Result of Service
The consultancy will provide specialized guidance to embedding the FRAME-ECO framework across projects in this portfolio to ensure coherence, integration, and strategic impact.
Work Location
Nairobi, Kenya
Expected duration
6 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 Disasters and Conflicts Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) works to minimize environmental risks before, during, and after conflicts and disasters. The branch provides scientific assessments, policy guidance, and capacity-building support to help countries strengthen environmental resilience and integrate sustainable natural resource management into peacebuilding and recovery efforts. Through partnerships with governments, UN agencies, and civil society, UNEP’s Disasters and Conflicts Branch supports work on transboundary hazards, including sand and dust storms and wildfires, as well as the operalisation of global Loss & Damage strategies to promote sustainable and resilient communities worldwide. The Risk Management and Peacebuilding Section within UNEP’s Disasters and Conflicts Branch oversees a portfolio on transboundary hazards.
This portfolio covers work on addressing the negative consequences of hazards such as sand and dust storms (SDS) and wildfires. Both workstreams build on UNEA resolutions, UNEP/EA.6/Res.7 on Combating sand and dust storms and UNEP/EA.7/Res.7 on strengthening the global management of wildfires. In addition to their technical and policy functions, both portfolios cover important coordination responsibilities. The SDS team serves as UNEP’s focal point to the UN Coalition on Combating SDS, while the wildfires team supports cooperation with the Global Fire Management Hub.
The wildfires team is also actively engaged in the Restoring Mediterranean Forests Initiative. As the portfolio evolves, additional transboundary hazards may also be incorporated where UNEP’s scientific, policy, and coordination capacities can support countries in addressing shared or cross-border risks. The FRAME‑ECO Loss & Damage framework is an initiative developed by UNU‑EHS, UNEP, and UNDRR to provide a structured approach for assessing ecological and social losses, including non‑economic dimensions that are often overlooked. Strategically, integrating FRAME‑ECO within the transboundary hazards portfolio supports the Unit’s goal of strengthening programming around holistic and multi-dimensional risk assessments. It reinforces efforts to better capture environmental and socio‑cultural impacts across borders, ultimately informing more comprehensive and equitable approaches to resilience-building and disaster risk reduction.
The transboundary hazards portfolio aims to enhance coherence, knowledge exchange, and strategic alignment across environmental risks that cross national borders. Current workstreams focus on SDS and wildfires, with the potential to expand to other transboundary hazards as opportunities arise to leverage UNEP’s technical expertise, partnerships, and convening capacity. The consultancy will provide technical inputs to this broader effort. As part of the current SDS portfolio, the Disasters and Conflicts Branch is working to strengthen alignment and coherence across related initiatives within UNEP and across the wider UN system. Within UNEP, two SDS-focused projects are set to begin implementation.
At headquarters level, knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned from these projects will be systematically captured and coordinated. Their implementation will inform efforts to scale up activities and support the expansion of UNEP’s SDS portfolio. In the wildfires portfolio, the Branch similarly contributes through alignment, coordination, and strategic resource mobilisation, including engagement in initiatives such as the “Restoring Mediterranean Forests” initiative and the “Global Fire Management Hub”. The consultancy will provide specialised guidance to embedding the FRAME-ECO framework across projects in this portfolio to ensure coherence, integration, and strategic impact.
The consultant will report to Head of the Risk Management and Peacebuilding Section, Disasters and Conflicts Branch in Nairobi in coordination with the Senior Advisor, Environmental Security, Disasters and Conflicts Branch in Athens.
Work Assignments & Outputs –
The consultant will be responsible for the following key outputs contributing to environmental cooperation on transboundary hazards:
Output 1: Technical inputs and analysis advancing UNEP’s SDS work.
Output 2: Specialised technical contributions to UNEP’s disaster risk reduction-related work on wildfires.
Output 3: Thematic input on integrating FRAME-ECO across the transboundary hazards portfolio.
