Senior Science/Writer to produce a Global Land Outlook regional thematic report on Central Asia

Result of ServiceGLO regional thematic report on Central Asia in Russian and English languages. Summary for Decision-makers in Russian and English. Participation in events promoting the GLO. Work LocationHome based Expected duration01 June to 30 November 2025. Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground: Desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD), along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity, were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. Desertification poses a serious threat to the diverse natural resources in Central Asia region and livelihoods of millions. Among important causes of desertification in the region are water scarcity, over-cultivation and over-grazing. Major threats include land degradation, depletion, and extinction of living species (loss of biodiversity), increasing frequencies of droughts, water stress, dwindling production and productivity and over-dependence on natural resources. The climate variability affects the agricultural and pastoral economies upon which the well-being of the local populations depends. In September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 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”. Under SDG target 15.3, Member States commit to, by 2030, “combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world”. The UNCCD recognizes that addressing and reversing land degradation is one of the key sustainable development priorities for most of its 168 affected countries Parties. In response, the UNCCD secretariat and its partners identified the need to create a strategic communications publication and platform, entitled the Global Land Outlook (GLO), to facilitate insight debate and discourse on a new and transformative vision for land management policy, planning and practice at global and national scales. The aim of the GLO is to communicate evidence-based, policy-relevant information on the drivers and impacts of desertification, land degradation and drought as well as the opportunities to mitigate them through sustainable land and water management in an accessible way to a variety of stakeholders, including national governments formulating their responses to commitments to better manage and restore land resources, including the SDGs and associated targets, such as Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). The 1st edition of the GLO, translated into all 6 UN languages, was released at UNCCD COP13 in September 2017; the 2nd edition of the GLO ‘Land Restoration for Recovery and Resilience’ was published in 2022. All GLO products including a series of GLO regional thematic reports, including GLO on CEE, Northeast Asia, East Africa, Latina America and the Caribbean can be found here: https://www.unccd.int/resources/global-land-outlook/overview GLO Regional Report on Central Asia The GLO Regional Report is envisaged as an analytical document reflecting the current state of land resources, the challenges and opportunities for their sustainable management and the formulation of recommendations to the countries of the region considering their commitments under UNCCD, relevant tasks of SDGs, in particular task 15.3, and the global concept of LDN. An inter-sectoral approach to sustainable land management, landscape restoration and investment provides an essential platform for sustainable development, poverty reduction, conservation of biodiversity, and climate change mitigation and adaptation while also addressing cross-cutting issues such as considering land tenure security, improving health of the population, supporting vulnerable groups, creating employment creation for youth and others. While Central Asia countries share many common land and freshwater challenges and solutions, the GLO Central Asia Thematic Report will explore good practices for land and knowledge management and the lessons learned from their application in the regional context. The document Thematic Report will consider the specific enabling environment for implementing existing ecosystem restoration commitments and targets at the national and subnational level, including those pledged under LDN countries reports, as well as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other relevant action plans and programmes. At the regional level, various strategic documents such as the Subregional Action Programme for the Central Asian Countries to Combating Desertification within the UNCCD Context, the Regional Strategy for Drought Management and Mitigation in Central Asia or the Regional Midterm Strategy for Sand and Dust Storms Management in Central Asia. Interregional Group ‘Central Asia-Russia’ In 2019 the Interregional Group ‘Central Asia-Russia’ (IRG) was formed within the UNCCD as per decision of 6 countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) pertaining to different Annexes to the UNCCD (Central Asia countries to Annex II, Asia, while Russia to Annex V, CEE) with the primary goal of sharing experiences and expand cooperation to achieve the goals of UNCCD and its Strategic Framework 2018-2030. The GLO Regional Thematic Report will be produced with the support and under the guidance of the IRG Bureau and its expert group on regional thematic overview and will be focused on issues covered within UNCCD in five above mentioned countries of the Central Asia region and the territories of the Russian Federation adjacent to Central Asia. The Consultant is expected to continuously engage with the representatives of the IRG Bureau and use the materials provided by them. The GLO Regional Thematic Report is to be produced in Russian to be further disseminated among stakeholders in the region, and translation into English. Duties and Responsibilities: Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Global Policy, Advocacy and Regional Cooperation (GPARC), the direct supervision of the assigned officer(s) and the continuous engagement with representatives of the IRG Bureau the senior consultant will have the following duties and responsibilities: