Capacity Network Coordinator

Development Group Cluster

The UNOPS Development Group Cluster is based in the North America Office and supports a diverse and complex portfolio including partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (the Bureau for Development Policy, the Human Development Report Office, and the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation), the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Capital Development Fund, the United Nations Secretariat and a broadening community of primarily New York-based UN partners in the delivery of project management, implementation and administration services.

This consultancy, advertised through UNOPS, is managed through the UNDP Biodiversity Global Programme. UNDP is seeking to appoint a consultant for one year as a Capacity Network Coordinator, to lead work on an initiative entitled Establishing the BES-Net Capacity Building Network and Web Portal. This work contributes towards the objectives of two projects managed by UNDP within the Biodiversity Global Programme, and implemented by UNOPS – one supported by the Government of Norway through a partnership with the Norwegian Environment Agency on “Catalyzing Transformative Approaches to Achieving the Aichi Targets through the BES-Net Capacity Building Network”, and the other supported by the Swedish Government through a partnership with SwedBio, the Resilience and Development Programme of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, on “Support to capacity building for IPBES through the development of BES-Net and support to work for resilience thinking in sustainable development”.

Background on UNDP and IPBES

As the UN’s development organization, UNDP believes there is a pressing need for capacity development in the interface between science, policy and practice that supports decision-makers and practitioners to manage biodiversity and ecosystems in a way that contributes to sustainable development and the eradication of extreme poverty. With a presence on the ground in 177 countries and territories, UNDP supports countries to identify, combine, access and sequence environmental finance for biodiversity and ecosystem management, mobilize pro-poor markets for ecosystem goods and services, and generate sustainable livelihoods. UNDP also helps countries develop capacity at individual, institutional and systemic levels to identify and implement new options for effective democratic governance for biodiversity and ecosystem management. UNDP has the largest programme on biodiversity and ecosystems in the UN system, currently managing 512 projects under implementation or in development, in 146 countries. 

Background on BES-Net

The proposal currently under discussion with governments and stakeholders is that the BES-Net capacity building network will be established in 2014, aiming to develop capacity for exchanges between science, policy and practice that lead to better decisions for biodiversity and ecosystems management. This will be achieved initially through UNDP’s partnership with the Governments of Norway and Sweden, to establish the capacity network and develop the basic web portal, which can be expanded and adapted in response to user needs and evaluations. UNDP will seek to draw in the involvement of other funding partners and a broad range of network participants wishing to contribute in various ways to the development and operation of the network.

UNDP is seeking the services of a consultant with a technical background in biodiversity conservation and ecosystems management, experience in capacity development, and a passion for knowledge, networking and online communication. The purpose of the assignment is to facilitate the necessary consultations and work required to establish the BES-Net capacity network of participants and the BES-Net web portal between June 2014 and May 2015. The work of the consultant will be carried out in close cooperation with the IPBES task force on capacity building, to ensure that BES-Net is considered an integral part of the IPBES work programme deliverables 1(a) and (b).

During this year it is expected that the coordinator will:

1. Complete the process of consulting governments and stakeholders and communicate with potential network participants on the way forward
2. Organize and facilitate a side-event on the BES-Net capacity network at the CBD COP-12 in PyeongChang, Republic of Korea in October 2014
3. Establish the network of participants and hold the first Annual Network Meeting at IPBES-3 in December 2014 / January 2015
4. Establish a database of contacts and disseminate the first two quarterly newsletters sharing information between network participants
5. Oversee the development and refinement of the basic architecture of the BES-Net web portal, supporting UNDP in recruiting and managing web service providers
6. Populate the web portal with general content and specialized thematic content in two initial areas 
7. Drive traffic to the web portal and recruit registered web users to join the contact database, and share their needs and experiences
   1. Conduct a survey of web portal user needs, and design and implement instruments for tracking needs and responses, and for evaluating impact
   2. Service the needs of web users through facilitating participation by network participant organizations, and by drawing in the services of experts on a voluntary basis
   3. Conduct an outreach within UNDP at national, regional and global levels to maximize engagement with the web portal and capacity network
   4. Consult stakeholders and plan for the first regional science-policy-practice dialogue in 2015
   5. Establish partnerships for the development of e-learning modules and small grants to communities
   6. Provide secretariat services to the advisory committee for the BES-Net capacity network, liaise with key network participants, and draft narrative and financial reports for funding partners
   7. Support UNDP in raising further resources for development of the capacity network and web portal 2015-2020.

The Capacity Network Coordinator will report to a Senior Technical Advisor: Ecosystems and Biodiversity in UNDP. The work of the coordinator will be guided by an advisory committee for the BES-Net capacity network. The coordinator will be home-based and responsible for all his/her own office costs, including communication by email, phone and Skype. The work will involve regular international travel to events and meetings related to the work of UNDP’s Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme, IPBES, and the Rio Conventions and other MEAs, and all travel costs will be covered by the initiative. 

Technical Competencies:

• Ability to provide guidance on technical and substantive issues in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, access and benefit sharing, sustainable land management, ecosystem management and sustainable development

• Ability to guide the design and implementation of capacity development and knowledge networking initiatives at different scales
• Ability to conceptualize and guide the design and functionality of complex, interactive websites / web portals
• Ability to engage with peer-reviewed natural and social science literature and to work with multiple stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

Planning and Organizing

• Proven ability to plan and organize work in a complex institutional environment, within and beyond the host organization
• Strong project management and coordination skills

• Proven networking and outreach skills
• Proven ability to organize national- and international-level workshops and conference side-events.

Communication

• Ability to write well in a range of styles and genres, including web-based content
• Ability to communicate complex technical ideas to a variety of audiences in an accessible manner
• CIear and confident presentation skills.

Client Orientation

• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude

• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure.

Master’s degree in environmental or natural science, geography, natural resource management, development, economics, international relations, adult education, environmental communication / capacity building or related, relevant field; 

• At least 7 years of work experience at the national and international levels in a field related to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management is required
• Demonstrated high level of energy and proven ability to take initiative and work in an independent manner, producing consistent and visible results to agreed deadlines
• Demonstrated experience in conceptualizing and designing websites and writing for a variety of online audiences
• Demonstrated awareness of the Rio Conventions and Multilateral Environmental Agreements to which the work of IPBES contributes
• Demonstrated technical and intellectual skills in environment and development, and proven ability to make complex scientific material accessible for policymakers and practitioners
• Good knowledge of issues related to the IPBES platform, capacity development, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management is highly desired 
• Full computer literacy is highly desired 
• Knowledge of UNDP policies and procedures is highly desired 

• Good knowledge of issues related to the IPBES platform, capacity development, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management
• At least 7 years of work experience at the national and international levels in a field related to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management
• Demonstrated high level of energy and proven ability to take initiative and work in an independent manner, producing consistent and visible results to agreed deadlines
• Demonstrated experience in conceptualizing and designing websites and writing for a variety of online audiences
• Demonstrated awareness of the Rio Conventions and Multilateral Environmental Agreements to which the work of IPBES contributes
• Demonstrated technical and intellectual skills in environment and development, and proven ability to make complex scientific material accessible for policymakers and practitioners
• Full computer literacy

• Excellent knowledge of the English language, with exceptional writing, presentation and communication skills

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.