Coordinator of Asia Pacific Illegal Taking of Migratory Birds Task Force

Result of Service

Asia Pacific Illegal Taking of Migratory Birds Intergovernmental Task Force (ITTEA) is successfully coordinated according to the activities outlined in the ITTEA Programme of Work and requirements related to this intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder initiative, and satisfactory support to CMS Parties and the CMS Secretariat is provided regarding their mandates to protect migratory birds from illegal killing, taking and trade; membership is increased, documentation is developed, and activities and communication with Task Force members, the EAAFP Task Force on Illegal Hunting, Taking and Trade of Migratory Waterbirds, the EAAFP Secretariat and other observers and relevant stakeholders are coordinated and facilitated according to such requirements.

Work Location

Remote/home-based, beneficial to work from Bonn

Expected duration

01/08/24-30/04/26

Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Setting The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is a global intergovernmental treaty aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of migratory species and their habitats. Numerous additional intergovernmental instruments on migratory species conservation have been adopted under the broad umbrella of CMS, which are supported by the CMS Secretariat. The CMS Secretariat also provides the Secretariat for the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (ASCOBANS). In addition, two regional agreements on migratory species adopted under CMS have their own Secretariats which are co-located with the CMS Secretariat in Bonn – the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the Agreement on the Conservation of European Populations of Bats (EUROBATS). The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. 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. In the present context, UNEP provides the administrative functions for the CMS, AEWA and EUROBATS Secretariats. This post is administered in the CMS Secretariat in Bonn, Germany. Background The Asia Pacific Illegal Taking of Migratory Birds Intergovernmental Task Force, formerly Intergovernmental Task Force to Address Illegal Hunting, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, ITTEA, was launched in 2023 in Brisbane, Australia, under the mandate of CMS Resolution 11.16 (Rev.COP14) The Prevention of Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds and CMS Decisions 13.32 to 13.33 – Illegal Hunting, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the East-Asian Australasian Flyway. It brings together government representatives in the field of environment, game management, law enforcement and judiciary of CMS Parties as well as of Non-Parties in the East-Asian Australasian Flyway (EAAF). Representatives of other interested CMS Parties beyond the EAAF, of governing and technical bodies and secretariats of the participating MEAs and other international organizations, of relevant bilateral migratory bird agreements in the region as well as of academic institutions, the hunting community, NGOs and other stakeholders and networks, as appropriate, are invited to contribute to the Task Force as observers. The current membership of the ITTEA comprises, so far, 10 Countries (4 CMS Parties, 6 non-CMS Parties). Nine representatives of other MEAs/IGOs or their advisory bodies, 13 NGOs and academic institutions and six other experts are Observers to the Task Force. In moderating the ITTEA and facilitating its activities, the ITTEA Coordinator and the CMS Secretariat cooperate closely with the Secretariat of the EAAFP and its Task Force on Illegal Hunting, Taking and Trade of Migratory Waterbirds. Scope The geographical scope of action of the Coordinator will be regional as per Terms of Reference of the ITTEA, covering all States of the EAAF and any other States that may have an influence on illegal hunting, taking and trade of wild birds (ITB) in the Asia-Pacific region, including through trade or any other commercial relationship, as well as working with other States which wish to support the Task Force. Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Avian Species Team of the CMS Secretariat and the overall supervision of the Executive Secretary of CMS, the Coordinator’s work will deal with all migratory bird species as identified by CMS and its relevant associated instruments, which regularly occur in the Asia-Pacific region, and thereby striving for maximum complementarity and cooperation with the EAAFP Task Force on Illegal Hunting, Taking and Trade of Migratory Waterbirds. Tasks and responsibilities 1. Coordinate and undertake the CMS Secretariat’s activities and communication with Range States towards the implementation of the Programme of Work of the Task Force. 2. Prepare the agenda and speakers list for side events on ITB at EAAFP MOP12 and CMS COP15, organize their logistics and coordinate with the speakers, the EAAFP Secretariat and relevant stakeholders, in cooperation with the Coordinator of the MIKT, and other relevant partners; draft presentation on the ITTEA and key activities related to priority species including but not limited to Far-eastern Curlew, Christmas Island Frigatebird, Yellow-breasted Bunting and Great Bustard for the event and facilitate the ITTEA-relevant parts of the event. 