Call for Expression of Interest to provide consulting services to GRID-Arendal’s Polar and Mountain Environments Programme

GRID-Arendal has a dynamic and growing portfolio of projects in mountain regions with a particular focus on providing clear, credible and understandable scientific evidence to enable sound decision and policy making for the benefit of mountains and mountain people. As a centre collaborating of UNEP, GRID-Arendal has developed a close and strong partnership with UNEP in developing joint mountain activities. GRID-Arendal and UNEP (in particular, it’s Regional Office for Europe – Vienna Programme Office – Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention) continue to pool efforts to undertake existing, and initiate new, joint partnerships and activities in support of various mountain regions.

As part of the overall collaboration between UNEP and GRID-Arendal on the Mountain Waste Outlook, GRID-Arendal is seeking to hire a consultant to support on-going activities in the field of mountain waste issues and climate change, as described below:

Principal Responsibilities/tasks

1.) Waste management and mountains

Provide expertise and assist UNEP on waste management issues in mountain areas for the regional report Global Mountain Waste Management Outlook within the project Global Waste Management Outlook. Assist in the organization of events and activities related to the assessment of mountain waste management for the publication and events for sharing and communicating its findings, including a global workshop to review and validate the findings of the Global Mountain Waste Management Outlook to be held at the margins of the World Mountain Forum in Mbale, Uganda; as well as a launching event for Mountain Waste Outlook to be held 11 December (International Mountain Day).

2.) – Climate change and mountains

Provide expertise and assist UNEP and the project management team in implementation of the project “Climate change action in developing countries with fragile mountainous ecosystems from a sub-regional perspective”, in particular of its phase I: Facilitation of undertaking of “assessments” and related preparation activities, preparation and implementation of (sub)-regional meetings (such as Tropical Andes) to be organized according to work plans 2016/17, facilitation and contribution to experience sharing events such as World Mountain Forum in Mbale, Uganda 2016; Facilitation and expert support to regional publication related to climate change and adaptation in the Carpathians and the Hindu Kush Himalayas; As well as providing further expertise and assistance for developing a global Synthesis Report on adaptation measures in mountain areas.

3.) Facilitation of new activities and project development

In support of UNEP (IETC and Vienna Office) provide expertise and support to the facilitation of the development of joint proposals, ideas, activities and initiatives related to mountain and waste management issues on the regional and global level seeking the involvement of UNEP (IETC and Vienna Office) and GRID-Arendal. Project ideas will be developed in particular based on the findings of the outlooks, workshops and identified priorities for action.

Professional qualifications

Essential:

• Masters’ level university degree in environmental sciences, natural resources management, sustainable development or related field;
• A minimum of 1 year documented working experience in the above-related fields
• Demonstrated ability to network with a wide range of stakeholders and organizing meetings and events;
• Excellent research, writing and communication skills;
• Excellent written and oral command of English;
• Excellent oral command of Spanish;

Desirable:

• Demonstrated working experience and understanding of mountain-related sustainable development and climate adaptation issues (regional work experience and knowledge of tropical Andes will be considered particularly desirable);
• Previous experience of working with mountain knowledge centres;
• Previous experience of facilitating regional consultation meetings, soliciting feedback and reviewing working drafts and technical documents.

Duration: mid-April to December 2016 (approx. 9 months)

Type of consultancy: Independent Consultancy Contract

Deadline for applications:  01 April 2016

The Consultant will be selected based on demonstrated expertise and cost.

Application: Responses to the call expressing the interest should include the following:

• Brief cover letter, including relevant experience and information about availability
• CV (including contact details of at least 2 referees for which similar work has been undertaken)
• Costs (in Euros): The consultant should identify their monthly rate (which would be valid for any assignment entered into within the next 12 months.

Consultants replying to this Expression of Interest should send applications to hr@grida.no and mark in the subject ‘Polar and Mountain Environments Programme’ by close of business on 01 April 2016.

The Consultant will be expected to work on location at the UNEP Vienna Office – Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention, Vienna International Centre, Wagramerstrasse 5, 1400 Vienna (Austria), in order to ensure the smooth implementation of above-mentioned activities.

We thank you for your interest.