Result of Service

The ultimate result is the timely and effective technical and financial support provided to the Contracting Parties for the implementation of National IMAP on pollution cluster.

Work Location

home-based

Expected duration

The contract will be for a period of three (3) months, starting from the date of the last signature. The total fees of USD 21,000 will be paid to the Individual Contractor (at B level) to cover the fees for 3 months. The individual contractor will be paid USD 7,000 upon completion of every working month upon certification of the supervisor of satisfactory performance. There will therefore be a total of 3 instalments. The fees will be charged against the following coding block: Fund: 40MEL Functional Area: 14AF0001 Cost Center: 11210 Grant: GMNR Budget period: B25 WBSE: SB- 024784.02.02.01.01.04 (USD 21,000)

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. United Nation’s Environment Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This consultancy assignment is for the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) – Programme for the Assessment and Control of Marine Pollution in the Mediterranean (MED POL), Athens, Greece. In line with the Decision IG.22/7 (COP19, 2016) on the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) of the Mediterranean Sea and Coast and Related Assessment Criteria and Decision 26/3 (COP 23, 2023) on the 2023 Mediterranean Quality Status Report and a Renewed Ecosystem Approach Policy in the Mediterranean providing the assessment criteria related to IMAP Pollution as upgraded during the period 2019-2023, as well as identifying the gaps subject to addressing in the medium term, the implementation of IMAP Pollution continues in the ongoing biennium as set in Decision 26/14 on Programme of Work and Budget for 2024 -2025. Decision 26/14 on Programme of Work and Budget for 2024 – 2025 adopted by the 23rd Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP 23) held in Portoroz, Slovenia, from 5 to 8 December 2023, mandated MED POL with the implementation of the following activities: • Support the Contracting parties in the implementation of 2021 Regional Plans under the LBS Protocol, through local, national, sub-regional, and regional actions. • Implement IMAP at the national and as appropriate sub-regional level taking into consideration the MED QSR 2023 recommendations and preparing thematic analyses and assessments as requested by the Contracting Parties. • Strengthen national capacities to organize, upload, validate, and release IMAP data, and to establish a strong science-policy interface for the implementation of the ecosystem approach. Given the need to carry out the specified activities, it is necessary to recruit an Individual Contractor to execute 2024-2025 PoW activities managed by the MED POL Programme with regards to pollution monitoring and assessment. The Individual Contractor will work under the direct supervision of the MED POL Programme Management Officer, under the overall guidance of the UNEP/MAP Deputy Coordinator. he/she will perform the following tasks: • Prepare a detailed work plan with a timetable. • Follow up with the Contracting Parties of the Barcelona Convention in the implementation of National IMAP-based monitoring programmes for EO5, and EO9, including data collection and submission in IMAP Info System. • Follow up the implementation of selected IMAP indicators at newly established offshore monitoring stations. • Draft the necessary documents, and presentations for the CORMON Meeting on Pollution, and other MED POL institutional Meetings, as appropriate. • Follow up on the implementation of the agreement with IAEA for assisting the Contracting Parties of the Barcelona Convention to apply good laboratory practices, proficiency testing (PTs), and QA/QC protocols on monitoring data processing and reporting. • Finalize the ToRs for three consultancies to: i) upgrade the Environmental Assessment Criteria related to IMAP Common Indicator 17; ii) set the reference and boundary values related to IMAP Common Indicators 13 and 14 in the selected Mediterranean sub-region/sub-division; and iii) upgrade the Background Assessment Concentrations and Environmental Assessment Criteria related to IMAP Common Indicator 18, and propose candidates for selection. • Provide technical support to the CPs for implementing the Pollution and Contaminants cluster within the EU- funded Projects ECAP MED Plus and SEMPA, along with their respective SSFAs. • Perform any other duties. • Prepare a final report of deliverables for the consultancy.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental studies (Marine Sciences, Chemistry, biological oceanography), or a related field is required. • A minimum of five years of relevant scientific experience is required, including: (i) statistical analysis of environmental field survey data and data from scientific literature and other sources related to pollution in the Mediterranean Sea, marine and coastal waters, sediments, and biota; and (ii) monitoring and assessing the environmental status of the Mediterranean marine ecosystem. • Good knowledge of UNEP/MAP-MED POL, and the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) is desirable.

Languages

Fluency and excellent writing skills in English are required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

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.