Coral Reef Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Result of Service

1. A finalized and approved document outlining the monitoring & evaluation strategy for the GFCR, including an assessment of the feasibility of measuring each results indicator identified
2. A set of results indicators to monitor identified for each project under the GFCR
3. A set of robust scientific methodologies to measure each results indicator for each project
4. A finalized and approved terms of reference for the scientific advisory committee for the GFCR
5. A finalized and approved list of experts to include in the scientific advisory committee, with invitations to experts
6. Baseline assessments for each results indicator for each of the GFCR projects, including a detailed assessment of social and ecological conditions for each project site
7. Reviews of all proposals submitted to the GFCR as appropriate

Work Location

Homebased

Expected duration

12-months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) 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". Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UN Environment's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This consultancy post is in UN Environment Programme, Ecosystems Division at Marine and Freshwater Branch, under the direct supervision of the Project Management Officer.

The overall objective of the UNEP's Ecosystems Division is to support countries in conserving, restoring and sustainably managing their terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, the biodiversity they contain and the products and services they provide for human well-being and prosperity. The Division’s mandate is to address the environmental causes and effects from an ecosystems’ approach, including consequences of disasters and conflicts. It helps countries develop policies and programmes to respond to ecosystems challenges, and reduce pollution from land-based activities, increase resilience to climate change and reflect linkages between poverty and environment in their development planning.

Background:

The Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) is a blended finance instrument to mobilise action and resources to protect and restore coral reef ecosystems. Up to half of the world’s coral reefs have been lost, and if global temperatures rise by 2°C, over 90% could disappear. Reef degradation jeopardises one of the richest sources of biodiversity on Earth and the livelihoods of up to a billion people. The GFCR provides grant funding and private capital to support sustainable interventions to save coral reefs and the communities that rely on them. It was officially announced in September of 2020 in the margins of the 75th UN General Assembly. It aims to raise USD 500 million over 10 years through a coalition between United Nations agencies, national governments, financial institutions, and private philanthropy sources. The GFCR supports business models that can sustainably finance key conservation and development goals for coral reefs via two initiative windows. Technical assistance, capacity development, monitoring, and evaluation are provided via the grant window, while the investment window generates de-risked investment capital to maximise the impact of projects incubated by the grant window. Projects supported by the GFCR will focus on achieving triple win outcomes for coral reef conservation, livelihoods of coral reef-dependent societies and positive returns for investors.

The GFCR is hosted by the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund. UNEP sits on the Executive Board of GFCR along with UNDP, UNCDF, Vulcan Inc, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and donor governments. UNEP is also responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation of GFCR investments and grants. The draft M&E project document for the GFCR was approved by the Executive Board in January 2021. Monitoring and evaluation are critical elements of successful project planning and implementation; especially for accountability and learning. The overall purpose of monitoring and evaluation is the measurement and assessment of performance in order to more effectively manage outputs and strengthen the achievement of outcomes. A well-designed and well-implemented monitoring strategy can inform an evaluation and can provide the evidence of results achieved as well as help identify lessons learned and best practices. The M&E strategy for the GFCR will be supported by a scientific advisory committee consisting of global, regional and national experts on coral reef management and conservation as well as social scientists, economists and conservation finance experts.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for:

1. finalizing the detailed M&E strategy for the GFCR,
2. assessing the feasibility of data collection for each project for the results indicators defined in the GFCR’s terms of reference,
3. coordinating with the GFCR global team to recommend alternative indicators to monitoring where appropriate,
4. managing the scientific advisory committee to the GFCR,
5. developing robust scientific methodologies for monitoring results indicators for each project,
6. Providing monitoring teams with best knowledge for local assessments of reef resilience to climate change,
7. liaising with local experts and institutions to develop baseline assessments on social and ecological conditions for each project, h) reviewing new project proposals submitted to the GFCR.

Qualifications/special skills

• Academic Qualifications: An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in relevant field of coral reef research and/or ecosystem management is required.
• Experience: At least 10 years working experience in coral reefs conservation and project management is required.
• Experience in writing/communicating research outputs is required.
• Skills: Excellent analytical and writing skills, Computer literate, especially in use of MS Office programs is desirable.
• Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations language is an advantage.