NBSAP Co Chair Consultant

Position description

Result of Service

The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is supported by ambitious and continuous political leadership from its Co-Chairs and driven by active and engaging members of its Steering Committee, has expanded and strengthened its membership base. This expansion enhances collaboration opportunities, increases member engagement in delivering Partnership services, and ultimately reinforces the Partnership’s role in global biodiversity governance.

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 engages with governments and other partners to develop and promote ecosystem-based solutions for sustainable development. This assignment is in the Nature Frameworks Support Unit of the Biodiversity and Land Branch, Ecosystems Division. The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is a country-led global initiative to support the development and implementation of ambitious National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP) and collectively achieve the goals and targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and, ultimately, the global vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050. The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership provides technical and financial support for the implementation of GBF- aligned NBSAPs, including via strengthened country-driven stakeholder coordination, collaboration and sharing of best practices to identify country needs to implement their NBSAPs, raise national profile of countries’ NBSAPs, and fast-track implementation support for NBSAPs through a matchmaking service, increased access to expertise, knowledge and capacity development, and via in-country/facilitation support to countries/regions. The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is supported by a Global Coordination Unit (GCU), providing a secretariat function which include facilitating and coordinating key activities, measuring and communicating progress and supporting the Steering Committee to achieve the objectives of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership. The GCU will work with NBSAP Accelerator Partnership country, institutional and non-state actor members and other stakeholders, to understand needs and accelerate action towards more ambitious NBSAPs globally. The GCU is looking for additional resources with its governance and membership work to develop the membership strategy, attract new members while also ensuring existing members are engaged and satisfied, ensure regular, clear communication with members, ensuring the smooth operation of the Steering Committee, developing policies relating to membership, governance, or organizational strategy and acting as a liaison between the SC, membership and staff to ensure effective communication and collaboration. Reporting to the Head, Nature Frameworks Support Unit and the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership Global Coordinator, the consultant will undertake the following assignments:

April-May

• Develop work plan detailing the activities, tasks and delivery schedule;
• Design of Steering Committee meeting including agenda, consultation with members and working documents;
• Develop proposal for engagement of Technical and Scientific Cooperation Centers;
• Design and delivery of Q1 Members meeting including draft agenda, Co-Chairs scripts, powerpoint presentation, meeting summary;
• Present NBSAP Accelerator Partnership to existing and potential members and update recruitment and membership processes;
• Assessment of 3x NBSAPs as submitted to the Convention on Biological Diversity;
• Draft ToR for the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership Technical Advisory Committee.

June-July

• Deliver Steering Committee meeting including meeting facilitation, development of powerpoint presentation, Co-Chairs script, run of show and meeting minutes;
• Develop material for Co-chair outreach to potential donors: pager highlighting the main Partnership’s features, achievements, and opportunities for collaboration, talking points for bilaterals with strategic messages on resource mobilization;
• Develop draft Members Work Program including consultation of members assessment of member benefits, services, and renewal processes;
• Present NBSAP Accelerator Partnership to existing and potential members and update recruitment and membership processes;
• Draft plan (agenda, participants, process) of donor roundtable;
• Oversee the establishment of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership Technical Advisory Committee.

August

• Report of Co-Chair engagement strategy and protocols of meetings;
• Generate material for Co-Chair outreach and advocacy activities at international events;
• Develop materials for onboarding of incoming Co-Chair, members and observers;
• Design and delivery of 2nd quarterly Members meeting: powerpoint presentation, Co-Chairs script, run of show, background material;
• Review and update of membership strategy and develop new policies relating to membership, governance, or organizational strategy;
• Report of membership status and composition.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree in biodiversity conservation, international development, environmental science, management or behavioural sciences or closely related field is required;
• A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in biodiversity and national biodiversity is required;
• Experience in facilitating partnership building in diverse multi-stakeholder environments is required;
• Experience with meeting organization and developing projects is required;
• Experience with the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans is required;
• A track record of international experience in the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity or related activities is required.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage, particularly Spanish or German.

Application instructions

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