Jobs at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Duties and Responsibilities:  

• A proposal for TEEBAgriFood for Cacao in Mexico  The UNEP consultant will lead the development of a funding proposal for a project to evaluate cacao production and cacao value chains in Mexico, following the TEEBAgriFood framework.
• The consultant will consult stakeholders related to agriculture and the environment in Mexico, review the social-economic, environmental, and political context for tropical agroforestry crop production, articulate a problem statement for the cacao sector, and propose a logical framework for guiding positive social, economic and environmental outcomes.  

The consultant’s duties and responsibilities will include:  

• Consult national partners (government, civil society, research and private sector) on the threats and opportunities for cacao production and marketing  
• Review the economic and policy context that drives decisions in the cacao sector 3. Identify the risks and opportunities posed by the EU Deforestation Free Rule on cacao production
• Review the associated baseline study on cacao production systems and value chains, cacao agroecology and ecosystem services. (To be completed through a separate UNEP consultancy.)
• Determine demand for and gaps in scientific evidence and economic arguments for sustainable cacao value chains to determine how a TEEBAgriFood assessment could drive transformation of the sector
• Survey potential donors or financing mechanisms for a TEEBAgriFood project
• Draft a problem statement and associated theory of change for resolution, including a logical framework for mainstreaming TEEBAgriFood principles in Mexico food system planning, investments, and policy
•  Propose project activities, work packages, outputs, and outcomes, as well as an associated timeline and budget for the project

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree in Environmental Science, Social Science, Agricultural science or Public Administration, Economics or Environmental Economics, or a related field is required.
• A first university degree with a combination of two (2) years professional and academic qualifications may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of professional working experience in project development or implementation in the field of environment or food systems is required.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement at federal, state and/or municipal level is required.
• An understanding of Mexican environment, forestry, and agriculture issues, as well as the Mexican agricultural policy, fiscal, and institutional framework is desirable An understanding of ecosystem services in the context of food systems would be an added advantage.

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The consultant will perform the following specific duties. 

• The output will be evaluated by the Associate Programme Management Officer in close cooperation with the local implementation partners.
• Providing an inception report, including
• A brief summary of the tasks an overview of existing species- and area-based conservation measures and tools implemented/developed under UNEP’s Multi-country Mountain Flagship, Vanishing Treasures, and CAMCA projects, including community-based micro-reserves and ecological corridors.
• an overview of existing ecosystem-based adaptation measures and tools implemented/developed under UNEP’s Multi-country Mountain Flagship, Vanishing Treasures, and CAMCA projects, including a summarized rationale explaining the mechanism with which each contributes to ecosystem restoration and climate-smart conservation of the target species.
• a prioritized list of measures and tools, based on a tested prioritization method.
• A work plan for achieving the planned results
• Lead two consultation/validation workshops each in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, in collaboration with local partners to validate the priority-ranked measures and tools, and to receive acknowledgement by governments and local stakeholders for the inclusion of the identified measures and tools in upscaling project concepts.
• Developing three clear and structured project rationales based on selected measures and tools.
• Outlining project activities that scale up the selected measures and tools, integrating gender considerations, community participation, and sustainable livelihood opportunities into the project design.
• Concisely outlining the alignment of proposed concepts with relevant global (SDG, CBD, UNFCCC, UNCCD, etc.), regional (CAMI PoW, CMS instruments, IFAS, regional MoUs, etc.), and national strategic frameworks (incl. UNCT docs).
• Identifying suitable funding opportunities from multilateral and bilateral sources.
• Engaging with UNEP experts, national stakeholders, and funding agencies to develop and refine project ideas.
• Developing three high-quality concept notes tailored to selected funding mechanisms.
• Expanding two of the concept notes into full proposals, including logical frameworks, budget estimates, and sustainability strategies.
• Ensuring concepts and proposals are aligned with donor priorities and meet submission requirements.

Qualifications/special skills

• A postgraduate degree is required, in environmental science, biodiversity conservation, climate change, or a related field.
• At least five years of experience with project development for multilateral funding in the field of nature conservation is required, preferably in Central Asia. A proven track record in developing successful concept notes and proposals for multilateral and bilateral funding sources is desired.
• Excellent research, analytical, and writing skills is also desired Strong knowledge of international biodiversity and climate adaptation policies, including the Convention on Migratory Species, Global Biodiversity Framework, and NBSAPs is an advantage. Knowledge of Central Asian biodiversity and climate adaptation policies and projects is highly desirable.
• Experience working with UNEP or other UN agencies is desirable.