Technical Advisor - Environmental (Facilitator)

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

The New York Portfolios Office (NYPO) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management. The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York. SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to implement the project activities for the Global Programme on Nature for Development.

UNDP’s Global Programme on Nature for Development brings together three different initiatives -- the Equator Initiative, the National Biodiversity Initiative, and the Global Forest Initiative (New York Declaration on Forests Global Platform) under one program in order to identify, foster, showcase and celebrate nature-based solutions that help achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at local, national, and international levels. The work of the Global Programme on Nature for Development contributes to UNDP's Strategic Plan 2018-2021 by charting sustainable development pathways through the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of biodiversity and ecosystems; and by promoting inclusive and effective democratic governance in the area of natural resources.

The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizations to recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions for people, nature and resilient communities. The Equator Initiative seeks to:

• Recognize the success of local and indigenous initiatives.
• Create opportunities and platforms to share knowledge and good practice.
• Inform policy to foster an enabling environment for local and indigenous community action.
• Develop the capacity of indigenous peoples and local communities to scale-up their impact.

The National Biodiversity Initiative supports countries to manage their ecosystems and biodiversity in order to improve national planning and governance of biodiversity, ecosystems, and development, and to promote resilience for sustainable development. The GEF Enabling Activities Project supports developing, middle income, and small island nations in their commitments to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): early action on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), National Reporting. The use of spatial data for spatial planning is a cross-cutting theme across these project areas, including work through our flagship platform UN Biodiversity Lab (UNBL) and to map Essential Life Support Areas (ELSAs). The UNBL, created in partnership with UN Environment and the CBD Secretariat provides policymakers with access to 100 of the world’s best spatial datasets on nature, climate, and sustainable development for planning, monitoring, and reporting. Building on this base, our work to map ELSAs brings together the world’s best scientists and governments in 11 pilot countries to use spatial data to identify where nature-based actions to protect, manage, or restore ELSAs can deliver efficiently across national priorities for biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development. A nascent area of work is building the spatial literacy of Indigenous peoples and local communities and ensuring their participation in spatial planning.

Knowledge Sharing is a main goal of the Equator Initiative, Learning for Nature and the National Biodiversity Initiative. The Equator Initiative has a large series of research papers, books, and other publications focusing on local approaches to poverty reduction and conservation, informed by community-based initiatives.180 case studies in over 30 languages have documented the Equator Prize winners’ innovative practices that deliver the win-win-win solutions that ensure social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The National Biodiversity Initiative share knowledge on the role of spatial data in biodiversity planning, policymaking, and reporting through blogs, case studies, and story maps.

Learning for Nature is a capacity-building offer provided by the Global Programme on Nature for Development, cutting across the three areas of work. This project connects biodiversity policymakers, change-makers, and on-the-ground subject matter experts to facilitate the delivery of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Access to the global multi-stakeholder networks mobilized by the Equator Initiative, Learning for Nature, and the National Biodiversity Initiative allows Learning for Nature to circulate knowledge while promoting best practices. Building on our learnings on the ground, Learning for Nature seeks synergies, build linkages, and engage thousands of course participants through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), webinars, self-paced e-learning modules, and private training courses.

For further information please go to: www.equatorinitiative.org, www.nbsapforum.net, www.learningfornature.org, www.unbiodiversitylab.org

This is a position to support a project which UNOPS is implementing for the United Nations Development Programme. The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is a country-led global initiative to support the development and implementation of ambitious National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP) 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. Under the leadership of the governments of Colombia and Germany, the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership brings together countries with a Whole of Government and a Whole of Society approach to strengthen global, regional, and national ambition on biodiversity action.  The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is raising the profile of NBSAPs and promoting nature-positive action, fast tracking implementation support through a matchmaking service, increasing access to expertise, knowledge, and capacity development and providing coordination and facilitation support to countries/regions.

UNOPS is seeking a Technical Advisor – Environmental (Facilitator) to advance the Global Programme on Nature for Development’s work with the effective delivery of assigned tasks below.

Technical Advisor – Environmental (Facilitator) represents the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership but is embedded in relevant ministry or regional institution, to support and fast-track NBSAP implementation. The facilitator will act as a bridge between the host government and the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership.

The in-country facilitator of the NBSAP Acceleration Partnership plays a crucial role in supporting the implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The primary objective for the role of the in-country facilitator is to facilitate the identification and prioritization of NBSAP needs, mobilize support, foster collaboration among stakeholders, and accelerate NBSAP implementation through supporting a Whole of Government and Whole of Society approach.

Duties and responsibilities include:

Assess NBSAP Landscape:

• Identify and monitor country/region-specific biodiversity priorities, capacity needs / demands and implementation challenges if needed this might include e.g., conducting high-level mapping of stakeholders to identify key players, their motivations, commitments, and potential synergies. 
• Facilitate national, country-specific, multi-stakeholder dialogues.
• Develop a comprehensive work plan outlining goals, objectives, activities, and timelines for NBSAP implementation support together with the host government/institution.
• Monitor country/region-specific NBSAP priorities and implementation progress, providing ongoing support and guidance as needed.

Mobilize Support: 

• On behalf of host country/region, identify specific needs and requests e.g. technical capacity, financial resources and increased political will.
• Through a Whole of Government & Whole of Society approach, assist host government/institution in the design and development of specific requests for support.
• Submit requests for support to relevant stakeholders e.g. through the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership match making mechanism or other platforms.
• Support host government/institution in selecting best fit of offered support packages.
• Monitor the implementation of the support packages.
• Identify and support resource mobilization

Coordinate Action:

• Foster alignment and collaboration among existing and emerging initiatives to ensure a Whole of Government and Whole of Society approach with activities, programs and partnerships to streamline efforts, leverage investments and maximize synergies across the 3 Rio Conventions.
• Support the strengthening and monitoring of existing national structures for NBSAP implementation.
• Sharing global best practices, guidance, tools materials in country/region but also taking learning, case studies, sharing with other facilitators
• Identify and coordinate knowledge and information exchange e.g. peer-to-peer, south-south, north-south and triangular knowledge exchange opportunities for host government/institution.
• Facilitate and coordinate exchanges between key partners working on NBSAP implementation and link to services and activities to ensure alignment and avoid duplication.

The assignment is supervised by the Manager of the Global Programme on Nature for Development.

• Maintain regular communication with designated host country National Focal Points to ensure alignment with other ongoing activities. 
• Maintain regular communication with the Country Engagement Coordinator of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, providing updates on progress, challenges, and achievements.
• Prepare periodic reports on the status of NBSAP implementation, including key milestones, lessons learned, and recommendations for improvement.
• Prepare quarterly financial reports of expenditures to the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent), preferably in environmental science, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management or in a field related to the post description with seven (7) years of relevant experience is required; OR
• First-level university degree (Undergraduate, Bachelor or equivalent) preferably in environmental science, biodiversity conservation, natural resource management or in a field related to the post description with nine (9) years of relevant experience is desirable;

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in biodiversity conservation, project management, facilitation, stakeholder engagement or related areas.

• Previous experience working with NBSAPs and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and other international biodiversity frameworks is desirable.
• Previous experience working for regional or international organizations is an advantage.
• Proven track record of working with government institutions, civil society organizations, and international partners is desirable.

• Fluency in English (read, write, speak) is required.
• Fluency in a second official UN language is desirable.

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) 
Contract level: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA-11)

Contract duration: Open-ended (renewable subject to funds availability and satisfactory performance). * The contract for this position is set for a duration up to 31 January 2025, with termination upon its conclusion. Any need for services beyond this initial period will be communicated to the incumbent accordingly.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.