Call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) of Experts to Enhance Capacities to Respond to Key Global ABNJ Biodiversity-Related Processes Call for expression of interest EUGOP - September2025 pool-of-experts-application-form_august202_clean.pdf

Call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) of Experts to Enhance Capacities to Respond to Key Global ABNJ Biodiversity-Related Processes Call for expression of interest EUGOP - September2025 pool-of-experts-application-form_august202_clean.pdf

Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) of Experts to Enhance Capacities to Respond to Key Global ABNJ Biodiversity-Related Processes IUCN Technical Assistance Facility - EU Global Ocean Programme Component 1 Version 2 – September 2025 Version Date published Amendments V1 13 August 2025 N/A V2 29 September 2025 Terms and Conditions 1. Background a. The EU Global Ocean Programme The global ocean is crucial for life and economic prosperity, supporting over 3 billion people, particularly in developing nations. The ocean economy contributes EUR 1.3 trillion to global value and could double by 2030. To harness this potential sustainab ly, international cooperation is needed to align policies and finances with environmental and social priorities. The ocean covers 90% of the Earth's biosphere, with Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) making up 64% of the ocean's surface. These regions are vital for biodiversity, climate stability, and food security but face threats from overfishing, pollution, and deep -sea mining. Recent agreements, such as the BBNJ Agreement and the Kunming -Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, establish a legal f oundation for conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in ABNJ. On 26 July 2024, the European Commission adopted its implementing decision C( 2024)5553 on the financing of the multiannual action plan for the NDICI -Global Europe thematic programme ‘Global Challenges’ (Planet) for 2024 -2027 of the European Commission’s Directorate -General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) . This decision includes the financing of a Global Ocean Programme, which aims at enhancing DG INTPA partner countries capacities to implement and benefit from the newly adopted High Seas Biodiversity Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) and other agreements and processes - legal, insti tutional, and scientific - related to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). IUCN is implementing Component 1 of GOP (GOP C1), which focuses on enhancing capacities at national and regional levels for engagement with BBNJ and other biodiversity -related processes in ABNJ. In this context, IUCN is operating a Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) to deliver targeted and needs- assessed technical assistance to national institutions. b. The Technical Assistance Facility The Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) is the primary delivery mechanism for GOP C1. It is designed to provide rapid -response, high -quality technical support to eligible partner countries and regional entities. The TAF is operated by IUCN and structured as follows: • TA Facility Team (IUCN staff) : Manages intake, assessment, coordination and delivery of assistance • Technical Assistance Approval Committee (TAAC): Independent technical panel that validates the relevance, feasibility and added value of each TA request and proposed expert assignments • Pool of Experts: Roster of thematic experts in legal, scientific, and institutional areas related to ABNJ and BBNJ implementation, selected through IUCN procurement processes The Technical Assistance Facility responds to requests in both streams of assistance: a. Stream 1: Capacities to implement key agreements and commitments on biodiversity of ABNJ (in particular the BBNJ) are enhanced at national level b. Stream 2: Capacities to implement key agreements and commitments on biodiversity of ABNJ (in particular the BBNJ) are enhanced at regional and global level Additionally, TA requests submitted to the TAF must be aligned with the below categories of Technical Assistance: • Category 1 - Conduct legal, policy and scientific gap assessments related to ABNJ biodiversity-related processes • Category 2 - Support for national adoption of the BBNJ Agreement (awareness raising, domestication, ratification...) • Category 3 - Strengthen capacity, science and technology related to the implementation of ABNJ biodiversity-related processes • Category 4 - Facilitate the capacity to participate in the institutional mechanisms related to biodiversity in ABNJ • Category 5 - Align ABNJ biodiversity-related processes, agreements and commitments at national or regional levels • Category 6 - Other type of support Find more information on the Technical Assistance Facility here. c. The Pool of experts The Pool of experts is a collective of individual specialists established and managed by IUCN, to support the swift delivery of technical assistance under the GOP Technical Assistance Facility (TAF). Experts are selected for their recognized expertise in disciplines relevant to the BBNJ Agreement and the TAF’s scope of work. It covers a variety of thematic areas, including: • Expertise in capacity needs assessments in ABNJ conservation • Legal expertise, including domestication and ratification expertise of international instruments • Expertise on marine scientific research in ABNJ • Expertise on new technologies and innovations • Expertise on conservation measures • Expertise on sustainable use, including resource management • Expertise on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) • Expertise on Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs) • Expertise on capacity building • Expertise on transfer of marine technology • Expertise on traditional knowledge • Expertise on sustainable finance, including on access and benefit sharing mechanisms • Expertise on data management & infrastructure in Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) context, including on clearing house mechanisms • Expertise on Monitoring, Control and Surveillance, including enforcement measures • Expertise on awareness raising and political campaigning • Expertise on participatory processes, engagement including the free, prior and informed consent principle • Expertise on coordinating, convening, facilitating and engaging diverse stakeholders • Expertise on Human rights and equity • Expertise on gender–inclusive approaches The Pool of experts serve

Issuing unit: HQ

Region/Province: tbd

Expected contract duration: up to December 2030

Estimated value: tbd, depending on length of assignment; fixed daily rate: EUR 450

Closing date: no deadline: rolling application process

Issued by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).