Result of Service

I. A comprehensive desk review of international best practices in biodiversity data collection frameworks, with particular focus on GBIF’s data infrastructure and Darwin Core standards, the national biodiversity data systems of the Czech Republic and Finland, and relevant CBD and KMGBF guidance on biodiversity data mobilisation and sharing, providing an evidence base for the design of Armenia’s framework; II. A Biodiversity Data Landscape Assessment mapping Armenia’s existing data assets, collection actors, methodologies, platforms, data standards in use, and known gaps – including an analysis of data flows between institutions and the legal and institutional constraints governing data access and sharing; III. A Needs and Priorities Assessment identifying Armenia’s most critical biodiversity data gaps by thematic area and NBSAP target, prioritising needs according to policy relevance, data availability, and technical and institutional feasibility, and articulating the key requirements that the national framework must address; IV. A Legal and Institutional Mapping Note identifying the specific legal and/or administrative acts required to establish the data collection framework under Armenian law, including the type of instrument, responsible authority, and indicative process and timeline for each; V. A stakeholder consultation report documenting the priorities, capacities, and proposed roles of key data producers and users – including government institutions, the National Academy of Sciences, universities, civil society organisations, protected area administrations, and international partners (Czech Republic, Finland, GBIF); VI. A Phase 2 Roadmap document outlining the recommended scope, structure, and key questions to be addressed in the feasibility study, to guide the design of the Phase 2 contracting process; VII. Strengthened national capacity and inter-institutional dialogue on biodiversity data governance, contributing directly to NBSAP ARM T26 and KM-GBF Target 21.

