Ocean Governance Specialist

Details

Mission and objectives

Since its inception in 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been the global authority that sets the 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’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP works through its divisions as well as regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence.

Context

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. UN Environment Programme’s 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.
UNEP’s Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
This IUNV assignment will support the implementation of the work on ocean governance, bridging globally and regionally, including Regional Seas MEAS and Action Plans & BBNJ.

Task description

Under the direction of and reporting to the Programme Management Officer, Regional Seas Unit, Ecosystems Integration Branch, the IUNV, Ocean Governance Specialist will undertake the following activities:
· Assist to strengthen the governance, policy framework, and technical capacity of the Regional Seas Coordinating Unit for the UNEP-Administered Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans to support Parties and Member states to achieve the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Goals and Targets with respect to marine and coastal biodiversity.
· Support in advancing and strengthening country-level support for early action, ratification, and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.
· Contribute to the design and development of information and awareness products, a regional training curriculum, and other products relevant to supporting Member States with ratification readiness as per the guidelines in the GEF Council Document (GEF/C.66/07) for which UNEP, alongside FAO and UNDP, are implementing agencies.
· Support implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the Regional Seas Strategic Directions 2022- 2025, and the RSP Coordination project.
· Assist in facilitating exchanges and sharing of experiences between the UNEP ad-ministered Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans and the non-UNEP administered Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans,
· Support delivery of regional BBNJ trainings and capacity building, while also developing tools to support Environmental Impact Assessments and Implementation of area-based management tools, including MPAs, among other tasks.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
· Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).
· Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
· Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.
· Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
· Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
· Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
Results/Expected Outputs
In undertaking these duties, the IUNV will help the Unit work towards three overarching strategic goals considering current and emerging objectives at the international and regional level:
· Through strengthening ocean governance systems, secure diverse, resilient, and pro-ductive marine, and coastal ecosystems.
· Support assessment, training, information awareness, and knowledge management at all levels to strengthen science-policy dialogue on marine and coastal issues and their interactions.
· Increase reach and mainstreaming of advocacy, political support, preparation, and action on Ocean governance in areas within and beyond national jurisdiction.