The Global Mechanism is an institution of the UNCCD, mandated to assist countries in the mobilization of financial resources from the public and private sector for activities that prevent, control or reverse
desertification, land degradation and drought. As the operational arm of the convention, the Global Mechanism supports countries to translate the Convention into action. In September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, including goal 15, which aims to “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”. As the main expected result it defines under target 15.3 to “combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world” by 2030.

In October 2015, the 12th session of the Conference of Parties (COP) of the UNCCD defined Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and endorsed the concept as a strong vehicle for the implementation of the Convention. Subsequently, in September 2017, the 13th session of the COP emphasized the critical role of LDN Transformative Projects and Programmes (TPP) for the implementation of the Convention.
This has been reaffirmed at the 14th session of the COP in New Delhi in September 2019.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer in charge of the LDN Transformative Projects and Programmes, the overall supervision of the LDN Programme Coordinator and the Managing Director of the Global Mechanism, and under the guidance of the UNCCD National Focal Point institution and UNDP as implementing partner / accredited entity to GCF, the consultant will carry out the following tasks:
In the first stage of the assignment, the consultant will be specifically responsible for:
• In coordination with the UNCCD National Focal Point institution and UNDP, and engaging with other relevant partners, confirm the project idea and alignment with GCF as the main targeted funding source as well as potential private sector to ensure all partners are engaged from the start of the concept design;
• Ensuring sound liaison with the GCF national focal point / National Designated Authority, to secure the project endorsement, and to further develop the project concept in partnership with UNDP and all relevant stakeholders;
• Further defining the LDN project concept based on desk reviews and interviews with national institutions and potential technical and financial partners;
• Ensuring the project concept contributes to achieve the LDN targets (SDG 15.3), ideally in the LDN hotspots, and fully integrates the LDN conceptual framework guiding principles;
• Identifying additional funding sources, complimentary to the main targeted funding source already identified, as well as key co-financing sources relevant to the identified project concept, as well as building the project/programme financing arrangements including blended financing mechanisms 1 where applicable involving several potential funders;
• Facilitate building partnerships with relevant private sector stakeholders at national and/or international level and ensure their involvement in the design and implementation of the LDN project.