Technical Coordinator

Effective functioning of the Regional Coordination Unit and delivery of agreed project outputs, including regional assessments, cooperation frameworks, capacity-building activities, technical meetings, reporting products and knowledge-sharing activities.

Baku, Azerbaijan

12 months

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. UNEP’s mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The Tehran Convention is the only legally binding regional framework dedicated to protecting the marine environment of the Caspian Sea. Signed by the five Caspian littoral States and in force since 2006, it provides the basis for regional cooperation on pollution prevention and control, biodiversity conservation, environmental monitoring, information exchange and sustainable development. Its Protocols further operationalize cooperation in priority areas, including oil pollution preparedness and response, land-based sources of pollution, biodiversity conservation and environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context. The Blueing the Caspian Sea project will be co-implemented by the World Bank and UNEP and executed by UNOPS and the Tehran Convention Secretariat (TCS) administered ad interim by the UNEP Europe Office in Geneva, Switzerland. The UNEP-led regional Component 3 is closely aligned with the objectives of the Convention and its Protocols and will support the Contracting Parties in advancing coordinated regional action. Component 3 focuses on strengthening transboundary cooperation mechanisms to address pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change in the Caspian Sea region. To coordinate and support the delivery of Component 3, a Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) will be established in Baku, Azerbaijan and institutionally anchored to TCS/UNEP Europe Office. A Regional Technical Coordinator will be recruited to lead the RCU and provide technical, coordination and implementation support. The consultant will work under the instituting supervision of the UNEP Europe Office through the Tehran Convention Secretariat and will report to and be evaluated by the Coordinator of the Tehran Convention Secretariat. The consultant will oversee the timely and effective delivery of activities, facilitate cooperation among participating countries and project partners, and ensure that project outputs remain aligned with the Convention and its Protocols. Technical work:  Assume overall responsibility and coordination role for all technical activities and outputs of Component 3  Coordinate with Implementing Agencies and identified relevant GEF projects  Develop technical ToRs to deliver specific deliverables according to the work plan for technical national and international consultants  Develop the Communication Strategy (activity 3.1.4.5)  Coordinate activities of the project related to the CEIC with TCIS (activity 3.1.4.1)  Review technical outputs of activities under outputs 3.1.1 (production of regional assessments) and 3.1.2 (design of regional cooperation frameworks)  Coordinate technical work for capacity building activities under activities 3.1.3.1 and 3.1.3.3  Review KM outputs prior to publication (output 3.1.4)  Lead consultation events with project stakeholders (activity 3.1.2.1)  Organize regional training events and industry sectoral roundtables under output 3.1.3 Project management:  Oversee program results and procure, contract and manage regional contracts  Preparation of procurement plans and terms of reference  Maintenance of records of all project-related documentation Monitoring & Evaluation:  Monitor and plan implementation of knowledge management plan, stakeholder engagement plan, social and environmental safeguards (SRIF) for activities under Component 3  Support preparation of Project Operational Completion Report  Support preparation of annual co-financing report (including supporting evidence for in-kind co-finance)  Reporting of progress and expenditures as per project budget and workplans (and PSC-approved annual workplans)  Development project exit strategy

An advanced university degree, preferably at the master’s level, in environmental management, environmental policy, international relations, sustainable development, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in regional cooperation, project management, environmental governance or comparable development work is required. Experience in coordinating large-scale projects, including development of workplans, budgets and procurement plans, office management, regional cooperation activities, preferably in the field of marine and coastal environment, transboundary waters, pollution control, biodiversity conservation, or climate resilience is desirable. Experience in working with international organizations, government institutions, regional seas conventions, multilateral environmental agreements, or intergovernmental processes is desirable.

Fluency in both written and oral English is required. Knowledge of Russian is desirable.

Not available.