Ecosystems economic Valuation and Blue Economy - Retainer (Technical Specialist, Blue Economy)

Background Information - UNOPS Water, Environment and Climate (WEC)

The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support. 

WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements,  such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The South China Sea region and the UNEP/GEF SCS-SAP Project

The South China Sea is a semi-enclosed sea, which supports a number of unique habitats and ecosystems that are amongst the most biologically diverse shallow water marine ecosystems globally. The richness and productivity of the South China Sea and associated environments are, however, seriously threatened by high population growth, pollution, overharvest and habitat modification, resulting in high rates of habitat loss and impairment of the regenerative capacities of living resources. The socio-economic impacts of environmental deterioration are significant for the economies of this region. 

Recognising that actions were urgently needed to halt degradation of the environment of this marine basin, the countries of the region sought the assistance of UNEP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the project “Reversing Environmental Degradation Trends in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand” was implemented from 2003-2008. This included a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis of the issues and problems and their societal root causes as the basis for development of a Strategic Action Programme (SAP) which was inter-governmentally adopted in 2008. The SAP established a series of objectives and priority costed actions for coastal habitats, land-based pollution management, and the overexploitation of fish stocks in the South China Sea

A multitude of organizations -including several UN agencies, regional inter-governmental organizations and NGO’s- are active in the SCS-SAP region in the fields of fisheries, environmental protection and sustainable development. Yet, coordination and collaboration in terms of communication and awareness building on the aforementioned environmental problems (and on the implementation of related solutions) is still incipient. 

During the first phase of the project (2002-2008), the project pioneered a study on economic valuation of ecosystem services. Economic valuation of ecosystem services has since that time emerged as a critical element of sustainable development in general, and integrated coastal management and of the emerging blue economy concept in particular. Since a lot of progress has been made in this field since the first SCS project completed in 2008, the SCS-SAP project aims to build on the results from the economic valuation from the first SAP project, and integrate them into a blue economy framework.

Duty station:                     
Please be aware that this is a home-based position, with the duty station being your city of permanent residence. 

*This is a retainer (consultant) national vacancy/position and will be hired for 12 months for a maximum of 220 working days with possibility of extension depending on performance and on availability of funds
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The project will therefore recruit a consultant on Economic Valuation and the Sustainable Blue Economy with the following specific tasks: 

• Desk Review of economic valuation results under phase 1 of South China Sea project.

• National Consultation with six countries to assess the status and developments since the 2008 EV study of economic valuation of ecosystem services in each country.

• Identify blue economy stakeholders in South China Sea countries, including all relevant sectors, government agencies, local communities and the private sector.

• Assess existing national blue economy experiences in the South China Sea countries.

• Assess current blue carbon initiatives in South China Sea countries.

• Based on national assessments and regional and global developments in the field of economic valuation of ecosystems and ecosystem services, such as the TEEB, IPBES, Natural Capital accounting, as well as the emerging Blue Economy: design a methodology as part of a blue economy framework for updating and/or integrating the EV study from phase 1.

• Present the methodology to the Regional Taskforce on Economic Valuation and build consensus at the regional level for the final methodology.

• Working with the Regional Task Force on Economic Valuation to identify options for future financing of conservation and environmental management within a sustainable blue economy framework.

• Train national EV specialists in the methodology.

• Coordinate the implementation of EV updating study in each of the participating countries.

• Draft report on the Valuation of Ecosystem Services from Coastal Ecosystems of the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand.

• Present the report, including its key findings, to the Regional Scientific and Technical Committee and Regional Working Group on Economic Valuation.

• Finalise report based on inputs from RSTC and RWG.

• Coordinate with Consultant 5 (TDA and SAP Updating) with the aim to incorporate economic valuation results into the SAP updating process.

• Master’s Degree, or equivalent, in  Environmental Economics, Environmental Sciences, Economics, or related field is required.

• First level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced university degree.

• Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA)
• Contract level: ICSC 10/LICA 10
• Contract duration: This is a retainer (consultant) national vacancy/position and will be hired for 12 months for a maximum of 220 working days with possibility of extension depending on performance and on availability of funds

• 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 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• 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.