Project Development Lead, Maldives Project (GBFF12031) and Indonesia Policy Coherence Project (GEF12073)

CEO Endorsement Request Packages including UNEP's annexes for the projects 1"Towards Resilient Ecosystems and Communities in South Ari Atoll, Maldives.” and 2 “Enhancing Policy Coherence for a Sustainable Blue Economy in Indonesia” (GEF ID 12073).

Home-based

12 months

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 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. UNEP's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical guidance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacities of developing countries and countries with transitional economies. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit plays a key role in the implementation of GEF projects. Through this unit, the organization provides support to countries and partners in the development and implementation of GEF projects in focal areas of biodiversity and land degradation. The unit has staff located across multiple regions, with coordination handled from its headquarters in Nairobi, working closely with regional and sub-regional offices. It currently manages a portfolio of over 200 projects spanning Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and West Asia, and Asia and the Pacific. The unit would like to recruit a consultant to lead the planning and execution of the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) process for two GEF funded projects (GBFF and GEF8 projects) 1) “Towards Resilient Ecosystems and Communities in South Ari Atoll, Maldives” (GEF ID 12031). UNEP, acting as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is providing assistance to the executing agency for the project, Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy (MoCCEE), Maldives , in the preparation of the GBFF project "Towards Resilient Ecosystems and Communities in South Ari Atoll, Maldives” As part of the GEF PPG, UNEP is hiring a consultant to develop, in full compliance with the enforced GEF rules and standards, a CEO endorsement package for submission to the GEF Secretariat. In accordance with the GEF procedures, the full set of project documentation must be submitted to the GEF Secretariat no later than 19 Aug 26. Through the present announcement, UNEP is seeking to engage an experienced consultant who has a strong background in GEF requirements for project design, implementation, and monitoring, as well as experience in sustainable land management, land use planning, and creation of new protected areas. The objective of the assignment is to develop the GEF CEO Endorsement Request, including all applicable annexes, for the project "Towards Resilient Ecosystems and Communities in South Ari Atoll, Maldives” The consultancy will be home-based, with travel to the Maldives. 2) “Enhancing Policy Coherence for a Sustainable Blue Economy in Indonesia” (GEF ID 12073). UNEP, acting as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is providing assistance to the executing agency for the project, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), in the preparation of the GEF Full-Sized Project " Enhancing Policy Coherence for a Sustainable Blue Economy in Indonesia” As part of the GEF PPG, UNEP is hiring a consultant to develop, in full compliance with the enforced GEF rules and standards, a CEO endorsement package for submission to the GEF Secretariat. In accordance with the GEF procedures, the full set of project documentation must be submitted to the GEF Secretariat no later than 17 November 2026. Through the present announcement, UNEP is seeking to engage an experienced consultant who has a strong background in GEF requirements for project design, implementation, and monitoring, as well as experience in sustainable land management, land use planning, and creation of new protected areas. The objective of the assignment is to develop the GEF CEO Endorsement Request, including all applicable annexes, for the project " Enhancing Policy Coherence for a Sustainable Blue Economy in Indonesia” The consultancy will be home-based, with travel to Indonesia. The specific tasks to be performed by the consultant are as follows: • Organize, coordinate, and lead the project design; present a plan for the entire PPG from the beginning of the process, with a logical timeline, detailed agenda, and methodology. • Participate in field missions when possible. • Participate in periodic discussions, in the presence or virtually when needed, with the project design team and partners (i.e., governmental agencies and civil society) on the project progress and, when needed, on specific issues (i.e., organizational and governance structure of the project). • Monitor the PPG process at the request of UNEP´s Task Manager, Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MOCCEE), Maldives, and Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), Indonesia and/or with key stakeholders, for purposes of informing them about the project and the ongoing PPG processes. • Periodically, inform UNEP's Task Manager and MOCCEE, Maldives and Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), Indonesia on the status of the work and highlight, in a timely manner, risks related to the quality of the information received and the fulfillment of the project's development schedule. Work in close coordination with and assign tasks to national consultants and ensure that all coordination and assignment tasks are communicated to and through MOCCEE, Maldives and Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), Indonesia. • Review risks and their respective rankings and propose mitigation measures with inputs from the project design team and other relevant stakeholders. • Prepare and compile the CEO Endorsement, including all annexes and appendices. • Prepare costed M&E work plan for all activities, with defined indicators, to be funded by the GEF including clear identification of responsibilities and accountabilities, as well as an appropriate M&E budget. The plan will be based on the standard template provided in the package template that reflects the mandatory requirements of the GEF M&E Policy. • Finalize the project results framework as regards all activities. Further define the results framework with appropriate objective-level and outcome-level quantitative and qualitative SMART indicators, mid and end-of-project targets. Establish baseline and targets for indicators reporting on the UNEP Integrated Results and Resources Framework. Ensure that all related activities are in conformity with GEF-8 focal area guidelines and indicators. Special attention should be paid to include socio-economic and gender sensitive indicators. • Prepare draft responses to comments from the UNEP´s Project Review Committee (PRC) and the GEF Secretariat (GEFSEC) and submit them to UNEP´s Task Manager and Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MOCCEE), Maldives and Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), Indonesia. The lead consultant is responsible for ensuring: i. The project proposal follows relevant national and local policies, plans and regulations for marine protected area management and in alignment with strategic and planning documents, such as NBSAP. ii. The project design enables integrated, cross-sectoral management of ecologically significant areas in South Ari Atoll through policies, increased awareness and capacity amongst local communities and local councils. iii. The project proposal follows relevant national and provincial policies, plans and regulations ocean accounting and in alignment with strategic and planning documents iv. Analysis of the national and provincial policies, data platforms, permit systems, and capacity needs to establish ocean accounts (extent and condition) for policy coherence. v. Baseline analysis of policy coherence between provincial and national jurisdictions on coastal and marine resources management, and analysis of policy entry points for integrated spatial and sectoral planning in project sites. vi. Analysis of existing landscape of sustainable blue economy initiatives and identification of potential pathways for new projects, financing mechanisms, and reef-positive business models based on ocean accounts vii. Baseline assessment of institutional capacity and knowledge sharing networks for sustainability of project. viii. The package includes a Gender Analysis, a Gender Action Plan, and a Stakeholder Engagement Plan, personnel ToRs, project workplan, procurement plan etc.; and ix. The package includes an assessment of environmental and social safeguards, encompassing, when needed, applicable mitigation measures. The consultant must also verify and, if this is the case, include the identification of potential institutional linkages with ongoing and proposed GEF Projects and other project-relevant initiatives. The Lead Consultant will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the National Expert and must ensure that all supervisory activities are communicated to and through MOCCEE and Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), Indonesia. Reporting Lines: The Lead Consultant will report to Task Manager, GEF-Biodiversity, and Land Degradation Unit, under the supervision of Head, GEF-Biodiversity, and Land Degradation Unit, and MOCCEE, Maldives and the Director for Ecosystem Conservation, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), Indonesia. The consultancy will be home-based with possible project site visits.

