To catalyze transformational change in conservation and sustainable management of the Congo Basin through landscape approaches that empower local communities and forest-dependent people and through partnerships with the private sector.Work LocationHome BasedExpected duration4 months durationDuties and ResponsibilitiesThe United Nations Environment Programme 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 works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This consultancy post is located in UNEP / Ecosystems Division / GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation unit and reports to the GEF Task Manager. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Task Manager (based in Nairobi, Kenya) and the overall guidance of the Portfolio Manager of the GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit based in Nairobi. The Congo Basin Impact Programme (Congo IP) comprises seven child projects: one regional and six national projects. Overall coordination is with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) as the implementing agency, which also executes the regional project, and national projects in RoC and DRC, while the World Bank executes the national project in CAR, UNDP in Gabon, IUCN in Equatorial Guinea and WWF-US in Cameroon. The regional component of the CONGO IP is built on the rationale that several interrelated factors drive deforestation and degradation in the Congo Basin, and that, without collaborative action among neighboring countries to tackle common threats and take advantage of regional opportunities, it would be challenging to maintain forest cover and the flow of ecosystems services over the long term. In particular, the Regional Project (RP) serves as a platform for coordination and exchange of knowledge and best practices. The regional and national projects will coordinate their efforts to provide integrated solutions, support innovative and scalable activities to the challenges faced by this region. The project objective is to catalyze transformational change in conservation and sustainable management of the Congo Basin through landscape approaches that empower local communities and forest-dependent people and through partnerships with the private sector. The RP fosters collaboration strengthens knowledge exchange and best practices sharing among the countries, which is critical for deepening transboundary collaboration. It also provides support to innovative and scalable activities across countries to effect transformational change in key economic sectors such as to enhance biodiversity conservation and improve livelihood. It provides technical assistance and services and capacity building to national project on areas that are relevant to their actions on the ground: areas such as natural capital valuation, development of methodology for the cross sectorial land use planning to protect biodiversity, engaging with global and national value chains to promote deforestation-free commodities. The Congo Basin countries recognize the urgent need to step up regional cooperation to secure conservation and enhancement of forests, biodiversity and carbon stocks, and make a shift from the current unsustainable land use policies and practices to sustainable land and forest management that can be enforced overtime and adopted at a landscape level. There is a need to anticipate land-use change dynamics within land-use planning and the local governance of natural resources to protect intact dense rainforests. Specifically, the consultant will be required to complete the following tasks: Inception phase: • Preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with project staff. • Prepare the review framework in line with UNEP's evaluation guidelines. • Identify stakeholders. • Develop the interview/questions matrix. • Plan the review schedule. • Prepare the Inception Report. Data collection and analysis phase of the review, including: • Conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners and project stakeholders. • Regularly report back to the Task Manager on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered. Reporting phase, including: • Draft the Review Report, ensuring that the review report is complete, coherent and consistent with the Task Manager guidelines both in substance and style. • Liaise with the Task Manager on comments received and finalize the Review Report, ensuring that comments are considered until approved by the Task Manager. • Prepare a Response to Comments annex for the main report, listing those comments not accepted indicating the reason for the rejection; and Managing relations, including: • Maintain a positive relationship with stakeholders, ensuring that the review process is as participatory as possible but at the same time maintains its independence. • Communicate in a timely manner with the Task Manager on any issues requiring its attention and intervention.Qualifications/special skillsA Masters or equivalent in environmental sciences, international development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required. - Minimum of 7 years of technical / evaluation experience is required, preferably including evaluating large, regional or global programmes and using a Theory of Change approach; and a good/broad understanding of [natural resource management] is desired. English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. - Hands-on experience in managing national and international natural resources projects, in particular concerning biodiversity, natural resources management, protected area management, environmental information, management, capacity building etc. is highly desirable. - Working experience in an international environment is desirable. - Experience in the project target area in Congo is an asset.LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required and Knowledge of French is desirable.Additional InformationNot available.No FeeTHE 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.
