ABOUT THE COMPANY:

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

Duties and Responsibilities: The consultant will work under the overall supervision of Head of UNEP Sub-regional Office for Central Asia and Programme Management Officer, Environmental Policy Unit of the Law Division, in close consultation and cooperation with UNEP’s Regional Development Coordinator for Europe, UNEP Country Focal point for Uzbekistan, relevant UNECE representatives and other colleagues. S/he will undertake a scoping study for the country of Uzbekistan focused on building capacities to ratify, mainstream and ultimately implement three UNECE Conventions (Aarhus, Espoo, Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention), as well as identifying how policy coherence for environmental governance and environmental rule of law can support this goal and possibly inform the next cycle of Common Country Analysis and UN Sustainable Cooperation Framework (2026-2029). Output 1: Undertake a targeted gap analysis that identifies Uzbekistan’s preparedness to ratify, mainstream and ultimately implement and the three UNECE Conventions on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention), the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention) and the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention), as well as related protocols and amendments, focusing on legislative, institutional and capacity building needs, as relevant and necessary for each Convention. This analysis will build on the outcomes of and complement previous analyses or capacity building activities undertaken by the UN or other development partners. It will take into account, inter alia, existing country environmental reports, environmental performance reviews and related recommendations, national strategies, action plans and development policies, as well as similar scoping studies and legislative reviews. The analysis will be developed and made available in close consultation with the targeted country representatives with a view to helping the country respond to persisting capacity gaps and develop a coherent approach that can promote interlinkages between the three Conventions, while also identifying treaty-specific actions. Output 2: Produce a short report with key recommendations specific to each Convention on how Uzbekistan could strengthen policy coherence for environmental governance by improving its national policy, institutional and legal frameworks, as relevant, for better alignment with the three UNECE Conventions and increasing their mainstreaming across development planning to possibly inform the next cycle of Common Country Analysis and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2026-2030), including in relevant outcomes and identification of entry points for UNCT to integrate provisions and principles of UNECE Conventions in country level programming. This report will build on and complement any existing/past capacity-building initiatives provided to the country by UNEP, UNECE, and other organisations (e.g. OSCE). It will be made available to the targeted country representatives as well as relevant UN representatives, including the Results Group on Environment and Resident Coordinator’s Office.

Qualifications/special skills
Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent in environmental sciences, environmental law, environmental management or closely related area of study) is required. Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in environmental policy, environmental governance or environmental law. Excellent research and analytical skills. Result focused, clear and concise communication Demonstrated capacity to work in a team and consultative manner, good networking and good inter-personal skills.

Languages
Fluency in oral and written English and Russian is required.