Sand and Dust Storms Strategy Specialist

Result of Service

- A validated and politically endorsed Strategic Roadmap for UNCCD Engagement in Combating Sand and Dust Storms (2026-2035); - Enhanced visibility and political commitment for SDS action following the high-level dialogue at the COP17; - A clear resource mobilization strategy to fund the implementation of the roadmap.

Work Location

Home-based.

Expected duration

90 days between May to October 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 Initiative Coordination Office, with oversight from UNCCD, was established to focus on capacity building, engaging the private sector and civil society and showcasing success. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has been active in the domain of combating sand and dust storms (SDS), guided by the Policy Advocacy Framework for SDS presented at COP13 in 2017. Mandated by the COP decisions on SDS including the most recent decision 27/COP16, the Secretariat and the Global Mechanism (GM) have been actively engaging with partners and stakeholders and collaborating with the United Nations Coalition on Combating Sand and Dust Storms (the Coalition) in supporting the implementation of the SDS-related decisions including the development of a global implementation initiative for SDS as a contribution to the delivery of the United Nations Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms (2025–2034) (the Decade). Building on the achievements of the UNCCD's work on SDS including the SDS Compendium, to play an active role in the Coalition and contribute to the Decade, the UNCCD requires a comprehensive roadmap that defines its strategic value proposition and operational plan. The UNCCD is therefore seeking to hire a consultant to develop this roadmap, providing a clear strategic framework for the Convention’s engagement on SDS over the next decade. Duties & Responsibilities: Under the overall supervision of the Managing Director of the Global Mechanism (GM) of the UNCCD and the direct supervision of the responsible Officer, and working collaboratively with all staff and relevant partners, the incumbent will perform the following main duties: a) Assessment of Key Technical Challenges in SDS Management: - Stocktaking existing information, identify and categorize the primary technical challenges associated with SDS, including source mapping and monitoring, early warning systems, mitigation techniques (land-based and non-land-based), and adaptation strategies. - Analyse the gaps in current technical capacity and technology transfer, particularly in developing countries affected by SDS. b) Review of Scientific and Socio-Economic Linkages: - Conduct a synthesis of existing academic studies and scientific literature to establish the evidence base linking SDS to: Land degradation and desertification. Land restoration and sustainable land management (SLM) practices. Food security, agricultural productivity, and rural livelihoods. Economic costs (health, transport, energy, agriculture) and co-benefits of mitigation. - Identify key data gaps and priority research areas where UNCCD can add value. c) Stakeholder and Actor Mapping: - Develop a comprehensive map of key actors in the SDS domain, including but not limited to: UN Entities: (e.g., ESCWA, ESCAP, WMO, UNEP, FAO, UNDP, WHO among others). Regional and Political Bodies: (e.g., African Union, League of Arab States, WMO SDS-WAS Regional nodes). Scientific and Technical Institutions: (e.g., universities, research centers, meteorological organizations). International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and Donors: (e.g., World Bank, GEF, GCF, regional development banks). Civil Society and Private Sector: (e.g., farming associations, technology providers). For each key actor, outline their core resources, mandate, strategic priorities, comparative advantages, and current activities related to SDS. d) Stocktaking of UNCCD’s Current Progress and Mandate: - Review and summarize all relevant UNCCD decisions and resolutions pertaining to sand and dust storms, tracing the evolution of the Convention's mandate. - Document past and present UNCCD activities, projects, and initiatives related to SDS, including work done by the Secretariat, the Science-Policy Interface (SPI), and Global Mechanism. - Identify the strengths and weaknesses of UNCCD’s engagement to date. e) Stakeholder Validation and Political Engagement: - Pre-COP Consultation Meeting: Plan, organize and facilitate a dedicated consultation meeting with key partners, coalition members, and affected country Parties prior to the 17th Session of UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP 17). The objective is to present preliminary findings, gather feedback on strategic direction, and build consensus on the follow up work on combating sand and dust storms, including to consult on the draft proposal for a Global Implementation Initiative on SDS. - COP-Side Events: Design, organize, and facilitate two key events at the UNCCD COP: A High-Level Political Dialogue: A session featuring ministers and heads of delegation to secure political buy-in for the roadmap and elevate SDS on the global policy agenda. A Technical Workshop: A session for scientists, practitioners, and technical experts to discuss the state-of-the-art in SDS source mitigation, monitoring, and the technical linkages to land degradation neutrality. f) Identification of Strategic Opportunities for UNCCD: - Propose concrete opportunities for UNCCD to engage, building on the outcomes of the consultation and COP events, and focusing on two complementary tracks: As an active member of of the Coalition on Sand and Dust Storms: Outline a vision for UNCCD’s active engagement in the Coalition working with members of the Coalition including ESCAP and ESCWA to create a shared agenda As Technical Lead on the Topic: Define UNCCD’s specific niche, leveraging its expertise in land degradation, drought, and restoration. This includes: Integrating SDS sources management into Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and related processes. Developing technical guides on source mitigation through sustainable land and water management. Leading policy advocacy on the land related drivers and solutions to SDS. g) Development of a Resource Mobilization Strategy: - Based on the proposed roadmap, develop a preliminary resource mobilization strategy. - Identify potential funding sources (e.g., GEF, GCF, bilateral donors, private foundations) aligned with the proposed activities. - Outline a plan for developing bankable projects and leveraging partnerships.

Qualifications/special skills

- Advanced university degree (Master’s or PhD) in engineering, science, international relations, public policy, natural resource management, or a related field. - Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in strategic planning, policy development, and project management in the context of environment and sustainable development. - Proven knowledge of the sand and dust storms, including its causes, impacts, and mitigation strategies.is required. - Experience in organizing and facilitating high-level political dialogues and multi-stakeholder consultations, preferably within the UN framework. - Proven experience in stakeholder engagement and partnership building within the UN system is required. - Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills in English. Proficiency in other UN languages is an asset.

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.