Marine Environment Management Planning Specialist

Result of Service1. Inception report submitted and approved, including a detailed work schedule aligned with project timelines and objective. 2. Economic valuation report and CBA of marine ecosystem goods and services in Kwale and Lamu Counties. 3. Draft marine spatial plans submitted, integrating science, technology, and local priorities into a coherent framework. 4. Finalized collaborative management agreements with communities, private sector, and NGO partners for the implementation of the validated management plan within Kwale and Lamu Counties, accompanied by documentation of stakeholder validation meetings, including participant lists, key feedback, and summaries of discussions. 5. Comprehensive GBF Target and Indicator Dossier developed and submitted, including at least three validated national targets (T1–T3) with corresponding baselines, indicator metadata, trajectories, custodianship matrix, and draft policy actions reviewed and approved by the national focal institution. 6. Complete Capacity Building Kit produced — comprising slide decks, facilitator guide, participant handbook, exercises, and reference sheets — tested in at least one training session and validated by project partners for accuracy, usability, and alignment with GBF reporting tools. Work LocationHome-Based Expected duration5 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesOrganizational 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. UNEP administers the Nairobi Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Coastal and Marine Environment of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). The Contracting Parties to the Convention are Comoros, France, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa and United Republic of Tanzania. UN Environment's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Background of the Consultancy UNEP/The Nairobi Convention, under the projects namely the ”The Partnership Project between the Nairobi Convention (NC) and the Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission (SWIOFC) for resilient marine and coastal ecosystems and livelihoods (SWIOFC NC PP 2)” requires the services of a national consultant - Marine Environment Management Planning Specialist. The consultancy will support the development of participatory and evidence-based Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) processes and the preparation of a comprehensive, stakeholder-validated Integrated Environmental Management Plan (IEMP) specific for coastal communities in Kwale and Lamu Counties, Kenya. It will include conducting economic valuations of key natural resources and ecosystem services to inform evidence-based decision-making, spatial planning, policy formulation and indicators both county and national levels and capacity building on contribution of marine biodiversity to ocean health. Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Nairobi Convention Secretariat and in close coordination with the project manager of the SWIOFC-NC PP 2, the consultant will be responsible for the following: 1. Undertake economic valuation of marine ecosystems goods and services economic valuation and potential investment opportunities in Kwale and Lamu Counties a. Classify and catalog coastal and marine assets, their ecosystem goods and services to provide background and context in Kwale and Lamu Counties. b. Conduct ecosystem services analysis through comparative risk analysis of the ecosystems (under provisioning services, cultural services, regulating/supporting services) and prioritize the ecosystems for further valuation in terms of food provisioning, raw materials provisioning, carbon sequestration, ecotourism and recreation, regulation of extreme events, and scarce habitats. c. Conduct a baseline ecosystem services valuation quantifying the revenue generated in US dollars for: i. food provisioning from marine fish catch, mariculture, and agriculture ii. the gathering of raw materials, particularly fuelwood and timber iii. cultural services of tourism and recreation iv. carbon sequestration services v. regulating services related to the maintenance of scarce habitats vi. the regulation of extreme events d. Identify gaps potential gaps in the ecosystem valuation exercise and present to stakeholders. 2. Following the ecosystem services valuation, conduct a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the benefits of implementing proposed bioeconomic activities (e.g. new MPA, carbon offset co-managed sites, octopus closure sites, seaweed farming plots, pelagic anchovies (dagaa) etc in Kwale and Lamu Counties), and the costs of implementation i. Propose green/blue finance instruments for funding management plan and implementation of proposed bio-economic activities ii. Recommend further policy measures and management interventions required to enhance (i) blue economy opportunities, (ii) inputs to national biodiversity conservation strategies and action plans for protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services, and (iii) options for resilience of ecosystem towards national climate action plans outlining how Kenya plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change. 