Mission and objectivesUpdate
ContextThe Second Caribbean Regional Trialogue, organized by the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net), will take place in late 2025. The event will bring together key stakeholders from seven countries: Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Dominica, Guyana, and Saint Lucia, to co-develop integrated, evidence-based, and locally grounded responses to urgent ecosystem challenges. Caribbean ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change, invasive alien species, degradation of marine and terrestrial environments, and socio-economic vulnerabilities, especially in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The Trialogue will serve as a platform for cross-sectoral collaboration, drawing on recent assessments produced by Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), i.e. Thematic Assessment Report on the Interlinkages among Biodiversity, Water, Food and Health (Nexus Assessment) and Thematic Assessment Report on the Underlying Causes of Biodiversity Loss and the Determinants of Transformative Change and Options for Achieving the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity (Transformative Change Assessment). . This Trialogue will provide a platform for deepening regional cooperation, enhancing the uptake of IPBES assessments, and co-creating actionable solutions tailored to the unique environmental and socio-economic contexts of the participating countries. The preparatory process for the Trialogue includes an in-depth analysis of the context, which involves researching the national context and assessing the relevance of the Trialogueโs themes. The results of this research will be compiled into the Background Document. Growth Opportunity This assignment offers a meaningful opportunity to: โข Deepen your understanding of biodiversity challenges and science-policy-practice processes in the Caribbean โข Contribute to an important regional event shaping sustainable development and ecosystem management โข Strengthen your research, policy analysis, and knowledge synthesis skills โข Collaborate with experts and peers across the Caribbean and gain exposure to the IPBES process
Task DescriptionWe are seeking 5 dedicated online volunteers from or working in/on the Caribbean region to contribute to this effort. Volunteers will work collaboratively with the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) team and each other to conduct regional and country-specific research to inform the Background Document, providing regionally and nationally relevant contextual information and data to enhance the quality of interactions and discussions among the science, policy, and practice communities. Upon selection, each volunteer will be assigned a thematic or geographic focus based on language skills, familiarity with the region, and expertise. Responsibilities โข Conduct desk research on selected countriesโ key environmental challenges and their impact on overall development, as well as effects on specific sectors (e.g., trade, health, tourism, fisheries, etc.).Where possible and relevant, consider the thematic areas of IPBES Nexus Assessment, IPBES Transformative Change Assessment, and any other IPBES reports in the regional context, alongside cross-cutting themes of gender equality and Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK). โข Identify and document ongoing or completed projects that align with the objectives of the Trialogue and IPBES assessments. โข Identify and compile a list of key articles, reports, and publications related to the above mentioned or other relevant IPBES themes. Deliverable โข Provide a comprehensive summary report, following a set template, that contributes to the development of the Background Document for the Trialogue, ensuring the inclusion of accurate, up-to-date, and relevant information on mentioned thematic areas. This summary report will include the information compiled as per the responsibilities listed above and links to reference documents.
Competencies and values
Living conditions and remarks