Technical Advisor on Innovative Financing and Private Sector, Bonn

UN Campus, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Postal Address: PO Box 260129, 53153 Bonn, Germany Tel. +49 (0) 228 815 2800 Fax: +49 (0) 228 815 2898/99

E-mail: secretariat@unccd.int Web-site: www.unccd.int

TERMS OF REFERENCE

FOR A CONSULTANCY WITH THE GLOBAL MECHANISM

Technical advisor on innovative financing and private sector (108 days, retainer from 1 January to 30 June 2014: 18 days/month)

1. Background

The Global Mechanism (GM) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has been established with the objective 'to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of existing financial mechanisms' for the implementation of the Convention. The support is delivered through 'actions leading to the mobilisation and channelling of substantial financial resources, including for the transfer of technology, on a grant, and/or on concessional or other terms, to affected developing country Parties' (Article 21, UNCCD). The GM is a partnership builder that actively works together with developing and developed country Parties as well as other organizations and the private sector for mobilising substantial resources for the implementation of the Convention. In particular, the GM work is articulated around three complementary areas:

(i) increase finance for SLM from national budgets, bilateral and multilateral donors and the private sector;

(ii) redirect resources from activities aggravating land degradation to activities compatible with SLM; and

(iii) create a conducive environment for SLM investments and for better access to available finance. To achieve this, the GM works with developing and developed country Parties and other relevant stakeholders (e.g. multilateral institutions, financial institutions, CSOs, private sector entities, etc.) and apply a resource mobilization approach that includes:

• identifying gaps, opportunities and priorities;
• engaging key partners and sources of funds;,
• advising them on the basis of analytical work; and,
• equipping them with knowledge, tools, capacities and catalytic support. For these reasons, the GM is actively engaged in the integrated economic valuation of land (EVL) as a vehicle to unlock the investment potential for sustainable land management (SLM). Through a consortium called OSLO (Offering Sustainable Land-use Options), the GM aims at promoting responsible land use by demonstrating the total economic value of terrestrial ecosystems and generating socio-economically viable and environmentally sustainable land use change options.

2. ASSIGNMENT

The consultant will work under the overall guidance of the GM Director of Programmes and Officer-in-charge and the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the GM Policy and Investment Analysis (POLINV) Programme. The objective of this consultancy is to assist in the implementation of key activities of the EIIF and POLINV programme of work in the coming 6 months, which will include:

• public-private dialogue for the Central America and Caribbean region on natural wealth management opportunities from the green economy, to be organized in 2014 (date TBC) in Panama City;
• capacity building initiatives of the OSLO consortium, including a special session on OSLO methodology and approach to be held at the conference of the Mesoamerican Society for Ecological Economics (4-8 March 2014, Costa Rica);
• assisting in the monitoring of the implementation of the OSLO programme of work for the 2014-2015 biennium, and in related resource mobilization tasks;
• contribute to the development of knowledge products
• collaboration in the supervision and administration of country level economic valuation of land (EVL) studies coordinated by the GM for the OSLO consortium;
• participation in the activities of the Economics of Land Degradation (ELD) initiative, as appropriate;
• engagement and partnership building with the private sector and investors, both at national and international level, on priority thematic and strategic areas; and knowledge and information disseminated through the OSLO web site, social media and other outreach channels.

Specific tasks under this assignment will include:

• Elaboration of concept notes, information knowledge products;
• Review of and provision of comments on draft papers where GM is involved;
• Preparation of draft presentations and statements;
• Note taking at relevant meetings and events;
• Contribution to the elaboration of funding applications;
• Contribution to the elaboration and coordination of analytical papers/publications;
• Active participation in and/or coordination of communications activities and task forces;
• Maintenance of relevant websites, blogs and social media (e.g. OSLO resources);
• Drafting of meeting reports and event proceedings;
• Other knowledge management activities; Any other task, as appropriate.

Qualifications and experience required:

• University degree; Working experience in an international organization, academic/research institution, or in the private sector;
• Basic proficiency in writing html; website maintenance;
• Full command of written and spoken English.
• Excellent knowledge of other UN official languages, a clear advantage

Contractual Terms

A contract will be issued for the period from 10 January 2014 to 30 June 2014.

Fees will be based on qualifications and the level of experience.

Submission of applications Applications should be submitted by e-mail to staffing@unccd.int, together with a UN Personal History Form or CV, specifying the position.

The deadline for applications is 3 January 2014. Only applications submitted by the deadline will be considered. No telephone calls will be returned.

Please address your application as indicated above and please do not address or copy your application to an individual at the Secretariat.