Consultant on Rangelands and Pastoralists

Result of Service

Support with UNCCD’s work on Rangelands and Pastoralists; active engagement with UNCCD’s work with the Indigenous People’s Caucus and the Silk Road Campaign.

Work Location

Home-based.

Expected duration

3 months(part-time)

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) In line with the UN International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention in August 2026 in Mongolia will elevate the global importance of rangelands and pastoralists, which provide critical ecosystem services and support billions of people, yet remain undervalued in policy. Pastoralists are recognized as key land stewards whose sustainable practices contribute to land restoration, climate resilience, and food security in dryland regions. Overall, COP17 aims to promote inclusive governance and invest in sustainable rangeland management as part of global efforts to combat desertification and achieve sustainable development. Duties & Responsibilities: Under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer of the G20 Global Land Initiative, and in close collaboration with the Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary, the consultant will perform the following duties: Support UNCCD work on Rangelands and Pastoralists: - Provide inputs and support to UNCCD’s ongoing work on Rangelands and pastoralists, in the lead up to COP17; - Provide support for the Silk Road campaign; - Assist UNCCD’s work with Indigenous Communities; - Support stakeholder coordination with partners, experts, and relevant institutions; - Contribute to knowledge management and synthesis of relevant technical and policy materials. Support country-engagement with key G-20 countries, namely the People’s Republic of China: - Engagement with stakeholders from the People’s Republic of China, including the private sector, think tanks, and relevant institutions - Support to Executive Secretary’s Mission to China; - Coordination and substantive support to ongoing G20-related work on rangelands and pastoralism; - Research, strategic planning and partnership development related to land restoration and sustainable land management priorities in rangelands; - Contribute to the successful organisation of events for COP17; - Support the development and design of presentations and other knowledge products; - Undertake other related tasks as required in support of programme objectives.

Qualifications/special skills

- Bachelor’s degree in international relations, political/social sciences, Environmental governance or a related field is required. - A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in anthropology, political science, international relations, law, development management, or related areas is required. - Demonstrated experience in working with indigenous communities is required. - Experience working in countries affected by desertification, land degradation and drought is desirable. - Proven ability to work independently and coordinate across diverse stakeholders id desirable. - Strong political judgement and discretion. - Ability to think strategically and with a results-oriented approach. - Analytical, drafting, and interpersonal communication skills.

Languages

- Fluency in spoken and written English and Chinese 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.