biodiversity and measure of the progress to impacts generated by the activities executed under the MedProgramme.
Under the direct supervision of the MedProgramme Management Officer and the overall coordination and guidance from UNEP/MAP Deputy Coordinator, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:
1) Prepare a detailed work plan and timetable for the assignment;
2) Prepare an Action Plan (including timeline and estimated cost for each activity) for the duration of the MedProgramme and support the MedPCU in the execution of the Child Projects;
3) Based on the Child Projects endorsed by the GEF CEO develop detailed templates for the monitoring of the Child Projects’ execution, including the description of the relevant corrective actions, follow up and impacts;
4) Prepare various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to relevant scientific reports and scientific peer-reviewed publications, GEF Experience Notes, summaries for policy makers, etc., related to the Child Projects of the MedProgramme;
5) Analyze and keep updated as need be the baseline information of the MedProgramme by identifying, assessing and proposing emerging issues, strategic partnership and synergies with other projects/initiatives;
6) Assist with the organization of the MedProgramme’s Annual Stocktaking Meetings, helping to ensure that the Child Projects of the MedProgramme are properly contributing and benefitting from the meeting;
7) Provide technical contributions related to the Child Projects of the MedProgramme for the Coordination Group and Steering Committee meetings, including the preparation of background and working documents and drafting of meeting reports, etc.;
8) Undertake survey initiatives; designs data collection tools; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions for the Child Projects of the MedProgramme;
9) Facilitate MedProgramme contribution to IW:LEARN activities (including participation at the International Waters Conferences and twinning, preparation of Experience Notes, relevant trainings and workshops among others) and other GEF relevant initiatives and events, particularly related to the focal areas of International Waters, Biodiversity and Climate Change;
10) Contribute to the development of databases for the management of raw/primary data to produce aggregated information and knowledge;
11) Contribute to the execution of the MedProgramme Gender Mainstreaming Strategy by preparing relevant inputs as required;
12) Prepare Terms of References (TORs), identify and evaluate outsourced experts contributing to the technical execution of the activities, and provide quality assurance, following UN Environment rules and regulations.
Qualifications/special skills
Skills:
• Strong analytical skills and ability to effectively articulate and present findings orally and in writing are required;
• Good knowledge of the UNEP/MAP system and the GEF Partnership in the context of the Mediterranean region is an asset;
Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree in the field of environment, environmental science, natural resource management and/or engineering is required.
Experience: • A minimum of 7-years relevant experience in the preparation and/or execution of environmental projects and water management, ideally in the Mediterranean, is required;
• Experience in developing, executing, monitoring and reporting activities and projects’ outcomes and outputs in the field of environment is required, including in at least two of the following aspects:
– Execution of the activities generating global environmental benefit addressing the priorities of the GEF International Waters focal area;
– Execution of activities related to the thematic priorities of the UNEP/MAP, including ICZM, IWRM, management of coastal aquifers, climate change adaptation, Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP), protection of biodiversity and reduction of land-based sources of pollution;
– Establishment and development of strategic partnerships to support knowledge management objectives;
– Experience in monitoring and evaluation and result-based management tools to assess the progress and impacts of regional projects ideally in the Mediterranean;
– Experience in/facilitation skills for meetings and training, including capacity development and consultative workshops.
• Experience in a governmental, multilateral, national or civil society organization is required.
Language: • Fluency in English is required;
• Working knowledge of French is an asset.
