Consultant (Revision of GLI Strategic Plan)

Result of Service

A revised, fit-for-purpose strategic plan for the G20 Global Land Initiative, reflecting progress to date, updated assumptions, and a clear results framework to guide implementation from 2027 onwards.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

40 days between May and September 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 G20 (or Group of Twenty) is the annual international forum for the governments of 19 industrialized countries, the European Union and the African Union. The G20 Leaders' Declaration, issued in November 2020, launched a "Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats" (G20 Global Land Initiative or G20 GLI). Building on existing initiatives and on a voluntary basis, the G20 countries share the ambition to achieve a 50 percent reduction in the amount of degraded land by 2040. The G20 GLI Coordination Office, with oversight from UNCCD, was established to focus on capacity building, engaging the private sector and civil society, and showcasing success. The G20 GLI Coordination Office has been operational since 2022, guided by an approved strategic plan, a theory of change, and a set of key performance indicators. Following four years of implementation, a strategic review is now required to assess progress, validate or revise underlying assumptions, and ensure that the Initiative remains fit for purpose in a rapidly evolving global context. The services of a consultant are therefore sought to lead the revision of the strategic plan. Duties & Responsibilities: Under the direct supervision of the Director, G20 Global Land Initiative, the consultant will: 1. Conduct a comprehensive review of the existing strategic plan (2022–present), including an assessment of progress against the approved theory of change and key performance indicators. 2. Review the existing stakeholder mapping of the G20 Global Land Initiative and update as necessary 3. Undertake stakeholder consultations with G20 members, partner organizations, the UNCCD Secretariat, and other relevant entities to gather inputs on achievements, challenges, and emerging priorities for the G20 ICO. 4. Analyze the current external context, including developments in global land restoration policy, financing mechanisms, technological innovation, and the evolving needs of countries and partners. 5. Propose revisions to the theory of change, strategic objectives, and key performance indicators to reflect lessons learned and emerging opportunities. 6. Draft a revised strategic plan, incorporating a clear results framework, risk assessment, and implementation roadmap for the period extending to 2030 or as determined in consultation with the Director. 7. Present draft outputs to the Director and key stakeholders for feedback and facilitate a validation workshop or series of consultations as required. 8. Finalize the revised strategic plan, incorporating all feedback, and prepare a summary version suitable for dissemination to G20 and non-G20 audiences.

Qualifications/special skills

- A PhD in a relevant field such as environment, development studies, public policy, international relations, or strategic management is required. - A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic planning, project design, and results-based management is required. - Demonstrated experience in designing and applying theory of change frameworks and developing key performance indicators for large-scale international initiatives is required. - Proven experience in monitoring and evaluating strategic plans or programs, including the use of performance data to inform strategic adjustments, is required. - Experience working with multilateral processes, G20 mechanisms, or international environmental conventions (particularly UNCCD) is highly desirable. - Demonstrated experience in facilitating stakeholder consultations with diverse actors, including governments, international organizations, and civil society, is an asset.

Languages

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

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.