Biodiversity Monitoring and Reporting Consultant

Result of ServiceIn line with the objectives of the GEF Early Action Support project and the GEF-8 Umbrella Programme to Support NBSAP Update and the 7th National Reports, the consultancy will support countries to advance monitoring and reporting on implementation of the updated NBSAP, in support of 7th National Report preparation and future reporting efforts. Work LocationHome-Based Expected duration6 Months Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe 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. 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. UNEP's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. A Biodiversity Monitoring and Reporting Consultant will be engaged by the Nature Frameworks Support Unit and will contribute to UNEP's work in supporting the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) through the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded Biodiversity Enabling Activities: Global Biodiversity Framework - Early Action Support project (EAS), and the associated GEF 8 Umbrella Programme to Support NBSAP Update and the 7th National Reports (NBSAP/7NR project). These enabling activities are country-led efforts to fast-track readiness and early actions to implement the KMGBF. They include support for updating National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and the preparation of the 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The projects provide financial and technical assistance to 139 developing, small island, and middle-income nations in their work to align their NBSAPs with the KMGBF; develop and update their national monitoring systems; design strategies for policy and institutional alignment; develop biodiversity finance plans; and prepare their 7th National Reports to the CBD. The projects are country-led with joint implementation support from UNEP and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the CBD Secretariat and the GEF. The EAS project began in 2023 and will continue implementation through early 2026, while the NBSAP/7NR project was launched in mid-2024 and implementation will continue through late 2026. Based on the results of a recent survey undertaken to identify technical needs of participating countries to update their NBSAPs and prepare their seventh national reports, technical support for monitoring and indicators was among the top five needs selected by countries. Specific tasks and responsibilities, to be undertaken in coordination with the programme team, include: 1. Map available global data sets for each KMGBF target and prepare an online document for countries to access live links to the global data sets (those not included in the WCMC Target Tracker), including links and instructions to access national-level data, with a focus on headline, component, and complementary indicators as per the KMGBF monitoring framework. 2. Map UNEP-supported countries’ national indicators submitted through the CBD’s Online Reporting Tool, to identify trends, gaps and priorities for capacity building/monitoring support at national and regional levels including alignment with KMGBF headline indicators and binary questions; 3. Plan and organize regional/subregional peer-to-peer exchanges and global webinars on national experiences, needs and learning related to KMGBF monitoring and reporting (including integration of the monitoring framework into NBSAPs and national reports) and prepare country and regional case study examples drawing from the exchanges/webinars, to present as an information document for consideration at SBI-7. 4. Undertake review of national monitoring action plans or monitoring activities of UNEP-supported countries, to assess the extent of countries’ planning and preparedness for monitoring and reporting in line with KMGBF requirements, such as the use of standardized indicators and synergies with other frameworks (e.g., SDGs and SEEA); 5. Identify relevant activities/approaches being undertaken and guidance being produced under related initiatives/organizations (including UNEP-WCMC’s National Monitoring Systems Initiative (NMSI), NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, Technical and Scientific Cooperation Centres (TSCCs), custodian agencies and the Ad Hoc Technical Group on Indicators) and support collaboration/roll-out in UNEP-supported countries and regions, where suitable and possible. 6. Identify needs and activities to inform Terms of Reference for longer-term support for country/regional monitoring and reporting, including through engagement of TSCCs and custodian agencies of key global indicators and KMGBF targets, with emphasis on addressing data gaps, capacity-building for headline indicators, and preparation for the 7th and 8th national reports. 7. Prepare a final report summarizing actions undertaken, deliverables achieved, and lessons learnt during the period of consultancy including recommendations for enhancing alignment with the KMGBF monitoring and reporting framework. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Head of the Nature Frameworks Support Unit, in coordination with the Programme Management Officers working on the EAS and NBSAP Update and 7th National Reports projects. The consultancy will build on existing monitoring and reporting activities and relevant ongoing efforts by UNEP, UNDP and CBD. Qualifications/special skillsAn advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent degree) in environmental sciences, data science, development studies, or a related social science field is desirable. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. - A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in supporting implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at multiple levels (international, regional, and national) is required. - Experience in review and analysis of national, regional and global biodiversity strategies, plans and implementation, including supporting monitoring and reporting-related activities, is required. - Knowledge of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its mandates, processes for the development, implementation and review of national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and biodiversity monitoring and reporting is required. - Knowledge of national biodiversity indicator development is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this Job Opening, fluency in English (written and oral) is required. Knowledge of Portuguese is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.