Background

The 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. UNEP administers the Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Coastal and Marine Environment of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). The Contracting Parties to the Convention are Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa and United Republic of Tanzania. UNEP’s 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.

The consultant will undertake various activities in support of Specific Objective 1 (SO1) with a focus on improving the framework conditions among Contracting Parties to the Nairobi Convention and other partners and stakeholders for implementing the Regional Ocean Governance Structures. (ROGS) and assisting with strengthening the capacity of regional stakeholders to participate fully in ROGS implementation. Initially, the main focus will be on providing technical leadership during the inception phase of the project, work planning, developing TORs for required consultants and development of legal instruments with Implementing Partners during the 4-month Inception Phase. Under the general supervision of the Head of the Nairobi Convention Secretariat, the consultant will be responsible for the following:

Responsibilities

• Work with the Nairobi Convention Secretariat to prepare draft Terms of Reference for recruitment of the SWIOP Project Coordination Unit (PCU) including for the Project Manager, Assistant Project Manager, Communications Consultant and National Ocean Governance Consultant.
• Work with the Secretariat to prepare a comprehensive workplan for Year 1 of the SWIOP including description of activities, timelines and responsible parties.
• Work with the Secretariat to draft Small Scale Funding Agreements for Implementing Partners (IPs) in Ocean Governance and Science to Policy support, Implementation support for ROGS Structures, MSP technical support and training, and Ocean Accounting.
• Draft Terms of Reference for consultancies on regional Policy and Legal assessment, Blue Finance, BBNJ Agreement implementation support, MSP related activity support, Ecosystem Indicator Monitoring Framework implementation and training, and Information Systems design and management.
• Attend and represent the Nairobi Convention in SWIOP coordination meetings.

Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced university degree (a Master's degree or equivalent) is required in Marine Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management or similar disciplines.
• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience is required, working on regional marine and coastal-related projects at a technical level.
• Excellent knowledge of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region and experience of working with the Governments of the WIO region is required.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement for ocean governance and other multidisciplinary environmental and developmental matters in the WIO region is required.
• Working with different stakeholders at both strategic and technical levels is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver quality assignments in a timely manner is desirable.
• Demonstrated competency in excellent scientific/technical writing and consistency in critical writing and review of documents is desirable.
• Ability to work within very short timelines and with minimum supervision is an added advantage.
• Fluency in English is required for this position.

• Work with the Nairobi Convention Secretariat to prepare draft Terms of Reference for recruitment of the SWIOP Project Coordination Unit (PCU) including for the Project Manager, Assistant Project Manager, Communications Consultant and National Ocean Governance Consultant.
• Work with the Secretariat to prepare a comprehensive workplan for Year 1 of the SWIOP including description of activities, timelines and responsible parties.
• Work with the Secretariat to draft Small Scale Funding Agreements for Implementing Partners (IPs) in Ocean Governance and Science to Policy support, Implementation support for ROGS Structures, MSP technical support and training, and Ocean Accounting.
• Draft Terms of Reference for consultancies on regional Policy and Legal assessment, Blue Finance, BBNJ Agreement implementation support, MSP related activity support, Ecosystem Indicator Monitoring Framework implementation and training, and Information Systems design and management.
• Attend and represent the Nairobi Convention in SWIOP coordination meetings.

• Excellent knowledge of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region
• Experience of working with the Governments of the WIO region
• Experience in stakeholder engagement for ocean governance
• Experience in multidisciplinary environmental and developmental matters in the WIO region
• Working with different stakeholders at both strategic and technical levels
• Ability to deliver quality assignments in a timely manner
• Excellent scientific/technical writing
• Critical writing and review of documents
• Ability to work within very short timelines
• Ability to work with minimum supervision
• Fluency in English

• Advanced university degree (a Master's degree or equivalent) in Marine Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management or similar disciplines.
• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience working on regional marine and coastal-related projects at a technical level.