Geneva, Switzerland
UNEP Geneva
Posting Title: Consultant on illegal trade in jaguars
Department/Office: United Nations Environment Programme
Duty Station: GENEVA
Posting Period: 07 September 2020 – 25 September 2020
Job Opening Number: 20-United Nations Environment Programme-141073-Consultant
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Result of Service
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). CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of species covered by the Convention to certain controls. All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of the covered species has to be authorized through a licensing system.
The Jaguar (Panthera onca) is listed in CITES Appendix I since 1975, and is classified as Near Threatened (NT) under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The study to be undertaken under this consultancy is intended to assist CITES Parties in understanding the uses of jaguar specimens, the potential illegal trade patterns involving jaguar specimens (pathways, networks, main markets, drivers, modalities, links with other criminal activities, etc.), as well as the conservation impacts throughout the species’ range. This will ultimately assist Parties in assessing the extent of the risk and determining the key points of origin and demand in the trade chain to make recommendations to adopt the necessary measures aimed at eliminating any criminal activity involving the illegal killing of jaguars and the related illegal trade in their parts and derivatives.
The study will also inform the implementation of Decision 18.245 and 18.246 on African lions (Panthera leo) and the CITES Big Cats Task Force.
The study will be made available to the CITES Parties and discussed at the CITES Standing Committee meeting, tentatively scheduled for the second quarter of 2021.
Work Location
Remote
Expected duration
Approximately 35-40 days have been allocated for the delivery of the final product during the period October 2020 to 30 May 2021.
Duties and
Responsibilities
At its 18th meeting, the CITES Conference of the Parties adopted Decision 18.251 on jaguars (Panthera onca). Under this Decision, the Secretariat is directed, subject to the availability of external funding, to commission a study on illegal trade in jaguars to: i) map illegal trade in the jaguar throughout its range, including poaching, trade pathways and networks, and main markets that are driving this trade, and how it is connected to other wildlife trafficking activities in the region;
ii) analyse the uses of jaguar specimens, both within range states and in international markets, as well as the extent to which illegally-sourced jaguar products are entering international trade;
iii) analyse the modus operandi associated with illegal trade in jaguar specimens and possible drivers of this activity; and
iv) characterize the overall impact of illegal trade on jaguar populations throughout the species’ range.
The incumbent will prepare the study through a review of relevant literature, data and information as appropriate, including an analysis of the information provided by Parties, in particular exporting, re-exporting and importing countries affected by illegal trade in jaguar specimens, and relevant stakeholders.
The study should consist of a short background on jaguars; an overview of the existing initiatives monitoring illegal trade in jaguars and methodology used; four chapters covering the themes described in paragraph a) of Decision 18.251; case studies of each of the Parties included in the study (possibly organized in groups with similar features); main findings and conclusions.
The consultant will work directly with the Legal Affairs and Compliance Unit under the overall supervision of the Secretary General of CITES. Preliminary drafts of the study will be shared with the Secretariat for several rounds of comments before satisfactory finalization.
Qualifications/special skills
a) Required years of work experience: 7-10 years of relevant experience in managing,coordinating and analysing the results of complex investigations in the area of organized crime, wildlife trafficking, preferably with some experience in conducting CITES enforcement activities.
b) Required field of work and where applicable, area of specialty: in-depth knowledge of stakeholder engagement, relationship building and ability to interact with investigative units and with governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as with the private sector would be highly desirable. Previous experience on corruption-related investigations, financial intelligence, asset tracing, risk assessment, cybercrime would be an advantage.
c) Required education qualifications: Advanced university degree in an environmental field, social science, law (criminal justice, trade, environment), intelligence, police-related work, etc. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
d) Required knowledge of languages: English, French and Spanish are the working languages of the CITES Secretariat. For the job advertised, fluency in oral and written English and Spanish is required. Fluency in any of the other working languages would be an advantage.
e) Competencies: To successfully undertake this consultancy role the incumbent will demonstrate the competencies of Communication, Planning and Organizing and Technological awareness. More specifically, the incumbent should have the ability to
- independently structure and organize the work
- compile, review and structure large amounts of information and data
- communicate in a clear and friendly manner in writing and orally
- work under time constraints with tight deadlines
- present complex technical matters in a simple and straightforward way (using graphics where relevant)
- understand and work with political sensitivities and respect for confidentiality where necessary
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.
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