Result of ServiceThis consultancy will support the operationalization of the subregional technical and scientific cooperation support centres and contribute to enhanced capacity of and cooperation among Parties to the CBD and its Protocol (including national focal points, policy makers and practitioners), indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) and other relevant stakeholders in support of the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Work LocationRemote - Home-based Expected durationSeven months Duties and ResponsibilitiesORGANIZATIONAL 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. At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for 'sustainable development'. The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature in Rio in 1992. The Convention has 196 Parties and has three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is located in Montreal and is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme. Its main tasks are to arrange for and service meetings of the Conference of the Parties, including preparation of pertinent documentation, operation of the central node of the clearing-house mechanism, liaison and coordination with other international bodies and processes and, in close collaboration with these partners, the provision of technical support for the effective implementation of the Convention. In its decision 15/8 of December 2022, the COP established a technical and scientific cooperation mechanism comprising a network of regional and subregional support centres and a global coordination entity. The overall goal of the mechanism is to promote and facilitate, on a demand-driven basis, technical and scientific cooperation to enable Parties and relevant organizations to effectively utilize science, technology and innovation to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).Technical and scientific cooperation is one of the key means of implementation supporting the achievement of the goals and targets of the GBF. Pursuant to the above decisions, the Secretariat seeks to hire a suitably qualified consultant to assist in operationalizing the subregional technical and scientific cooperation support centres, including through assessing the institutional readiness of the centres to deliver on their mandate, advising and guiding the selected centres in setting-up and operationalizing their secretariats and governance structures, undertaking rapid assessment of the needs and priorities of the Parties they serve, preparing their first biennial work plans and budgets based on the expressed needs and priorities of Parties, and initiating their support activities. Duties and Responsibilities Under the direct supervision of the Head of the CBKM Unit, the consultant will be required to undertake the following tasks: 1. Undertake a desk review of the institutional arrangements and operations of regional and subregional support centres under other relevant processes to identify best practices and lessons learned. 2. Review the background information related to the establishment of the Convention’s Technical and Scientific Cooperation (TSC) Mechanism, including relevant COP decisions, the expressions of interest that were submitted to the Secretariat and the host agreements with the subregional technical and scientific cooperation centres. 3. Propose a standardized methodology and carry out SWOT analyses and institutional capacity assessments of the subregional support centres. 4. Undertake expert missions to selected subregional centres to further assess their institutional readiness and provide advice, as necessary, on various institutional and programmatic aspects. 5. Based on the assessments and the expert missions elaborate recommendations for the operationalization and strengthening of the subregional support centres, taking into account the key needs and capacity gaps identified. 6. Develop participatory methodology and guidelines for the subregional centres to use to identify the needs and priorities of the countries they are supporting, while ensuring alignment to the Convention, its Protocols and the GBF. 7. Develop guidelines and model templates to assist the subregional support centres in preparing their biennial results-based work plans and budgets, based on the needs and priorities communicated by the Parties. 8. Organize online sessions for the subregional support centres to follow-up and check in with them regarding implementation of the recommendations made and provide technical support and advice as needed. 9. Develop guidance to assist the support centres on operationalizing a help desk to provide information, advice and support to Parties. 10. Prepare a final report with short medium- and long-term recommendations for the effective operationalization of the subregional support centres. All outputs and services are to be delivered in English only. Qualifications/special skillsAcademic qualifications: Advanced university degree (a Master’s or higher) in organizational development, strategic planning, programme/project development and evaluation, sustainable development or a related field is required. Experience: • A minimum of 10 years of experience in organizational development or programme management is required. • Experience in programme/project development and management is desirable. • Experience in areas related to capacity development, strategic planning, results-based management, and familiarity with theory of change, is desirable. • Experience in monitoring and evaluation of programmes is desirable. Skills: • Ability to work with minimal supervision and to deliver results within agreed deadlines is required. • Experience in biodiversity, environmental management, or sustainable development is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French and/or Spanish is desirable. NOTE: \"Fluency equals a rating of \"fluent\" in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and \"Knowledge of\" equals a rating of \"confident\" in two of the four areas. Additional InformationTravel may be required during this contract period. 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.