The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is recruiting a SIDS Coalition for Nature Coordinator on a home-based International Personnel Service Agreement (IPSA-10) linked to Bonn, Germany, within the Blue & Green Islands Integrated Programme (BGI IP). The coordinator leads and manages the SIDS Coalition for Nature, working with AOSIS, SIDS governments and regional bodies, and applications close on 08 November 2026 at 23:59 New York time. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full vacancy notice to put every duty, requirement and competency of this post in one place.
What the SIDS Coalition for Nature Coordinator Role Is About
The SIDS Coalition for Nature Coordinator is responsible for leading and coordinating the development, functioning and strategic engagement of the SIDS Coalition for Nature. The coordinator facilitates stronger regional and global collaboration among Small Island Developing States (SIDS), supports the upscaling of country project results and ensures coherent representation of SIDS priorities in relevant multilateral processes and policy platforms.
The coordinator also ensures effective coordination with, and integration of, Nature and the BGI mission into the wider SIDS Agenda. The post engages with the leadership and members of the SIDS Coalition for Nature, AOSIS, SIDS governments and global partners to advance nature-positive development efforts across SIDS.
The Blue & Green Islands Integrated Programme (BGI IP)
The Blue & Green Islands Integrated Programme is a comprehensive initiative designed to address pressing environmental challenges faced by Small Island Developing States. Because of their small size, remote locations and reliance on limited resources, these countries are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts and other shocks. The programme leverages innovation emerging from SIDS to turn their most pressing challenges into opportunities for prosperity, enabling them to build forward better, greener and bluer.
The overall objective of the BGI IP's Global Coordination Project (GCP) is to enhance collaboration, capacity and partnerships among 15 BGI IP country projects. The GCP focuses on three goals.
💎 Valuing nature
🌾 Scaling up nature-based solutions in the food, tourism and urban sectors
🏦 Securing public and private finance to facilitate nature-positive development and reduce ecosystem degradation in SIDS
This is achieved by demonstrating the transformational potential of incorporating the value of nature into decision-making and using innovative nature-based solutions to achieve development and MEA goals. The solutions address SIDS challenges related to food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the reduction of hazardous chemical pollution.
The Global Programme Coordination Unit (GPCU)
A Global Programme Coordination Unit (GPCU) has been established by the GCP for the overall BGI IP. The unit is responsible for the overarching management and coherence of the programme through several workstreams.
🧰 Day-to-day programmatic coordination of the Policy and Practice Facility
📖 The Knowledge Management and Learning Cluster
⚡ The Nature Based Solutions Accelerator
🎯 Capacity development, monitoring, evaluation and reporting
🔧 Adaptive management, technical coherence and advice, and compliance
🕸️ Cross-project collaboration, networking, and facilitation of joint learning, solutions sharing and upscaling efforts
The GPCU works to optimize strategic engagement with key multi-stakeholder bodies and platforms for policy coherence and change at global, regional and national levels. This is done through collective action and a clear agenda established with the programme's country and institutional partners, to assure a seat at the table on policy discussions relevant to SIDS and the IP context.
The GPCU is also responsible for programme level support to the Country Projects and for receiving and collating information on the state of the Programme for the Programme Steering Committee (PSC). It organizes the annual meeting of the GCP and all 15 Country Projects, as well as quarterly meetings of the BGI IP PSC, and collates and disseminates all programme M&E results. Effective participation from key BGI IP countries is ensured through Regional Nodes and Thematic Working Groups, where country project managers exchange best practices and learning around themes such as evidence-based nature-based solutions, public and private sector engagement and finance, monitoring and evaluation, safeguards and gender.
About the SIDS Coalition for Nature
The SIDS Coalition for Nature (SCN) was launched at the 15th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in 2022. The Coalition aims to catalyze SIDS strategic partnerships and advocate as "one" for SIDS priorities.
Through the Coordinator, BGI will work with the Coalition to elevate SIDS leadership, strengthen regional and global policy alignment, mobilize partnerships and scale integrated solutions emerging from the BGI-IP. The Coordinator leads, operationalizes and manages the Coalition's activities in close coordination with the Coalition and AOSIS, governments, and regional bodies including SPREP, CARICOM and IOC.
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A Technical, Coordination-Focused Role
The role of the SIDS Coalition Coordinator is strictly technical, coordination-focused and facilitative in nature. The incumbent does not represent SIDS Member States, AOSIS or any intergovernmental body in political or negotiation processes. All political positions, joint statements and advocacy stances remain the prerogative of SIDS governments and AOSIS.
The Coordinator supports these processes in several ways.
