Expertise France, the French technical cooperation agency designs and implements projects that sustainably strengthen public policies in developing and emerging countries. Governance, security, climate, biodiversity, health, education… It operates in key areas of development and contributes alongside its partners to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For a world in common. With an activity volume of 237 million euros, over 500 projects running in 100 countries and 63,000 days of expertise delivered every year, Expertise France provides partner countries with knowledge, skills and management expertise. Through its work, the agency promotes French and European development policy goals.
Expertise France will implement the 2nd Phase of Post 2020 Biodiversity Framework – EU Support, an EU-funded project with a focus on fostering ambitious commitments at the 2nd Part of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 15), to be held in Kunming in April and May 2022, and the early operationalization of the ensuing Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework – EU Support Phase 2 (the Project) will be implemented over three years (2022-2024) and follow a similar intervention logic as Phase 1 with a wide variety of activities – workshops, knowledge products, campaigns, partner relations – while shifting its focus to supporting key partners in leading the way to a transformative CBD COP15 and an effective implementation of its related decisions. The Project aims to (1) inspire actors from various levels of governments as well as stakeholder and non-State partners to take bold commitments on biodiversity action, (2) contribute to unveiling the opportunities related to ambitious biodiversity action and (3) trigger the implementation of concrete solutions on key transformative issues and potential gaps in the Global Biodiversity Framework to be adopted by CBD COP 15.
Expertise France is seeking to recruit a key expert for strategic technical lead across the project implementation from May 2022 to December 2024, with a view to providing guidance, identify opportunities, liaise with partners and report on the key moments related to global biodiversity governance and related negotiations. The Senior Strategic Scientific Advisor will be expected to expertly navigate a variety of biodiversity-related topics (some of them included in Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework – EU Support’s publication series), to submit strategic proposals to the Project Team Leader, to deliver detailed reports on selected events, and to ensure technical quality control of partners’ deliverables.
Across the project’s implementation period, the objective of the assignment is to support the Project Team Leader and the Project Implementation Team in identifying the priorities conducive to reaching the Project’s general and specific objectives, to produce high-quality deliverables related to the Project’s priorities and to facilitate contact with partners.
Overview of responsibilities
The Senior Strategic Scientific Advisor will be expected to complete the following tasks:
Strategic advice to the Project’s governance
- Mapping and selection of key transformative issues, priority target groups and stakeholders for the Project strategic activity proposals;
- Support to the Project Team Leader in defining the Project’s orientations and operational focuses;
- Close, successful coordination with the Project Team Leader at all times during implementation, resulting in an informed, coherent and actionable Project implementation strategy;
- In line with the EU and Member States’ position on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), support to the establishment the list of priority issues, partner countries, and roster of experts to be addressed during the Project;
- Provision of technical advisory and guidance to the Project Team Leader in strategically planning the Project’s programme of work.
Technical coverage of key events
- Monitoring and reporting on selected international fora, negotiations, initiatives, and other events with potential influence on the agreement on and implementation of the GBF, its implementation and related issues (including UNFCC and the SDGs);
- Production of deliverables related to the Project including but not limited to: reports on negotiations, activities and partner meetings; concept notes; presentations and moderation of project workshops; studies/publications;
Networking and project representation
- Development and strengthening of the Project’s partner network, including but not limited to: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), national delegations to the CBD, other UN Agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, science and academia;
- Visibility and identification amongst its priority partners, and identification of cooperation opportunities;
- In cooperation with the Project Team Leader, liaison with relevant European and international counterparts to ensure a smooth implementation, avoid overlapping and maximize synergies; guide implementation with a special focus on team, expert and partner management, coaching and guidance for components related to the performance of all Project activities;
Mobilization of expertise and implementation of Project activities
- Identification, collaboration with and mobilisation of high-level expertise and strategic partnerships to support Project activities in line with its priorities, the EU and Member States position on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, Expertise and the EU’s rules and regulations (including visibility);
- Contribution to the planning and steering of the experts’ assignments, support and guidance to local and international short-term experts;
- Implementation of technical aspects related to the organisation of project activities on key issues in biodiversity governance (e.g.: workshops, conferences, dialogues, exchanges of experts, consultations, publications) at local, national, regional and international levels and the related deliverables, in cooperation with the Knowledge and Capacity-Building Coordinator and the Senior Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships Advisor;
- Technical quality control of the deliverables produced by external partners, experts, beneficiaries and other relevant service providers;
Team coordination
- Support the Project’s engagement strategy, and provide backstopping to the Project Team Leader when required, and as regards to technical and scientific subjects;
- Active participation in the Project’s internal coordination (team meetings, etc.) and contribution to reviewing internal team management and planning tools (technical steering, RACI, etc.) and inception report, in coordination with the Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader;
- Any other relevant duty assigned by the Project Team Leader.
Precise deliverables will be produced and detailed with connected purchase orders, and will include: analysis notes on priority topics for the project; technical concept notes for project activities; reports on partner meetings, monitoring of negotiations and other international events; matrices for Project decision-making (on identified priority topics and partners).
The assignment is expected to be structured in four interconnected phases:
- Phase 1: until the end of year 1 of implementation (December 2022);
- Phase 2: year 2 of implementation (January-December 2023);
- Phase 3: year 3 of implementation and closing (January-December 2024).
For all of them, the Senior Strategic Scientific Advisor will be expected to perform the duties described above and any other task as required.
Expériences / Formation
Qualifications and skills
- University Degree preferably at Master level in biology, environment, Political Sciences. A PhD would be considered an asset;
- Fluency in English, both written and spoken; French (working language at headquarters) will be an advantage;
- Computer literacy: word processing tools, spreadsheet tools, financial and planning tools.
General and specific professional experience
- General professional experience
- At least 15 years’ experience in environmental governance and international policy;
- Demonstrated experience in institutional relations and environmental/sustainable development negotiation at the highest level;
- Excellent analytical, writing, organizational and presentation skills;
- Proven skills in negotiation, listening, problem-solving.
- Specific professional experience
- Minimum of 10 years’ experience in supporting parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in the preparation of their international commitments and their implementation;
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in the implementation biodiversity-related cooperation projects;
- Demonstrated experience in environment policy advisory.
Salaire
Individual expert consultancy contract.
380 person/days between May 2022 and December 2024.
This mission will require regular on-site meetings at Expertise France headquarters in Paris, and missions abroad.
Fees for the services will be negotiated with the designated candidate.
Comment postuler
Required documents
- CV;
- Individual expert application form;
- Technical proposal;
- Financial proposal.
Together with their expression of interest, experts must provide full contact details of the company which is to be contracted by Expertise France.
https://expertise-france.gestmax.fr/7599/19/senior-strategic-scientific-advisor-h-f/en_US