Result of Service

Provide a Multi-assistance to several CITES Unit by respective the deadlines in completing then Databases, Having the Side events ready for CoP20, and collating responses from Parties re: Significant Trade.

Work Location

CITES Office in Geneva

Expected duration

8 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between states. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival (www.cites.org). The CITES Secretariat is administered by UN Environment Programme and is located at the Geneva Duty Station. The CITES Secretariat will organize 78th Meeting of the Standing Committee to be held in Geneva in February 2025 and its 20th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, at the end of 2025. Several Units will need some assistance to prepare these events. Under the day-to-day supervision of the Chief of the Governing Bodies Unit (GBU), the Administrative Assistant of the Administrative and Finance Unit, and the Chief of the Scientific Unit, the Individual Contractor will: 1. Assist the Administrative and Finance Unit (AFU) by completing a “Sponsored Delegates” database, as well as a “Conference Staff Database” by inputting all data required (Name, First Name, Personal data, Passport and debit card details, etc…) with all details recorded on paper from 2021 until the end of 2024 (approx. 15 Meetings including the CoP19 in Panama). Estimated time required to accomplish this task: 1 month to 5 weeks. 2. Assist the Governing Bodies Unit with recording the 2024 Party submissions of ivory stockpiles into the ivory stockpile database and with the possible expansion of the database to other types of stockpiles (possibly pangolin scales) Estimated time required to accomplish this task: 1 month at 50% 3. Support the Governing Bodies Unit with the organization of side-events for the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties and the development of a software or app to facilitate the allocation of rooms at CoP. Estimated time required to accomplish this task: 3 months at 50% for CoP20. 4. Prepare the Secretariat’s annual reports for 2022, 2023 and 2024 under the supervision of the Governing Bodies Unit and the Outreach and Project Unit. Prepare a SoP to collect information on the workshops, meetings, projects, and events that take place every year to generate the annual report. Estimated time required to accomplish this task: 2 months at 50%. 5. Assist the Science Unit with the export quota tool through the following activities: – Continued support with the consolidation of quota requests received from Parties; – development of a user manual, short video, notification and press release for the new quota export tool. Estimated time required to accomplish this task: 2 months at 50% 6. Support the Science Unit with the Review of Significant Trade (RST) and Review of specimens bred in captivity by undertaking the following activities: – continued sourcing, categorizations and consolidation of information relating to cases in the Review of Significant Trade process to address gaps in the online RST management system; – assist in the population of the database with this historical data; – collation and summary of responses from Parties for the consultations with the members of the Animals and Plants Committees ahead of SC79. – Consultation with affected Parties and the Animals Committee ahead of SC79 and maintain database in this regard Estimated time required to accomplish this task: 3 months

Qualifications/special skills

University degree in environmental, political, computer science or related area. Prior experience with the UN system, in particular working with developing countries, is required. Experience in data management and analysis is required Experience in having worked on Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) is desirable.

Languages

English, French and Spanish are the working languages of the CITES Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in spoken and written English and French is required. Working knowledge of Spanish is desirable.

Additional Information

Reporting lines: The individual contractor will report to the Administrative Assistant of AFU, the Chief of the Governing Bodies Unit, and the Chief of the Science Unit who will all be responsible to evaluate the outputs of the contractor. Travel Details: The incumbent will travel to Samarkand in November 2025 to assist the CITES Secretariat regarding the registration of delegates, the organization of the side events during the CoP, and assist AFU on payment of DSA to the sponsored delegates. Desired competencies: To successfully undertake this consultancy role the incumbent will demonstrate the competencies of i. Proven work experience in relational database design, development or management; ii. Experience in understanding data modelling and management, analysis and reporting including data visualization; iii. Experience in training people in the use of databases; iv. Knowledge of software development and database programmes; v. Analytical and organizational skills; vi. Ability to understand front-end user requirements and solving problems; vii. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Competencies: Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to CITES Secretariat; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to CITES Secretariat procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

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.