Consultancy: Scientific Partnership Strategy for the UNCCD Scientific Knowledge Brokering Portal

Review the ​TERM OF REFERENCE

In close cooperation with the UNCCD staff for Knowledge Management, Science and Technology, the incumbent for this consultancy will perform the following duties and responsibilities:

• Compile a draft Scientific Partnership Strategy for the SKBP, based on input from the relevant UNCCD staff, and the feedback and recommendations from existing and potential knowledge partners;
• Compile a draft partnership agreement for Scientific Knowledge partners;
• Identify and engage 20 potential partners, to be connected to the SKBP in 2016.

The Scientific Partnership Strategy should address the following issues:

• Ensuring the usefulness of the SKBP by offering relevant content;
• Enabling the secretariat to connect new partners in an efficient and cost-effective way;
• Allow the secretariat to maintain high quality standards for the content offered through the SKBP

Required qualifications and work experience: 
The consultant is requested to have the following professional qualifications:

• Advanced academic degree in agriculture, soil science, environmental science, natural resource management, international development, or related field;
• Extensive experience in scientific research and cooperation concerning land degradation, land management and related fields;
• Significant experience in knowledge management concepts applied to scientific information sharing using information and communication technologies;
• Highly developed conceptual, analytical and innovative problem-solving ability; demonstrated ability to handle complex issues;
• Proven ability to coordinate a multi-partner process;
• Experience in and understanding of the dynamics of an intergovernmental process would be an asset;
• Fluency in English is a necessity; other UN languages would be an asset.

Tentative timetable

The consultant will be, unless otherwise agreed, based at the UNCCD secretariat under the supervision of the head of the Knowledge Management, Science and Technology unit. The expected duration of this consultancy service is three months (on a flexible part-time basis) starting December 2015. The fee will be defined on the basis of the qualifications of the incumbent and may be delivered in instalments, upon timely delivery of the expected outputs.

Submission of applications:

Applications should be submitted by e-mail to staffing@unccd.int, together with a UN Personal History Form or CV, specifying the position: Short-term Consultancy SKBP – Scientific Partnership Strategy Consultant. The deadline of applications is 24 November 2015. Only applications submitted by the deadline will be considered.