Global Environmental Data and Policy Strategist

Result of Service

The Consultant will: 1. Develop a prototype policy tracker on air quality and pollution and a report on targets indicators and impact metrics. 2. Support UNEP in analyzing and writing a strategy based on cross-sector inputs on the governance and management of global environmental data to improve quality, access, interoperability, and capacity building. The consultant will work with the inputs collected through multiple regional and expert groups stakeholder consultations, will summarize this into draft, incorporate feedback and comments and iterate the drafts. The consultant will produce 2 iterative versions of drafts, and then will finalize the publication that will be ready to be submitted for UNEA 7.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background: UNEP is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environllmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The conceptualisation and elaboration of actions in support of developing an environmental policy tracker will be conducted under the overall leadership of the Office of the Chief Scientist in close consultation with the Director of the Law Division and the Chief Digital Officer. As part of the commemoration of 50 years since the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), (UNEP@50), UNEP proposed recommendations for a more effective science-policy interface to support better environmental decision making, in a report Reflecting on the Past and Imagining the Future: A contribution to the dialogue on the Science- Policy Interface. The report identified a gap between scientific knowledge, uptake, andbuilding mechanisms, society’s support for reform and new mechanisms, channels, and tools to foster improved knowledge exchange, and capacity for evidence-informed decision-making processes. There is a crucial need to improve the use of science in environmental decision making and to improve environmental outcomes and to decrease the time lapse between knowledge, available solutions, and action must be shortened. The report also called for a new science-policy interface to engage more meaningfully in implementation and tracking progress, requiring the development of targets and indicators to measure progress but also to assess impact. Work on a policy tracker has commenced with a preliminary concept developed. It is proposed to further work with users on the prototype but also to consider what measures of success are needed which will necessitate a review of targets and indicators and how impact can be measured. This work will also feed into the work of the World Environment Situation Room uplift and the Global environmental data strategy. The fourth session of United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA-4), held in March 2019, provided through its Ministerial Declaration and Resolution 4/23, a clear and strong mandate to UNEP to develop a Global Environmental Data Strategy (GEDS) by 2025 in consultation with Govrnments, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, the secretariats of the multilateral environmental agreements, and international and regional scientific bodies. As part of the current UNEP Medium Term Strategy (MTS) 2022 – 2025 and the Programmes of Work (PoW) 2022 – 2023 and 2024-2025, this strategic focus enhances UNEP's efforts in climate action, nature conservation, and pollution control by ensuring that environmental assessments, monitoring, reporting and decision-making are supported by robust, accessible, and reliable data. GEDS also aligns with UNEP’s emphasis on Digital Transformation, advocating for advancements in big data analytics, cloud computing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to bolster environmental data analysis and application. This vision of GEDS is to enable the availability of timely and trustworthy environmental data, information, and knowledge for effective use at national, regional, and global levels as key tools for the achievement of a more sustainable world. UNEP plays a leading role in the further development and effective use of environmental data and statistics, accounting, and their analyses to inform policy-making and drive action and accountability for environmental sustainability. Under the overall leadership of the Director, Law Division in close collaboration with the Chief Scientist and Chief Digital Officer as well as colleagues from UNEP the consultant will develop a prototype for a policy tracker, a review of targets and indicators and measures of impact across UNEPs activities and contribute to the development of a Global Environmental data Strategy (GEDS). Duties and Responsibilities: The responsibilities of the consultant will be to: 1. Undertake a review of ‘impact metrics’ and targets and indicators for measuring success of policy interventions. 2. Develop a prototype for UNEP’s environmental policy tracker on air quality and pollution taking a user centred approach. 3. Develop a business case for a policy tracker and its implementation. 4. Report on the review of targets indicators from a policy impact perspective. 5. Commence discussions on the use of AI as a tool for assessing impact. 6. Identify Best Practices in Global and Thematic Environmental Data Standards and Pathways for Harmonization: Evaluate existing standards based on consultation inputs to facilitate integrated analysis, enhance monitoring and reporting capabilities, and promote transparency and accountability. 7. Coordinate the Development of the GEDS Document: Organize inputs from consultations, UNEP research, and other relevant materials. Facilitate feedback on draft versions. 8. Draft the GEDS Document: Create iterative drafts based on collected input from Member States, the expert community, and other relevant stakeholders, refining the document through multiple revisions. 9. Identify Incentives, Financing Mechanisms, and Regulations to Operationalize GEDS: Develop pathways to encourage the adoption and implementation of GEDS by relevant stakeholders, ensuring sustainable participation through appropriate incentives, funding options, and regulatory frameworks. 10. Outline Implementation Pathways for the GEDS Framework on the WESR Platform: Define clear steps for integrating the GEDS framework into the World Environment Situation Room (WESR) platform.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Environmental Science, Environmental Economics, Information Management, administration, computing, data analytics or related area is required. A bachelor’s degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. At least 10 years of professional working experience in programme or project development, environmental science, administration, communications, digital marketing, environmental policy, or related area is required. Proven experience in developing and implementing strategies aligned with business/organizational objectives is required. Extensive, proven experience in collaborating with various stakeholders to drive datadriven culture is required. Experience in data and information management and analytics is desirable. Work experience in dealing with knowledge management tools is desirable. Technical expertise in environmental data management is considered a strong asset. Proficiency in stakeholder engagement and facilitation is desirable. Experience with the United Nations, European Commission, or national governments is considered a strong asset.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this assignment, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other United Nations languages is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.