Work Location

Remote

Expected duration

2.7 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 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. UNEP is also one of the key agencies hosting the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership. The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is a country-led global initiative that supports the development and implementation of ambitious National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) 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. This includes strengthening country-driven coordination, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, facilitating knowledge sharing and best practices, and addressing country-specific needs. It also helps raise national profile of countries' NBSAPs, and fast-track implementation through a matchmaking service, increased access to expertise, knowledge and capacity development, and in-country facilitation support. A National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) is a country’s principal document for implementing the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It outlines a nation’s approach to conserving its biodiversity, ensuring its sustainable use, and fairly sharing the benefits derived from genetic resources. Armenia is a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). They signed and ratified the convention in 1992 and 1993, respectively. The Country also acceded to the Cartagena Protocol in 2004 and the Nagoya Protocol in 2026. Duties and Responsibilities The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership’s Facilitator Programme is looking for a consultant to support the Government of the Republic of Armenia to develop a biodiversity data collection framework for the country. Armenia’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2026-2030 is aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and sets out 30 national targets spanning habitat protection, ecosystem restoration, species conservation, sustainable use, governance, and monitoring. Effective implementation of these targets – and Armenia’s fulfilment of its obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – depends fundamentally on the availability of reliable, up-to-date, and accessible biodiversity data. At present, biodiversity data in Armenia are collected by a fragmented set of actors – state institutions, national parks and protected areas, the National Academy of Sciences, universities, and civil society organisations – using different methodologies, formats, and platforms, without a unified national framework governing data standards, sharing, quality assurance, or long-term archiving. This fragmentation limits the ability of decision-makers to track biodiversity trends, report against KMGBF targets, and design evidence-based policies. Armenia has taken important steps toward strengthening its biodiversity data ecosystem. The country has established cooperation with the Czech Republic and Finland, which have relevant experience in biodiversity informatics and national data infrastructure development, and has engaged with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) – the world’s largest open-access biodiversity data platform – as a key partner for data mobilisation and standardisation. GBIF’s framework, built on the Darwin Core data standard and its global network of national nodes, offers a proven model for aggregating species occurrence and ecological data across institutions and sectors. These partnerships provide Armenia with a valuable foundation of technical expertise, infrastructure models, and data-sharing tools upon which a national biodiversity data collection framework can be designed. NBSAP Target ARM T26 explicitly calls for strengthening Armenia’s biodiversity inventory and monitoring framework and advancing technology and data collection methodologies, underscoring the strategic importance of this work. A national biodiversity data collection framework – covering data standards, collection protocols, institutional responsibilities, data-sharing mechanisms, and the legal basis for data governance – is a prerequisite for transforming Armenia’s NBSAP monitoring from a reporting exercise into a dynamic, evidence-driven process. However, before such a framework can be designed and implemented, it is essential to conduct a rigorous assessment of Armenia’s current data landscape: what data exist, who collects them and how, what gaps and quality issues are most critical, what institutional and legal constraints govern data sharing, and what priorities should guide framework development. This activity (Phase 1) will recruit a consultant to conduct this needs and priorities assessment, drawing on international best practices and structured stakeholder consultations. Phase 1 will directly inform Phase 2, which will comprise a detailed feasibility study to guide the design of a dedicated project for developing and introducing the full biodiversity data collection framework in Armenia. In taking this work forward, it should be clearly understood that Phase 1 outputs constitute a needs and priorities assessment only, and should not yet be regarded as the establishment of a comprehensive national biodiversity data framework – that framework’s development and introduction will follow through Phase 2 and subsequent implementation. The eventual framework should also be fully aligned with Armenia’s existing spatial data governance and standardisation system – including thematic spatial datasets on protected areas, the Emerald Network, forests, and other relevant spatial layers – rather than developed as a stand-alone or technically incompatible system. It will further require clearly defined legal and institutional arrangements governing biodiversity data, covering custodianship, ownership, data-sharing obligations, update frequency, quality assurance procedures, publication requirements, and reporting arrangements for international platforms, and should distinguish between open-access data and sensitive biodiversity information – with precise locality data for rare, threatened, or illegally exploited species subject to sensitivity assessment and, where appropriate, released only in generalised form or through controlled access. Specific Task I. Review of international biodiversity data collection frameworks, with particular focus on: (a) GBIF’s global infrastructure, Darwin Core data standards, and national node models; (b) the national biodiversity data systems of the Czech Republic and Finland, including their governance structures, data-sharing mechanisms, and legal frameworks; (c) CBD and KM-GBF guidance on data mobilisation and the Open-access Data Policy; (d) comparable national frameworks from biodiversity-rich post-Soviet states. Analysis of the implications of these models for the Armenian context. II. Mapping of Armenia’s existing biodiversity data ecosystem, including: identification of all major data producers (state bodies, protected area administrations, National Academy of Sciences institutions, universities, NGOs, citizen science initiatives); assessment of data types, collection methodologies, formats, and storage platforms in use; analysis of current data flows, interoperability gaps, and quality assurance practices; identification of legal and institutional barriers to data access and sharing. The assessment shall incorporate a review of Armenia’s existing GBIF data contributions and identify priority datasets not yet mobilised. III. Design and facilitate structured consultations with key biodiversity data producers and users, including: the Ministry of Environment; the Statistical Committee of Armenia; the National Academy of Sciences (Institute of Botany, Institute of Zoology and Hydroecology, and others); Yerevan State University; the Armenian National Agrarian University; protected area administrations; relevant civil society organisations; and international partners (GBIF contact point, Czech and Finnish cooperation counterparts where accessible). Consultations to cover: data priorities, institutional roles, capacity constraints, data-sharing willingness, and requirements for a national framework. IV. Synthesis of the desk study and stakeholder consultations into a Needs and Priorities Assessment, identifying: (a) the most critical biodiversity data gaps by thematic area and NBSAP target; (b) priority data types and taxa requiring immediate attention; (c) key requirements for a national framework (data standards, collection protocols, institutional roles, data-sharing mechanisms, technology infrastructure, capacity building); (d) an analysis of how existing cooperation with the Czech Republic, Finland, and GBIF can best be leveraged in framework development; (e) recommendations for the scope and structure of Phase 2 (feasibility study). V. Identification of the legal and/or administrative acts required under Armenian law to establish the biodiversity data collection framework, including: the type of instrument needed (e.g. government decree, ministerial order, or inter-institutional agreement); the responsible authority for drafting and adoption; the applicable legislative process and indicative timeline; and any existing legal provisions (on environmental information, statistics, intellectual property, or data protection) that are relevant to the framework’s design. VI. Preparation of a Phase 2 Roadmap document outlining the recommended scope, key questions, methodology, and expected outputs of the feasibility study to be conducted under a separate Phase 2 contract. Consolidation of all Phase 1 outputs into a Final Report, incorporating NBSAP AP and government feedback, with a concise executive summary in Armenian and English. The framework should also be directly linked to the NBSAP monitoring and evaluation framework, with data collection driven by the indicators established under the national NBSAP targets to ensure that the resulting information supports implementation monitoring and national reporting. Consideration should further be given to incorporating financial and policy-related data relevant to the BIOFIN process, including public expenditures, subsidies, fiscal incentives, biodiversity-related impact assessments, financing gaps, and indicators tracking the implementation of biodiversity finance solutions. The consultant will report to the Programme Management Officer of the Nature Frameworks Support Unit in close coordination and collaboration with the NBSAP AP facilitator in Armenia and relevant government representatives.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in biodiversity informatics, ecology, environmental science, biology, computer science, or a related field. A first level degree with additional two years of qualifying experience maybe accepted in lieu of advanced degree. Minimum 7 years of professional experience in biodiversity data management, biodiversity informatics, environmental monitoring, or related fields, preferably in Armenia or the South Caucasus region is required. Demonstrated familiarity with GBIF’s data infrastructure, the Darwin Core standard, and biodiversity data mobilisation processes is required Knowledge of Armenia’s biodiversity institutional landscape, including the relevant scientific institutions, protected area system, and existing data collection actors is required Experience in designing or assessing data management systems, biodiversity databases, or environmental information systems is required Demonstrated ability to conduct stakeholder consultations and synthesise diverse institutional perspectives into actionable recommendations is required. Familiarity with the KMGBF and its data and knowledge requirements (Target 21, Target 26) is desirable Experience working with UN agencies, international organisations, or development partners is desirable

Languages

English is the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in Armenian and English (written and spoken) 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.

Development of a Biodiversity Data Collection Framework for Armenia