Job Opening
Job Opening ID: 226734
Job Network : Economic, Social and Development
Job Family : Science and Technology
Category and Level : Consultants, CON
Duty Station : GENEVA
Department/Office : United Nations Environment Programme
Date Posted : Jan 29, 2024
Deadline : Feb 8, 2024

Result of Service
An annotated outline and two written reports: One report to serve as background documents for the technical workshop on Aquatic species listed in the CITES Appendices and one report capturing the discussion and outcomes of the workshop.

Deliverable 1. An annotated outline for the report for Activity 1 including a list of species and biological parameters to be included in the review.

Deliverable 2. A final written report for Activity 1, taking into account any feedback provided, to serve as background documents for the technical workshop on Aquatic species listed in the Appendices.

Deliverable 3. A final written report for Activity 2, including the discussions and outcomes of the technical workshop on Aquatic species listed in the Appendices.
Work Location
The consultancy is home based. Regular communication and reporting will be made through virtual means (email, MS Teams, and other VoIP).

Travel to Geneva will be required to attend a technical workshop (travel arrangements will be made by the CITES Secretariat)
Expected duration
30 working days during the four month duration
Duties and Responsibilities
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between states. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival (www.cites.org). The CITES Secretariat is administered by UN Environment Programme and is located at the Geneva Duty Station.

This assignment is part of the CITES Secretariat’s work under the Science Unit. In fulfillment of Decision 19.189 paragraph a) on Aquatic species listed in the CITES Appendices, the CITES Secretariat is preparing background documents to support the work of the technical workshop to consider the application of Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP17) and its footnote 2 (found in annex V), with regards to relevant commercially exploited Elasmobranchii and other aquatic species.

Under the overall supervision of Chief, Science Unit, the consultant will compile two written reports.

Activity 1. A report to serve as a background document for the technical workshop incorporating the following elements:

a) Review existing scientific information and data on relevant life history parameters (including but not limited to the following biological parameters: growth rates, longevity and fecundity), productivity and vulnerability (i.e. risk of overexploitation) of a taxonomically diverse group of Elasmobranchii species and commercially exploited aquatic species (CEAS), with a focus on CITES-listed species.

b) Summarize the key parameters for each species noting any changes in paradigms, frameworks, methodologies over time that may impact the parameters.

c) Conduct a comparative analysis of the information gathered in activity 1 and provide a summary (including tables and figures) on the heterogeneity of biological parameters among Elasmobranchii species as well as among other aquatic species.

Activity 2. A technical report of the workshop, which captures the discussions, information presented by participants, recommendations or outcomes of the workshop and any next steps.
Qualifications/special skills
8 years work experience is required.
Advanced degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in biology, fisheries, natural resource management or any related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with four (4) additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree
– Knowledge of and experience working in fisheries and/or aquatic species, especially commercially exploited aquatic species is required.
– Knowledge of and experience in biological research on productivity and vulnerabilities of species is required.
– Experience in and knowledge of CITES is required, including experience with CITES process of amending CITES Appendices is desirable
– Knowledge of and experience working in or with RFBs (including RFMOs) is desirable
Languages
English, French and Spanish are the working languages of the CITES Secretariat. For the post advertised, Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Working knowledge of one of the two other working languages is desirable