UNEP Consultant for Mainstreaming Biodiversity 2025: Role, Scope, How to Apply, Deadline

The United Nations Environment Programme is inviting applications for an 11 month consultancy that supports mainstreaming biodiversity across policies, sectors, and finance systems. Based with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal, the role advances implementation of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by curating good practices, coordinating knowledge exchange, and enabling cross sector collaboration. Below is a clean, research styled brief that covers the scope of work, qualifications, how to apply, and timelines.

UNEP Consultant for Mainstreaming Biodiversity 2025 Snapshot summary

About UNEP and the CBD Secretariat

UNEP is the UN system environmental authority that convenes partners, sets priorities, and supports the environmental dimension of sustainable development. The CBD Secretariat serves Parties to the Convention by facilitating meetings, coordinating implementation, and stewarding knowledge systems such as the Clearing House Mechanism. The work centers on three objectives that guide all activities: conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources.

Role overview and purpose

The Consultant for Mainstreaming Biodiversity will coordinate strands of work that help countries, sectors, and stakeholders embed biodiversity in plans, production systems, investment decisions, and regulatory frameworks. The consultant will synthesize practical examples, facilitate communities of practice, and support meeting agendas that advance the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, with emphasis on mainstreaming, business and finance engagement, and resource mobilization.

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Core responsibilities

Knowledge synthesis and platforms

• Compile, assess, and categorize good practices on mainstreaming that are shared by governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, subnational actors, civil society, private sector, and finance institutions
• Curate content for the Clearing House Mechanism, including an interactive area that highlights lessons aligned with Goal D and Targets 14, 15, 18, and 19, and the resource mobilization strategy
• Prepare concise practice notes and solution overviews that are easy to navigate and apply

Convening and communities of practice

• Design and facilitate virtual dialogues that connect peer groups around mainstreaming challenges and solutions
• Coordinate with partner platforms to avoid duplication and to broaden participation across regions and languages
• Track engagement outcomes and maintain follow up calendars

Technical inputs to review and reporting

• Analyze national biodiversity strategies and reports to identify trends, gaps, and enablers for mainstreaming
• Provide analytical contributions that can inform the Global Review and related synthesis products
• Prepare progress notes and draft documentation that support SBI consideration and COP agenda items

Event support and stakeholder engagement

• Contribute to planning and delivery of COP linked events such as the Business and Biodiversity Forum, Finance and Biodiversity Day, and Action Zone activities
• Liaise with partners to structure panels, gather case material, and develop outcome summaries and takeaway toolkits

Communication and outreach

• Draft short features, briefs, and visuals that increase visibility of mainstreaming efforts
• Coordinate with communication colleagues to align messages and timelines

Expected deliverables

• Structured overview of mainstreaming practices with tagging by sector, instrument, and GBF target relevance
• Progress report on mainstreaming activities ahead of the SBI session
• Analytical inputs to the Global Review of Biodiversity Mainstreaming
• Event concept notes, run sheets, speaker briefs, and post event summaries for COP related forums
• Final consultancy report with recommendations for scaling and sustaining communities of practice

Qualifications and experience

Academic background

• Advanced degree in environmental policy, international relations, natural resource management, or a closely related field
• A first level degree plus two additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree

Professional experience

• At least two years of relevant experience in environmental policy, ecosystem or natural resource management, or related program implementation
• Experience with UN processes or multilateral environmental agreements is an advantage
• Familiarity with biodiversity mainstreaming, environmental economics, or private sector engagement is desirable

Skills profile

• Strong analytical and synthesis skills for policy relevant outputs
• Proven facilitation, agenda design, and meeting coordination experience
• Excellent drafting for policy briefs, technical notes, and meeting reports
• Solid organization, planning, and stakeholder coordination across time zones
• Comfort with collaborative digital tools for knowledge management and virtual events

Competencies

• Effective communication, teamwork, and cultural sensitivity
• Strategic thinking with attention to detail and execution
• Ability to operate in fast moving, multicultural settings

Language requirements

• Fluency in spoken and written English is required
• Knowledge of other UN languages such as French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian is an asset

Contract, location, and reporting

• Contract length is 11 months, based in Montreal, Canada
• The consultant reports to the Programme Officer within the BETI Unit of the SSSF Division
• Work follows UN consultancy terms, with clear deliverables and periodic progress reviews

How to apply

1. Prepare your dossier
   • Curriculum vitae highlighting relevant policy, facilitation, and knowledge management experience
   • Cover letter that maps your skills to the responsibilities and deliverables, including examples of mainstreaming or cross sector integration work
   • Short writing sample or portfolio links that demonstrate policy synthesis or meeting outputs
2. Submit your application
   • Apply through the UN Careers Portal before 31 October 2025
   • Ensure your profile information is current, and upload all documents under the correct sections
3. After submission
   • Keep your contact details updated for any technical assessments or interviews
   • Be prepared to provide references and evidence of previous deliverables on short notice

Tips to strengthen your application

• Showcase one or two concise case examples where you translated diverse inputs into actionable mainstreaming steps
• Provide a sample structure for a Clearing House Mechanism practice page to demonstrate your approach to usability
• Outline a light monitoring approach for communities of practice that tracks engagement quality, solution uptake, and follow through
• Flag any language capabilities and experience supporting multilingual processes

Frequently asked questions

1) Is this a remote position or on site

The consultancy is based in Montreal. Limited remote flexibility may be used for virtual convenings, subject to Secretariat needs.

2) What kinds of mainstreaming practices are most useful to submit and analyze

Examples that show integration into fiscal policy, procurement, land use planning, disclosure and reporting, sector standards, finance instruments, or incentives are highly valuable.

3) Will the consultant travel for COP related events

Travel may be requested if aligned with event roles and budget approvals. This will be clarified during work planning.

4) What does success look like for this consultancy

Clear and usable practice collections, active communities of practice with evidenced exchange, quality inputs to review processes, and event outputs that inform implementation.

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5) Are non Canadian nationals eligible to apply

Eligibility follows UN recruitment rules for consultancies. Candidates must meet visa and work authorization requirements for the duty station.

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