Result of Service
The consultant will cooperate with the UNEP Vienna Programme Office, Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention in: 1) Coordination of the science-policy-practice interface and ESD-related processes relevant to the Carpathian Convention 2) Implementation of the project “Linking biodiversity, pastoralism and cultural heritage through ESD in the Carpathian Region” 3) Coordination of activities in the field of Carpathian Pastoralism and overseeing participation of Carpathian Convention Parties in the follow up to the submission of the multinational Transhumance file to UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage 4) Contribution to cross-sectoral and cross-regional activities, as relevant 5) Contribution to the implementation of the Technical Assistance Project Preparation (TA-PP) for the LIFE Carpathian Strategic Nature Project (SNaP) and the development of the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework Implementation Plan 6) Coordination of the development of Carpathian Convention activities on the Green Recovery of Ukraine in the framework of the project “Green industrial recovery through municipality-based development in Ukraine” in liaison with UNIDO.
Work Location
Office - based
Expected duration
12 months - full time
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. UNEP has the mandate to keep the state of the global and regional environment under review, in order to inform decision making on the state and trends of our changing environment, and to foresee emerging environmental problems and threats, particularly those of a transboundary nature. The Vienna Programme Office was established in 2004 with the main purpose of acting as the Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention. Moreover, the Office is UNEP’s European focal point for environmental cooperation with Central and South-Eastern European countries. It coordinates the delivery of UNEP’s programme of work in this part of Europe and liaises between UNEP and organizations based in Vienna and in the sub-region. The Carpathian Convention Secretariat promotes ratification and facilitates cooperation between signatory states, as well as other relevant international bodies and conventions. It furthermore encourages and supports research, communication and information exchange between partners, coordinates the preparation and implementation of the Convention’s work programme, prepares relevant documentation and supports further institutional development. The importance of mountain ecosystems and sustainable development of the mountainous areas as well as the challenges faced by mountain communities have been recognized in a number of international policy documents, such as Chapter 13 of Agenda 21 (1992), the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2003), and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UN 2015), as well as numerous scientific publications. A number of processes and mechanisms for cooperation on protection and sustainable development of the mountainous regions have emerged, including regional cooperation efforts in the Carpathian Mountain region. The Carpathian Convention contributing to sustainable livelihoods and protection of natural and cultural heritage through Science-Policy-Practice interface and Education for Sustainable Development: The Carpathian Convention parties agree on the importance of awareness raising and public participation, reflected in the Article 13 of the convention “Awareness raising, education and public participation”. This is a cross-sectional issue, meant to contribute to capacity building in all aspects of sustainable development, and is in line with the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Strategy of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the global process led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), including the recently adopted ESD 2030 Framework. The implementation of the Convention provisions related to ESD requires cooperation between the many actors working in the field of science, policy and practice. To facilitate this cooperation, the Carpathian ESD Expert Network (CESDEN) has been established and recognized by the Convention Parties. The network cooperates through regular meetings, facilitated by the Secretariat in cooperation with national experts. Science-policy-practice interface in the Carpathians, another important aspect of implementing the Convention, is facilitated via cooperation of the CC Secretariat and other Convention partners with the Science for the Carpathians (S4C) – a scientific network which connects/involves to scientists both from the Carpathian region and from around the world, who are engaged in research focused on the Carpathians. The S4C organizes regular conferences, Forum Carpaticum, and aims to diversify and enhance network activities, both within the region and in collaboration with scientific networks from other mountain regions. The network also provides recommendations to the Carpathian Convention. The next conference, Forum Carpaticum 2025 is planned to take place on 9-11 September, 2025. One of the thematic priorities of the Convention in 2025-2026 relevant for scientific collaboration, capacity building, linking natural and cultural heritage and livelihoods in the Carpathian region is Pastoralism. Pursuant to the Carpathian Convention COP7 Decisions (COP7/12) giving a special mandate to “supporting, promoting and protecting the traditional pastoral practices in the Carpathians” and particularly to “exploring possibilities to inscribe the Carpathian pastoralism in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” (DECISION COP7/12 paragraphs 2-6), the Secretariat is facilitating dialogue and cooperation among the parties towards a joint nomination focused on Carpathian pastoralism to a UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Secretariat has developed a project titled “Linking biodiversity, pastoralism and cultural heritage through ESD in the Carpathian Region”, which has been funded by the German Federal Environment Ministry Advisory Assistance Programme. The Secretariat is leading the implementation of the project, building