Result of ServiceConsultant is expected to produce the following outputs: Output 1: National-level mapping reports (in each of the 3 target SIDS) of SIDS’ best practices/tools/approaches and challenges to seize economic potential and benefits of restoration and enabling an SBE transition. Output 2: National-level peer-learning and knowledge sharing workshops organized (one in each target SIDS) to raise awareness about economic potential and benefits of restoration and facilitate identification of SIDS’ best practices / tools / approaches to be replicated/expanded nationally in view to accelerate ER SBE solutions at national level. Output 3: National Accelerator Roadmaps are formulated and include an agreed portfolio of up to 10 actionable project concept notes aiming exchanging and replicating identified best practices / tools / approaches in view to accelerate ER SBE solutions at national level (implementation of the Roadmaps and associated portfolios will be part of a Flagship Phase 2). Output 4: Workshop involving the 3 target SIDS is organized in view to a) share project results and lessons learned and b) identify SIDS-SIDS cooperation schemes on ER SBI (to be implemented in a Flagship Phase 2 via a dedicated SIDS-SIDS cooperation match-making platform hosted in the UN Restoration Decade website). Work LocationNew York Expected duration2 Mar - 31 Dec 2026 Duties and Responsibilities1. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030 (the “UN Decade”) is designed to inspire a global movement in support of preventing, halting, and reversing the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. Within the UN Decade, a Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) has been established to provide catalytic support with e.g. the establishment of on-the-ground Flagship Initiatives to advance key local restoration activities, while highlighting global best practices for scale-up and replication. These Flagship Initiatives “should be the first, best, or most promising example of ecosystem restoration, adding value and inspiring others to undertake or accelerate restoration at significant scale”. Under these perspectives, in 2022, The SIDS Coalition for Nature launched the SIDS Ecosystem restoration Flagship. The SIDS Flagship aims to promote the integration of marine and coastal ecosystem restoration/conservation and sustainable blue finance into economic recovery and growth in 3 SIDS through a connected ‘ridge to reef” approach in order to build back better and bluer. By putting marine and coastal ecosystems at the heart of economic policy and decision-making, this initiative aims to guide and document transformative investments unlocking blue economy potential at SIDS level and in turn inspire further actions. The SIDS Flagship is co-led by the Governments of St Lucia, Vanuatu and Comoros, with the technical support of UNDESA, UNEP, and FAO. This flagship is funded by the German and Danish governments through the UN Decade Multi-Partners Trust Fund. Component 3 of the SIDS Flagship (Inter and intra SIDS Peer-learning & Cooperation to uptake and expand best practices on blue economy) is the cross-cutting component of the SIDS Flagship, ensuring national and global outreach by facilitating peer-learning, technical exchange, and cooperation both within and between the three target SIDS. Through this component, SIDS capacities will be strengthened to replicate identified best practices, tools, and approaches, unlocking the economic potential and benefits of Ecosystem Restoration (ER) and enabling a Sustainable Blue Economy (SBE) transition. Notwithstanding the challenges faced, SIDS have been able to lead by example in marine conservation and ocean-based economy by transforming their unique structural marine characteristics into opportunities20. Under these perspectives, this component is harnessing SIDS-SIDS peer-learning and cooperation potential to accelerate the upscaling and replication of restoration best practices and is aligned with the SIDS Coalition for Nature’s Call for Action launched at COP15. This component builds on lessons learned in Components 1 and 2 and contributes to upscaling restoration and blue economy solutions by creating knowledge products, convening structured peer-learning processes, and proposing intra and inter SIDS cooperation schemes that will be consolidated and implemented in a potential Flagship Phase 2. For the implementation and coordination of this component 3, UNDESA is seeking the services of a consultant, who will be part of the SIDS Flagship project core team, to support efforts to strengthen SIDS capacities to replicate the identified SIDS’ best practices/tools/approaches, thereby unlocking the economic potential and benefits of ecosystem restoration (ER) and enabling a sustainable blue economy (SBE) transition. This will be achieved through inter alia national mapping exercises and workshops, expert group meetings, national road map development and sids-sids peer learning exercises. 