📝 Providing technical inputs
🗣️ Organizing consultations
🔬 Synthesizing information
💬 Facilitating communication among stakeholders
✅ Ensuring that all outputs are reviewed and approved by the appropriate SIDS authorities prior to external use
Duties Supporting the Wider Mandate of the SIDS Coalition for Nature
The first group of duties supports the wider mandate of the Coalition.
📅 Coordinate implementation, monitoring and follow-up of the Coalition's work programme, including the annual update of a SIDS Nature-positive Development Roadmap, ensuring coherence with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the 2018-2030 UNCCD Framework, the Paris Agreement, the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) and other relevant UN processes
🤝 Support partnership development, proposal drafting and resource mobilization, engaging development partners, multilateral funds and philanthropic initiatives to advance SIDS-led nature action
🧭 Lead coordination, operationalization and strategic development of the SIDS Coalition for Nature as a global partnership platform
📡 Serve as the primary liaison of the SIDS Coalition for Nature with AOSIS, SIDS governments, regional organizations (SPREP, CARICOM, IOC) and UN agencies, facilitating communication and ensuring timely information-sharing and coordinated action
🌐 Coordinate global and regional policy engagement to elevate SIDS priorities on Nature, climate, resilience, financing and sustainable development
📣 Support SIDS-led advocacy in key multilateral processes (CBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC, UN Ocean Conference, SIDS relevant meetings and others)
📑 Prepare analytical briefs, progress reports, position papers and policy inputs to inform intergovernmental negotiations, high-level dialogues and advocacy on interconnected SIDS priorities in biodiversity and sustainable development fora
🧩 Ensure effective coordination with and integration of Nature and BGI into the global and regional SIDS Agenda
🌊 Strengthen partnerships with coalitions such as the High Ambition Coalition, Global Ocean Alliance, Ocean Panel, UNCCD-related SIDS collective action and relevant UN Decades and Initiatives
🏛️ Organize regional and global dialogues, ministerial briefings and technical working sessions for Coalition priorities
🗓️ Provide technical and logistical support for planning and delivering Coalition meetings, activities and capacity-building initiatives at national, regional and global levels
🏝️ Support SIDS champions in advancing integrated policy frameworks that embed nature-based solutions and nature-positive development
Duties Supporting BGI-IP Integration and Contributions
These duties ensure that the Coalition benefits from BGI data, lessons, partnerships and knowledge, for potential replication and scaling. Working in close coordination with the BGI Global Coordination Unit, the Coordinator carries out the following tasks.
🗂️ Develop a multi-year Coalition Work Plan and a detailed annual work plan in alignment with the BGI's regional and global workstreams
📈 Facilitate upscaling of BGI Child Project results through regional and global platforms, promoting south-south collaboration
🔁 Support structured SIDS-SIDS (South-South) cooperation by organizing exchanges, dialogues and collaborative learning initiatives, in coordination with the BGI GCP and its regional partners
🔗 Enhance SIDS Coalition for Nature and AOSIS integration to strengthen Nature within the AOSIS agenda and leverage the AOSIS space and platform to leverage Nature and BGI
🎤 Represent the SIDS Coalition and BGI in global policy fora, technical panels and donor partnership discussions
📚 Engage with global SIDS knowledge networks to share BGI knowledge and lessons
⚖️ Ensure gender equality and social inclusion considerations are embedded in all SIDS Coalition for Nature activities
⚡ Facilitate rapid sharing of lessons, models and analytics across SIDS regions, in coordination with the BGI GCP and its regional partners
📊 Produce and submit quarterly narrative reports to the BGI Global Programme Coordination Unit summarizing activities, results and emerging priorities
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Core Competencies
UNDP lists seven core competencies for this post, each at Level 3.
🏆 Achieve Results: set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
💡 Think Innovatively: proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
🌱 Learn Continuously: create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
🔄 Adapt with Agility: proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
💪 Act with Determination: think beyond immediate task and barriers and take action to achieve greater results
🤝 Engage and Partner: political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
🫶 Enable Diversity and Inclusion: appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional and Technical Competencies
Six technical competencies are listed, each tied to a thematic area.
🤲 Partnership Management, Coalition Building: ability to build, maintain and mobilize multi-country coalitions and strategic alliances
🏛️ Public Policy, Policy Advocacy: ability to influence policy positions, draft statements and support intergovernmental negotiation
🌴 Nature, Climate & Energy, SIDS Technical Expertise: understanding of SIDS development challenges, nature-positive strategies and NbS policy frameworks
💼 Business Development, Resource Mobilization: ability to identify and engage donors to attract financing for SIDS collective actions
🧪 Knowledge Generation, Knowledge Synthesis: ability to capture, package and disseminate lessons, evidence and analytics for policy uptake
🖋️ Communications, Strategic Positioning: ability to craft clear messaging, talking points and briefs for high-level SIDS advocacy
Education and Experience Required
The required qualifications cover one education level and one experience level.