3. Marine Spatial Planning a. Through a participatory process, obtain maps showing existing governance measures i. Multi-sector uses in Kwale and Lamu Counties e.g. protected areas and shipping traffic interactions. ii. Existing management measures. iii. Future needs of existing or proposed uses. b. In a participatory approach, incorporate aspects of community-based coastal and marine management by engaging all stakeholders and sectors in Kwale and Lamu Counties. i. Participate in stakeholder meetings facilitated by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and partners for a participatory approach and validation of Kwale and Lamu Counties maps. ii. Build the capacity of Fisheries Management Committees and other relevant local personnel in data collation and mapping to be able to actively engage in the MSP process and to support and implement similar work. iii. Undertake value addition of data by assessing possible cumulative impacts of human uses in Kwale and Lamu Counties. iv. Ensure maps developed for Kwale and Lamu Counties are shared with stakeholders and sectors for participatory input on the environmental, economic, socio-cultural, and inter-sectorial data layers. v. Facilitate in ground truthing exercises on inputs for balancing potential competing uses and identify any data gaps and plan for data collection and creation.e.g Identification candidates c. Participate in stakeholder meetings facilitated by the NEMA and contribute to discussions on the broader cross-sectoral management processes and systems for Kwale and Lamu Counties. i. Participate and contribute to the development of a Management Plan for Kwale and Lamu Counties in consultation with all stakeholders to enable production of the required management plan. ii. Work with all stakeholders including Marine Protected Area (MPA) managers, the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries under the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, County Fisheries and Environment Officers, and active NGOs in the Lamu and Kwale coastal zones to operationalize on the designated MPA and the roles the Private Sector–NGO Forum and the Stakeholder Management Committee at county level. a) Identify appropriate interventions including the establishment of the Kwale and Lamu Counties Stakeholder Management Committee. b) Finalise the collaborative management agreements with communities, private sector, and NGO partners for the implementation of the validated management plan within Kwale and Lamu Counties. c) Update all community designated fishery closures and types in Kwale and Lamu Counties area including planned ones, review and incorporate planning process for establishing community fishery closure zones. d) Define the roles, responsibilities, and operating procedures for the Stakeholder Management Committee in Kwale and Lamu Counties, and map relevant actors. Build an online database of active stakeholders and initiatives in marine and coastal biodiversity in both countries, structuring fields to capture commitments linked to national targets and indicators. Document processes for meaningful participation and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), ensuring inclusion of women and youth. e) Working with stakeholders to develop a coastal sector-based implementation plan (Marine Protected Area (MPA) managers, the State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries under the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, County Fisheries and Environment Officers) include Management Plan activities in the annual workplans and budgets for the Kwale and Lamu Counties. f) Develop future plans and proposed areas for MSP to guide continued implementation and alignment with national and regional priorities. g) Facilitate the validation of the GMP through stakeholder consultations, coordination of review meetings, and incorporation of feedback to ensure approval and implementation. 4. GBF target translation and indicator setup: Map marine evidence to GBF Targets 1–3 and linked targets; propose national targets with baselines, trajectories to 2030, and enabling actions (incl. finance/capacity needs). - Select headline + component + complementary indicators (and optional disaggregation’s) relevant to marine/coastal domains; prepare indicator metadata (definitions, methods, custodians, update cycle) and data tables. - Align proposed targets with existing sectoral plans (fisheries, protected areas, WASH/pollution control, climate/NDC), showing synergies and avoiding duplication. 5. Capacity building and knowledge products: Develop training materials on GBF indicators (Regional Seas and CBD monitoring frameworks), marine OECMs, and CBD online tools (CHM, Online Reporting Tool, DaRT). - Deliver at least one national workshop per country and one joint technical clinic. Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced university degree in the field of Environmental economics, Marine Sciences, Environmental science, Coastal ecosystems management, or any related discipline is required. A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in developing and/or implementing programmes on coastal ecosystems conservation, natural resources management (ecosystem management, community engagement, collaborative marine resource management plans and management measures, implementation of marine resource management activities with Governments etc.) is required. Experience working with coastal communities and different stakeholders at both strategic and technical levels and demonstrated quality and timely delivery is required. Working knowledge in Kenya and experience of working with Government and intergovernmental programme is desirable Experience working in a multidisciplinary set up with government, non-government stakeholders including local communities on natural resource management matters in Kenya region is desirable Working knowledge in Kenya and experience of working with Government and intergovernmental programme is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the official working languages of the United Nations. For this position fluency in both oral and written English is required. Knowledge of spoken and written coastal dialect of Kiswahili is desirable Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.