The vision of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development is the ‘science we need for the ocean we want’. To achieve the transformative revolution in ocean science generation and uptake that is envisaged by the Ocean Decade, it is essential that all actors – regardless of geography, gender or generation – can actively participate in and benefit from the Decade. This will require the fostering and strengthening of skills and capacity in the co-design, co-delivery and use of ocean science and knowledge in decision making and policy for all actors.

To this end, and with the goal of ‘leaving no one behind’, the Ocean Decade has a strong focus on capacity development, including for partners in Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States and for Early Career Ocean Professionals. The Ocean Decade is structured around ten Ocean Decade Challenges that represent the most pressing needs for ocean science over the next ten years. Challenge 9 of the Decade specifically refers to capacity development . However, capacity development is an underlying theme and requirement for all ten Decade Challenges. All Decade Actions that are submitted for endorsement, no matter which Challenge they specifically focus on, must demonstrate how they contribute to capacity development, with special emphasis on SIDS, LDCs, and LLDCs.

In a May 2022 workshop convened with a first group of Decade Actions that are the founding partners of the Capacity Development Community of Practice for the Decade, various stakeholders, especially Early Career Ocean Professionals, expressed the need to highlight synergies, identify gaps and needs, reveal opportunities for potential partnerships, as well as to share knowledge and experiences across Decade Actions to improve capacity and contribute to the success of the Decade. Priority themes for capacity development that have been identified include marine biodiversity, the ocean and climate nexus, and sustainable ocean planning with a cross-cutting focus on skills related to co-design and co-delivery of Decade Actions including the science- policy interface. 

UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO), as the agency tasked with coordinating the preparation of the Ocean Decade has recently received funding to support the development and implementation of an Ocean Decade Capacity Development Facility to provide a flexible and evolutive means of supporting capacity development needs of individuals and institutions involved in the Ocean Decade. 

The Project Officer (Ocean Decade Capacity Development) will be supervised by the Programme Specialist, Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section, and work as part of the Decade Coordination Unit in close collaboration with the IOC-UNESCO Capacity Development Coordinator and other relevant IOC-UNESCO programmes and initiatives.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

• Lead the process of developing a detailed workplan for the project based on the agreed project documents. 
• Lead implementation of technical aspects of the project in line with the agreed implementation strategy and workplan. 
• Lead engagement of relevant Decade Actions via the establishment and facilitation of a dedicated Community of Practice on the Ocean Decade Network. 
• Liaise closely with the IOC-UNESCO Capacity Development Coordinator and all relevant IOC-UNESCO colleagues working on related and relevant Capacity Development initiatives including  the Ocean Teacher Global Academy (OTGA), Ocean CD-Hub, Ocean InfoHub/Ocean Data and Information System (ODIS) and Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) to ensure seamless integration and optimisation of synergies between existing and newly developed initiatives. 
• Act as the Secretary for the Project Steering Group.
• Work closely with communications team colleagues to raise awareness of the project activities and achievements as part of overall Ocean Decade communications efforts. 
• Act as the focal point for day-to-day communications with the donor for project implementation issues. 
• Develop Terms of Reference for consultants and technical assistants required to implement various elements of the Facility. Lead the evaluation and selection process of these consultants and supervise their work. 
• Substantively contribute to the identification and establishment of new partnerships to attract additional financial and in-kind resources to the Facility and thus contribute to its overall financial sustainability. 
• Work with the Ocean Decade grants manager to plan and track spending in line with the approved budget. 
• Lead preparation of regular technical progress reports for the Facility to meet UNESCO and donor requests and requirements.  

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