Marine Environment Management Planning Specialist

Result of Service1. Inception report submitted and approved, including a detailed work schedule aligned with project timelines and objective. 2. Documentation of stakeholder validation meetings submitted, including participant lists, key feedback, and summary of discussions. 3. Draft marine spatial plans submitted, integrating science, technology, and local priorities into a coherent framework. 4. Finalized collaborative management agreements with communities, private sector, and NGO partners for the implementation of the validated management plan within Mkuranga district. 5. Comprehensive GBF Target and Indicator Dossier developed and submitted, including at least three validated national targets (T1–T3) with corresponding baselines, indicator metadata, trajectories, custodianship matrix, and draft policy actions reviewed and approved by the national focal institution. 6. Complete Capacity Building Kit produced — comprising slide decks, facilitator guide, participant handbook, exercises, and reference sheets — tested in at least one training session and validated by project partners for accuracy, usability, and alignment with GBF reporting tools. Work LocationHome based Expected duration5 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. The 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. UNEP administers the Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Coastal and Marine Environment of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). UNEP/The Nairobi Convention, under the projects namely the “The Partnership Project between the Nairobi Convention (NC) and the Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) for resilient marine and coastal ecosystems and livelihoods (SWIOFC NC PP 2)” requires the services of a national consultant - Marine Environment Management Planning Specialist. The consultancy will involve the development of participatory and evidence-based marine spatial planning and the development of a comprehensive stakeholder validated integrated environmental management plan for communities of Mkuranga district, Tanzania. It will include conducting economic valuations of key natural resources and ecosystem services to inform evidence-based decision-making, spatial planning, policy formulation and indicators both county and national levels and capacity building on contribution of marine biodiversity to ocean health. Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Nairobi Convention Secretariat and in close coordination with the project manager of the NC-SWIOFC PP 2, the consultant will be responsible for the following: 1. Through a participatory process, obtain maps showing existing governance measures i. Multi-sector uses in Mkuranga district e.g. protected areas and shipping traffic interactions. ii. Existing management measures. iii. Future needs of existing or proposed uses. 2. In a participatory approach, incorporate aspects of community-based coastal and marine management by engaging all stakeholders and sectors in Mkuranga district. i. Participate in open stakeholder meetings facilitated by the Department of Environment and Vice President’s Office (VPO) for a participatory approach and validation of Mkuranga district maps. ii. Build the capacity of Fisheries Management Committees and other relevant local personnel in data collation and mapping to be able to actively engage in the MSP process and to support and implement similar work. iii. Undertake value addition of data by assessing possible cumulative impacts of human uses in Mkuranga district. iv. Ensure maps developed for Mkuranga district are shared with stakeholders and sectors for participatory input on the environmental, economic, socio-cultural, and inter-sectorial data layers. v. Facilitate in ground truthing exercises on inputs for balancing potential competing uses and identify any data gaps and plan for data collection and creation. 3. Participate in stakeholder meetings facilitated by VPO and contribute to discussions on the broader cross-sectoral management processes and systems for Mkuranga district. i. Participate and contribute to the development of a Management Plan for Mkuranga district in consultation with all stakeholders to enable production of the required management plan. ii. Work with all stakeholders including Marine Conservation Area (MCA) managers, Department of Marine Conservation (DMC, Unit Officers, and Department of Environment, and active NGOs in project site to operationalise on the designated MCA and the roles of the Private Sector-NGO Forum and the Stakeholder Management Committee (SMC) in Mkuranga district. a) Identify appropriate interventions including the establishment of the Mkuranga district Stakeholder Management Committee. b) Finalise the collaborative management agreements with communities, private sector, and NGO partners for the implementation of the validated management plan within Mkuranga district. c) Update all community designated fishery closures and types in Mkuranga district area including planned ones, review and incorporate planning process for establishing community fishery closure zones. d) Define roles and responsibilities and operating procedures for the Stakeholder Management Committee in Mkuranga district. e) Working with the SMC, DMC, and DoE include Management Plan activities in the annual workplans and budgets for the include Management Plan activities in the annual workplans and budgets for the Mkuranga district. f) Develop future plans and proposed areas for MSP to guide continued implementation and alignment with national and regional priorities. g) Facilitate the validation of the GMP through stakeholder consultations, coordination of review meetings, and incorporation of feedback to ensure approval and implementation. 4. GBF target translation and indicator setup: Map marine evidence to GBF Targets 1–3 and linked targets; propose national targets with baselines, trajectories to 2030, and enabling actions (incl. finance/capacity needs). - Select headline + component + complementary indicators (and optional disaggregation’s) relevant to marine/coastal domains; prepare indicator metadata (definitions, methods, custodians, update cycle) and data tables. - Align proposed targets with existing sectoral plans (fisheries, protected areas, WASH/pollution control, climate/NDC), showing synergies and avoiding duplication. 5. Capacity building and knowledge products: Develop training materials on GBF indicators (Regional Seas and CBD monitoring frameworks), marine OECMs, and CBD online tools (CHM, Online Reporting Tool, DaRT). - Deliver at least one national workshop per country and one joint technical clinic. Qualifications/special skills● Advanced university degree (Master's degree) in the field of ecology, marine science, coastal ecosystems management, or any related discipline is required. ● A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in developing and/or implementing programmes on coastal ecosystems conservation, natural resources management (ecosystem management, community engagement, collaborative marine resource management plans and management measures, implementation of marine resource management activities with Governments etc.) is required. ● Demonstrated knowledge and experience for obtaining ecological, social and economic geospatial data, good understanding of adaptation science from a socioecological perspective, and working experience with coastal communities in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) is required. ● Experience working with coastal communities and different stakeholders at both strategic and technical levels and demonstrated quality and timely delivery is required. Working knowledge in Tanzania and experience of working with Government and intergovernmental programme is desirable. ● Experience working in a multidisciplinary set up with government, non-government stakeholders including local communities on natural resource management matters in the WIO region is desirable. ● Working knowledge in Tanzania and experience of working with Government and intergovernmental programme is desirable. Ability to travel to and work in project site in Tanzania is desirable. LanguagesFluency in English (both written and spoken) is required. Knowledge of spoken and written coastal dialects of Swahili 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.