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 maintains a number of different project (components) related to sustainable mountain development, managed by the Biodiversity, People and Landscapes Unit (BPLU) in Ecosystems Division, including the second phase of the SDC-funded and led programme “Adaptation at Altitude: Taking Action in the Mountains“ (2024-2028) and the second phase of the Austrian funded project “Mountains ADAPT: Advancing Climate Action” (2024-2027). Both project components have regional implementation in the South Caucasus countries, due to donor priorities, building on UNEP work in the region and other mountain areas. These projects constitute main components of the comprehensive UNEP project “Resilient Mountains: Empowering People, Sustaining Ecosystems, and Scaling Nature-based Solutions and Innovation into Policy and Advocacy” that has been developed under the “Resilient Mountains” Project Preparation Proposal (SMA ID 204032) and is planned to start by December 2025.
This position is located in the BPLU of Ecosystems Division, working remotely in the South Caucasus region, and reporting to the Programme Manager responsible for implementation of the “Resilient Mountains” project and respective components. The services of a consultant are required for implementing the “Resilient Mountains” project along the agreed logframe, carrying out activities as laid out below, with a specific focus on the South Caucasus region for which region-specific expertise and knowledge is required.
The Consultant will undertake the following duties and responsibilities under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer:
Resilient Mountains Prepare and finalize a regionally tailored call for applications for the Mountains ADAPT small grants scheme in the South Caucasus, including in national languages;
Arrange lean procedures for review and validation of submitted applications in the South Caucasus, using online tools and forms for effective workflows;
Provide material to implement online presence of the RADISC and relevant regional resources in accessible ways through developed content for a dedicated webpage, news items section and an international advocacy event;
Provide documents and correspondence to support participation of South Caucasus stakeholders in interregional learning and exchange activities;
Develop a transboundary Adaptation Fund proposal for the South Caucasus in close collaboration with the UNEP Climate Change Division and liaising with stakeholders of the South Caucasus countries responsible for climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable mountain development.