Supports strategic use and governance of biodiversity and geospatial data to strengthen conservation planning and policy decision making. Facilitates integration of ELSA tools and spatial datasets into national biodiversity strategies, reporting processes, and sustainable development planning. Coordinates with technical partners, country offices, and stakeholders to ensure alignment of data driven spatial planning approaches. Contributes to development of guidance materials, analytical inputs, and knowledge products to enhance effective use of ELSA tools.
The Technical Officer – Environmental (Spatial Planning) supports the Global Programme on Nature for Development in strengthening the use of spatial data and planning tools to inform biodiversity conservation, climate action, and sustainable development at national and global levels. Working in close collaboration with programme teams, partner agencies, and governments, the role contributes to the effective curation and application of geospatial datasets through platforms such as the UN Biodiversity Lab, and supports the development and operationalization of analytical tools that underpin the Essential Life Support Areas (ELSA) systematic conservation planning approach. The position plays a key role in facilitating data driven decision making by coordinating data inputs, supporting tool functionality, and translating technical outputs into practical resources for policy, planning, and capacity building across country initiatives. The Technical Officer further supports cross sector collaboration by working with scientific partners and institutions to identify appropriate datasets, strengthen data workflows, and contribute to documentation and knowledge products that enable effective use of spatial planning tools by stakeholders. Through this work, the role enhances the programme’s ability to integrate biodiversity considerations into national planning processes, reporting frameworks, and conservation strategies, ensuring that spatial evidence informs policy dialogue and implementation in support of global biodiversity and development goals.
Under the supervision of the designated supervisor, the Technical Officer – Environmental (Spatial Planning) supports the effective use of spatial data, analytical tools, and collaborative planning approaches to strengthen biodiversity conservation, climate action, and sustainable development outcomes under the Global Programme on Nature for Development. The role contributes to integrating geospatial evidence into national planning, policy processes, and programme implementation by coordinating data inputs, supporting tool application, strengthening partnerships, and enabling knowledge sharing across stakeholders. Through this work, the position enhances data driven decision making and supports the scaling of innovative spatial planning solutions across countries and initiatives.
• Provide strategic support on data governance, quality standards, and ethical use of biodiversity and geospatial information across Essential Life Support Areas (ELSA) related initiatives.
• Support the integration of ELSA tools and datasets into broader programme planning, policy dialogue, and country level decision making processes.
• Support programme teams in applying emerging best practices and innovations in conservation planning, data analytics, and digital decision support tools.
• Support coordination between technical partners, country offices, and external stakeholders to ensure alignment of data driven planning approaches.
• Support capacity building efforts, including contributing to training approaches and knowledge transfer to national counterparts and partners.
• Provide analytical support to programme reports, concept notes, and strategic planning documents related to ELSA and biodiversity data use.
• Support identification and mitigation of risks related to data availability, quality, sustainability, and tool adoption.
• Support efforts to scale and replicate ELSA approaches across countries and programmes.
Support alignment of spatial planning activities with national biodiversity strategies, climate commitments, and sustainable development frameworks.
United Nations Office for Project Services
