Result of Service

The consultant will lead & develop a marine and coastal OECM coherence guidance document as applied in the East Asian Seas, focusing on best practices and opportunities, avoiding a prescriptive approach, and thereafter facilitate a 2-day workshop that will support OECM learning and knowledge exchange. Tentative schedule for the OECM Consultant: 8 months [10 April 2025 to 10 November 2025]

Work Location

Remote/Home-based

Expected duration

8 months

Duties and Responsibilities

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. In December 2022, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) was adopted under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Its frontline Target 3 aims to Conserve 30% of Land, Waters and Seas, including the recognition of other effective area-based conservation measures (OECM) to achieve such targets. The East Asian Seas region consists of one of the most biologically diverse marine areas in the world and their ecosystems services constitute a critically important blue economy asset to the region. However, pressures from human activities and climate change pose significant challenges to the coastal and marine environment, dependent people and economic activities. Policy and management responses that address current pressures while anticipating future change is critical to meet global, regional and national ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation targets. The Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) is a regional intergovernmental policy forum and the sole decision-making body for the Action Plan for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of the East Asian Region (the East Asian Seas Action Plan) . The East Asian Seas Action Plan envisages implementation of integrated marine and coastal management in order to conserve biodiversity and maintain productivity. Further to this, the COBSEA Strategic Directions 2023-2027 includes a theme on marine and coastal biodiversity, ecosystem conservation and management, which recognize OECMs and indicated for COBSEA to “conduct a survey to assess the number in existence and their distribution and the policies and frameworks that govern their management”. The COBSEA Marine and Coastal Ecosystems (MCE) Framework and the biennial workplan for the implementation of the MCE Framework 2025-2026 also indicated for COBSEA to explore OECMs and opportunities on knowledge sharing and learning exchange. The consultant will lead the work towards an OECM coherence guidance document as applied in the East Asian Seas, focusing in OECM in the marine and coastal environment. A scoping study will be carried out based on desk review, country consultation and, as appropriate, other approaches. The consultant will ensure that the guidance document captures existing marine and coastal OECM best practices as applied in the region, and also draw examples from elsewhere that can be a source of learning for the region. Finally, the consultant will develop training materials and conduct a regional training focused on sharing best practices and opportunities for marine and coastal OECM. Specifically, the OECM Consultant will conduct a study on marine and coastal OECM and disseminate this information at the regional level by: i) Reviewing the different OECM modalities as applied in the region, and elsewhere that is relevant ii) Studying of OECM best practices for each COBSEA participating country iii) Developing effective communication materials on OECMs in the region iv) Developing training materials and preparation for the training in August 2025 v) Conducting the OECM training in close collaboration with the COBSEA Secretariat

Qualifications/special skills

A second-level university degree (Master’s or higher) in environmental sciences, natural resource management or equivalent academic qualifications is required. ● A minimum of 10 years of work experience in marine and coastal environmental issues is required; ● Experience of Marine Protected Areas and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures, preferably in the East Asian Seas region is desirable. ● Experience in facilitating / conducting knowledge sharing, learning exchange, and/or interactive lectures is an asset. ● Working experience in a multicultural environment including United Nations would be an asset. ● Previous involvement in and knowledge of COBSEA’s work is desirable. ● In-depth knowledge about the East Asian Seas region including national policy/legislative frameworks and processes ● Detailed understanding of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures ● Good written and oral communications skills ● Good facilitation skills ● Excellent analytical skills

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of other regional languages 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.