International expert to support the development of Guidance Factsheets for IMAP Common Indicators related to Ecological Objective 4 (Marine Food Webs) (Level B)

Result of Service

The ultimate result of this assignment is to provide UNEP/MAP and Contracting Parties with: (a) Eight (8) Guidance Factsheets for EO4 IMAP Common Indicators; (b) A draft regional definition of Good Environmental Status (GES) for EO4; (c) Proposed targets associated with EO4; and (d) technical inputs to support IMAP/EcAp governance discussions, in particular within CORMON.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. Within UNEP, the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) supports the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention in the protection of the Mediterranean marine and coastal environment, including through the implementation of the Ecosystem Approach (EcAp), as adopted by COP 15 Decision IG.17/6. To support the implementation of the Ecosystem Approach, the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme of the Mediterranean Sea and Coast (IMAP) was adopted in 2016 through COP 19 Decision IG.22/7, providing a coherent regional framework for monitoring and assessment. Building on national IMAP implementation and the findings of the 2023 Mediterranean Quality Status Report (MED QSR), a revised Ecosystem Approach (EcAp) policy and an updated version of the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) were developed following the mandate of the Contracting Parties at COP 23, with a view to strengthening monitoring and assessment capacities, improving data quality and ensuring reliable regional assessments. COP24 Decision IG.27/6 Ecosystem Approach (EcAp) Policy and Roadmap 2026-2035, and Third Cycle of the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme for the Mediterranean Sea and Coast (IMAP), included the addition of 10 new biodiversity and 5 new climate-change indicators. Within this context, Ecological Objective 4 (EO4) on Marine Food Webs has been identified as a priority area requiring further development. Initial proposals for EO4, including elements related to the definition of Good Environmental Status (GES), indicators and targets, were discussed during the early stages of the EcAp implementation process. However, due to data limitations and knowledge gaps in the Mediterranean region, further scientific and technical work is required. To address these gaps, a series of actions aimed at advancing the development of EO4 were initiated, including a regional desk review on available data sources, methodologies and best practices for monitoring and assessing marine food webs, as well as the establishment of an Online Working Group on Marine Food Webs, following recommendations of the CORMON Biodiversity and Fisheries Meeting. Based on the work of the Online Working Group, a list of candidate IMAP Common Indicators for EO4 was developed. These proposals wer...