United Nations Environment Programme is looking for an ETIS Assessment Consultant

Organization: United Nations Environment Programme

Location: GENEVA

Level: CON - CON

Job Family: ENV

Application Deadline: 13 June 2026 at 03:59 UTC

Job Opening Number: 26-United Nations Environment Programme-278472-Consultant

Apply via: UN Inspira Portal

Result of Service

A comprehensive feasibility assessment that evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of alternative supporting mechanisms for ETIS, explicitly addressing any existing institutional structures within the UN system (i.e., UNODC or the CITES Secretariat) and intergovernmental organizations compared to the current mechanism managed by TRAFFIC. Outputs include: 1.Report on the mapping of requirements to implement the ETIS programme mandated in CITES Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP20) 2.Report presenting the results of the comparative analysis of institutional options, detailing how each institution addresses the mandated function of the ETIS and key considerations, including recommendations on most feasible choices.

Work Location

HOME-BASED

Expected duration

Four Months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 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. 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 the UN Environment Programme and is located at the Geneva duty station. This assignment supports the implementation of the CITES Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP20) on Trade in elephant specimens with specific reference to the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS). ETIS is a global monitoring system established by the Conference of the Parties to CITES at its 10th meeting (CoP10, Harare, 1997) to monitor and analyse levels and trends in illegal trade in ivory and other elephant specimens worldwide. ETIS is managed and coordinated by TRAFFIC in consultation with the MIKE-ETIS Technical Advisory Group and in collaboration with the CITES Secretariat. At its 18th meeting (CoP18, Geneva, 2019), the Conference of the Parties adopted Decisions 18.18-18.20 mandating a review of the Elephant Trade Information System. The results of this review were subsequently presented to the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19, Panama City, 2022) in document CoP19 Doc. 21. The Parties adopted Decisions 19.94 – 19.96 on the Implementation of the priority recommendations from the review of the ETIS programme. These decisions were renewed at the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20, Samarkand, 2025). Among the high and medium priority recommendations contained in Annex 3 to document CoP19 Doc.21, the Secretariat is tasked in recommendation 16; to undertake a feasibility assessment to evaluate the effectiveness/efficiency of alternative supporting mechanisms for ETIS. Under the overall supervision of Chief, CITES Outreach and Projects Unit, and in close consultation with the MIKE Programme Coordinator, the Consultant will conduct a feasibility assessment to evaluate the potential effectiveness and efficiency of alternative supporting mechanisms for ETIS, including an assessment of other existing institutional structures within the UN system (i.e., UNODC or the CITES Secretariat) and intergovernmental organizations compared to the current mechanism managed by TRAFFIC.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Mapping ETIS requirements:
   a. Identify operational, technical, analytical, governance and resource requirements of the ETIS programme based on Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP20), the ETIS review reports submitted to the meetings of the Standing Committee and the Conference of the Parties, and information provided by TRAFFIC relating to these matters;
   b. Distinguish between core mandated functions and additional functions of ETIS and map the requirements associated with the core mandated functions.
2. Identification of existing institutional structures and evaluation of institutional suitability as alternative supporting mechanisms for ETIS-mandated functions, based on the core mandated functions of the ETIS programme:
   a. Identify existing institutional mechanisms that could potentially support ETIS, including UN entities (e.g. CITES Secretariat, UNODC) and intergovernmental organizations taking into consideration the requirements based on the mapping of core mandated functions and Decision 20.103 on Exchange of information between the annual illegal trade report and ETIS, which refers to matters contained in paragraph 6 b) to g) of document SC78 Doc. 65.5 on Exchange of information between the annual illegal trade report and the Elephant Trade Information System.
   b. Undertake a comparative analysis based on the requirements and key considerations and prepare draft recommendations on potentially feasible options. For each alternative organization that could potentially support ETIS mandated functions, ensure the following is addressed: (i) Mandate as contained in Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP20); (ii) Technical capacity (data ingestion, validation, analytics, reporting); (iii) Data governance (confidentiality, security, interoperability); (iv) Governance and oversight (neutrality, transparency, Party trust); (v) Operational capacity (staffing, expertise, infrastructure); (vi) Financial sustainability and resource implications; (vii) Legal and procedural feasibility; (viii) Identify gaps between ETIS requirements and the capabilities of each institutional option.
   c. Assess whether gaps could be addressed through capacity-building, partnerships, or structural adjustments.
   d. Develop a comparative matrix of all viable institutional options.

Qualifications/special skills

Academic Qualifications

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental governance, international policy, criminology or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work experience

At least 10 years of progresive responsible work experience in institutional assessment or governance reviews, as well as in-depth knowledge of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), including strong expertise on issues related to trade in elephant specimens and the implementation of Resolution Conf. 10.10 (Rev. CoP20) is required. Experience in working with international organisations is desirable. Experience in the preparation of presentations and reports 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 is required. Working knowledge of French is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

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