1.Position Information

• Organization: UNDP Saudi Arabia, through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development (SOC).
• VA No. VA25-29
• Position Title: Technical Advisor – Sustainable Development Goals
• Duty Station: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Office-Based)
• Recruitment Type: International Expert
• Duration: 12 months
• Vacancy Date of Issue: 9 May 2025
• Vacancy Closure Date: 22 May 2025
• Expected Starting Date: As soon as possible

This vacancy is announced by UNDP Saudi Arabia through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development (SOC). SOC is a sub-contractor for UNDP Saudi Arabia, assisting the programme in implementing their activities through HR and contract management of consultants working in their support.

2. Background Information

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a G20 member with very high human development index ranking
37th out of 189 countries in 2021. Heavy dependence on natural resources, especially oil and gas,
presents a major challenge for future development with significant needs for rapid economic
diversification. The Kingdom has made significant progress towards the achievement of its
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); however, it still faces major environmental challenges
including accelerated land degradation and desertification, rapid ecosystem degradation, loss of
biodiversity and land cover with high exposure to climate risks.
Saudi Arabia has a diversified topography and terrains spanning from desert to mountain series
and coastal areas. Although known for its dominant desert and dryland climate, Saudi Arabia has
about 2% of its total area covered by forests, including Juniper woodlands representing
approximately 2.7 million hectares. The total number of plant species is estimated at 2,247, with
246 endemic species and 334 medicinal plants distributed across different ecosystems including
171 million hectares of rangelands and grasslands. The Sabkha are important ecosystems in the
Red Sea and the Gulf areas that present – along with other marine ecosystems – an essential
foundation for local livelihoods in coastal areas.
In response to growing climate and environmental risks, the Kingdom launched the ambitious
Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), under Saudi Vision 2030, with the objectives of: 1) Reducing carbon
emissions by 278 mtpa by 2030; 2) Greening the country by planting 10 billion trees in coming
decades, equal to rehabilitating 40 million hectares of land; and 3) Protecting terrestrial and
marine ecosystems by raising the surface of protected areas to more than 30% of total land area.
The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC)
was established in 2019 under the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture to support
national efforts to protect the Kingdom’s environment. NCVC is tasked with combating
desertification, developing and rehabilitating forest vegetation cover, protecting local
endangered plant species and developing and managing national parks. The Center is engaged in
the implementation of projects and initiatives to expand the green cover through
afforestation/reforestation, combating desertification, and rehabilitating and restoring degraded
lands and ecosystems. The Center has four technical departments: 1) Department of Rangelands;
2) Department of National Parks; 3) Department of Forestry; and 4) Department of Biodiversity
Conservation and Combating Desertification.

3. Project Description

UNDP, in collaboration with NCVC, is supporting the implementation of the project
“Strengthening Institutional and Technical Capacities of National Center for Vegetation Cover and
Combating Desertification”. The goal of the project is to strengthen the institutional, technical,
and technological capacities of the Centre in order to conduct its mandate effectively. This will
be achieved by strengthening international cooperation, building technical capacities in natural
resource management, facilitating digital transformation, supporting the implementation of the
National Greening Programme under the Saudi Green Initiative, and mainstreaming the
Sustainable Development Goals into national ecosystem restoration efforts. A gender sensitive
approach will be adopted to ensure that both, men and women, contribute to and benefit from
project implementation.
To achieve this goal, the project will contribute to the achievement of the following outputs:
Output 1: Strengthening international cooperation and network
Output 2: Mainstreaming SDGs into national ecosystem restoration efforts
Output 3: Supporting and accelerating implementation of National Greening Programme
Output 4: Transforming information technology, digital infrastructure, and data excellence
Output 5: Strengthening institutional and technical capacities

4. Scope of Work

The Technical Advisor on the Sustainable Development Goals will lead the project work under
“Output 2: Mainstreaming SDGs into National Ecosystem Restoration Efforts”. He/she will play a
key role in providing strategic guidance and fostering collaboration to advance the sustainable
development goals in the Kingdom, building on the ambitious ecosystem restoration efforts
under the Saudi Green Initiative. He/she will support the engagement of the Centre in national,
regional and international SDG processes and activities. The scope of work will include the
following:

Technical supervision, advice and quality assurance

The Technical Advisor on the Sustainable Development Goals will provide technical supervision,
advice and quality assurance for delivering the activities under Output 2, namely:

