The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the world’s 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 environment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision coordinator of the Nairobi Convention secretariat, the consultant will undertake the following tasks and responsibilities in consultation with appropriate stakeholders and ocean acidification expert groups in the Western Indian Ocean:

• Conduct a wide literature review of the latest scientific findings on ocean acidification (OA) and its potential links to environmental impacts on food security in the Western Indian Ocean.
• Provide a review on the state of ocean acidification (OA) in the Western Indian Ocean based on scientifically credible information, vulnerability assessment for a full range of OA risk and impacts.
• Screen for data and indicators available from experts and relevant scientific bodies in the Western Indian Ocean to identify trends, threats and opportunities to the marine ecosystem with respect to food security and the marine environment.
• Provide a brief version of OA action plan and provide possible adaptation and mitigation measures for food security, and policy options for decision makers and other stakeholders.

Draft and submit a regional Ocean Acidification Action Plan for the Western Indian Ocean region:
The Action plan strategic priorities for the Western Indian Ocean region may include:

• Mitigating ocean acidification such as through restoration of critical marine and coastal habitats and aquaculture approaches
• Building resilience measures of affected communities, including resilience of resilience of shellfish aquaculture and fisheries value chain
• Measures to reduce local water-borne and airborne pollution that exacerbates OA.
• Mainstreaming resilience and adaptation measures to OA into policies, planning, and operations
• Collaboration, OA Observing Network for monitoring and research including sharing of lessons to improve OA efforts.

Develop 10-year implementation plan for the regional ocean acidification action aligned to countries strategic priorities on climate change and ocean acidification with goals and related actions that address:

• the risks that OA poses to the Western Indian Ocean assets and interests are well understood among policymakers, resource managers, affected socio-economic activities of coastal communities, and the public.
• relevant monitoring information about OA that is widely accessible for decision making, and delivered in a usable form, and routinely applied to climate change decisions across the public and private sectors.
• scientific understanding of OA, interactions of OA with other environmental drivers, and how OA affects coastal and marine ecosystems for ocean and coastal management decisions.
• countries integration of OA into decisions and policies, and to mainstream elements of the OA action plan into operations that contribute to minimise impacts of OA on marine biodiversity and communities likely to be affected by OA.
• strategic and effectively financed conservation and restoration efforts of mangroves, seagrass meadows, kelp forests, and salt marshes to secure carbon storage benefits and co-location of aquaculture with successful mangrove and seagrass conservation.
• venhanced communication and systematic awareness of OA on efforts for reduction of GHG emissions, options for reducing local sources of acidifying pollutants, tools for assessing water quality indicators for management or regulatory actions, innovative and effective strategies addressing ecosystems and resilience of coastal communities, adaptation through improved technologies and management flexibility, and improving attention to oceans in international climate negotiations.
• a robust regional collaboration on OA-related policy, science, and communications with coordinated responses across the Western Indian Ocean region and strategic partnerships and networks to leverage opportunities for investments necessary to implement the OA action plan.
• Prepare a summary brief of the OA action plan, the OA implementation plan and related measures for assessing progress
• Participate in the validation of the regional Ocean Acidification Action Plan for the WIO region by policymakers, managers, and experts, and incorporate inputs, and additional comments into the action plan.
• Provide the final regional ocean acidification action plan for the Western Indian Ocean to include measures for assessing progress in implementing the Ocean Acidification Action Plan, communication, and outreach.

Requirements

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree, PhD) in the field of ecology, marine biochemistry, environmental science, coastal ecosystems management, or related discipline is required.
• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in developing and/or implementing programmes on coastal ecosystems conservation, natural resources management (ecosystem management, implementation of marine resource management activities with Governments etc.); Demonstrated knowledge and experience for obtaining ecological, social and economic data, good understanding of mitigation and adaptation science from a socioecological perspective, and working experience with research and academic institutions  in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) is required.
• Knowledge in Ocean Chemistry and Climate Change is desirable

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required.