Result of Service

1) Coordination of the science-policy-practice interface and ESD-related processes relevant to the Carpathian Convention 2) Overseeing the developments with respect to Carpathian Pastoralism and participation of Carpathian Parties in the international Transhumance file, to be submitted to UNESCO

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

3.5 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. UNEP has the mandate to keep the state of the global and regional environment under review, in order to inform decision making on the state and trends of our changing environment, and to foresee emerging environmental problems and threats, particularly those of a transboundary nature. The Vienna Programme Office was established in 2004 with the main purpose of acting as the Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention. Moreover, the Office is UNEP’s European focal point for environmental cooperation with Central and South-Eastern European countries. It coordinates the delivery of UNEP’s programme of work in this part of Europe and liaises between UNEP and organizations based in Vienna and in the sub-region. The Carpathian Convention Secretariat promotes ratification and facilitates cooperation between signatory states, as well as other relevant international bodies and conventions. It furthermore encourages and supports research, communication and information exchange between partners, coordinates the preparation and implementation of the Convention’s work programme, prepares relevant documentation and supports further institutional development. The importance of mountain ecosystems and sustainable development of the mountainous areas as well as the challenges faced by mountain communities have been recognized in a number of international policy documents, such as Chapter 13 of Agenda 21 (1992), the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2003), and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UN 2015), as well as numerous scientific publications. A number of processes and mechanisms for cooperation on protection and sustainable development of the mountainous regions have emerged, including regional cooperation efforts in the Carpathian Mountain region. The Carpathian Convention, ESD and Science-Policy-Practice interface for sustainable development and protection of natural and cultural heritage: The Carpathian Convention parties agree on the importance of awareness raising and public participation, reflected in the Article 13 of the convention “Awareness raising, education and public participation”. This is a cross-sectional issue, meant to contribute to capacity building in all aspects of sustainable development, and is in line with the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Strategy of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the global process led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), including the recently adopted ESD 2030 Framework. The implementation of the Convention provisions related to ESD requires cooperation between the many actors working in the field of science, policy and practice. Via a recently completed project “Carpathian ESD: Strengthening the ESD network in the Carpathian Convention via science-policy-practice interface”, supported by the German Federal Environment Ministry’s Advisory Assistance Programme (AAP), the Carpathian ESD Expert Network has been established. Science-policy-practice interface in the Carpathians, another important aspect of implementing the Convention, is implemented via cooperation of the CC Secretariat, and other CC partners with the Science for the Carpathians (S4C) – a scientific network which connects/involves to scientists both from the Carpathian region and from around the world, who are engaged in research focused on the Carpathians. The S4C organizes regular conferences, Forum Carpaticum, and aims to diversify and enhance network activities, both within the region and in collaboration with scientific networks from other mountain regions. The network also provides recommendations to the Carpathian Convention. The S4C is planning an in-person meeting in May 2024 in order to redefine the network Membership and start planning the organization of the Forum Carpaticum in 2025. One of the thematic focus points relevant for both scientific collaboration and capacity building, is Pastoralism. Pursuant to the Carpathian Convention COP7 Decisions (COP7/12) giving a special mandate to “supporting, promoting and protecting the traditional pastoral practices in the Carpathians” and particularly to “exploring possibilities to inscribe the Carpathian pastoralism in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” (DECISION COP7/12 paragraphs 2-6), the Secretariat is facilitating dialogue and cooperation towards the UNESCO nomination of Carpathian pastoralism/transhumance, in close collaboration with Poland and Romania and the respective UNESCO National Focal Points (NFPs). The Secretariat is developing a follow-up project with the provisional title “Linking biodiversity, pastoralism and cultural heritage through ESD in the Carpathian Region” in order to build on the results of “Carpathian ESD” and to co-organize multisectoral collaborations around Carpathian pastoralism, linking it with the implementation of the Carpathian Biodiversity Framework and the work of the Carpathian ESD Expert Network (CESDEN). The UNEP– Vienna Programme Office, Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention (UNEP Vienna) is supporting the processes of collaboration on Education for Sustainable Development, strengthening the science-policy-practice interface as well as implementing cross-sectoral frameworks linking education and science with sustainable development and protection of natural and cultural heritage in the Carpathian region. The Carpathian Convention Secretariat will continue to facilitate coordination of the Carpathian ESD Expert network, and strengthen collaboration with other relevant networks, such as the UNECE Steering Committee on ESD (UNECE SC ESD) and the government of Cyprus, who expressed its support to the Carpathian ESD Activities. Furthermore, the Secretariat will continue supporting the S4C network activities and strengthening their science-policy-practice component. With respect to Pastoralism, the Secretariat will continue facilitating dialogue and integrating knowledge on how to support pastoralism practices in the Carpathian region, as well as integrating Carpathian experts and practitioners into European and international discussions on this subject. The consultant will cooperate with the UNEP–Vienna Programme Office, Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention in: 1) Coordination of the science-policy-practice interface and ESD-related processes relevant to the Carpathian Convention 2) Overseeing the developments with respect to Carpathian Pastoralism and participation of Carpathian Parties in the international Transhumance file, to be submitted to UNESCO Tasks include: • Coordination of the science-policy-practice interface and ESD-related processes relevant to the Carpathian Convention o Liaison with the UNECE SC ESD, UNESCO ESD-net and the Spirala network, which received funds from the government of Cyprus to support Carpathian ESD activities. o Following up on the submission and, as relevant, implementation of the project “Linking biodiversity, pastoralism and cultural heritage through ESD in the Carpathian Region” o Co-organization of and participation in Carpathian ESD Seminars planned in Slovakia in November 2024 o Co-organization of and participation in the relevant S4C meetings and events including those related to the organization of Forum Carpaticum 2025 o Contribution to the Progress Report to the Carpathian Convention Implementation Committee (CCIC) and to the presentations at the CCIC meeting. • Overseeing the developments with respect to Carpathian Pastoralism o Following and facilitating participation of Carpathian Parties in the international Transhumance file o Liaison with Romanian coordinators of the process and with Carpathian Partners on the joint development of the safeguarding plan and potential development of the Carpathian Pastoralism file o Participation in and co-organization of relevant meetings and events

Qualifications/special skills

A Master’s degree in sustainability sciences, environmental policy, environmental sciences, or a similar field is required. A PhD in a similar field is an asset. Minimum of seven years of experience in the field of environmental policy / sustainable regional development / nature protection / science-policy-practice interface is required. Project management experience is required. Working experience in academic institutions, particularly experience in writing and editing peer reviewed publications in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary setting is desirable. Working experience with organizations in the Carpathian countries is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of a Carpathian language is an asset.

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.