3. Prepare contract(s) for the development of baselines for ITB in priority hotspot countries/areas in the Asia-Pacific region (as required for agreed priority areas; to cover Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia at the minimum; small-scale funding agreements or CIC, as appropriate) and coordinate and support their implementation in cooperation with the implementing partner(s); coordinate consultation with the Task Force members and stakeholders and present the outputs at ITTEA meetings/(online) workshop, incl. a foreseen ITTEA in-person meeting at EAAFP MOP12 in November 2025. 4. Prepare a contract for the development of a Scoreboard to measure progress in addressing ITB at national level; coordinate and support implementation of the contract, and delivery of the outputs, and present them at ITTEA meetings/(online) workshop, incl. a foreseen ITTEA in-person meeting at EAAFP MOP12 in November 2025. 5. Organize online information sessions to guide ITTEA members in how to use the scoreboard and apply baselines, considering regional/local variation in the issue of ITB, as required. 6. Undertake research and reach out to partners regarding external funding sources and compile and update the information in a document including relevant information on the specifics of each funding source. 7. Prepare a fundraising proposal and submit it to a relevant donor, in cooperation and coordination with the CMS Fundraising Officer, and assist with reporting to donors. 8. In coordination with the Joint CMS + AEWA Communications, Information Management and Outreach Team, update the webpage for the Task Force, promote awareness about the Task Force through social media, drafting of articles, and providing other inputs for the CMS website. 9. Facilitate implementation of decisions of the Task Force and the Decisions of the CMS COP with regard to ITB, including support to Parties and Range States and the CMS Scientific Council in implementing Decisions 14.120 and 14.123, respectively, on a global situation analysis on production, sale, use and regulation of the use of mist nets and other sorts of nets used for bird trapping. 10. Prepare a contract for the production of templates and written guidance documents/manual, including a preliminary list of species, for conducting surveys on food and wildlife markets and coordinate and support its implementation and delivery of the outputs, and present them at ITTEA meetings/(online) workshop, incl. a foreseen ITTEA in-person meeting at EAAFP MOP12 in November 2025. 11. Prepare the agenda, meeting documents and web presentation for an in-person of the ITTEA, and facilitate the meeting in cooperation with CMS Secretariat staff and the ITTEA Chairperson; present progress made and discuss key outputs with members (including outputs 3, 4 and 9, above) for endorsement by the Task Force members; summarize the meeting outcomes and conclusions in post-session documents and a report. 12. Draft concepts/ToRs for the delivery of guidelines on effective legislation on ITB; and for an expert review on the status of hunting regulations in the Asia-Pacific region. 13. Facilitate engagement of stakeholders in the activities of the Task Force. 14. Stimulate and monitor communication and exchange of information, experience, best practice and know-how among members and observers of the Task Force as well as to other relevant stakeholders. 15. Represent the Task Force at relevant meetings, in consultation with the CMS Secretariat. 16. Maintain links with other relevant CMS instruments, task forces and working groups (WGs) such as AEWA, the Raptors MOU, MIKT, the Flyways WG, the Preventing Poisoning WG and the African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds WG; and with the EAAFP and its Task Force on Illegal Hunting of Waterbirds.

Qualifications/special skills

Academic Qualifications: An advanced university degree (Masters’ or equivalent) in biology, ecology, zoology, environmental sciences, environmental policy or a closely related field is required. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Competencies: a. Planning and organizing: Ability to plan own work, to prioritize multiple tasks within set deadlines and a good understanding of the principles of clear decision-making, planning and management of risks; b. Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft and edit policy, technical and communications documents; Knowledge of production and dissemination of public information; c. Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; A good knowledge and understanding of CMS and its associated instruments, knowledge of current issues related to bird conservation and illegal taking in particular, and familiarity with the Asia-Pacific region is highly relevant; Good research, problem-solving and analytical skills; Sound judgement Experience: A minimum of five years relevant work experience in the implementation of multi-stakeholder environmental management projects and programmes, some of which should be at an international level.

Languages

Fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of Chinese or Russian would be highly desirable.

Additional Information

The remuneration will be in line with the UN fee and remuneration levels for consultants and individual contractors.

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.