International Consultant - Project Management Consultant Qatar Biodiversity Database Project

Result of Service

Project management coordination and advisory to the design and implementation of the Qatar national biodiversity database.

Work Location

Doha – Qatar (Ministry of Environment and Climate Change)

Expected duration

7 months

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Organizational Setting, Purpose, and Objective:
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. The Regional Office for West Asia delivers advisory services and capacity building support to countries to achieve environment and sustainable development objectives.
This consultancy is within the framework of the project entitled “Qatar Biodiversity Database and Environment Information System for Decision Making” to be implemented jointly by UNEP and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) of Qatar. The overall objective of this project is to ensure that the database becomes a system that can contribute to the conservation and sustainable utilization of biodiversity data and information at the national level and is used for the preparation of biodiversity-related reports, monitoring and decision making. The project would enable MECC to meet its strategic objectives, targets, and international obligations towards MEAs where the collection, organization, and dissemination of biodiversity information would be driven by user needs and demands. Moreover, the project will establish a knowledge management platform to give decision makers in the State of Qatar access to and use of biodiversity information and embedding biodiversity information within national development decision making processes.
The UNEP Regional Office for West Asia would like to recruit a well-qualified international consultant to coordinate the implementation of the Project, including the facilitation of stakeholder’s consultations, capacity building events and reporting on progress. This consultant will report to the Regional Coordinator for Science-Policy (project manager).

Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the direct supervision of the Regional Coordinator for Science-Policy, at UNEP, the selected consultant will carry-out, inter alia, the following duties and responsibilities:
1. Project Management.
• Work with the regional coordinator in overseeing day-to-day implementation of the project according to the workplan and in liaison with focal ministries and all relevant stakeholders.
• Update the project workplan according to the implementation.
• Prepare monthly progress reports to UNEP-ROWA detailing activities undertaken, achievements, minutes of meetings, upcoming events, matter in need of attention, and discussions held with stakeholders.
• Continually assess, mitigate, and report on project risks.
• Arrange the country missions of UNEP staff and consultants.
• Arrange the implementation of the technical assistance activities of the project.
• Compile and review metrics for project monitoring and tracking of activities.
Deliverable:
• D1: Monthly progress reports (activities, achievements, minutes of meetings, upcoming events, matter in need of attention, stakeholders’ discussions, project risks assessment and mitigation, and project tracking metrics).
2. Database design and implementation.
• Cooperate with the international partner in the designing and implementation of the biodiversity database including data feeding and validation from local perspective.
• Provide technical advice to the international partner on the business requirements of the database.
• Contribute to the collection and validation of environmental data, information, and develop models and mechanism, ensure that the data is regularly updated.
• Conduct regular testing of the database system, feeding date and checking on the outcome and provide recommendations for improvement.
Deliverable:
• D2: Database design and test runs, including business requirements data collection mechanism, national study (Written feedback to the international partner).
3. Knowledge sharing and communication.
• Develop content of the project’s global knowledge sharing strategy, adapting it to Qatar’s context in coordination with the regional coordinator and the PMU at the MOECC.
• Lead knowledge sharing events, meetings, and activities on a regular basis.
• Develop knowledge sharing materials such as flyers, factsheets, and articles.
• Contribute to the project’s global stocktaking on best practice and lessons learned.
Deliverable:
• D3: Quarterly communication material and reports
4. Arrange national-level multi-stakeholder consultations.
• Develop materials and operational arrangements for the project steering and technical committee meetings.
• Arrange and organize training workshop, stakeholders’ consultations and awareness raising events. This will include preparing technical material and end of event reports.
Deliverable:
• D4: Quarterly reports on the meetings of the steering and technical committees as well as workshop reports

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced degree (master’s or higher) in environmental sciences, natural sciences, sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation, natural resources management, or another relevant field is required.
A minimum of 5 years of work experience related to project management, environmental sciences, biodiversity conservation, system coordination, or any other relevant field is required.
Understanding of sustainable development, environmental management issues, monitoring and reporting, information systems, and other related sustainable development issues is desirable.
Familiarity with Qatar governmental processes and data availability is an asset.
Previous experience in the conception of reports is required
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills and ability to work independently is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required

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.