International Coral Reef Expert at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

About the job

Result of Service

• A database of ICRI members finalized and updated
• Detailed technical documents for the 37th ICRI General Meeting in 2022
• Output documents and meeting reports of the 37th ICRI General Meeting
• Meeting reports and publications from the ICRI ad hoc committees on developing a recommendation for a post-2020 coral reef target; reef restoration; and resilience-based management
• Finalized ICRI Plan of Action 2021-2024
• An updated ICRI website with analytical functions integrated to monitor website traffic and analyze the reach of ICRI’s communication channels
• Weekly news articles and targeted communication articles posted on the ICRI website
• Weekly social media posts
• 8 newsletters produced per annum
• Meeting reports from partnership development meetings with new ICRI partners such as the Global Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP) and the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR)
• Summary reports from international events where ICRI is engaged and organizes side events, such as the UN Ocean Conference, Our Ocean Conference, or the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework SBSTTA sessions.

Work Location

• Homebased

Expected duration

• 10-months

Duties and Responsibilities

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." 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. UNEP’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 Ecosystems Division at Marine and Freshwater Branch, under the direct supervision of Programme Management Officer Marine and Coastal Unit.

Background

• UNEP has a close collaboration with the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), supporting implementation of the ICRI Plan of Action as well as specific ICRI ad-hoc committees and initiatives such as the ad-hoc committee on coral reef restoration, the ad-hoc committee on resilience-based management, the ad hoc committee on developing a recommendation for a post-2020 coral reef target and the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. UNEA Resolutions 2/12 and 4/13 clearly identify ICRI as an important partner for UNEP’s work on the sustainable management of coral reef ecosystems, and the US Department of State is providing funds to UNEP to enhance collaboration with ICRI.
• The consultant will be responsible for coordinating the implementation of the ICRI Plan of Action, to deliver on joint communication between ICRI and UNEP, and to deliver on the workplan of the ad hoc committees on developing a recommendation for a post-2020 coral reef target; reef restoration; and resilience-based management.

Objective

The overall objective for the consultant is to support the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) Secretariat and UNEP in the joint implementation of the ICRI Plan of Action 2021-2024.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will be required to undertake the following specific tasks:

• Undertake and complete Host Secretariat administrative obligations as detailed in the Organization and Management Procedures for the international Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) 2018 (ICRI Procedures) on behalf of the ICRI chair.
• Provide guidance and support to the ICRI ad-hoc committees to meet their obligations under the ICRI resolutions and terms of reference:
• The ICRI ad hoc committee on developing a recommendation for a post-2020 coral reef target;
• The ICRI ad hoc committee on reef restoration;
• The ICRI ad hoc committee on Resilience-Based Management;
• Develop, implement and support ICRI Chair on the implementation of the ICRI Plan of Action 2021-2024.
• Maintain, and increase the reach of, communication from the ICRI Secretariat through a range of platforms and mechanisms, including the ICRI Forum website social media (Twitter, YouTube etc.) the ICRI newsletter.
• Identify, maintain and develop new partnerships to strengthen ICRI and the conservation of coral reefs globally.
• Promote ICRI, the Plan of Action and coral reefs at high-level and international events.

Qualifications/special Skills

• Skills: Web design and content management. Detailed knowledge of ICRI Forum, its design and how it serves the global coral reef community is essential. Experience with organization of international events, programming, logistics and communication is required.
• Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree relevant to management of coral reefs and related ecosystems, and degree or equivalent in public information and communication is required.
• Experience: 10 years Extensive experience with international collaboration related to coral reefs and in particular ICRI, UNEP and Regional Seas is required. History and proven track record related to information services for such collaboration is required.
• Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of French is an added advantage

Deadline; 23rd February 2022