Mission and objectivesAs the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDPโs mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all. With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people- centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of Indiaโs national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet. Our new Country Programme (2023-2027), builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios: โข Strong, accountable, and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs โข Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized โข Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability. South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture. You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.
Context Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), a global programme of UNDP, was launched in 2012, in response to the identified need by the CBD, to have better and adequate information to assess current expenditures and financing needs for countries to implement their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and need to have a comprehensive methodology to develop resource mobilization strategies and Biodiversity Finance Plans to implement NBSAPs. BIOFIN provides an innovative methodology for countries to measure their current biodiversity expenditures, assess their financial needs for biodiversity conservation in the medium term and identify most suitable finance solutions to reduce their national biodiversity finance gaps. BIOFIN was launched in India in May 2015. It is being led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), hosted by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and managed by UNDP. The BIOFIN process presents a coherent and comprehensive national approach to biodiversity finance that encompasses a full suite of finance solutions, well beyond the mobilization of new and additional resources, engaging the public sector, private sector, and civil society. The aim is to produce a nationally validated Biodiversity Finance Plan that proposes steps to implement a mix of finance solutions in order to expand and improve the countryโs biodiversity finance and achieve the NBTs. Under BIOFIN, 4 finance solutions out of 12 potential finance solutions enlisted in the Biodiversity Finance Plan (BFP) -working document, have been selected for demonstration and implementation. These include Corporate Social Responsibility, Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Public sector (Agriculture Sector), Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) and Fintech for Biodiversity. As part of the BIOFIN Extended Phase II (2021-25), the project aims to leverage the potential of these finance solutions to โgreenโ the key economic sectors and enhance resource mobilization for biodiversity conservation activities. Other Effective Area Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) are a new conservation approach, separate from protected areas, where effective conservation of biodiversity is achieved mainly as a byproduct of other area management. Together, PAs and OECMs can create an ecologically representative and well-connected network of area-based conservation, integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes. Recognizing this conservation potential, OECMs were included in Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 and subsequently in Indiaโs National Biodiversity Target 6. OECMs also find mention in the upcoming Target 3 under the Post-2020 GBF. Together with the PAs, OECMs can also help to achieve the 30 ร 30 movement โ a goal to conserve 30% of the planet by 2030. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), National Biodiversity Authority of India (NBA) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) along with other partners are engaged in the process of identifying, mapping and documenting OECMs in India. A wide range of sites in India have the potential to be recognised as OECMs, which can be government managed, community managed, privately managed, and co-managed. Based on a number of ecological and social characteristics, the Government of India with support from UNDP has developed a 14-category classification organised into 3 major sub-groups- terrestrial, waterbodies, and marine.
Task DescriptionThe UN Volunteer will work under the direct supervision and guidance of Head, Climate Adaptation and Biodiversity/ Programme Manager, Climate Change, Resilience, Biodiversity and, Chemicals Management, UNDP and will perform the under mentioned tasks: โข Support the submission, analysis and consideration of 4 biodiversity conservation proposals to corporates to ensure funding โข Contribute to preparation and finalization of training modules on biodiversity conservation for corporate professionals with the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs โข Support planning and finalization of a training calendar and training curriculum at Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs โข Support organization of a sensitization meeting with corporates in Telangana with a focus on Access and Benefit Sharing โข Facilitate scale up of the FinTech for biodiversity solutions identified and awarded under Youth Co:Lab 2023 through strategy planning, connecting to startup accelerators and investment opportunities โข Contribute to the research and compilation of a compendium of good practices on the use of FinTech for nature conservation โข Contribute to preparation and finalization of sector-specific nature-related reporting templates in conjunction with SEBI and MoEF&CC โข Support designing and conducting a training and certification programme for environmental auditors on standards of sustainability reporting โข Organize, manage and coordinate consultations, stakeholder engagements and training programmes with government, civil society and corporate sector stakeholders for technical partnerships and future collaborations. โข Review the work assigned to the consultants and monitor the timelines and deliverables โข Perform background research (qualitative and quantitative) on project activities. โข Support in identification and documentation of best practices and outcomes across thematic areas relevant to the project and prepare concept notes and proposals for the same โข Attend webinars conducted by the global team โข Perform any other tasks assigned from time to time by the Head, Climate Adaptation and Biodiversity/ Programme Manager
Competencies and valuesโข Accountability โข Adaptability and flexibility โข Creativity โข Judgement and decision-making โข Planning and organising โข Professionalism โข Self-management โข Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary โข Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.
Living conditions and remarksNew Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region is a large and bustling metropolis of some 14 million people undergoing rapid changes. The capital city is an administrative, cultural and commercial center with modern amenities and well connected by air. It is a safe place with large expatriate community drawn from embassies, UN agencies, MNCs and foreign businesses. It has short moderate winter and long hot summer. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. This position is based in New Delhi. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. National UN Volunteers are expected to be culturally sensitive and adjust to the prevailing culture and traditions. For information specific to your assignment please see below: โข Monthly Voluntary Living Allowance (VLA): INR 51,969.20 โข Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 400 (equivalent in INR) โข Relocation costs: $200 at beginning and end of assignment if duty station is outside of commuting distance (as determined by UNV) โข Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment) for each month served, paid on completion of contract: INR 5,413.46 โข Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for health, life and malicious acts โข Annual leave: 2.5 days per month โข Learning: Access to UNV's learning and career development resources..