Technical Advisor for the CBD COP17

Duties and Responsibilities

• Organizational Setting: The United Nations Environment Programme 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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
• The seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) will be held from 19 to 30 October 2026, Yerevan, Armenia under the slogan of “Taking action for nature”. UNEP has provided a dedicated support to Armenia in the lead-up to the CBD COP17 in 2025 through the financial support from the China Trust Fund Project on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Implementation. As key outcome of this support, the comprehensive needs assessment to support Armenia’s preparation for CBD COP 17 was carried out. The assessment identified several gaps where UNEP can offer targeted technical support in organizing the country-led CBD COP17.
• Building on this work, there is a strong need to continuously provide technical expertise to the Ministry of Environment Armenia directly to advance the content and programme part of CBD COP17. UNEP Ecosystems Division will lead this technical support, working in coordination with other UNEP Divisions, Regional Office for Europe, CBD Secretariat, and UN Residential Coordination Office in Armenia along with ongoing initiatives.
• The Consultant (Technical Advisor for the CBD COP17) will be embedded in the Ministry of Environment of Armenia to coordinate this technical support in collaboration with the UNEP Ecosystems Division and relevant stakeholders and will contribute to the effective preparation and successful organization of the CBD COP17. The position will be Part Time and home based.
• The Technical Advisor for the CBD COP17 will report to the Head, Nature Frameworks Support Unit, Biodiversity and Land Branch, Ecosystems Division, with day-to-day collaboration with Programme Management Officer.

Qualifications/special skills

• An advanced university degree in biodiversity conservation, environmental science, international development, political science, social science or closely related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of 7 years’ experience in biodiversity and environment at the national, regional, or global levels is required.
• Work experience related to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is an advantage.
• Work experience in biodiversity conservation in Armenia is an advantage.
• Work experience in the United Nations system and/or the Intergovernmental Organizations with proven experience in multicultural work environments is an advantage.
• Work experience in communication and outreach campaigns is an advantage.