At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for ‘sustainable development’. One of the key agreements adopted at Rio was the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Convention has three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is located in Montreal and is administered by UNEP. This post is located in the Convention on Biological Diversity, Science, Society and Sustainable Futures Division (SSSF) at the Montreal duty station. Under the direct supervision of the Principal Management Officer, SSSF the incumbent will perform the following duties:
Responsibilities
A. Leads and coordinates the implementation of the programmes of work for the Peoples and Biodiversity Unit to ensure successful delivery of outcomes:
a) Provides leadership, manages staff performance and facilitates deployment of human, technical and financial resources necessary to implement the programmes of work; b) Oversees and ensures planning, organisation and servicing of meetings under the various programme areas; c) Manages, guides, mentors and trains staff under supervision.
B. Develops outreach and partnerships in support of the Programmes of Work for the Unit:
a) Provides capacity development opportunities to and facilitate cooperation among Parties, and indigenous peoples and local communities, as well Women’s representatives; b) Ensures timely preparation of documents for meetings of expert groups, workshops, the subsidiary bodies and the Conference of the Parties; c) Advises senior management and liaises with Parties and Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, Bureau of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, in preparation of the meeting.
C. Assists Parties, indigenous peoples and local communities, women’s groups and stakeholders in the effective implementation of articles of the Conventions and its Protocols related to traditional knowledge, culture, gender, health and human rights:
a) Reports on budget proposals, programme performance and programmatic issues; b) Maintains close collaboration with Parties, relevant International Organizations, representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities, women’s groups and relevant stakeholders; c) Creates and improves effective participation of the client groups, conveying relevant decisions of the Convention and its Protocols.
D. Leads and coordinates inter-agency efforts on biological and cultural diversity (Nature and Cultures), in pursuit of the goals of the Convention:
a) Ensures and promotes regular, adequate and appropriate links with other work programmes under the Convention on Biological Diversity and with relevant organisations, such as UN agencies, nongovernmental organisations, academic institutions and businesses to explore and promote effective collaboration, partnerships and synergies for implementation of the Convention and its Protocols.
E. Undertakes other activities as assigned by Head of Division and the Executive Secretary.