Project Development Lead, Cook Islands (GEF12325)

Project Development Lead, Cook Islands (GEF12325)

UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme

Remote | Nairobi

International

CON level

Speaks English, French

Application deadline: November 15, 2026 (9 days)

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Summary by Impactpool

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is seeking a Project Development Lead for a GEF-funded project focused on reducing land degradation in the Cook Islands. The consultant will be responsible for leading the planning and execution of the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) process, including the development of a CEO Endorsement package. This role requires expertise in sustainable land and ecosystem management, biodiversity conservation, and GEF project design. The position is home-based with potential travel to the Cook Islands.

Candidate Requirements:

Advanced degree in biodiversity or environmental sciences

Minimum 7 years of experience in environmental planning

Knowledge of GEF policies and programming

Experience in sustainable land and ecosystem management

Fluency in English with strong writing skills

Result of Service

CEO Endorsement Request Packages including UNEP's annexes for the projects "Reducing Land Degradation through integrated sustainable land and ecosystem management in priority areas of the Cook Islands”

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

7.5 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 Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical guidance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacities of developing countries and countries with transitional economies. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit plays a key role in the implementation of GEF projects. Through this unit, the organization provides support to countries and partners in the development and implementation of GEF projects in focal areas of biodiversity and land degradation. The unit has staff located across multiple regions, with coordination handled from its headquarters in Nairobi, working closely with regional and sub-regional offices. It currently manages a portfolio of over 200 projects spanning Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and West Asia and Asia and the Pacific. The unit would like to recruit a consultant to lead the planning and execution of the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) process for the GEF funded projects (GEF) “Reducing Land Degradation through integrated sustainable land and ecosystem management in priority areas of the Cook Islands” (GEF12325). UNEP, acting as an Implementing Agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is providing assistance to the executing agency for the project, the National Environment Services (NES) of Cook Islands, in the preparation of the GEF project “Reducing Land Degradation through integrated sustainable land and ecosystem management in priority areas of the Cook Islands.” As part of the GEF Project Preparation Grant (PPG), UNEP is hiring a consultant to develop, in full compliance with GEF rules, policies, and standards, a GEF CEO Endorsement package for submission to the GEF Secretariat. In accordance with GEF procedures, the complete set of project documentation must be submitted to the GEF Secretariat by the stipulated deadline. Through the present announcement, UNEP seeks to engage an experienced consultant with a strong background in GEF project design, implementation, and monitoring, and with demonstrated expertise in sustainable land and ecosystem management (SLEM), land degradation, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, sustainable land management, and community-based natural resource management. These areas are consistent with the project's focus on strengthening governance and monitoring systems and scaling SLEM interventions across priority degraded areas in the Cook Islands. The objective of the assignment is to prepare the GEF CEO Endorsement Request, including all required annexes, for the project “Reducing Land Degradation through integrated sustainable land and ecosystem management in priority areas of the Cook Islands.” The consultancy will be home-based, with travel to the Cook Islands as required. The specific tasks to be performed by the consultant are as follows: • Organize, coordinate, and lead the project design; present a plan for the entire PPG from the beginning of the process, with a logical timeline, detailed agenda, and methodology. • Participate in field missions when possible. • Participate in periodic discussions, in the presence or virtually when needed, with the project design team and partners (i.e., governmental agencies and civil society) on the project progress and, when needed, on specific issues (i.e., organizational and governance structure of the project). • Monitor the PPG process at the request of UNEP´s Task Manager, National Environment Services (NES) of Cook Islands, and/or with key stakeholders, for purposes of informing them about the project and the ongoing PPG processes. • Periodically, inform UNEP's Task Manager and National Environment Services (NES) of Cook Islands on the status of the work and highlight, in a timely manner, risks related to the quality of the information received and the fulfillment of the project's development schedule. Work in close coordination with and assign tasks to national consultants and ensure that all coordination and assignment tasks are communicated to and through National Environment Services (NES) of Cook Islands • Review risks and their respective rankings and propose mitigation measures with inputs from the project design team and other relevant stakeholders. • Prepare and compile the CEO Endorsement, including all annexes and appendices. • Prepare costed M&E work plan for all activities, with defined indicators, to be funded by the GEF including clear identification of responsibilities and accountabilities, as well as an appropriate M&E budget. The plan will be based on the standard template provided in the package template that reflects the mandatory requirements of the GEF M&E Policy. • Finalize the project results framework as regards all activities. Further define the results framework with appropriate objective-level and outcome-level quantitative and qualitative SMART indicators, mid and end-of-project