• Contribute to the development of an SDG Mainstreaming training pack including a basic
  course tailored to NCVC needs, with face-to-face sessions and advanced e-tutorials (based on
  UNDG Reference Guide "Mainstreaming the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”);
• Backstop the SDG Team/Unit to advance the Centre’s work on the SDGs and promote the
  integration of SDGs into national ecosystem restoration efforts. This includes the preparation
  of a manual to guide the work of the Team and define the approach and methodology for
  mainstreaming SDGs into ecosystem restoration initiatives and projects.
• Provide technical support to integrate the SDGs in ecosystem restoration projects
  implemented by Centre, including the pilot projects implemented under the National
  Greening Programme (NGP, Output 3);
• Support the development of an SDG indicator monitoring framework to track the
  achievement of SDG targets in these projects. The framework will capture the multiple
  benefits of ecosystem restoration, particularly: healthy ecosystems and water security (SDGs
  15, 6); improved livelihoods, economic opportunities and jobs (SDG 8); climate change
  mitigation and adaptation (SDG 13); and gender equality and empowerment (SDG 5).
• Support the development of a digital SDG Monitoring Dashboard to showcase the results
  achieved and multiple benefits of ecosystem restoration under the NGP. The information
  from the dashboard will feed into status reviews, policy guidance, capacity building activities,
  and efforts to raise awareness on the role of ecosystem restoration in achieving the SDGs.
• Share knowledge products, case studies and lessons learnt from ecosystem restoration
  projects in relevant national forums to inform and advance the integration of the SDGs within
  the large-scale implementation of the National Greening Programme (“SDG Accelerator”).
• Support development of an online toolbox to provide tools, guidance and best practices for
  project designers and implementers within the framework of the NGP.
• Participate in regional and international forums on SDG mainstreaming and ecosystem
  restoration and share the Kingdom’s experience and good practices under the NGP.
• Develop terms of reference, assist in the recruitment and supervise the work of national and
  international consultants hired to support the implementation of activities under Output 2.
• Contribute to the delivery of any other relevant task pertaining to Output 2 and the activities
  of the Centre on the SDGs.

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting

• Monitor the implementation of the agreed activities and the achievement of the intended
  results for Output 2. Update and revise the indicators, baselines and targets for this output, and
  its activities (in the Results Framework) as needed for effective project implementation,
  monitoring and evaluation.
• Prepare the inputs regarding Output 2 for the project progress reports, including reports to national partners as required, focusing on capturing results, lessons, and follow up actions.

Strategic advice, capacity building and knowledge sharing

• Provide strategic advice for the development and implementation of policies, legislation, and
  regulatory frameworks related to the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Contribute to building the capacities of national counterparts working on Output 2, including
  mentoring and identification of appropriate training opportunities;
• Transfer and apply technical knowledge from his/her academic background and professional
  experience to enhance technical knowledge of national counterparts working on Output 2.
• Contribute to the production of knowledge products, policy briefs, and research papers to
  enhance the NCVC’s visibility and thought leadership in the national and international arena.

5. Required Qualifications:

a. Min. Education requirements

Master’s degree or above in sustainable development, environmental sciences, public policy, natural resource management, or a closely related field.

b. Min. years of relevant work experience

Minimum of 13 years of progressive international experience in sustainable development, SDG mainstreaming, or ecosystem-based project planning and implementation. Prior experience working with or advising national governments and international organizations on SDG integration in environmental policy or programming is required. Experience in the MENA region or dryland countries is an asset.

c. Required Skills

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of the 2030 Agenda, including SDGs related to ecosystems, climate, livelihoods, and gender.
• Experience integrating SDGs into ecosystem restoration or environmental projects and policies.
• Ability to design indicator frameworks and monitoring systems aligned with SDG targets.

Strategic and Analytical Skills:

• Demonstrated experience developing guidance materials, methodologies, and training tools for SDG mainstreaming.
• Knowledge of digital tools and dashboards for reporting and decision-making is an advantage.

Communication Skills:

• Ability to present technical concepts to varied audiences including policymakers, practitioners, and national partners.

Collaboration and Leadership:

• Proven ability to work with diverse stakeholders, including government, international organizations, and technical teams.
• Strong capacity-building and mentoring skills, particularly for national counterparts.

d. Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

Project proposal writing skills Management Skills:

• Demonstrated experience in project planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, timelines, and resources effectively.

Additional Skills:

• Experience working with international organizations and familiarity with relevant conventions (e.g., UNCCD) is a plus.
• Experience in organizing and facilitating workshops at different scales and with diverse audiences is also desirable.

e. Language(s)

• Excellent proficiency in English (both written and spoken) is required.
• Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

To review the full job description, please click on the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PwlSf1i_KiNbqfZD6f_HwixzHMunKejK/view?usp=sharing

How to Apply:

1. CV must be submitted online in PDF through SOC’s portal via the following link: https://jobs.my-soc.org/apply/20250508101145/ohmOxlyC9JHUFTRMwErADPk6q
2. During submission, please use the English language only.
3. Indicate clear years of experience with each job (Month/Year)
4. If the candidate is currently employed by a government institution, he/she must be able to provide an unpaid leave of absence for the duration of the consultancy.
5. Only candidates who are short-listed will be contacted.
6. By submitting your application, you have read the Terms of Reference for this position and agree that any false, wrong, or incomplete information might lead to your disqualification in this recruitment process.