Legal Consultant with a Human Rights Focus on Environmental and Social Safeguards

Result of ServiceThe Legal Consultant with a Human Rights Focus on Environmental and Social Safeguards will provide legal expertise with a human rights approach to contribute to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia in implementing REDD+ social and environmental safeguards. The consultant will focus on regulatory and legal analysis, developing legal opinions, policy recommendations, and compliance measures, particularly regarding Ruling T-248 of 2024. Responsibilities include bolstering governance, ensuring compliance with safeguard frameworks, contributing to institutional coordination, and providing expertise in grievance mechanisms for REDD+ projects. Under the supervision of the UNEP Programme Management Officer UN-REDD for Latin America and Caribbean Office, The Legal Consultant with a Human Rights Focus on Environmental and Social Safeguards will contribute to REDD+ team in the following areas/activities: • Provide legal advice to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development on REDD+ and social and environmental safeguards, taking into account Colombia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), the National Development Plan, and other key climate change, mitigation, and adaptation policies. This includes reviewing regulatory instruments related to safeguards and developing legal opinions necessary for the consolidation of relevant regulatory frameworks. • Collaborate in the regulatory process for social and environmental safeguards applicable to GHG mitigation initiatives, ensuring alignment with Colombia’s legal, political, and institutional frameworks. • Provide legal and regulatory input for the Internal Committee on Social and Environmental Safeguards (CISSA) related to REDD+ and safeguards. • Offer legal advice with a human rights approach to bolster the development of guidelines and documents on REDD+ and safeguards, as well as compliance with court rulings related to conflicts in REDD+ projects and Early Warnings issued by the Ombudsman's Office on the matter. • Document emblematic cases of rights violations affecting communities participating in REDD+ projects, using Colombia’s national legal framework, the national interpretation of safeguards, and the protocols and guidelines derived from compliance with Ruling T-248 of 2024 as reference. • Perform other relevant tasks as required by the DCCGR, the VOAT, and the UNEP UN-REDD Programme, including knowledge management and communication activities. • Bolster the interinstitutional coordination roadmap on safeguards and compliance with Ruling T-248 of 2024. • Contribute to implementing Order 12 of Ruling T-248 of 2024, which relates to the handling of petitions, complaints, and claims (PQRS) for REDD+ (grievance mechanism). He or she will provide a work plan with activities and deadlines, monthly reports on contractual activities, legal opinions on regulatory instruments for environmental and social safeguards in Colombia, comments on climate change policies including REDD+ measures, documents ensuring compliance with Constitutional Court rulings (specifically Ruling T-248 of 2024) and other related rulings, meeting notes, minutes, and presentations from CISSA and interinstitutional meetings, case files on rights violations in REDD+ projects, documents supporting the implementation of Order 12 of Ruling T-248 of 2024, and technical annexes on social safeguards focusing on capacity-building and participation Work LocationBogota Colombia Expected duration9 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. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). Colombia is a partner country of the UN-REDD Programme, which is supported by three UN agencies: UNEP, UNDP, and FAO. Since 2020, UN-REDD has provided technical assistance to countries to implement national policies aimed at combating deforestation and forest degradation, with the support of these agencies. This assistance has focused on enhancing forest-based solutions, increasing climate ambition, and connecting key stakeholders to halt deforestation. The current cycle of technical assistance will conclude in 2025, with a new phase set to begin in 2026. This new phase must prioritize strengthening processes that drive transformative changes in forest governance and policies. The conclusion of the UN-REDD+ technical assistance cycle in Colombia presents significant challenges in governance, monitoring, emissions accounting, and the integration of public and private initiatives. It is crucial to ensure the protection of rights and the implementation of Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES), as well as to establish a robust financial strategy. To date, Colombia has made significant progress in safeguards, having completed the elements of the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ under the UNFCCC. This includes the publication of its REDD+ Strategy, known nationally as the Comprehensive Strategy for Deforestation Control and Forest Management (EICDGB), the submission of six safeguard information summaries to the UNFCCC, the establishment of an updated national reference level, and the development of a forest and carbon monitoring system. Additionally, progress has been made in key elements of the National Safeguards System. On June 17, 2022, during a session of the Intersectoral Commission on Climate Change (CICC), the creation of the Working Group on Social and Environmental Safeguards for REDD+ Initiatives was approved. Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development has established an Internal Committee on Social and Environmental Safeguards (CISSA), composed of representatives from various departments within the ministry. The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development has also advanced in updating the national interpretation of safeguards and has initiated a regulatory process to formalize safeguards implementation. This process requires clarifications on key aspects such as benefit-sharing mechanisms, capacity-building efforts, and the launch of a Safeguards Information System. It also involves submitting the regulatory framework for consultation with ethnic and local communities. At the same time, the Ministry is working to comply with Ruling T-248 of 2024, which addresses the rights of ethnic communities in REDD+ projects within the voluntary carbon market. Additionally, it is responding to recommendations from oversight bodies through reports, early warnings, and citizen petitions submitted to the Ministry. To continue strengthening the National Safeguards System and its components in alignment with key national and sectoral climate policies—particularly those related to carbon markets—Colombia requires an expert in the legal aspects of these challenges. The Legal Consultant with a Human Rights Focus on Environmental and Social Safeguards will be supervised by the UN-REDD Programme Officer at UNEP’s Latin America and the Caribbean Office and will work full-time (40 hours per week, Monday through Friday) at the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, collaborating with the Vice Ministry of Environmental Land Management (VOAT). Qualifications/special skillsAcademic • A bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, environmental sciences, law or related fields is required. • Master’s degree in development, Administration, Environmental Law, Public Law, Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Conflict Resolution, or Human Rights will be desired. Professional Experience • Three (3) years of professional experience in processes related to stakeholder engagement, processes including indigenous peoples and/or human rights protection in Latin America and the Caribbean. (required). • Experience working with public sector institutions in Colombia (desirable). • Experience in GHG mitigation initiatives, carbon markets, nature-based solutions and/or REDD+ projects (desirable). • Experience in environmental and social safeguards (desirable). • Experience in Environmental Policy and Regulatory Development (desirable). • Proficiency in IT tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook (desirable). • General knowledge of the legal, political, and institutional framework on environmental and climate change issues (desired). • Professional experience working with local communities or providing legal advice on environmental and constitutional matters related to local communities, gender and ethnic issues (desired). • Professional experience in conflict resolution or grievance redress mechanisms (desired). • Professional experience in the development of regulatory projects (desirable). • Experience in leading technical teams (desirable). COMPETENCIES: PROFESSIONALISM - Ability to identify, analyze, and participate in resolving issues/problems. - Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work, and manage conflicting priorities. - Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. - Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results. - It is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. - Shows persistence when faced with complex problems or challenges. - Remains calm in stressful situations. TEAMWORK - Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. - Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise. - Is willing to learn from others; supports and acts in accordance with a final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect one’s position. - Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING - Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. - Identifies priority activities and assignments. - Adjust priorities as required; allocates appropriate time and resources for completing work. - Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. - Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. LanguagesLANGUAGE: • Fluency in Spanish is required. • Confident in English 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.