Mission and objectivesThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority with a mandate to set the global environmental agenda, promote the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serve as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP coordinates 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 to provide technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and to strengthen the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This assignment is located in Secretariat of the Great Apes Survival Partnership hosted in UNEP/ Ecosystems Division/ Biodiversity, People and Landscapes unit.
ContextOne of the main threats to great apes is habitat loss. This loss is often driven by agricultural expansion or extractives industries and their associated infrastructure. GRASP has been working closely with the IUCN task force on extractive industries (ARRC = Avoid, Reduce, Restore and Conserve) to advice on specific projects but also to provide input on the performance standards of development banks including the International Finance Corporation (IFC). IFC has announced that it intends to start a review of its Sustainability Framework to which the performance standards belong in late 2025. The objective of this online volunteering assignment is to compile information to advice on specific projects and the upcoming revision of the IFC performance standards.
Task DescriptionThe objective of this assignment is to work with the IUCN ARRC taskforce (see below), GRASP partners, other teams in UNEP involved in the topic to prepare a summary report which will be used to inform the review process of the International Finance Corporations Sustainability Framework and to advice on specific IFC projects. Specific duties include: - liaise with the ARRC taskforce and GRASP partners - study IFC performance standards - analyse work conducting by UNEP and partners in the Congo Basin designed to minimise impact of large scale development projects on the environment - study existing GRASP and IUCN work on performance standards - summarise findings and recommendations in a summary report
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