Result of Service

The consultant must provide the following deliverables:

Technical Progress Report 1 - A technical report summarising activities undertaken during the reporting period including national priority assessment and revised, costed and nationally validated Component 2 Workplan; technical recommendations to support the prioritisation of interventions and revision of the Component 2 workplan; technical inputs and supporting documentation for review through the appropriate national governance mechanisms
Technical Progress Report 2- A technical report summarising activities and outcomes undertaken during the reporting period including technical implementation support for Component 2, including implementation-ready work-planning and associated budgeting, coordination support, implementation tracking, and technical recommendations to facilitate effective delivery of agreed activities.
Technical Progress Report 3- A technical report summarising activities and outcomes undertaken during the reporting period including integrated ecosystem restoration and sustainable livelihood programming recommendations, ensuring Component 2 interventions reflect an integrated ridge-to-reef, Sustainable Blue Economy and ecosystem restoration approach.
Technical Progress Report 4- Strategic partnership and programme alignment framework, identifying opportunities for complementarity, collaboration, resource leveraging and coordinated implementation with relevant national and development partner initiatives.
Technical Progress Report 5- A technical report summarising activities and outcomes undertaken during the reporting period including but not limited to: FERM mainstreaming and operationalisation recommendations; technical guidance to strengthen institutional uptake, monitoring and integration of the Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring across relevant sectors and programmes.
Technical Progress Report 6- A technical report summarising activities and outcomes undertaken during the reporting period including component 3 opportunity pipeline and investment readiness framework; a prioritised portfolio list of restoration-linked Sustainable Blue Economy opportunities suitable for further pipeline development with UNEP, DSD and UN DESA.

