Duties and Responsibilities
UNEP is the voice of the environment within the United Nations system. UNEP acts as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the sound use of the environment and sustainable development. Located within the Industry and Economy Division, the Resources and Markets Branch examines how the economy, trade and finance interact with the environment and contribute to sustainable development at the local, national, regional and global levels. Based in Geneva, the Division leads the Green Economy Initiative to help countries integrate environmental considerations into their economic and trade policies. Objective: The main objective of this project is to assess the impact of current economic incentives on biodiversity and to propose alternative reform scenarios in three key sectors of the Moroccan economy: fisheries, agriculture and mining. The study, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and conducted by an expert consultant, is expected to contribute to UNIDO’s ongoing work on integrating biodiversity into public planning. The study is also intended to complement the work carried out by UNDP BIOFIN to draw up an inventory of subsidies that have a negative impact on biodiversity at the national level. Finally, the work must contribute effectively to the development of the new National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), as part of the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. In order to fully transmit the results of the study in an effective manner to national stakeholders, the findings of the study will be integrated into a capacity-building activity, delivered in the form of sectoral trainings to the National Sub-Committee on Biodiversity. This capacity-building activity will complement the training provided by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Context: The Partnership for Action on a Green Economy (PAGE), launched in 2013 following the Rio+20 call, aims to support countries towards greener and more inclusive growth pathways. It brings together the expertise of five UN agencies – the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UNEP – to help nations integrate sustainability into their economic policies. promote growth, reduce poverty and inequality, create jobs, and strengthen the ecological foundations of their economies, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Morocco is a member country of PAGE, and its application for membership clearly defined the government’s expectations of PAGE and priority areas for policy reform. Mainstreaming biodiversity into key economic policies and sectors has been identified as one of these priorities. In December 2022, the international community adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (CMB-KM). The vision of this global framework is to take immediate action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss to put nature on the path to rebuilding, for the benefit of people and the planet. This will be achieved by conserving and sustainably using biodiversity, ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, and providing the means of implementation. Among other things, Target 14 of the GBF-KM aims to ensure the full integration of biodiversity and its multiple values into policies, regulations, planning and development processes and, where appropriate, national accounts, at all levels of government and in all sectors, especially those with significant impacts on biodiversity, as well as in the decision on the long-term strategic approach to mainstreaming biodiversity within and across sectors. It aims to redirect, reallocate, reform or eliminate incentives harmful to biodiversity, in a fair and equitable manner, and to ensure that incentives, including public and private economic and regulatory incentives, are positive or neutral for biodiversity. In order to ensure an effective integration of biodiversity in the strategic economic sectors of Morocco’s transition to a green economy, as identified in the PAGE Morocco global study on the green economy in 2022, it will be necessary to strengthen the national biodiversity governance mechanism, and to raise awareness and inform the members of the National Sub-Committee on Biodiversity, the main body coordinating the implementation of biodiversity policies in Morocco. The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: Deliverable 1 Design the analysis : Identify sources of economic and ecological data and use these data to assess the current impact of a selection of existing tax incentives on biodiversity. The selection of 1 to 3 grants to be considered will be made jointly by UNEP, the government and the consultant at the project kick-off meeting. The study will include an analysis of the effects of these subsidies on various biodiversity-related parameters, such as land use, water quality, pesticide use, habitat destruction, species extinction rates, and bycatch of vulnerable species. Deliverable 2 1.Develop scenarios : Design alternative scenarios in which harmful subsidies are redirected to biodiversity-friendly activities. This includes modelling different policy options such as: 1) the elimination of subsidies, 2) the implementation of positive subsidies for biodiversity, payments for ecosystem services or other innovative financial mechanisms for nature, and 3) the redirection towards spending to offset the potential negative social impacts of the removal of the initial subsidy. The analysis should consider the interactions between biodiversity-damaging subsidies and climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts (synergies and trade-offs), with the objective that biodiversity conservation efforts contribute to climate resilience. The study will assess the potential of innovative financial mechanisms for nature (see point 2) to complement or replace existing tax incentives. 2.Conduct a cost-benefit analysis : Use economic modelling techniques to quantify the costs and benefits associated with each scenario (including the status quo). This includes assessing the direct costs of subsidy reform as well as the indirect social and environmental impacts on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, human well-being, employment, the inclusion of local communities, gender equality, and economic productivity. 3.Policy recommendations: Building on the previous analysis, the study will draw conclusions and make recommendations for policies, including regulations, to facilitate investment in nature-based solutions. 4.Complement the analysis with stakeholder engagement : Conduct interviews with key public and private sector stakeholders to identify trade-offs and inform decision-making processes. Stakeholders will be identified in collaboration with UNEP and the government. Deliverable 3 Review the study and policy brief: Incorporate and respond to stakeholder feedback. Deliverable 4 Lead capacity building: Convey results to national stakeholders by designing and facilitating a half-day sectoral training at the National Sub-Committee on Biodiversity. Collaborations During this work, the contractor will collaborate with a number of partners, as outlined below. 1.Collaborate closely with the contractor leading the UNIDO study on biodiversity mainstreaming and capacity building for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in Morocco. 2.Coordinate with the UNDP-BIOFIN team to ensure that the results of the analysis contribute to the ongoing analytical work. 3.Coordinate with the UNDP/Biodiversity Portfolio team (the National Coordinator and the expert in charge of updating the NBSAPs). 4.Consult the Expertise France team and the firm that are conducting the work on biodiversity at the subnational level in the Souss-Massa region. 5.Consult with the UNDP Net Zero Nature Positive Accelerator team leading biodiversity work at national and subnational levels. 6.Incorporate comments and feedback from UNEP, the Government of Morocco and other relevant reviewers.
Qualifications/special skills
Master’s degree or higher in economics, public policy, environmental policy, environmental sciences, life sciences, or a related field. (required) -In-depth knowledge of economic dynamics and sustainable development issues in Morocco. (required) -Experience working in the production of environmental or economic policy analysis and the provision of policy advice to national governments is required. (required) -In-depth knowledge of Moroccan Biodiversity and the Global Biodiversity Framework. (required) -A minimum of five years of accumulated professional experience in economic analysis and modelling, with a focus on environmental economics and/or systems dynamics. (desired) -Previous experience in the field of environmentally harmful subsidies in the context of fisheries, agriculture and/or mining is an asset. (desired) -Strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information and generate actionable insights. (desired) -A commitment to the principles and goals of sustainable development. (desired)