- An advanced university degree in biodiversity sciences, environmental sciences, natural resource management, natural resource policy, environmental policy, environmental economics, or a closely related field is required. A first-level university degree in the same fields is acceptable with two additional years of qualifying relevant experience. - A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in environmental planning, sustainable land management, management, and protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services is required. - Demonstrated knowledge of GEF policies and programming, as well as senior experience in GEF project formulation and writing of the GEF Project Document and CEO Endorsement is highly desirable. - Work experience in protected area management, ecological restoration, and nature-based solutions, particularly in coastal areas, working with a broad range of stakeholders and international donor agencies, preferably with experience working with various GEF Implementing Agencies on GEF project design and/or implementation, midterm and terminal evaluation reviews is desirable. - Work experience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on marine ecosystems management is desirable. - Work experience in natural capital accounting, ecological restoration, and nature-based solutions, particularly in coastal areas, working with a broad range of stakeholders and international donor agencies, preferably with experience working with various GEF Implementing Agencies on GEF project design and/or implementation, midterm and terminal evaluation reviews is desirable. - Experience in leading and/or participating in multi-disciplinary teams addressing a range of environmental planning and management issues) is an asset; and - Experience working in the Asia Region is highly desirable.

- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English with strong writing and editing skills is required.

Not available.

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.