2. WORK ASSIGNMENT Under the overall supervision of the Chief of the UN DESA SIDS Unit, and in close partnership with UNEP, FAO and particularly the SIDS Flagship project manager, the consultant will undertake the tasks described below: Task 1: National Mapping Exercises - National-level mapping in each of the three target SIDS to identify best practices, tools, approaches, and challenges related to capturing the economic potential of restoration and enabling an SBE transition. These mappings, developed through desk reviews and virtual expert consultations, will provide the analytical basis for and guide the structure/agenda of the national workshops in view to facilitate constructive dialogue between participants. Those mappings will be presented by the consultant during national workshops and further disseminated via the Restoration Decade. Task 2: National Workshops - Three national peer-learning and knowledge-sharing workshops (one per target SIDS) to raise awareness of the economic potential of restoration, share good practices, and facilitate the identification of replicable tools and approaches. These workshops will validate and enrich the findings of the national mappings, ensuring national ownership and context relevance. The consultant will support countries in the preparation of the national workshop agenda and list of participants, based on the findings of the national mappings and associated consultation. The consultant will also play a key role as facilitator of those workshops and will produce the corresponding workshop reports. Task 3: National Accelerator Roadmaps - Three national acceleration roadmaps will be developed, each including a portfolio of up to 10 actionable restoration-oriented project concept notes for replicating and scaling identified best practices and approaches. These will be co-designed with government, communities, and partners - from policy reforms to nature-based enterprises - providing donors and investors with a pipeline of concrete opportunities for catalytic funding in a potential Phase 2 of the Flagship, building off the SBE Rapid Readiness Assessments and aligning national priorities with restoration and SBE opportunities. By aligning national priorities with global goals, the Roadmaps will help unlock finance, accelerate implementation, and ensure continuity of restoration and blue economy transitions and will also inform UNSDCF and CCA processes to ensure UN joint programming at country level considers tools, methods, approaches that already work and should be further expanded at country level. Task 4: Inter-SIDS Workshop - A consolidated workshop involving the three target SIDS Flagship project teams and relevant stakeholders will (a) share results and lessons learned from the project at national level and (b) identify inter-SIDS cooperation schemes on ecosystem restoration and the sustainable blue economy. In close cooperation with the SIDS Flagship project manager, the Consultant will lead the organization of a 2/3 day-workshop, in close collaboration with the 3 Countries. Based on project results, the consultant will develop the program, the agenda of the workshop, and will facilitate the discussions and prepare the workshop report. As such the Inter-SIDS workshop will also prepare the ground for a dedicated SIDS-SIDS cooperation matchmaking platform to be hosted on the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’s website in Phase 2. Additionally, and in line with nature and climate action related to SIDS, the consultant will perform other duties as required. Qualifications/special skillsThe Consultant is expected to possess the following qualifications and experience: • At least a master’s degree in economics, sustainable development, environmental science, international development or related field. • At least seven (7) years working in sustainable development, particularly in areas related to SIDS and blue economy. • Experience working in SIDS is required. • Proven competency in production of analytical reports and in quantitative and qualitative research methods. • Proven competency in technical proposal writing • Experience working with a wide range of stakeholders, including inter alia NGOs, communities, government officials, and inter-governmental entities. • Proven experience in facilitating workshops and carrying out multi-stakeholders’ consultations. • Strategic Planning and management experience will be an asset. LanguagesFluency in oral and written English and French is required. Additional Information8. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS The performance of the consultant(s) will be measured by the following indicators: • Timeliness of submissions and compliance with the ToR; • Quality of analysis, recommendations/conclusions in the reports: The analysis and the recommendations contained in the report should be of high quality, relevant, specific, simple and practical; • Readability of material: The report should be written in clear and concise language; • Receptive/responsive to feedback to comments by UNDESA and SIDS Flagship partners • Ability to organize work in a methodical and logical manner; • Quality of writing skills and expression: • Adherence to the contractual requirements of UN DESA. 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.