Result of Service
Establishment of a National Protected Areas Network.
Work Location
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Expected duration
2 months
Duties and Responsibilities
Organization Setting:
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. The West Asia Office of UNEP delivers
advisory services and capacity building support to countries to achieve
environment and sustainable development objectives. This consultancy is
established at the West Asia Office within the framework of the Strategic
Cooperation Agreement between UNEP and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager in UNEP West Asia Office
and in coordination with the National Centre for Wildlife and the respective
department in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Saudi
Arabia, the expert will carry-out, inter alia, the following duties and
responsibilities:
1. Provide technical advice and guidance on building the National Center for
Wildlife capacity in the field of protected areas planning, management, and
monitoring using international best practice guidelines and standards related
to participative protected areas planning, management effectiveness
monitoring, local stakeholders engagement, ecotourism and sustainable
recreation development, integrated natural resources management, environmental
education and awareness raising, and biodiversity monitoring.
2. Site-level design and configuration of protected areas using
internationally recognized criteria and standards.
3. Develop a practitioner manual related to site level identification and
configuration of protected areas in alignment with best practice guidelines
adopted by IUCN, WCPA, and other international platforms.
4. Prepare protected areas management plans using technical guidelines
customized to the Saudi Arabia contexts in term of legal, institutional,
governance, decision making, and stakeholders involvement frameworks.
5. Building technical and management capacities of NCW and partners staff on
participative protected areas planning with focus on local communities'
involvement and participation.
6. Design a technical manual related to the development of management plans
for marine and terrestrial protected areas.
7. Technical guidance to NCW and partners staff on the process of protected
areas management plans preparation using the relevant international standard.
8. Technical validation of the adequacy and quality of the management plans
and nomination files prepared by the national team of NCW and partners against
well-defined criteria linked to the international technical authority of the
respective field (IUCN, UNESCO, RAMSAR, etc.).
9. Development and application of a technical standard for evaluating the
effectiveness of protected areas management using the international adopted
best practice guidelines.
10. Preparation of periodic site-based and country-side reporting on the
status and trends related to protected areas and their effectiveness in
achieving site management objective and contribution to the national targets.
11. Develop protocols and guidelines needed for the assessment and monitoring
of key wildlife species for both terrestrial and marine protected areas and
linking them to national reporting related to the status and trends of these
taxa against international standards.
12. Finalize technical documents associated the Protected Areas System Plan
in Saudi Arabia.
Outputs / Work Assignments (Deliverables):
1. An inception report on the national protected areas in Saudi Arabia.
2. Technical guidelines and scientific reports of national protected areas
planning, management, and monitoring.
3. Monthly and quarterly reports of national protected areas planning,
management, and monitoring.
4. Training manuals and courses for national protected areas planning,
management, and monitoring.
5. Capacity building programme for National Centre for Wildlife.
6. Final report on protected areas planning, management, and monitoring in
Saudi Arabia.
Qualifications/special skills
Master's degree in biodiversity, ecosystems, protected areas, environmental
science, natural sciences, or related fields is required. PHD is an asset.
Minimum of 10 years of professional technical experience in the field of
protected areas is required.
Knowledge of protected areas in Saudi Arabia is an asset.
Experience working in West Asia is desirable.
Languages
Fluency in English is required and knowledge of Arabic is desirable.
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.