Technical Advisor REDD+ and Forests

Result of Service

In accordance with the annual country work plans of the UN-REDD programme, Social Forestry and the SAFE initiative, the consultant’s expected results include the following services: 1. Deliver on programme implementation, monitoring, and reporting of UNEP and UN-REDD activities in the Asia Pacific on the basis of work plans: • Provide technical backstopping to the delivery of UNEP activities in UN-REDD country workplans. • Manage the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the Social Forestry Initiative, ASEAN component. • Manage the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the SAFE Initiative. • Ensure quality assurance in the execution of legal agreements with technical partners and consultants. • Contribute information on results and progress to annual and semi-annual UN-REDD reports as well as internal monthly reports. • Work with communications specialists to review and make contributions to meeting reports, communications, and information briefs, and other materials related to the regional initiatives. 2. Technical inputs provided and facilitation supported to Asia Pacific team on REDD+ and scaling up investments: • Technical contribution to UN-REDD 2026-2030 Outcome 4 execution on behalf of UNEP in all countries. • Comprehensive technical review of key documents and initiatives, analyzed through the lenses of REDD+ implementation and sustainable investment opportunities. • Contribute to advancing the connection between forest enterprises, REDD+ finance, and private sector investment. • Support knowledge management events, providing technical input on topics such as forest enterprise development, REDD+, and forest finance. 3. Contribute to the development of geographic and thematic expansion across Asia Pacific, including liaison with key partners in the region: • Develop project ideas to transform the successes of the initiatives implemented into concrete project ideas. • Identify resource mobilization opportunities and present UNEP's strategic added value, especially for Asia Pacific. • Expand the network of the private sector and investors to support the scaling-up efforts supporting forest enterprises to access finance. • Strengthen the coordination with UNEP regional office and identify areas for collaboration. • Maintain and strengthen partnerships with strategic stakeholders in the region for expansion and improved delivery.

Work Location

Office-based (Bangkok, Thailand)

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 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. UNEP’s 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 is a key partner in the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD), which builds on the combined convening role and technical expertise of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme and UN Environment Programme. As part of the UN-REDD Programme jointly implemented by UNEP, UNDP and FAO, UNEP has engaged in increasing commitments and ambition worldwide in the response to the climate crisis through forest protection and restoration. The UN-REDD programme plays a pivotal role in delivering this ambition. In this regard, UN-REDD aims to achieve four outcomes: • Outcome 1. Demonstrating High‑Integrity REDD+ Results • Outcome 2. Unlocking Finance for REDD+ Results • Outcome 3. Enhancing Climate Ambition • Outcome 4. Addressing Drivers of Deforestation Under outcome 4, UNEP is implementing two regional initiatives: 1) Social Forestry (2026-2030), with a specific ASEAN Component. This is funded by the Swiss Government and UNEPs role is to scale up social forestry enterprises access to market and finance in Cambodia and Indonesia, while working closely with the ASEAN Secretariat, in line with Nature based Solutions principles and national policies, and 2) Sustaining an Abundance of Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) Initiative (2023-2030), funded by the Korean Forest Service where UNEP leads the implementation of activities in Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam by combining large-scale restoration with business incubation for forest-dependent entrepreneurs. This consultancy is Bangkok-based, with travel to the countries in the region, and reports to the Asia and the Pacific Regional Coordinator – Forests and Climate Change, based in Bangkok, with additional supervision from UN-REDD Programme management officer based in Geneva.

Qualifications/special skills

Education: • Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in natural resources management, forest conservation, climate finance, social sciences, or environmental studies is required. • A first-level university degree level in the above-mentioned fields, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience: • A minimum of five years of progressively responsible working experience in forest finance, climate change, and REDD+ is required. • Experience of working at country level in the Asia Pacific region is also required. • Prior working experience in the UN system is desirable. Skills: • Strong analytical skills, understanding of socio-political complexities of developing countries, and experience in communicating complex sustainable development issues is required. • Standard computer software application literacy is required. • A demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations, knowledge of the United Nations system, and a personal commitment to the ideals of the United Nations Charter is desirable. • Ability to identify priorities and to work under tight deadlines is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consulting position, fluency in oral and written English is required.

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.