Biodiversity Planning Specialist , Multiple positions

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Water and Energy Cluster

Based in Copenhagen, the UNOPS Water and Energy Cluster provides specialized project management services to partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank. Together with partners, the cluster executes projects that support sustainable development by:

• promoting international cooperation to prevent and reverse environmental degradation of international water systems
• enhancing the resilience of communities and eco-systems to climate change
• lowering emissions by bridging renewable energy solutions
• developing Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions to strengthen climate-resilient development

Background

UNDP/GEF is providing assistance through UNOPS to countries bordering Yellow Sea in support of their efforts to address among others the increasing trends of depleting fishery stocks, loss of coastal wetland, land and sea-based pollution and implementation of the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem Strategic Action Programme (YSLME SAP) adopted by China and RO Korea with support of DPR Korea. One of the assistance programs to implement the SAP is the UNDP/GEF/UNOPS project entitled Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem: Restoring Ecosystem Goods and Services and Consolidation of a Long-term Regional Environmental Governance Framework, or the UNDP/GEF YSLME Phase II Project. The project was launched in July 2017.

The objective of this regional project is to achieve adaptive ecosystem-based management of the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem bordered by China, RO Korea and DPR Korea by fostering long-term sustainable institutional, policy and financial arrangements for effective ecosystem-based management of the Yellow Sea in accordance with the YSLME SAP.

There are four components of the project:

1. Sustainable national and regional cooperation for ecosystem based management.
2. Improved Ecosystem Carrying Capacity with respect to provisioning services.
3. Improved Ecosystem Carrying Capacity with respect to regulating and cultural services.
4. Improved Ecosystem Carrying Capacity with respect to supporting services.

The key outcomes sought are:

1. Establishment of a self-sustaining cooperative mechanism for ecosystem-based management.
2. Recovery of depleted fish stocks and improved mariculture production and quality.
3. Improved ecosystem health;
4. improved inter-sectoral coordination and mainstreaming of ecosystem based management principles at the national level, maintenance of habitat areas, strengthened stakeholder participation in management and improved policy making.
5. Skills and capacity significantly developed for region-wide ecosystem-based management.

Component 4 addresses improving ecosystem carrying capacity with respect to supporting services. In Outcome 4.1 of Component 4 entitled “Maintenance of current habitats and the monitoring and mitigation of the impacts of reclamation”, the project will support a series of activities leading to the development and adoption of the YSLME Biodiversity Conservation Plan including the targets to ensure areas of critical habitats are kept at baseline level. Output 4.1.1 of Outcome 4.1 specifically seeks to arrive at an agreement at all levels to implement the relevant management actions to regulate new coastal zone reclamation project.  As one of proposed activities, assessment of coastal and marine habitats, and species of critical global and regional significance can and should be used for habitat management, conservation, and restoration in the YS.  Understanding of the distribution, abundance, and functions of coastal and marine habitats will also assist in coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP), particularly with effective siting, design, and monitoring of marine protected areas (MPAs).  Further, understanding and predicting the effects of climate change and other anthropogenic impacts on ocean resources will require an increased emphasis on marine habitat.

In order to implement biodiversity conservation plan, one of the targets expected to be achieved during the YSLME Project Phase II, assessment of coastal and marine habitats in RO Korea and DPR Korea in the YS should be carried out by focusing on 23 Potential Priority Areas (PPAs) with collection of findings on distribution of endangered and threatened marine organisms, spawning, nursery and feeding grounds, cold water mass (CWM), and endangered migratory waterbirds.  Since the Project Phase I, the coastal and marine ecosystems and ecosystem services have already been greatly changed and are still facing threats.  Findings from assessment of coastal and marine habitats and critical species in the YS will contribute to the understanding of current status of ecosystems in RO Korea and DPR Korea in the YS by providing guidance for regional biodiversity conservation plan in this region and integration and development of the YSLME MPA Network.  In this context, the project plans to mobilize one consultant in RO Korea and one in PR China for assessment of coastal and marine habitats and critical species with following terms of Reference.

Objectives

The objective underlying the proposed consultancy is to enhance resilience of YSLME biodiversity and ecosystems by strengthening the coverage and connectivity of MPAs and reduce the loss of coastal and marine habitats and species of critical global and regional significance in support of achieving SDG 14 and implementing CBD, RAMSAR and other relevant Conventions.

Expected Outputs

The consultant 1 is expected to deliver the following results:

• YSLME Biodiversity Conservation Plan for RO Korea and DPR Korea in the Yellow Sea

The consultant 2 is expected to deliver the following results

• A draft framework plan for YSLME Biodiversity Conservation in the Yellow Sea

Activities

Under supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor and Regional Working Group on Habitat of YSLME Phase II Project, in close collaboration with the local project team, the consultant will:

1. Conduct desk review to assess the status and trends of threats, stresses and underlying causes (drivers) using existing information on biological (e.g., distribution of endangered and threatened marine organisms, spawning, nursery and feeding grounds, endangered migratory water-birds, and etc.), physical factors (e.g., climate change, CWM, etc.), policy (reclamation, urbanization, marine economic development, etc) affecting coastal and marine ecosystems as contained in the NBSAPs, CBD country reports, RAMSAR reports in China, RO Korea and DPR Korea to the extent possible;
2. Analyze constraints, opportunities, threats, issues, problems and capacity needs and identify solutions (management tools such as MPA network, research and monitoring, education, spatial planning and awareness raising, regulatory tools ranging from regulations and permits to enforcement) through consultation with stakeholders and interest groups;
3. Prepare the draft framework plan for YSLME biodiversity conservation (2018-2030) with three stages and submit it for consultation and review by members of the Regional Working Group on Habitat of the YSLME Phase II Project;
4. Develop explicit goals, time-bound targets and actions in line with the proposed solutions to assist the bordering countries of YSLME to implement provisions of the CBD, Ramsar and other conventions at a regional approach;
5. Present the framework plan and facilitate the conduct of a Biodiversity Conservation Planning Workshop to be conducted in November 7-10 in Rudong China for consultation, validation and refinement on different elements of a conservation plan with different stakeholders;
6. Incorporate comments and consolidate into a final draft YSLME Biodiversity Conservation Plan (2018-2030) in collaboration with Biodiversity Planning Specialist in PR China/ RO Korea in hard copy (in English) and electronically.

Inputs

UNDP/GEF YSLME Phase II Project management Office (PMO) will provide the background information and documents, and will be responsible for providing financial support and the logistics support to participation in the Biodiversity Conservation Planning Workshop by the PMO.

• Advanced university education at MSc or Ph.D. level with expertise in the area of biology, marine sciences or natural resource management or other related flied with at  least 7 years of relevant professional experience is required.
• Bachelor’s Degree with additional two years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of a advanced university degree (MSc).
• A good understanding of development and biodiversity contexts of North East Asia is an asset.
• Strong skills in analysis and evaluation, and experience in biodiversity assessment and planning
• Ability to produce high quality reports, publications in English is required.
• Previous experience with GEF projects and environmental planning is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required, knowledge of Mandarin and or Korean  is an asset

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.