International Consultancy to support setting of the reference and boundary values related to IMAP Common Indicators 13 and 14 in the selected Mediterranean sub-region/sub-division (Level B)

Result of ServiceThe ultimate result of this assignment is to establish reference and boundary values for Total Phosphorous (TP) and Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) in one Mediterranean sub-region (e.g., in AEL, CEN, or WMS), building upon the findings previously obtained in the Adriatic Sea sub-region. Work Locationhome-based Expected durationsix (6) months Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. 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. United Nation’s Environment Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This consultancy assignment is for the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) - Programme for the Assessment and Control of Marine Pollution in the Mediterranean (MED POL), Athens, Greece. In line with the Decision IG.22/7 (COP19, 2016) on the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) of the Mediterranean Sea and Coast and Related Assessment Criteria; Decision IG.23/6 (COP20, 2017) on the 2017 Mediterranean Quality Status Report (QSR) recommending directions for the development of the 2023 Mediterranean Quality Status Report; and Decision 26/3 (COP 23, 2023) on the 2023 Mediterranean Quality Status Report and a Renewed Ecosystem Approach Policy in the Mediterranean providing the assessment criteria related to IMAP Pollution as upgraded during the period 2019-2023, as well as identifying the gaps subject to addressing in the medium term, implementation of IMAP Pollution continues in the ongoing biennium as set in Decision 26/14 on Programme of Work and Budget for 2024 -2025. The most important results achieved during the previous biennia were as follows: ­ The methodological approaches to support mapping of the interrelations of drivers-pressures-impacts-state-responses (DPSIR) for the various ecosystem elements within integrated Good Environmental Status (GES) assessment; ­ Upgraded background assessment concentrations (BACs) for assessment of the contaminants in biota and sediment (IMAP Common Indicator 17) at the sub-regional level; the new reference and boundary values for assessment of Total Phosphorous (TP) and Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) and updated Chla value for the Adriatic Sea Sub-region; the environmental assessment criteria (EACs) for IMAP Common Indicator 20 based on the maximum regulatory levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs included in EC/EU Directives 1881/2006, 1259/2011 and amendments 488/2014 and 1005/2015; the approaches agreed for future upgrade of EAC for IMAP Common Indicators 17 and 18; ­ Methodologies developed for assessment of IMAP Pollution Common Indicators; ­ The thematic assessments of IMAP Pollution Common Indicators provided for the nine Mediterranean Sea areas/sub-divisions and used for assessment of the four Mediterranean Sub-regions as included in the 2023 Mediterranean Quality Status Report; ­ National IMAP Pollution-based monitoring programmes addressing the spatial and temporal scope of scales of monitoring related to the respective IMAP Pollution Common Indicators, and assistance provided to the Contracting Parties in collecting and reporting national data in IMAP Information System; ­ Monitoring Guidelines and related Protocols prepared for IMAP Common Indicators 13&14; 17, 18 and 21 to support harmonization and standardization of all steps within the analytical chain of data generation; quality assurance and reporting. In line with above, Decision 26/14 on Programme of Work and Budget for 2024 – 2025 adopted by the 23rd Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP 23) held in Portoroz, Slovenia, from 5 to 8 December 2023, mandated MED POL with the implementation of the following activities related to the Outcome 6.2 “ Science-based IMAP, foresight and other assessments and assessment tools for strengthened science-policy interface and decision making (in-house expertise, consultancy, publication, toolbox, national technical support, pilots(s))” and the Outcome 6.3 “IMAP implementation and Environment and Development Observation provide updated and quality assured data in support of decision-making by Contracting Parties and assessment of GES”: 1. Activity 6.2.1: Strengthen the implementation of national IMAP-based monitoring programmes for all clusters and deliver quality assured data (i.e., Pollution Cluster under mandate of MED POL); 2. Activity 6.2.2: Upgrade the assessment component of IMAP including possible integrated assessment for all IMAP clusters. Focus on assessment criteria and thresholds (i.e. for IMAP Common Indicators 13,14, 17, 18 under mandate of MED POL); 3. Activity 6.3.1: Strengthen national capacities to apply harmonized and standardized monitoring and assessment practices related to pollution and marine litter in line with IMAP. The Consultant is expected to perform the following tasks: 1. Prepare a detailed work-plan with a timetable. 2. Analyze the adequacy of the data series available in the MED POL Database/IMAP Pilot Information System for establishing reference and boundary values for IMAP Common Indicator 13, namely Total Phosphorus (TP) and Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN), as well as for updating the reference and boundary values for IMAP Common Indicator 14, which pertains to Chlorophyll a (Chl a). 3. In consultation with national counterparts, under the coordination of the Monitoring and Assessment Officer, gather any new national datasets that may exist but have not yet been reported to the IMAP Info System. 4. Conduct a comprehensive review of the scientific literature and reliable alternative data sources to supplement the datasets obtained during the completion of tasks 2 and 3. 5. Compile in situ data and data derived from studies or alternative sources on TP, DIN, and Chl a into a database, while ensuring data quality assurance. 6. Propose (i) new reference and boundary values for Total Phosphorus (TP) and Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN), and (ii) updated reference and boundary values for Chlorophyll a (Chl a), where necessary, by extrapolating the available data for the selected pilot sub-region(s) or sub-division(s). The proposal should follow the methodology used in the Adriatic Sea Sub-region for setting new or updated assessment criteria. 7. Pilot application of the new or updated assessment criteria for IMAP Common Indicators 13 and 14 to assess the status of the selected pilot sub-region/sub-division. 8. Propose working and informational documents to UNEP/MAP - MED POL, following up on the completion of tasks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, for consideration of the CorMon Meeting on Pollution Monitoring, to be held in 2026. 9. Prepare a final report of deliverables for the consultancy. Qualifications/special skills• Advanced university degree in marine science and /or environmental science with a focus on monitoring and assessing phenomena related to impacts of eutrophication on marine environment is required. • A minimum of 5 years of relevant scientific background and experience in (i) the statistical interpretation of field survey data, as well as data sourced from scientific literature and alternative sources, for establishing reference and boundary values for Chlorophyll a (Chl a), Total Phosphorous (TP) and Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN), including proficiency in the use of relevant statistical software; (ii) monitoring and assessing the status of the marine environment, with a specific focus on applying integration and aggregation approaches relevant to GES and environmental assessment for IMAP Common Indicators 13 and 14 in the Mediterranean; and (iii) the application of innovative GES assessment tools—namely NEAT, EQR, and G/M comparison in the Mediterranean —is required. • Good knowledge of the UNEP/MAP-MED POL and the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP), along with familiarity with the scientific community's achievements in the Mediterranean is desirable. This includes work related to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) (2008/56/EC; 2010/477/EU; 2017/848/EU) implementation concerning the monitoring and assessment. • Experience in preparing the Mediterranean Quality Status Assessment Reports is also desirable. Languages• Fluency in oral and excellent writing skills in English language are required. • Knowledge of French language is desirable. 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.