TEEB AgriFood Mexico Individual Contractor, Nairobi, Kenya at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Result of Service

A well-documented report on the integration of biodiversity in the environmental and agricultural sector in Mexico to help mainstream TEEB into all levels of government decision-making

Work Location

Mexico City

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and

Responsibilities

Organization Setting

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.

The UN Environment Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) is a global initiative focused on 'making visible the values of nature'. Its objective is to recognize, demonstrate and integrate the values of biodiversity and ecosystem services, in monetary and non-monetary terms, and to promote the integration of such values in the decision making of the key actors of the public and private sectors at all levels. TEEB provides evidence on the costs of a 'Business-as-Usual' from: (i) an economic perspective, that is to say for the economy including the generation of jobs; (ii) a social perspective, to include wellbeing and human health; and (iii) an environmental approach, to ensure healthy ecosystems and their long-term benefits.

Specific work packages of TEEB project will mainly focus on the following outputs -: a) Outputs 1: recommendations for the integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the policy and planning instruments of the agricultural sector are available to decision makers;

b) Output 5-the experiences of the project have been systematized and are inserted in the discussion on the integration (mainstreaming) of biodiversity at national and international level.

Biodiversity is the basis of agriculture. The agricultural sector provides important benefits such as food for humans and animals, fiber for industrial and artisanal production, materials for fuel, employment and cultural cohesion. However, it is the main driver of the degradation of ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity, health externalities and greenhouse gas emissions, among others. Many of these impacts, both positive and negative, are economically invisible and do not figure in public and private decision-making. TEEB AgriFood is designed to demonstrate that the economic environment in which agricultural producers operate is subject to negative and positive externalities that cause a lack of understanding of their dependence on natural capital. The initiative seeks to demonstrate that the entire agricultural value chain (production, processing, distribution, consumption and waste) not only has an impact on the environment, but also on socio-economic well-being, particularly of small producers, on public health and food security.

UNEP Mexico Office and the German Cooperation-Mexico 'GIZ' jointly designed an International Climate Initiative (IKI) Funded project 'Mainstreaming Biodiversity into the Agricultural Sector'. This culminated into signing of the donor agreement in December 2018 between GIZ and UNEP Mexico Office. The main objective of the project is to increase the national capacity for the protection of Biodiversity and promote a more sustainable agricultural sector in the country. It is expected that both public and private actors integrate the socio-economic values, ecological and cultural aspects of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the decision-making and planning instruments of the agricultural sector in Mexico. Under this collaboration the project seeks to develop the TEEBAgriFood sectoral study based on the regions and crops which will be defined by GIZ together with the Mexican partners from the public sector and specialized agencies, such as Federal government of Mexico such as the Ministry of Agriculture (SADER) and United Nations Organization for Agriculture and Food (FAO),. GIZ Mexico, the Ministry of Environment (SEMARNAT) and the National Commission for Biodiversity (CONABIO).

The objective of this consultancy is to inform decision making and public policies considerations and scenarios of the most important ecosystem services for the primary sector and demonstrate how ecosystem processes are affected by non-sustainable agricultural practices. The policy considerations should support the development of the TEEB Agri-Food and the design of policy recommendations for sustainable agriculture in Mexico. The consultant will review documents in agriculture, biodiversity and sustainable development in Mexico.

The consultant shall report to the UN Environment Mexico Representative Officer in Mexico City and the TEEB coordinator and head of the Ecosystem Services Economics Unit.

1. Duties and Responsibilities: The consultant will coordinate and support the implementation of valuation and mainstreaming of biodiversity and ecosystems services into agriculture in Mexico under TEEB AgriFood Framework. He/She will be liaise with national stakeholders and national research institutions to conduct reports, investigations and other assessments, related to the integration of biodiversity in the environmental and agricultural sector in Mexico to help mainstream TEEB into all levels of government decision-making. The junior consultant will review, prepare and elaborate reports, investigations and other assessments, related to the integration of biodiversity in the environmental and agricultural sector in Mexico to help mainstream TEEB into all levels of government decision-making.

Specific responsibilities of the consultant include the following:

• Organize meetings and workshops related to the participation of UNEP in the implementation of the Projects i) 'Integration of Biodiversity in Agriculture in Mexico'; and ii) 'Promoting a Sustainable Agriculture and Food Sector'
• Take lead in drafting meeting notes, briefings, and internal minutes for the above projects.
• Review proposals and draft an agreement/legal instrument with selected research group to conduct the TEEB study.
• Initiate drafting of project related reports such as narrative technical reports, donor reports and Financial reports.
• Drafts inputs for a wide range of documents/reports, briefings/debriefings, correspondence, etc.
• Prepare and review of financial proposals in line with layed down requirements.
• Monitoring, update and Consolidates project budget/work programme with respect trust funds, grants and procurement.
• Review and analyse cost estimates and programme/project budget proposals, in line with agreed rules and procedures;
• Provide advise on programme/project managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for project budget submissions and revisions based on funds availability;
•  Serves as focal point for the coordination, monitoring and participation in a range of meetings and activities, including the preparation for meetings;

Qualifications/special skills

Academic Qualifications: A Bachelor's degree in Economics, Finance, Accountancy, Administration, Public Policies, Environmental Areas or related filed is required.

Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience in the field of economics, administration, finance, accountancy, public policies, environmental areas or related fields is required.

Language: English and Spanish are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post fluency in written and oral Spanish is required. Working knowledge of English will be an added advantage

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.