Develop and present the work plan of the consultancy, the methodology proposed for the writing of the GLO which will be discussed and agreed with the supervisors and members of the IRG Bureau. Reach out to relevant national and regional stakeholders, make institutional arrangements with entities that can be allies and partners on a continuous basis in the development of the GLO. Assess national and regional strategies and programs for sustainable land management and land-water nexus in CA, including an examination of existing policy and investment frameworks for sustainable land and water management and conservation. Conduct an analysis of the state, reasons and consequences of land use and land cover changes in the region, taking into account degradation processes, climate change and socio-economic factors. Consolidate key priorities, opportunities and challenges identified in decisions by the CA related to the implementation of the UNCCD in the region, suggesting ways expanding the regional and interregional cooperation on SLM issues. Compile a broad range of case studies and good practices to illustrate the content of the report. Use modern technologies, including mathematical and information methods, GIS and remote sensing. Use internationally recognized methodologies as calculating 15.3.1 SDG indicator ‘proportion of land that is degraded over total land area’ Identify opportunities to develop and mobilize resources for a large-scale regional initiative contributing towards LDN. Develop recommendations for improving land management and integrating LDN principles into national strategies, criteria for monitoring an evaluating land degradation in the countries. Prepare two drafts of the report to be presented for consultation to collect observations, comments, and suggestions to strengthen the document. Prepare the final draft of the report while ensuring stylistic editing of the entire text to clarify meaning, ensure coherence and flow. Produce a Summary for Decision Makers. Ensure adequate translation of the materials into English. Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced university degree (Master's or Ph.D.) or specialized additional education, with justified experience in sustainable land or natural resources management, development economics and econometric planning, rural development, geography, environmental policy,, or any other related field relevant for the consultancy is required. A minimum of 15 years work experience on the above and related disciplines, experience in work in one or more countries of the region is required; Excellent knowledge of Central Asia region, the history of combatting DLDD in the region and geographical and political situation of the countries of the region is required. Knowledge of ecosystem services, integrated drought management, pasture management, drought and water scarcity policy, environmental training, other relevant activities within international programmes and projects in the region is required. Substantial record of relevant research and publications and ability to develop critical reviews and assessments for policy makers is required. Ability to meet agreed deadlines and attention to detail is required. experience in working as governmental officer or consultant for/in relevant sectors is desirable. Proven project and/or policy experience on sustainable land management, combating DLDD and LDN target setting in one or more countries in the region, and in engaging with relevant stakeholders in the region is desirable. Knowledge of work with mathematical modelling and other modern methods, such as GIS-technologies and analysis of remote sensing data is desirable. Solid knowledge of the UNCCD, related UN and intergovernmental processes, and environment-related policy issues is desirable. Knowledge of the work of IRG ‘Central Asia – Russia’ is desirable. LanguagesFor this consultancy, fluency in verbal and written in both English and Russian are required. Additional InformationOnly individuals who can act as independent, individual economical operators are qualified to apply. Individuals who can provide their services only on account of an institution or enterprise are not eligible under this procedure. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations Secretariat and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultant and individual contractor is responsible for determining tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. Subcontractors: If the contractor requires the services of subcontractors to perform any obligations under the contract, the contractor shall obtain the prior written approval of the UNCCD for any such subcontractors. UNCCD may, at its sole discretion, reject any proposed subcontractor or require such subcontractor’s removal without having to give any justification therefore, and such rejection shall not entitle the contractor to claim any delays in the performance or to assert any excuses for the non-performance of any of its obligations under the contract. The contractor shall be solely responsible for all services and obligations performed by its subcontractors. The terms of any subcontract shall be subject to and shall be construed in a manner that is fully in accordance with all of the terms and conditions of the contract. For remote consultancies, the selected candidate will be required to have a laptop or desktop PC (with Windows 10 or newer) or Mac (with the latest MacOS update), as well as a reliable, high-speed internet connection. An Office 365 license will be provided by the UNCCD to enable the candidate to access official emails, SharePoint, OneDrive and other office applications, such as Word and Excel. Further computer requirements: An antivirus application which receives regular updates; Browsers must be a newer version with regular updates enabled; Regular Windows 10 updates should be enabled with Windows laptop or PC. In addition, a mobile phone will be required to enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) through SMS or the Authenticator App. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.