Org. Setting and Reporting
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 (SLM). The Convention aims to tackle desertification, land degradation, and drought (DLDD) through global cooperation and partnerships, emphasizing sustainable development and improving lives in affected areas. Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) is a key goal of the UNCCD, aligning with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development under target 15.3. LDN ensures stable or increasing healthy and productive land resources, offsetting degradation through restoration. Article 19 highlights the importance of capacity building in combating desertification and mitigating drought effects. Since its adoption, UNCCD Parties have focused on strengthening countries' abilities, especially developing nations, to implement sustainable land management and address DLDD challenges. Capacity Building is crucial for effective Convention implementation at all levels. Within the Secretariat, the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) unit facilitates capacity building and innovation initiatives. The STI unit supports the Convention's subsidiary bodies, CRIC and CST, and its Science-Policy Interface (SPI). It aids national reporting to track progress towards Convention implementation, linking scientific knowledge with practical application and policy development to benefit field activities. The Capacity Building and Innovation Programme Officer will lead the design, development, and management of the Secretariat’s capacity building and innovation programme, fostering innovative solutions for a land-degradation neutral world. Furthermore, the officer will be the UNCCD focal point for the Joint Rio Conventions Capacity Building Initiative, enhancing capacities of national institutions and policymakers to integrate synergies among the Rio Conventions.
Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the STI Unit, the Officer will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:
Leads the implementation of comprehensive capacity building, development and innovation strategies aligned with the Convention’s mandate, objectives and associated COP decisions.
Formulates and executes the organization’s innovation roadmap that will stimulate an innovation-driven UNCCD, aligning it with the Convention’s mandate, associated COP decisions and long-term goals.
Coordinates the execution of capacity building, development and innovation initiatives across different units in the Secretariat, ensuring they are effective and sustainable. In particular, support the UNCCD National Reporting process by developing e-learning materials and substantive support during in-person and online regional workshops.
Engages and collaborates with UNCCD National Focal Points (NFP's), UNCCD Scientific and Technological Correspondents (STC's), members of the Science Policy Interface, multi-national partners and other stakeholders at the national, subregional, and regional levels - promoting South-South, North-South, and Triangular cooperation and partnerships, to effectively realize the capacity building, development and innovation programmes of the Convention.
Conducts overall mapping and identify gaps in skills, systems, and resources that hinder organizational effectiveness in implementing capacity building, development and innovation programmes of the Convention. In this regard, develops tailor-made training interventions and skills development programmes at the individual, institutional and system levels addr