Result of Service
1. A brief inception report outlining the approach, methodology, and timeline 2. Co-organised four consultation workshops 3. Produce three concept notes ready for submission to multilateral or bilateral funding sources. 4. Produce two full proposals, including budget frameworks, risk assessments, and sustainability plans. 5. Submit a final report summarizing key findings, challenges, and recommendations for future fundraising strategies.
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. The Ecosystems Division is responsible for the organization's strategy, overseeing special initiatives, which includes environment work, and the organization's performance review and monitoring. This position is located in the Biodiversity, People and Landscapes Unit (BPLU), Biodiversity and Land Branch, Ecosystems Division and reports to the relevant Associate Programme Management Officer of UNEP. In 2022, the Carpathian Convention, UNEP and the Mountain Partnership compiled a ‘Multi-country mountain restoration flagship’ project, which was recognized by the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration as one of 10 inaugural World Restoration Flagships to revive the natural world. The project is a collaborative initiative to protect mountain landscapes in Kyrgyzstan, Rwanda, Serbia and Uganda, helping to safeguard a range of imperilled species, including mountain gorillas and snow leopards. In Kyrgyzstan, the project aims to restore 180,000ha mountain pasture through community-led protected area establishment and wildlife friendly pasture management. Very much in line with these efforts, UNEP has also been implementing projects such as Vanishing Treasures and Central Asian Mammals and Climate Adaptation (CAMCA), which have contributed to climate-smart biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, nature restoration, and sustainable ecosystem management in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. To scale up these efforts in the region and align them with global, regional and national priorities, UNEP seeks to develop two concept notes and work these into full proposals targeting multilateral (e.g., GEF-9 Global Wildlife Program, Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, Kunming Biodiversity Fund) or bilateral funding sources. The aim is to enhance the impact of UNEP’s work in supporting higher-level goals and targets outlined in global (e.g. Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework), regional (e.g. Convention on Migratory Species), and national strategic documents (e.g. National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans - NBSAPs, National Adaptation Plans - NAPs). Specific duties include the following: Under the direct supervision of the Associate Programme Management Officer (CAMCA Project in UNEP’s Ecosystem Division), 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. 1. 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 2. 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. 3. Developing three clear and structured project rationales based on selected measures and tools. 4. Outlining project activities that scale up the selected measures and tools, integrating gender considerations, community participation, and sustainable livelihood opportunities into the project design. 5. 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). 6. Identifying suitable funding opportunities from multilateral and bilateral sources. 7. Engaging with UNEP experts, national stakeholders, and funding agencies to develop and refine project ideas. 8. Developing three high-quality concept notes tailored to selected funding mechanisms. 9. Expanding two of the concept notes into full proposals, including logical frameworks, budget estimates, and sustainability strategies. 10. 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.