on its activities in the field of science-policy-practice interface and ESD, to co-organize multisectoral collaborations around Carpathian pastoralism, link it with the work of the Carpathian ESD Expert Network and implementation of the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework as well as initiatives supporting green recovery of Ukraine. One of the priorities of the Secretariat in the field of Biodiversity is the development of the Carpathian Strategic Nature Project (SNaP) under the EU LIFE programme and the implementation of the recently funded Technical Assistance Project Preparation (TA-PP) in close collaboration with Convention Parties, experts and stakeholders. Carpathian Convention Support to Green Recovery of Ukraine. Support to Ukraine constitutes another important stream of work, where the Carpathian Convention Secretariat is continuously looking for synergies and collaborations. The Carpathian Convention, through its COP decisions and Ministerial Declarations, has demonstrated strong political will and commitment to supporting Ukraine's green recovery and reconstruction. The Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention (UNEP) is initiating collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) under the MOC through cooperation on the implementation of the project “Green industrial recovery through municipality-based development in Ukraine”. The specific objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity of public sector and government institutions at the national and municipality levels to facilitate green industrial recovery. The aim of Inter-agency cooperation between UNIDO and the Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention (UNEP) is to facilitate substantive and easy-to-scale-up activities supporting the green reconstruction and sustainable development of Ukraine, particularly its area located in the Carpathian region, allowing for know-how transfer and capacity building in sectors relevant to both the project and the Convention objectives. Specific tasks and responsibilities: • Coordination of the science-policy-practice interface and ESD-related processes relevant to the Carpathian Convention - Liaison with the UNECE Steering Committee on ESD, UNESCO ESD-net and the Spirala network, which received funds from the government of Cyprus to support Carpathian ESD activities. Co-organization and participation in relevant events and initiatives. - Co-organization of and participation in the S4C meetings, as relevant, including Forum Carpaticum 2025, preparatory and follow-up meetings - Active participation in the International Mountain Conference 2025 - Integrating science-policy-practice and ESD-related inputs into Carpathian Convention Working Groups and project meetings • Coordination of activities in the field of Carpathian Pastoralism - Implementation of the project “Linking biodiversity, pastoralism and cultural heritage through ESD in the Carpathian Region” in accordance with the project documents, liaison with the project donor and ensuring reporting, as required - Overseeing follow up to the submission of the multinational Transhumance file to UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage - Liaison with Romanian coordinators of the process and with Carpathian Partners on the joint development of the safeguarding plan and potential development of the Carpathian Pastoralism file - Integration of Pastoralism and Transhumance-related inputs into the activities of the Carpathian Convention and its partners, as relevant • Contribution to cross-sectoral and cross-regional activities, as relevant - Contribute to identifying and developing cross-sectoral activities, e.g. links between Education and biodiversity - Contribute to identifying and developing cross-regional activities, e.g. experience exchange between experts from the Carpathians the Caucasus, Balkans or Latin America • Contribution to the implementation of the Technical Assistance Project Preparation (TA-PP) for the LIFE Carpathian Strategic Nature Project (SNaP) and the development of the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework (CBF) Implementation Plan - Actively participating in meetings and events and providing advice and inputs as necessary for the project implementation, CBF Implementation Plan development and promotion • Coordination of the development of Carpathian Convention activities on the Green Recovery of Ukraine in the framework of the project “Green industrial recovery through municipality-based development in Ukraine” in liaison with UNIDO. - Maintaining regular contact with UNIDO project staff - Liaison with Ukrainian partners and stakeholders - Planning and organization of the session on Ukraine during Forum Carpaticum 2025 Conference - Contribution to events and initiatives related to recovery of Ukraine Reporting lines The Consultant will undertake duties and responsibilities under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Head of UNEP Vienna Programme Office – SCC, to whom the consultant will report to.
Qualifications/special skills
A Master’s degree in sustainability sciences, environmental policy, environmental sciences, natural resources & life sciences, or a similar field is required. A PhD in a similar field is an asset. Minimum of seven years of experience in the field of environmental policy / sustainable regional development / nature protection / science-policy-practice interface is required. Project management experience in an international context is required. Expertise in the fields of Education for Sustainable Development, Pastoralism and Biodiversity as well as cross-sectoral approaches is required. Working experience in academic institutions, particularly experience in writing and editing peer reviewed publications in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary setting is desirable. Working experience with organizations in the Carpathian countries and particularly in Ukraine is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of a Carpathian language is an asset.
Additional Information
Not available.
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.
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