Policy and Research Associate – Support Engagement for Türkiye

Result of Service

The Consultant provides research and policy-related support to the G20 GLI Policy Officer, contributing to strengthened advocacy efforts and effective engagement with the initiative’s stakeholders and with relevant legislative and policy processes in support of the initiative’s objectives.

Work Location

Home-based.

Expected duration

160 days between May to December 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities

Background note: Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention seeks to support countries to address Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD). (www.unccd.int) The Group of Twenty (G20) is a high-level international forum comprising 19 countries, the European Union and the African Union. In 2020, the G20 Leaders’ Declaration launched the “Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats” (G20 Global Land Initiative). Building on existing frameworks and on a voluntary basis, G20 members share the ambition to achieve a 50 per cent reduction in degraded land by 2040. Policy engagement and strategic advocacy have become central workstreams of the G20 Global Land Initiative. The Initiative seeks to ensure sustained visibility within G20 processes and beyond, while supporting the translation of the G20 Leaders’ ambition to reduce land degradation by 50% by 2040, relevant UNCCD decisions, and COP outcomes, including COP 17’s, into concrete national legislative and policy action. Duties & Responsibilities: Under direct supervision of Policy Officer the Policy and Research Associate will provide research support to the G20 Global Land Initiative Policy Officer, while contributing to the policy engagement and strategic advocacy workstream of the Initiative. The role will focus in particular on mobilizing political support for UNCCD COP17 priorities, with a focus on the linkages between land, drought and stability as well as collaborating with Türkiye’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change to advance the land-climate-biodiversity nexus in the context of Türkiye’s hosting of the UNFCCC COP31. The Policy and Research Associate will support the G20 Global Land Initiative Policy Officer in the implementation of the G20 Global Land Initiative’s policy engagement and strategic advocacy activities, including: 1. Land and Drought within the UNFCCC COP31 context - Support collaboration with the Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change to advance the land-climate-biodiversity nexus during Türkiye’s UNFCCC Presidency. - Contribute to the preparation and organization of relevant meetings and events, including in Türkiye, including pre-event organization, background research, drafting of concept notes, on-site event coordination support, and preparation of outcome documents. 2 Research support - Provide research support to the G20 GLI Policy Officer as required, including contributions to briefing materials, and knowledge products. 3. Global Changemaker Academy for Parliamentarians (G-CAP) – COP17 Mongolia - Support the delivery of G-CAP at the margins of COP17 in Mongolia, in coordination with the implementing partner (UNSSC). - Contribute to engagement and outreach to participating parliamentarians and facilitate follow-up coordination. - Liaise across units and partners to ensure alignment of content, policy messaging and communication materials. - Support the development, updating, and management of the G-CAP website and related knowledge materials. 4. COP17 High-Level Political Engagement - Support the organization of the high-level meetings at COP17, as needed. - Contribute to engagement with G20 countries to facilitate participation in roundtables and policy dialogues during COP17. - Jointly organize side events in the Land Pavilion with G20 Steering Committee Members in order to facilitate knowledge exchange and policy dialogue. 5. Land and Stability Nexus - Conduct research to support understanding the interaction between land degradation and drought and national stability, and contribute to relevant knowledge products as needed. - Support to engagement with relevant policy audiences, including through supporting the organization of events and support to ongoing and new partnerships. 6. G20 Global Land Initiative Steering Committee and Associate Members Engagement - Support regular and structured engagement of the initiative’s Steering Committee members and Associate Members. - Assist in the organization of an in-person Steering Committee meeting, including documentation, event logistics, tracking follow-up actions, and preparing post-meeting reports. - Prepare the landing page on the Initiative’s Associate Membership. 7. Peer Learning and Knowledge Products - Support peer-learning activities among G20 countries as well as between G20 Countries and non G20 Countries, including support to relevant workshops.

Qualifications/special skills

- A Master’s degree in political science, international relations, environmental studies, or other related area is required. - A minimum of three years of experience in political science, international relations, law, or related areas is required. - Experience working in the context of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) is required. - Experience organizing events in the context of the Rio Conventions, including COP activities, meetings, side events, or high-level dialogues, is required. - Experience managing event logistics and coordination, including preparation of concept notes, participant coordination, and post-event reporting, is required. - Experience working with government representatives in international or multilateral settings is required. - Experience supporting the coordination of multi-stakeholder partnerships, including engagement with international organizations and NGOs, is desirable. - Experience supporting advocacy related to environmental policy, climate, land, or sustainable development, is desirable.

Languages

- Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.

Additional Information

Only individuals who can act as independent, individual economical operators are qualified to apply. Individuals who can provide their services only on account of an institution or enterprise are not eligible under this procedure. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations Secretariat and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultant and individual contractor is responsible for determining tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. For remote consultancies, the selected candidate will be required to have a laptop or desktop PC (with Windows 11 or newer) or Mac (with the latest MacOS update), as well as a reliable, high-speed internet connection. An Office 365 license will be provided by the UNCCD to enable the candidate to access official emails, SharePoint, OneDrive and other office applications, such as Word and Excel. Further computer requirements: An antivirus application which receives regular updates; Browsers must be a newer version with regular updates enabled; Regular Windows 11 updates should be enabled with Windows laptop or PC. In addition, a mobile phone will be required to enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) through SMS or the Authenticator App.

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.