Consultant for the UNCCD Communities of Learning and Practice on Drought

Result of ServiceThe Communities of Learning and Practice (CLPs) are fully operational and effectively fulfil their mission of promoting peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, co-learning, and collaboration in building drought resilience capacities. Consultations and briefings with Parties and other key stakeholders involved in drought management are conducted efficiently. Work LocationBonn office. Expected duration08 January to 31 August 2026. Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground: Background Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking the environment and development to sustainable land management. The vision of the UNCCD and its 197 Parties is to realize “a future that avoids, minimizes, and reverses desertification/land degradation and mitigates the effects of drought in affected areas at all levels – and to achieve a land degradation-neutral world consistent with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” The objective of the Convention is to support countries and communities with the rehabilitation, conservation and sustainable management of land and water resources, leading to improved living conditions. The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) held in Riyadh from December 2 to 13, 2024 underscored the mounting global challenges of drought, leading to substantial financial commitments and the recognition for the need of strengthening capacities and developing innovative tools and technologies to tackle this pressing global challenge. UNCCD Parties also adopted specific decisions on building drought resilience of affected Parties, requesting the Global Mechanism (GM) and the secretariat of the UNCCD to support Parties in creating an enabling environment at the national level to (i) facilitate the implementation of national drought plans or other policies and frameworks related to drought; (ii) forge specific partnerships to mobilize technical and financial support for projects and programmes on drought; and (iii) collaborate with relevant programmes and to support Parties in leveraging finance through relevant mechanisms (Decision 3/COP.16). Furthermore, at COP15, Parties requested the UNCCD Secretariat to encourage, support and facilitate communities of learning and practice to pursue co-learning and collaboration for drought risk reduction and resilience capacity-building issues. As response to the COP15 decision (https://www.unccd.int/official-documents/cop-15-abidjan-cote-divoire-2022/documents/23cop15 ), the UNCCD Secretariat in collaboration with GWP launched the Communities of Learning and Practice (CLPs) with the mission to pursue co-learning and collaboration for drought risk reduction and resilience capacity-building issues. The Communities of Learning and Practice (CLPs) are peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing and co-learning initiative aiming to strengthen the capacities of National Focal Points (NFPs), Science and Technology Correspondents (STCs), and other key stakeholders involved in drought management and efforts to combat desertification. A total of six CLPs (https://droughtclp.unccd.int/clp/communities) have been established and currently operational: a Global CLP and five regional communities (Africa CLP, Asia CLP, Latin America and the Caribbean CLP, Northern Mediterranean CLP, and Central and Eastern Europe CLP). The CLPs are thus a mechanism to promote intra- but also inter-regional knowledge sharing that help turning local experience and knowhow into global insights. The UNCCD Secretariat is seeking a consultant to support the activities of the CLP, the Tafaúl Process, and other drought-related initiatives in the lead-up to COP 17, scheduled for August 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Duties and Responsibilities: Under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Global Policy Advocacy and Regional Cooperation (GPARC) unit and direct supervision of the assigned officer, the consultant will have the following duties and responsibilities: - Facilitate the activities of the Co-Chairs of the CLPs to managing, coordinating, and moderating the UNCCD CLPs. - Work closely with the CLP Co-Chairs in support of the Secretariat to ensuring effective collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building among the CLP members and beyond. - Track the progress of the CLP activities, member participation, and overall community engagement. - Support the Co-Chairs to facilitate discussions, coordinate events, manage content, and support the strategic direction of the CLP to meet its objectives in drought resilience and sustainable management practices. - Provide support to Co-chairs by ensuring content shared within the CLP is accurate, up-to-date, and aligned with UNCCD’s strategic priorities. - Equip Co-chairs and Secretariat with regular updates and reports on the community insights, engagement metrics, and identified challenges or opportunities. - Support to Annex IV for regional briefings and other needs, as appropriate. - Support the Tafa’ul Process for Drought Resilience including supporting the meetings and related outcome documents. - Support other drought- related and COP 17 preparation activities of the secretariat. Qualifications/special skills- Advanced university degree in land use planning, integrated land and water management, or other related environmental subjects is required. - Minimum of two years of experience in drought management, land degradation, or related areas is required. - Excellent verbal and written communication skills; adept at moderating discussions and encouraging inclusive participation is required. - A Solid knowledge of the UNCCD process, related UN and intergovernmental processes, and/or environment-conventions is required. - A track record of community of practice coordination or facilitation is desirable. LanguagesFluency and proficiency in English language ( both verbal and written) is required; Knowledge of additional UN official languages (French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic or Russian) highly desirable. Additional InformationOnly individuals who can act as independent, individual economical operators are qualified to apply. Individuals who can provide their services only on account of an institution or enterprise are not eligible under this procedure. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations Secretariat and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultant and individual contractor is responsible for determining tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 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.