Work Location

Saint Lucia

Expected duration

6 months

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 works with international and national partners in 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. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) plays a key role in supporting the transition to a Sustainable Blue Economy, including within the framework of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030). As part of this global effort, the UN Decade SIDS Restoration Flagship aims to enhance ecosystem resilience, promote sustainable livelihoods, and foster the conservation and restoration of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including Saint Lucia. Saint Lucia's coastal and marine ecosystems including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and coastal watersheds are fundamental to the country's economy, biodiversity and the well-being of its communities. These interconnected ecosystems underpin key sectors such as tourism, fisheries and coastal livelihoods while providing critical ecosystem services, including coastal protection, climate resilience and water security. However, they continue to face increasing pressures from climate change, biodiversity loss, unsustainable land and marine use, pollution and cumulative development impacts. To provide technical support of the Flagship's Component 2 in Saint Lucia: Local action to strengthen capacities of communities and businesses to capitalise on restoration activities, and inform national policy and planning, UNEP is recruiting an international consultant, specialized on ecosystem restoration programming, who will be part of the SIDS Flagship project core team. The consultant will work closely with the National Coordinator to translate these priorities into a costed, sequenced and results-oriented Component 2 workplan, with clearly defined activities, outputs, responsibilities, timelines, implementation modalities and expected restoration and socio-economic outcomes. The consultant will provide the technical support required to present the proposed programme of work to the relevant national governance mechanism/Steering Committee for review, prioritisation and validation. The consultant will support the National Coordinator and UNEP in translating the agreed workplan into implementation, including development of technical scopes of work, partnerships, implementation arrangements and other documentation required to operationalise priority activities. The consultant will additionally strengthen the interface between Components 2 and 3 (Regional and global outreach to facilitate SIDS-SIDS peer learning and cooperation to uptake and expand best practices on blue economy), identifying promising restoration-linked sustainable blue economy interventions, partnerships and investment opportunities that may be further developed or scaled through Component 3 in partnership with UN-DESA. The assignment will therefore provide a bridge between national priority-setting, technical programme design, implementation and longer-term investment development, ensuring that Flagship resources are strategically deployed and complement wider national and partner investments. Under the overall supervision of the Chief, Marine and Coastal Unit and guidance from the SIDS Restoration Flagship Global Coordinator, the consultant will perform the following duties: 1. National priority identification and technical prioritization: Support DSD and the National Coordinator to undertake a structured process to identify and prioritise the interventions to be advanced through Component 2 of the SIDS Restoration Flagship. 2. Development and validation of respective elements of Component 2 workplan: Based on the agreed national priorities, lead the technical revision and development of a comprehensive Component 2 workplan in close collaboration with DSD, the National Coordinator, UNEP and relevant implementing partners. The consultant will support the National Coordinator in convening the necessary technical consultations and provide the analysis and documentation required to enable informed national decision-making on the allocation of remaining Component 2 resources. 3. Provision of technical support for workplan implementation: Provide technical support to operationalize agreed Component 2 activities, within the agreed project timeline. This will include support preparing and/or reviewing terms of reference, scopes of work, concept notes, technical specifications, implementation arrangements and partner agreements; identifying technical expertise and implementation partners where required; and supporting the sequencing of activities to maintain implementation momentum. The consultant will work closely with the National Coordinator to establish a practical implementation management system that clearly identifies responsibilities, deadlines, dependencies, outstanding decisions and follow-up actions. Proactively identify technical or operational bottlenecks and provide recommendations to DSD, UNEP and the National Coordinator to support timely resolution. 4. Integrated restoration and sustainable livelihood programming: Provide technical guidance to ensure that Component 2 programming reflects an integrated approach to ecosystem restoration, linking ecological restoration with sustainable resource management, community stewardship, livelihoods, climate resilience and sustainable blue economy opportunities. Support the development of interventions that respond to the interconnected nature of Saint Lucia’s watersheds, coastal and marine ecosystems and recognize the relationships between ecosystem condition, economic activity and community well-being. Ensure that existing and emerging technical evidence is translated into practical programming rather than remaining as standalone assessments or studies. 5. Strategic alignment and partner coordination: Map relevant programmes, projects and investments that intersect with Flagship priorities and identify opportunities for complementarity, joint implementation, co-financing or strategic sequencing. Particular attention should be given to opportunities for alignment with GIZ, UNDP/GEF Blue and Green Islands, FAO and other relevant government, development partner, civil society, academic and private-sector initiatives. Support the National Coordinator and the Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) with the technical preparation required for coordination discussions and ensure that identified synergies are translated, where appropriate, into concrete activities, partnerships or implementation arrangements within the workplan. 6. National uptake and mainstreaming of the Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring (FERM): Support the Government of Saint Lucia through the Department of Sustainable Development (DSD), the National Coordinator and relevant ministries to strengthen the institution uptake and operationalization of FERM as the national platform for ecosystem restoration monitoring and identify opportunities to mainstream FERM across relevant government ministries, ongoing programmes and restoration projects. 7. Component 3 pipeline development: As Component 2 priorities and interventions are developed, systematically identify opportunities with potential for further development, investment, replication or scaling through Component 3. Working with UNEP, UNDESA, DSD and the National Coordinator, assess emerging opportunities according to ecological impact, socio-economic benefits, scalability, institutional readiness, partnership potential and indicative financing needs. Prepare an initial pipeline ideas framework of restoration-linked sustainable blue economy opportunities and, in coordination with UNEP and UN DESA, identify those suitable for further project preparation, investment development, partnership building, matchmaking or SIDS-SIDS knowledge exchange under Component 3. The consultant will provide the technical bridge between nationally identified priorities and the Component 3 development process, ensuring that opportunities presented for further development are grounded in national priorities, technical evidence and implementation experience.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced degree (master’s or PhD) in marine sciences, environmental economics, natural resource management, coastal development or a related field is required. A first level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. 7 years of experience in designing sustainable blue economy strategy and/or policy, marine resource management, integrated coastal zone management, catchment management, or marine spatial planning protocols and guidelines Experience working in SIDS, preferably in the Caribbean region is required Knowledge of international policy frameworks and SDGs, particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water) is required. Demonstrate previous experience conducting similar assignments at regional or global level. Excellent writing, communication, and presentation skills preferably with proven experience working in subjects related to Sustainable Blue Economy is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the consultancy post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.

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.

Consultancy - Specialist in Ecosystems Restoration in Saint Lucia