GGW Project Support Consultant

Result of Service

Progress in the implementation of the ESEGGWI Project.

Work Location

Bonn Office (In person)

Expected duration

06 April 2026 to 02 April 2027

Duties and Responsibilities

Background note: Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention seeks to support countries to address Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD). ( The Global Mechanism (GM) is an institution of the UNCCD, mandated to assist countries in the mobilization of financial resources from the public and private sector for activities that prevent, control or reverse desertification, land degradation and drought. The Global Mechanism is currently steering several activities related to the Green Great Wall Initiative, notably a project entitled "Strengthening Coordination and Implementation of the Great Green Wall Initiative, Phase 2: Enhancing Sustainability and Expansion of the Great Green Wall Initiative'' (ESEGGWI), funded by ADA, the Austrian Development Agency. The Great Green Wall (GGW) initiative was launched in 2007 under the leadership of the African Union and Pan-African Agency of the GGW. It aims to restore Africa's degraded landscapes and transform millions of lives in one of the world's poorest regions, the Sahel. In recent years, the GGW vision has evolved into an integrated ecosystem management approach, striving for a mosaic of different land use and production systems. Hence the GGW should be understood as a strategic comprehensive national and regional development plan focusing not only on environmental protection but also combining economic and social dimensions and ensuring synergies among the various existing policies and programs that contribute to its strategy and goals. UNCCD is seeking to hire a GGW Project Preparation & Implementation Support Consultant to support the implementation of the ESEGGWI Project in its efforts to contribute towards combatting desertification, land degradation, and drought while strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring security and prosperity in the region. The consultant will provide technical support to the team, which will consist of both UNCCD and GGWI staff, as well as relevant stakeholders in the region. Duties & Responsibilities: Under direct supervision of the Great Green Wall Accelerator's Programme Management Officer this role will aim to provide project preparation and technical support to the implementation team including support to project implementation, research, reporting and monitoring. Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer (PMO) of the Great Green Wall Accelerator of UNCCD's Global Mechanism, this role will aim to provide project preparation and technical support to the implementation team including support to project implementation, research, reporting and monitoring as described below:

1. Support in conceptualizing and developing scale-up projects/models to replicate the pilot project implemented in phase 1.
2. Support in facilitating the formation, and coordination of GGW national coalitions.
3. Support the convening and reporting on national coalition meetings, technical and financial partner meetings, and GGW stakeholder meetings to ensure effective coordination.
4. Support the organization and management of cross-country learning exchanges to foster knowledge sharing and collaboration.
5. Support different GGW task forces' management and ensure alignment with the objectives of national coalitions, including the task forces created regarding drought resilience, project preparation and resource mobilization.
6. Support facilitation of regional consultations to enhance collaborative platforms including transboundary water management activities meetings and consultations.
7. Support the development and delivery of online tutorials to train GGW Observatory members to report and monitor project results.
8. Support in building partnerships and efforts towards mobilizing innovative finance for the GGW.
9. Supports tracking and monitoring project financing opportunities and the GGW project pipeline.
10. Updates and maintains distribution lists; assembles documents, reports and other materials for dissemination, where possible using electronic formats; coordinates courier services.
11. Assists with publications and other information materials management, including archiving print and electronic materials and maintaining their physical storage.
12. Supports administrative and logistic processes related to human resources, unit email management, procurement, travel and events, in collaboration with the relevant administration units. Performs other duties as assigned.

Workplan and deliverables will be prepared at the beginning of the assignment with the hiring manager and will serve as the basis for monthly installments.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in a relevant field such as water resource management, international management, political science, management, environmental science, or sustainable development; monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, or a related field is required.
• A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience supporting either international development or climate-related programs is required.
• Experience in and around Sub-Saharan Africa is an added value.

Languages

• Fluency in spoken and written English & French is required.
• Knowledge of an additional official UN language, such as Arabic is an advantage.

Additional Information

Only individuals who can act as independent, individual economical operators are qualified to apply. Individuals who can provide their services only on account of an institution or enterprise are not eligible under this procedure. Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered "staff members" under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations Secretariat and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultant and individual contractor is responsible for determining tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

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.