OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Natural Sciences

Job Family: Natural Sciences

Type of contract : Individual Consultant Contract (Natural Sciences)

Duration of Contract : Six months

Recruitment open to : Externnal Candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 16 October 2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Background

In the framework of the 42 C/5 major programme and within the Amazon Project and under the overall supervision of the Director of the Ecological and Earth Sciences Division (SC/EES) and the direct supervision of the SC/EES/NBC Chief of Section, the Contractor will develop innovative water solution designs, focusing on addressing regional water resilience challenges with the Youth of the Podocarpus-El Cóndor Biosphere Reserve in Ecuador within the implementation of the UNESCO-MAB Amazon project on “Amazon biosphere reserves project. Improving the resilience and halting biodiversity loss of the greater Amazon Basin”. The Challenge will be implemented through online workshops, mentoring sessions, and peer-to-peer knowledge exchanges, culminating in the participation of winning teams in a second phase of implementation of the winning activity(ies). The Contractor will be responsible for organizing and executing this initiative, ensuring its successful delivery through all its phases.

1. Main functions

The Contractor shall be responsible for arranging and implementing the UNESCO Amazon Water Resilience Challenge 2024 in the Podocarpus-El Cóndor Biosphere Reserve in Ecuador to 20 to 25 youth participants. To this end, the Contractor shall, but not limited to, perform the following tasks:

2. Support and facilitate the participants in implementing their water solution designs:

1. Assist participants in preparing and testing their ideas.
2. Facilitate participants’ engagement with experts and relevant stakeholders involved during the activity implementation in the selected sites.
3. Monitor participants’ activity design and its progress, including the development of prototypes, promotional materials, and results from site visits.

III. Winner’s challenge selection and Implementation phase:

1. Assist and monitor participants in preparing to present and showcase their work during a prominent event to be defined, such as an (international) conference.
   1. Help participants prepare prototypes and materials for display at the event.
   2. Select winner teams and organize an online event for the winner announcement with a judging panel.
   3. Provide travel and accommodation support for participants attending the event.

2. Implementation of the winning activities:

1. Help winning participants implement their ideas at the selected location.
2. Organize and support monitoring and mentoring meetings updates with the winning teams.

IV. Communication and dissemination during all Challenge phases:

1. Ensure UNESCO branding and approvals:

1. Incorporate the UNESCO logo in all publications and visibility materials, obtaining UNESCO’s approval before dissemination.

2. Document all the events and provide at least 10 high-resolution digital photos and a 3-to-5-minute video for UNESCO’s free use per event.

3. Communicate updates on participants’ progress and outputs through social media and other platforms.

4. Promote gender-responsive approaches throughout the activity.

5. Regular updates and communication with UNESCO. Proactively update UNESCO on the activity’s development, ensuring prior agreement for any significant deviations from the tasks.

6. Coordinate with UNESCO Quito to showcase outputs during the activities.

C. Deliverables and Timetable:

D1. By 30 October 2024, the contractor shall submit to UNESCO for approval the detailed program, including the schedule, modality, workshop curriculum, and short biographies of proposed experts.

D2. By 20 December 2024, the contractor shall submit to UNESCO for approval a progress report including description of the activities, selection of the youth candidate’s, digital documentation, promotional materials, proof of social media promotion, media links (if applicable)

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Advanced degree in Natural Sciences or a related field.

Work experience

• Proven work experience with youth in water related issues.
• Work experience with specialized agencies of the UN system
• experience in handling large-value procurement activities
• General experience in public procurement (intergovernmental Organizations).
• Experience in public procurement practices.

Skill and competencies

• Strong organizational and procurement skills.
• Familiarity with procurement regulations and best practices.
• Familiarity with the UN system.

Language

• Excellent knowledge (spoken and written) of English

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with biosphere reserves
• Experience with procurement with UN, and/or International NGO
• Experience in sustainable procurement