The specific tasks and responsibilities are:

• National Coordination and Institutional Setup: Support designation of national lead institutions, establishment of coordination mechanisms, and preparation of an inception note outlining the reporting approach and timeline.
• Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement Planning: Identify key stakeholders and prepare a stakeholder engagement plan, ensuring gender-responsive participation.
• Data Collection and Information Gathering: Provide technical guidance and helpdesk support for systematic data collection and compilation of responses to the reporting format.
• First National Consultative Workshop: Support organization and technical facilitation of the drafting workshop and consolidation of inputs.
• Drafting and Technical Review of the Report: Provide technical input and quality review of the draft Fifth National Report.
• Validation Workshop and Revision: Support validation of the draft report and integration of stakeholder feedback.
• Finalization and Government Endorsement: Support final revisions and national approval procedures.
• Submission and Online Reporting Support: Guide uploading of the final report to the official online platform and verify completeness. The consultant shall report to the Head, Nature Frameworks Support Unit, and work in close coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of Macedonia, and relevant UNEP units and the Secretariat of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in environmental law, environmental policy, biosafety, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• At least two (2) years relevant professional experience in progress monitoring, legal and institutional strengthening of environmental and climate legislation and institutions in EU pre-accession countries including Macedonia, MEA reporting, or capacity-building support is required.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting national reporting processes for Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), particularly for the CBD or Cartagena Protocol, is required. Proven experience in providing technical assistance and capacity building is required.
• Demonstrated experience to lead a multi-stakeholder engagement process is desirable.

• Support designation of national lead institutions, establishment of coordination mechanisms, and preparation of an inception note outlining the reporting approach and timeline.
• Identify key stakeholders and prepare a stakeholder engagement plan, ensuring gender-responsive participation.
• Provide technical guidance and helpdesk support for systematic data collection and compilation of responses to the reporting format.
• Support organization and technical facilitation of the drafting workshop and consolidation of inputs.
• Provide technical input and quality review of the draft Fifth National Report.
• Support validation of the draft report and integration of stakeholder feedback.
• Support final revisions and national approval procedures.
• Guide uploading of the final report to the official online platform and verify completeness.

• Demonstrated experience to lead a multi-stakeholder engagement process is desirable.

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in environmental law, environmental policy, biosafety, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• At least two (2) years relevant professional experience in progress monitoring, legal and institutional strengthening of environmental and climate legislation and institutions in EU pre-accession countries including Macedonia, MEA reporting, or capacity-building support is required.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting national reporting processes for Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), particularly for the CBD or Cartagena Protocol, is required.
• Proven experience in providing technical assistance and capacity building is required.