The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is seeking a Strategic Advisor to support its work on risk appetite and advice on the GEF on future programming. Candidates should have outstanding academic and technical credentials and a passion for tackling global environmental and sustainable development challenges. They should demonstrate the ability to work in a transdisciplinary manner that integrates environmental science, social science, and policy to address complex socio-ecological problems. STAP was established to provide independent scientific and technical advice on the GEF’s policies, strategies, programs, and projects. UNEP provides the STAP’s Secretariat and operates as the liaison between the GEF and the STAP. STAP is hosted by UNEP’s Early Warning and Assessment Division. STAP reports directly to the GEF Council and comprises a Chair and Panel Members focused on the GEF Focal Areas: climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, biodiversity, land degradation, international waters, and chemicals and waste. At the discretion of the STAP Chair, Senior Advisors are recruited to support the work of the STAP on specific topics/issues pertinent to the work of the GEF. Panel Members and Advisors provide intellectual leadership in their particular area of expertise, and they are expected to work effectively across the GEF’s focal areas, including advising on cross-cutting issues and integrated programming outside their area of expertise.

Functional Responsibilities

The Strategic Advisor will perform the following functions:

• Lead, under the guidance of the STAP Chair, and in coordination with the STAP Secretary, STAP engagement with the GEF Secretariat to develop and operationalize the GEF Risk Appetite Framework. Specifically:
•  Support the refining of guidance for project and program-level risk identification and monitoring, ensuring that STAP strategic advice on innovation and risks is well reflected, including preparing a STAP paper on how to reflect innovation and related risk identification in design.
•  Contribute to developing portfolio-level monitoring and reporting on risk-reward linking with STAP’s work on metrics and indicators of transformational change.
• Contribute to dialogue with the GEF IEO on how to evaluate the implementation of the risk appetite framework, linking innovation, risk, and results.
•  Support the development of mechanisms for learning within and across program areas to better identify and manage risks and to learn where and how innovative approaches are yielding results (and where they are hitting barriers) and how to leverage this learning in strategic decision-making to improve the overall investment portfolio and accelerate progress towards GEBs. Lead, under the guidance of the STAP Chair, and in coordination with the STAP Secretary, the development of STAP advice to the GEF on its Ninth Replenishment (GEF-9). Specifically:
•  Lead initial discussions with STAP Panel Members and Secretariat on the focus of STAP strategic advice to the GEF on GEF-9.
•  Design, in collaboration with the Panel and moderate STAP convening of external experts and scientific societies, as well as the GEF Family, on the focus of STAP strategic advice to the GEF on GEF-9.
• Co-lead the drafting of STAP strategic advice to the GEF pre-GEF-9 replenishment. Provide strategic advice on other related topics as requested by the STAP Chair.

• Contribute to dialogue with the GEF IEO on how to evaluate the implementation of the risk appetite framework, linking innovation, risk, and results.
•  Support the development of mechanisms for learning within and across program areas to better identify and manage risks and to learn where and how innovative approaches are yielding results (and where they are hitting barriers) and how to leverage this learning in strategic decision-making to improve the overall investment portfolio and accelerate progress towards GEBs. Lead, under the guidance of the STAP Chair, and in coordination with the STAP Secretary, the development of STAP advice to the GEF on its Ninth Replenishment (GEF-9). Specifically:
•  Lead initial discussions with STAP Panel Members and Secretariat on the focus of STAP strategic advice to the GEF on GEF-9.
•  Design, in collaboration with the Panel and moderate STAP convening of external experts and scientific societies, as well as the GEF Family, on the focus of STAP strategic advice to the GEF on GEF-9.
•  Co-lead the drafting of STAP strategic advice to the GEF pre-GEF-9 replenishment. Provide strategic advice on other related topics as requested by the STAP Chair.

Job Requirements

Education

• A Ph.D. in a relevant field, e.g., environmental science, environmental policy, economics, systems analysis, environmental law, political science, institutional analysis, or sustainability studies, is required.

Experience

• A minimum of 15 years of experience in research on sustainability issues, including in developing countries, is required.
• A peer-reviewed publication record on issues of relevance to the GEF is required.
• Demonstrated ability to work in an integrated, interdisciplinary manner across the GEF’s focal areas, with solid experience in systems thinking is required.
• The capacity to bridge scientific, technological, economic, social, and policy issues in the public and private sectors is required.
• Active engagement with scientific networks and partnerships on environmentally sustainable development in developed and developing countries is required.
• Exceptional analytical, research, writing, and communication skills are required.
• Familiarity with and understanding of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating learning and knowledge management is desirable.