🎓 Education: an advanced university degree (Master's level or equivalent) in international relations, public policy, environmental policy, development studies, economics or related fields
📜 Alternative education: a Bachelor's degree with two additional years of experience may be accepted
⏳ Experience: minimum 5 years (with a Master's) or 7 years (with a Bachelor's) of progressively responsible experience in international policy coordination, SIDS and global negotiations, coalition management, environmental diplomacy, or nature and climate governance
Required Skills
The notice lists these skills as required.
🏝️ Demonstrated experience working with SIDS governments, AOSIS, regional organizations or multilateral platforms and organizations
🕸️ Experience coordinating coalitions, networks or multi-country initiatives
🌿 Strong understanding of nature, climate, blue and green economy, and SIDS-related policy frameworks
✍️ Experience drafting policy briefs, joint communiqués and technical advisories
🎪 Experience coordinating high-level events, dialogues or multilateral negotiation spaces
🗨️ Excellent communication, strategic advisory and diplomacy skills
Desired Skills
These skills come in addition to the competencies above and count in your favour.
🧭 Experience working with SIDS regional bodies (CARICOM, SPREP, IOC and others), global bodies (AOSIS and others) or UN agencies (UNDP, UNDESA and others)
⚖️ Experience in intergovernmental negotiating processes (UNFCCC, CBD, UNGA, SIDS conferences)
💰 Knowledge of SIDS financing mechanisms and global environmental funds
🇫🇷 Working knowledge of French or Spanish is an advantage
Reporting Lines and Institutional Arrangement
The SIDS Coalition Coordinator reports administratively to the BGI Global Coordinator, given the use of BGI funding to support this position. The Coordinator also collaborates and coordinates closely with the SCN Leadership, who set strategic and programmatic priorities for the position.
The SCN co-Chairs, the BGI Global Coordinator, the UNDESA SIDS Unit Chief and the Coalition Coordinator meet periodically to align BGI and UNDESA support with Coalition priorities. The position also works closely with SCN and AOSIS country representatives and focal points, regional and other partners, and maintains collaboration with BGI GEF Agencies and other partners relevant to global SIDS coordination processes and BGI implementation.
Equal Opportunity and Safeguards
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where it operates, and encourages qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply. Employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to the mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
A few further conditions apply to the recruitment process.
🛡️ UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority, and all selected candidates undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles
👥 UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement, and may retain applications and consider candidates for other similar positions at the same grade level with a similar job description, experience and educational requirements
🤖 Applicants are invited to read UNDP's guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection
🚫 UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UNDP SIDS Coalition for Nature Coordinator job?
It is a home-based International Personnel Service Agreement (IPSA-10) post linked to Bonn, Germany, within UNDP's Blue & Green Islands Integrated Programme. The coordinator leads, operationalizes and manages the SIDS Coalition for Nature in close coordination with AOSIS, SIDS governments and regional bodies such as SPREP, CARICOM and IOC.
Does the coordinator represent SIDS governments in negotiations?
No. The role is strictly technical, coordination-focused and facilitative. The coordinator does not represent SIDS Member States, AOSIS or any intergovernmental body in political or negotiation processes, and all political positions and joint statements remain the prerogative of SIDS governments and AOSIS.
Who can apply for this UNDP job?
The notice does not set a nationality restriction. Applicants need an advanced university degree in a relevant field with at least 5 years of experience, or a Bachelor's degree with at least 7 years of experience.
What qualifications and experience do I need?
You need a Master's level degree in international relations, public policy, environmental policy, development studies, economics or related fields, plus at least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in international policy coordination, SIDS and global negotiations, coalition management, environmental diplomacy, or nature and climate governance. A Bachelor's degree with 7 years of experience may be accepted.
Is knowledge of French or Spanish required?
No. Working knowledge of French or Spanish is listed as an advantage among the desired skills.
Who does the coordinator report to?
The coordinator reports administratively to the BGI Global Coordinator and collaborates closely with the SCN Leadership, who set strategic and programmatic priorities for the position.
Does UNDP charge a fee to apply?
No. UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process.
Deadline
⏳ 08 November 2026 (23:59 New York time)
Link
🔗 Job description and application (UNDP): https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/36955
