Result of Service

The successful candidate will combine technical expertise with strong writing and coordination skills, producing high-quality publications that serve as authoritative references for policymakers and stakeholders worldwide.

Work Location

Home-based.

Expected duration

07 months between 15 February to 14 September 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities

Background note: Desertification, 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. The Convention seeks to support countries to address Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD) (www.unccd.int). The escalating frequency and severity of droughts emphasize the urgent need for enhanced drought resilience. Droughts also pose significant threats to ecosystems and livelihoods, causing more deaths than any other weather-related disaster and resulting in substantial economic losses. The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) held in Riyadh from December 2 to 13, 2024 underscored the mounting global challenges of drought, leading to substantial financial commitments and the recognition of the need for strengthening capacities and developing innovative tools and technologies to tackle this pressing global challenge. UNCCD Parties also adopted specific decisions on building drought resilience of affected Parties, requesting the Global Mechanism (GM) and the secretariat of the UNCCD to support Parties in creating an enabling environment at the national level to (i) facilitate the implementation of national drought plans or other policies and frameworks related to drought; (ii) forge specific partnerships to mobilize technical and financial support for projects and programmes on drought; and (iii) collaborate with relevant programmes and to support Parties in leveraging finance through relevant mechanisms (Decision 3/COP.16). Duties & Responsibilities: Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Global Policy, Advocacy, and Regional Cooperation (GPARC), and the direct supervision of the assigned officer(s), the Senior Consultant will lead the development of at least two high-quality flagship policy papers on drought resilience: - Inception Report & Methodology: Prepare an inception report including the consultancy work plan and proposed methodology for both publications, to be reviewed and agreed with supervisors. - Stakeholder Engagement: Establish and maintain contact with relevant core entities, networks, and institutions to conceptualize the steps, processes, and working modalities for the development of the publications and to continuously engage with partners to enhance the quality and credibility of the publications. - Flagship Drought Publication 2026 (Global Snapshot report 2026): Prepare a comprehensive publication covering drought snapshots, key statistics, evidences, impacts, mapping of drought plans, current trends of drought and projections beyond 2026, as well as its intersection with food security, migration, energy, health, peace and security, among others. The report will assess drought resilience at various levels including assessment of ongoing efforts, and the financing architecture for drought resilience. - Tafa’ul Process Report: Produce a detailed report documenting the outcomes of the ongoing Tafa’ul Process. - Technical and Knowledge Support: Provide substantive technical and procedural guidance by leveraging recent data sources, flagship publications, and key drought indicators, including maps and spatially explicit data, while contributing expertise to support the Secretariat’s broader drought management efforts.

Qualifications/special skills

- Advanced university degree in natural resources management, rural development, geography, meteorology, environmental policy, hydrology, development economics or any other related field relevant for the consultancy is required - A minimum of 10 years work experience on the above and related disciplines including in depth knowledge of integrated drought management, drought and water scarcity policy, programmes, and practices is required. - Solid knowledge of the UNCCD, related UN and intergovernmental processes, and environment-related policy issues would be a great asset is required.

Languages

- Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.

Additional Information

Only 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. For remote consultancies, the selected candidate will be required to have a laptop or desktop PC (with Windows 11 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 11 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 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.