Project Development Expert ; Natural Ecosystems Restoration And Integrated Landscape Management Specialist GEF ID 11862 & Establishing New terrestrial protected areas in Djibouti GEF ID 12018

Result of Service

To support the implementation of the PPG and write the GEF CEO Endorsement Request and the required/relevant appendices and annexes using the latest templates revised by UNEP.

Work Location

Home Based

Expected duration

8 months within 5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment." Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This consultancy post is located in UNEP/Ecosystems Division/GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit. The Unit would like to recruit a consultant to lead the Djibouti MSP and Djibouti GBFF for below two assignments to be conducted sequentially. 1.Revitalizing natural ecosystems and habitats in Djibouti’s Mabla and Madgoul landscapes GEF ID. 11862. This project aims to address the drivers of land degradation and biodiversity loss while enhancing Global Environmental Benefits (GEBs) through landscape-level interventions. Component 1 will create an enabling environment for Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) to reduce degradation, restore ecosystem functions, and reverse biodiversity loss. Component 2 will support biodiversity characterization through geospatial modelling combined with field-based data to guide conservation prioritization, systematic inventories, and long-term monitoring. Based on these assessments, the project will implement community-based and gender-responsive conservation and sustainable land management measures both within and beyond core biodiversity areas. These actions will be reinforced by improved water supply infrastructure to mitigate drought impacts and reduce grazing and farming pressures on sensitive ecosystems. Component 3 will generate and disseminate knowledge on ILM best practices emerging from the two landscapes. Component 4 will establish robust monitoring, data management, and evaluation systems to assess performance, inform adaptive management, and support replication and upscaling. The GEF Council approved the concept note for this Child Medium-Sized Project under the GEF-8 Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Programme on 8 September 2025, with UNEP as Implementing Agency and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD) as anticipated Executing Agency 2.Establishing new terrestrial protected areas in Djibouti GEF ID. 12018. This GBFF project pursues three objectives. First, it will expand terrestrial protected area coverage by securing legal designation for up to five ecologically significant sites: Madgoul, Galafi, Digri, Doubalaleh, and Petit-Bara. These sites represent key inland ecosystems, including arid plains, wetlands, volcanic massifs, and sandstone ridges. Second, it will establish participatory governance and co-management mechanisms integrating pastoralist communities and local households into protected area planning and benefit-sharing. In Galafi, for instance, seasonal pastoralists will help design sustainable rangeland management systems. Third, biodiversity will be mainstreamed into national land-use and development planning. The establishment of protected areas at sites such as Petit-Bara and Digri Plateau will be coordinated with transport, grazing, and water resource strategies to prevent conflicts and embed conservation within Djibouti’s broader development agenda. The GEF Council approved the concept note under the GEF-8 Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Programme on 19 November 2025, with UNEP as Implementing Agency and MEDD as anticipated Executing Agency The United Nations Environment Programme is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment." Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This consultancy post is located in UNEP/Ecosystems Division/GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit.

Qualifications/special skills

A Master’s degree in environmental sciences, international development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required. A first-level university degree, combined with two additional years of relevant professional experience in the required field, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. - A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in the field of biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, protected areas management, natural resources, climate change or related field. - Demonstrable experience in the development and design of GEF projects and/or programmes is required - Demonstrable experience in the development and design of GEF projects and/or programmes is required. - Experience with project development, implementation, management and monitoring and evaluation of sustainable development projects, in particular in the areas of biodiversity and ecosystem management is desirable. - Technical and intellectual skills in biodiversity management, landscape management, wildlife management and enforcement, protected area management, is desirable. - Experience in integrated policy development processes associated with environment and sustainable development issues is desired. - Demonstrable expertise in managing relationships and developing and maintaining strategic partnerships including across government and non-government actors is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English and knowledge of French is required and working knowledge of another UN Language is desirable

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE 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.