Consultoría en Ciencias Naturales

OVERVIEW

• Parent Sector: Field Office
• Duty Station: Santiago
• Classification of Duty Station: [[filter12]]
• Standard Duration of Assignment: [[filter13]]
• Job Family: Social and Human Sciences
• Type of Contract: Non-Staff
• Duration of Contract: From 1 to 6 months
• Recruitment Open to: External Candidates

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Background

The United Nations World Sustainable Development Report (GSDR 2019) confirms that the current development model is not sustainable. Progress made in the last two decades is at risk of being reversed, worsening social inequalities and potentially irreversibly damaging the natural environment. At one-third of our way to the SDGs, the world is off track to achieve the Global Goals by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic abruptly disrupted the implementation of many SDGs and, in some cases, set back decades of progress. The 2020 United Nations Report on Sustainable Development Goals calls for a coordinated international response and recovery effort, based on solid data and science, guided by the Sustainable Development Goals.

The greatest science-related risks facing our world in the coming years include failure to mitigate and adapt to climate change, extreme weather events, natural hazards, human-induced environmental hazards, biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and water crises. Between 2005 and 2015, natural disasters caused $1.4 trillion in damages and affected 1.7 billion people worldwide. With the increasing frequency and magnitude of occurrences due to climate change, losses associated with natural hazards are rising. More than 90% of disasters due to natural hazards are related to water and climate. Water resource variability, both in quantity and quality, and increasing water demand in all sectors will be exacerbated by climate, environmental, demographic, and economic changes. Implementation of SDG 6 is significantly off track: it is estimated that over two billion people lack access to clean water, leading to the death of a child every minute. Around 2.5 billion people (36% of the world's population) live in water-scarce regions.

Long Description

In this context, the Natural Sciences Sector will promote learning and sustainable societies, supporting Member States in advancing science, technology, innovation, research, and engineering to address contemporary environmental and social challenges and build back better after the pandemic. The multidimensional, interconnected, and holistic approach advocated by the GSDR is at the core of UNESCO's mandate, and specifically of the Natural Sciences Sector. The program will review the knowledge paradigm and science, further strengthening support to its Member States for understanding the interrelationships between human, social, and environmental systems at all levels. It will promote regional and international scientific cooperation, as well as the adaptation of existing knowledge and technologies to specific local and regional contexts to maximize synergies for the achievement of the SDGs and other internationally and regionally agreed development frameworks.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, challenges persist in scientific access, dissemination, and cooperation in various societal areas. Approaches such as citizen science or open science, the search for nature-based solutions, and the recovery of ancestral and indigenous knowledge are entry points aimed at reducing these gaps and promoting greater inclusion and participation in sustainable development models. Additionally, from the perspective of training new generations, it has been identified that STEM, STEAM, and STEAM+H approaches promote a comprehensive and contextualized view of science that develops life skills and offers opportunities to reduce gender and material gaps in science and technology. UNESCO has a range of programs and initiatives that contribute to strengthening and advancing these spaces, such as the International Hydrological Program (PHI), the International Oceanographic Commission (OIC), Biosphere Reserves and Geoparks (MAB), the science and gender SAGA program, the rescue of local and indigenous knowledge (LINKS), among others.

Objective

Under the authority of the Director of the UNESCO Multisector Regional Office in Santiago and the supervision of area specialists, the consultant will contribute to the development, coordination, and execution of activities carried out under UNESCO's Natural Sciences Program II in Chile, in coordination with regional Science specialists.

In particular, the consultant will be responsible for providing the technical support necessary to develop, execute, and evaluate program activities that promote learning and sustainable societies, and support Chile's efforts in advancing science, technology, innovation, research, and engineering to address contemporary environmental and social challenges. Special attention will be given to bridging knowledge gaps and promoting UNESCO's Recommendation on Open Science, CILAC, and others as applicable.

Long Description

The consultant will also be responsible for supporting the country's efforts to implement international recommendations from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), as well as recommendations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) related to indigenous peoples, biodiversity conservation, and climate change.

The consultant will be part of the interdisciplinary team at the UNESCO Office in Santiago, collaborating with stakeholders and working under the technical guidance of the Natural Sciences Program Divisions at UNESCO Headquarters, the Regional Multisectoral Office's Natural Sciences Program Specialists in Montevideo, and other UNESCO Offices in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Main Responsibilities:

• Participate in the development of UNESCO's Regular Program (C/5) work plans, supporting policy formulation discussions and other strategic formulation activities related to UNESCO's scientific sector.
• Coordinate and supervise the development, execution, and evaluation of programs and projects in the field of natural sciences in Latin America, including ecological and earth sciences (EEE), Man and the Biosphere (MAB), the International Hydrological Program (PHI), and Science Policy and Basic Sciences (PBS), in coordination with sector focal points in UNESCO Santiago and the responsible persons for innovation and Education for Sustainable Development and Project Intersector2.
• Provide advice and technical support to national institutions and other stakeholders responsible for science, technology, and innovation for policy-oriented actions and research on emerging national and global science trends and contribute to the development of relevant strategy documents, technical notes, frameworks, and scientific papers that add to the implementation of UNESCO's Recommendation on Open Science.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with other United Nations agencies, in collaboration with colleagues from Headquarters and the UNESCO field offices, Category I and II centers and institutes in the field of natural sciences to foster joint programming opportunities related to exact and natural sciences.
• Ensure proper decentralized implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Natural Sciences Program at the Office and timely submission of quarterly or annual reports.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

Accountability, Communication, Innovation, Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement, Planning and organizing, Results focus, Teamwork, Professionalism

-

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

- University degree in relevant fields related to natural sciences (Environment, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Hydrology, Basic Sciences, and Science Policy) and/or Engineering.

Required Experience:

- Minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in natural sciences fields such as Environment, Water Resources, Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI).

- Experience in scientific coordination, program management, design and implementation of large-scale programs and projects, as well as specialized knowledge in science policy.

- Experience in initiatives related to climate change, biodiversity sustainability involving the participation of indigenous communities.

- At least two previous work experiences with international organizations or Ministries of Science in the areas of this consultancy.

Competencies:

- Excellent analytical, research, identification, systematization, and analysis skills; excellent writing skills in Spanish and English.

- Thorough theoretical and practical understanding and vision in thematic fields related to this consultancy.

- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, particularly in a professional context.

- Excellent presentation skills for diverse stakeholders, for purposes of consultation, review, and dissemination.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Advanced higher education degree (master's, doctorate, or equivalent) in relevant fields related to natural sciences (Environment, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Hydrology, Basic Sciences, and Science Policy) and/or Engineering.

Terms of Contract

Duration: 3 to 6 months

Deliverables: Work plan and monthly activity report associated with the work plan's products.