Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Specialist - Moma and Machanga at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Nairobi Convention Secretariat and in close coordination with the project manager of the NC-SWIOFC PP 2, the consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Using GIS tools develop a detailed interactive atlas with maps of Moma and Machanga districts showing: a
• Physical and oceanographic data
• Moma and Machanga districts archipelago and the existing management zones, elevation, ocean floor features, continent shelf extent, ocean depth.
• The currents and water movements, eddies, tides and stratification in the Moma and Machanga districts, temperature, sea surface temperature change, sea level and wave data, wind and atmospheric data, ocean currents, salinity and ocean chemistry and change trends, coastal and offshore upwelling, oceanographic modelling (for ocean circulation, water mass formation, and the transport of pollutants and marine organisms).
• The ecological and biological data (Biodiversity)
• Atlas showing areas and extent of high ecological value critical habitats (coral reefs, beaches, dunes, seagrass, mangroves, coastal forests), detailed marine protected areas - Moma and Machanga districts, locally managed marine areas, lagoons, bays, large shallow inlets, sandbanks.
• Atlas showing fish and invertebrate species abundance, distribution, and primary productivity (of endemic, exotic, flagship, indicator, keystone, habitat forming, target or vulnerable species), chlorophyll concentration and chlorophyll movements (near real time), migratory species corridor (e.g. for whales, sharks, and sea turtles)
• Map showing fish nursery areas, suitability of areas for critical habitats restoration, for aquaculture, fishing area, no-take areas and co-managed marine parks, seaweed farming areas, fish closure areas including seasonal closures areas (for octopus, sea cucumber, mangrove crabs).
• Health status of natural capital
• Hotspots of overfishing and declines in fish stocks.
• Pollution hotspots from land-based sources wastewater, sedimentation, marine litter and plastics.
• Hotspots of habitat degradation and physical alteration.
• Model climate change in terms of temperature rise, ocean acidification, sea level rise. 

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree) is required in the field of Geographic Information Systems, Ecology, Environmental studies, Marine science, coastal ecosystems management, or any related discipline.
• A first level degree with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience is required in developing and/or implementing programmes on coastal ecosystems conservation, natural resources management. Experience and knowledge in the application of geographic information systems (e.g. ArcGIS), information management and in preparation and delivery of presentations.
• Working experience with coastal communities in Mozambique is required.