Result of Service

The Consultant (Technical Advisor for the UN Common Approach to Biodiversity) will deliver the following: i) Carrying out a stocktaking analysis of the efforts of UN agencies towards protecting biodiversity in Armenia including identifying existing gaps, opportunities and entry points for future interventions for biodiversity mainstreaming in Armenia ii) Developing a draft UN Strategy of Biodiversity in Armenia in consideration of the alignment with the UNSDCF Armenia (20262030) and NBSAP iii) Organizing consultation meeting(s) with relevant stakeholders to receive feedback on the draft UN strategy of Biodiversity in Armenia and incorporate that feedback to prepare the revised UN Strategy of Biodiversity in Armenia iv) Developing a plan for the dedicated event which will showcase the UN Strategy of Biodiversity in Armenia during the CBD COP17

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

4 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Setting: The 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. The UN Common Approach to Biodiversity is designed to mainstream biodiversity and catalyse collective action across the UN system to address drivers of biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems. UNEP’s roles in the UN Common Approach to Biodiversity are as follows:

• Facilitates collaboration among UN agencies, governments, civil society and the private sector to ensure that biodiversity is prioritized in decision-making processes;
• Provides the secretariat of the UN Environment Management Group (EMG) and supports operationalization of the Common Approach through the EMG Issue Management Group on Biodiversity (IMG);
• Collaborates with UN agencies to leverage the power of biodiversity and nature to drive equitable economic progress. The seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) will be held from 19 to 30 October 2026, Yerevan, Armenia. CBD COP17 will provide a significant opportunity for Armenia to highlight the biodiversity agenda to the forefront. To sustain the momentum created through the mainstreaming of biodiversity in the lead up to the CBD COP17, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive and country-level UN strategy of biodiversity. This will ensure the continuation and institutionalization of biodiversity mainstreaming efforts beyond the CBD COP17. This year offers a strategic window to formulate this UN strategy of biodiversity, which will contribute meaningfully to the achievement of the GBF targets by 2030. The Technical Advisor for the UN Common Approach to Biodiversity will be responsible for developing the UN Strategy of Biodiversity for Armenia, establishing a coherent, system-wide framework to integrate biodiversity considerations across health, economic development, climate resilience, and governance sectors. By aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 20262030 and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), the UN Strategy of Biodiversity will generate transformative impact by ensuring biodiversity conservation is positioned as a foundational pillar of Armenias sustainable development pathway. The Technical Advisor for the UN Common Approach to Biodiversity will report to the Head, Nature Frameworks Support Unit, Biodiversity and Land Branch, Ecosystems Division, with day-to-day collaboration with Programme Management Officer.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree in biodiversity conservation, environmental science, environment policy, environmental management or closely related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of 7 years experience in biodiversity and environment at the national, regional, or global levels is required Specialized knowledge/skills and understanding of stakeholders in biodiversity and ecosystem management of Armenia are required. Demonstrated experience in undertaking policy analysis and assessments is required Work experience in the United Nations system and/or the Intergovernmental Organizations is an advantage.

Languages

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

Additional Information

Not available.

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.