Consultant on Early Action Support

Result of Service1. Plan for integrating natural capital accounting in the NBSAP, focused on the use of SEEA for the monitoring of GBF targets and indicators. 2. Roadmap for aligning policies related to agriculture with GBF Goals and Targets 3. Contribution of Ghanian examples to global communications products for Components 2 and 3 Work LocationGhana Expected duration5 months part time Duties and ResponsibilitiesOrganizational Setting: The United Nations Environment Programme 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 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. The UNEP Economics of Nature Unit (TEN) within the Ecosystems Division. TEN assists member states to account for the value of nature in order to transform economies and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources are the basis of agriculture. The agricultural sector provides important benefits such as food for humans and animals, fiber for industrial and artisanal production, materials for fuel, employment and cultural cohesion. However, it is the main driver of the degradation of ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity, health externalities and greenhouse gas emissions, among others. Many of these impacts, both positive and negative, are economically invisible and do not figure in public and private decision- making. The UNEP Economics of Nature Unit (TEN) hosts the TEEBAgriFood initiative which aims to demonstrate that the economic environment in which agricultural producers operate is subject to negative and positive externalities that cause a lack of understanding of their dependence on well-functioning ecosystems. The initiative seeks to demonstrate that the entire agricultural value chain (production, processing, distribution, consumption and waste) not only has an impact on the environment but also on socio-economic well-being, particularly of small producers, on public health and food security. The Economics of Nature Unit is contributing to the GEF-7 Medium Sized project entitled “Technical Support for the Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support”. The project aims to provide technical support to GEF-eligible Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in their work to review and align components of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAPs) with the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (‘GBF’): national targets, policy frameworks, monitoring frameworks, and biodiversity finance. UNEP-TEN is leading on components 2 and 3 of the GBF EAS Project. Component 2 - Assessment of national monitoring systems and development of monitoring action plans. Component 3 - Policy and institutional alignment and review for achieving coherence with the GBF. Under Component 2, UNEP-TEN has agreed to lead and support technical assistance, training and guidance activities to help countries to integrate natural capital accounting in their revised NBSAPs, develop indicators and national monitoring systems to track progress toward GBF Goals and Targets, and in so doing, contribute to national priorities for natural capital accounting and biodiversity management. Under Component 3, UNEP-TEN has agreed to lead and support the evaluation of opportunities for policy realignment across sectoral agencies that would contribute to GBF Goals and Targets and development of action plans to achieve policy coherence with the GBF. Additionally, UNEP-TEN will produce a communication product (2 pager or online infographic) bringing the lessons learned from all countries that receive one on one support. This consultancy will conduct the in-person support under components 2 and 3 of the GBF EAS project in Ghana. This position will be home based. The incumbent will report to the Head of The Economics of Nature Unit, within the Biodiversity and Land Branch of the Ecosystem Division of UNEP. Duties and Responsibilities:  Write action plan for monitoring GBF indicator A.2 (Extent of natural ecosystems) and/or B.1 (Trend in provision of ecosystem services) in Ghana’s NBSAP by using SEEA accounts  Conduct multi-sector policy review and draft roadmap for aligning policies with the GBF  Consult with relevant government, academia, private sector and civil society stakeholders related to the GBF monitoring framework, and to the policy alignment related to food systems (e.g. NCA and CBD focal points, UN Food System Summit representative)  Facilitate consultation between Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) and other relevant line ministries to determine how to integrate SEEA in the revised NBSAPs and in so doing, contribute to national priorities.  Review agriculture, environment, and other relevant policies and programs to identify opportunities to align policies with the GBF Goals and Targets  Contribute content to the knowledge management and communication material that will highlight approaches for including environmental economic accounting in the GBF monitoring framework and NBSAPs and opportunities for aligning cross-sectoral policies with the GBF Goals and Targets. Qualifications/special skillsA first level degree in agronomy, agricultural or natural resource economics, environmental economics, resource economics, political sciences, international studies and development, environmental sciences, or a related field is required. An advanced level degree in related fields would be an added advantage. A minimum of 2 years of experience with development, agricultural, environmental and sustainability policy is required. Experience in the areas of biodiversity monitoring, environmental accounting, and collaboration with government agencies, is required. Specialized expertise in bioeconomy, land use change policies, trade policies and value chains, agricultural production and assessment of externalities (i.e. water pollution, soil degradation), ecosystem service valuation, agricultural economics, health and human capital assessment, social capital and landscape governance assessment is desired. Proven experience within the government administration, UN system, non-governmental organization, consultancy service or a related organization is desirable. Experience in organizing and implementing projects on ecosystem assessment or related field is highly desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in oral and written English is required. 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.