Project Development Lead, Cook Islands (GEF12325) at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Duties and Responsibilities

• The project will also undertake a baseline assessment of land degradation and ecosystem conditions, identify national monitoring gaps and priorities, and strengthen integrated monitoring, data management, decision-support, and knowledge-sharing systems to support the long-term sustainability and scaling of SLEM interventions.
• The package includes a Gender Analysis, a Gender Action Plan, and a Stakeholder Engagement Plan, personnel ToRs, project workplan, procurement plan etc.; and
• The package includes an assessment of environmental and social safeguards, encompassing, when needed, applicable mitigation measures.
• The consultant must also verify and, if this is the case, include the identification of potential institutional linkages with ongoing and proposed GEF Projects and other project-relevant initiatives.
• The Lead Consultant will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the National Expert and must ensure that all supervisory activities are communicated to and through National Environment Services (NES) of Cook Islands.
• The consultant will work in collaboration and with input from other consultants, service providers and members of the project coordination team including representatives from the National Environment Services (NES) of Cook Islands, to deliver the CEO Endorsement Request Package and UNEP's applicable Annexes for the GEF Project. Reporting Lines:
• The Lead Consultant will report to Task Manager, GEF-Biodiversity, and Land Degradation Unit, under the supervision of Head, GEF-Biodiversity, and Land Degradation Unit, and MECC of Fiji. The consultancy will be home-based with possible project site visits.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree in biodiversity sciences, environmental sciences, natural resource management, natural resource policy, environmental policy, environmental economics, or a closely related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in the same fields is acceptable with two additional years of qualifying relevant experience.
• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in environmental planning, sustainable land management, management, and protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of GEF policies and programming, as well as senior experience in GEF project formulation and writing of the GEF Project Document and CEO Endorsement is highly desirable.
• Work experience in sustainable land and ecosystem management (SLEM), land degradation, ecosystem restoration, nature-based solutions, and climate resilience, particularly in terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and island ecosystems, working with a wide range of stakeholders and international donor agencies, preferably with demonstrated experience working with GEF Implementing Agencies on GEF project design, implementation, and/or midterm and terminal evaluation reviews.
• Work experience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), particularly in the Pacific region, on sustainable land and ecosystem management, land degradation, ecosystem restoration, ridge-to-reef approaches, and community-based natural resource management is desirable.
• Experience in leading and/or participating in multi-disciplinary teams addressing a range of environmental planning and management issues) is an asset; and experience working in the Pacific Region is highly desirable.

Deadline : Nov 15, 2026