targets. Establish baseline and targets for indicators reporting on the UNEP Integrated Results and Resources Framework. Ensure that all related activities are in conformity with GEF-8 focal area guidelines and indicators. Special attention should be paid to include socio-economic and gender sensitive indicators. • Prepare draft responses to comments from the UNEP´s Project Review Committee (PRC) and the GEF Secretariat (GEFSEC) and submit them to UNEP´s Task Manager and National Environment Services (NES) of Cook Islands The lead consultant is responsible for ensuring: i. The project proposal is fully aligned with the Cook Islands’ national policies, strategies, and regulatory frameworks related to sustainable land and ecosystem management (SLEM), land degradation, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and climate resilience, including consistency with the National Environment Policy (2022–2032) and national commitments under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), while supporting implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and UNFCCC through ecosystem restoration, biodiversity mainstreaming, and improved ecosystem resilience. ii. The project design enables integrated, cross-sectoral, ridge-to-reef and community-driven management of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems by strengthening governance and regulatory frameworks, enhancing institutional coordination, and increasing awareness, technical capacity, knowledge sharing, and stewardship among Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), customary landowners, island councils, civil society organizations, women, youth, and relevant government agencies. The project will also undertake a baseline assessment of land degradation and ecosystem conditions, identify national monitoring gaps and priorities, and strengthen integrated monitoring, data management, decision-support, and knowledge-sharing systems to support the long-term sustainability and scaling of SLEM interventions. iii. The package includes a Gender Analysis, a Gender Action Plan, and a Stakeholder Engagement Plan, personnel ToRs, project workplan, procurement plan etc.; and iv. The package includes an assessment of environmental and social safeguards, encompassing, when needed, applicable mitigation measures. The consultant must also verify and, if this is the case, include the identification of potential institutional linkages with ongoing and proposed GEF Projects and other project-relevant initiatives. The Lead Consultant will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the National Expert and must ensure that all supervisory activities are communicated to and through National Environment Services (NES) of Cook Islands. The consultant will work in collaboration and with input from other consultants, service providers and members of the project coordination team including representatives from the National Environment Services (NES) of Cook Islands, to deliver the CEO Endorsement Request Package and UNEP's applicable Annexes for the GEF Project. Reporting Lines: The Lead Consultant will report to Task Manager, GEF-Biodiversity, and Land Degradation Unit, under the supervision of Head, GEF-Biodiversity, and Land Degradation Unit, and MECC of Fiji. The consultancy will be home-based with possible project site visits.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree in biodiversity sciences, environmental sciences, natural resource management, natural resource policy, environmental policy, environmental economics, or a closely related field is required. A first-level university degree in the same fields is acceptable with two additional years of qualifying relevant experience. • A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in environmental planning, sustainable land management, management, and protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services is required. • Demonstrated knowledge of GEF policies and programming, as well as senior experience in GEF project formulation and writing of the GEF Project Document and CEO Endorsement is highly desirable. • Work experience in sustainable land and ecosystem management (SLEM), land degradation, ecosystem restoration, nature-based solutions, and climate resilience, particularly in terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and island ecosystems, working with a wide range of stakeholders and international donor agencies, preferably with demonstrated experience working with GEF Implementing Agencies on GEF project design, implementation, and/or midterm and terminal evaluation reviews. • Work experience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), particularly in the Pacific region, on sustainable land and ecosystem management, land degradation, ecosystem restoration, ridge-to-reef approaches, and community-based natural resource management is desirable. • Experience in leading and/or participating in multi-disciplinary teams addressing a range of environmental planning and management issues) is an asset; and experience working in the Pacific Region is highly desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English with strong writing and editing skills 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.

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Summary by Impactpool

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is seeking a Project Development Lead for a GEF-funded project focused on reducing land degradation in the Cook Islands. The consultant will be responsible for leading the planning and execution of the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) process, including the development of a CEO Endorsement package. This role requires expertise in sustainable land and ecosystem management, biodiversity conservation, and GEF project design. The position is home-based with potential travel to the Cook Islands.

Candidate Requirements:

Advanced degree in biodiversity or environmental sciences

Minimum 7 years of experience in environmental planning

Knowledge of GEF policies and programming

Experience in sustainable land and ecosystem management

Fluency in English with strong writing skills

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Project Development Lead, Cook Islands (GEF12325)

UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme

Remote | Nairobi

International

CON level

Speaks English, French

Apply