Oil Spill Expert - the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan for Seychelles at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Objective of the Consultancy

• The UNEP-Nairobi Convention would like to hire an international consultant to revise the national oil spill contingency plans for Seychelles in alignment with the NIEMS.
• The assignment will be home-based with travel to Seychelles where necessary.
• In executing the consultancy, the consultant will work closely with the Nairobi Convention Secretariat team, the SAPPHIRE project Implementing Agency (UNDP), National Focal Point of the Nairobi Convention and SAPPHIRE project, among others as deemed appropriate and necessary.

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Under overall supervision of the Head of the Nairobi Convention Secretariat and direct supervision of the SAPPHIRE Project Coordinator, and in close collaboration with the Government of Seychelles, the consultant will undertake the following specific tasks:
• Facilitate an initial 1st in-person workshop in Seychelles of key stakeholder to ensure a common understanding of the proposed approach to development of the NOSCP. The workshop will allow participants to share their expectations and confirm what resources and capability they can contribute to national oil spill preparedness and response.
• Conduct a site visit in Seychelles to review the condition and status of the local oil pollution equipment stockpile(s) held by the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG). This visit will also consider the supporting logistics and emergency response centre facilities, including possible visits to the Rescue Coordination Centre and the NEOC.
• Revise the existing NOSCP in alignment with the NIEMS. The revisions should remain consistent with IMO guidelines, as required under the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response) Regulations.
• Develop an implementation plan for the NOSCP including a training and exercise programme and possible equipment procurement needs.
• Facilitate a 2nd virtual stakeholder workshop where the progress on developing the revised NOSCP and its Implementation Plan will be presented.
• Facilitate a 3rd in-person national stakeholder workshop to discuss and validate the revised NOSP and its Implementation plan and update the two documents based on the comments, concerns, inputs and recommendations from the workshop.
• Revise and submit the final draft of the revised NOSCP and Implementation Plan for Seychelles.

Qualifications/special skills

• Master’s degree is required in Marine Biology/ Sciences (Marine biology and coastal management/Maritime Safety and Environmental Protection/ Maritime Affairs - Maritime Safety & Environmental Administration/ Oceanography and Marine Environmental Management), Environmental Sciences or other closely related fields. A first level degree with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Minimum of 7 years of work experience is required in coastal and marine conservation and management, programme development, management of natural resources, in international settings including in the Western Indian Ocean region.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in the implementation of oil spill preparedness and response programmes/ emergency management at national and regional levels is an essential requirement.

Languages

• English and French are the official working languages of the United Nations. For this consultancy, fluency in English is required.

Closing Date: 09 October 2023