The Secretariat of the United Nations presents its compliments to all Permanent Missions to the United Nations Office in New York, Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna, the United Nations departments and bodies, specialised agencies, intergovernmental and other organizations, and has the honour to request the nomination of candidates for the position of Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the level of Assistant Secretary-General. This position is based in Montreal (Canada). 

Background
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as the leading global environmental authority within the United Nations system, promotes the environmental dimension of sustainable development and serves as the authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEP hosts the CBD Secretariat, in line with its relevant articles, Decisions of its Conference of the Parties as well as Decisions of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). 

In accordance with Decision X/45, Article II.2 of the Revised Administrative Arrangements between UNEP and the CBD, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention at its tenth meeting in Nagoya (COP10), the Executive Secretary will be appointed by the Secretary-General as recommended by the Executive Director of UNEP, in consultation with the Conference of the Parties through its Bureau. 

In order to ensure a wide pool of candidates for this position, the Secretariat would welcome any nominations to supplement the Secretary-General’s own search and consultations. The nomination of women candidates is strongly encouraged. 

Duties and Responsibilities 
The Executive Secretary has dual reporting lines and is accountable to the Conference of the Parties through its Bureau for programme delivery and policy-related issues and to the Executive Director of UNEP for administrative and financial issues. 

 Further information on CBD is available at the following website: https://www.cbd.int/. 

All nominations will be treated with the strictest confidence and short-listed candidates will be contacted directly to undergo an assessment process, reference and background checks, including human rights and conflicts of interest screening.

Applicants are requested to send their Curriculum Vitae with contact information (telephone, email) to unep-executiveappointments@un.org no later than 24 March 2023. 

The responsibilities and requirements for this position are attached herewith.

Skills and expertise 
The Secretary-General is seeking an individual with:
      
 • Extensive experience and knowledge of the environmental and sustainable development agenda. She/he must be a strong leader and manager with highly developed diplomatic and public policy skills, including experience at the international level. Candidates must demonstrate a strong track record in organizational strategy and development, including results-based management; 
 • Established results achieved in the field of biodiversity conservation and/or nature-based solutions; 
 • Experience with stakeholder engagement and coalition building;                        
  • Demonstrated leadership experience with strategic vision and proven skills in managing complex organizations; 
  • Exceptional public speaking skills; 
  • Excellent people and team management skills, with demonstrated success managing highly diverse teams of international experts; 
  • Impeccable personal and professional integrity.

Languages 
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For this position, fluency in English is required. A working knowledge of French or other United Nations official language will be an advantage. 

Human rights screening 
In accordance with the policy for the nomination of candidates, the Secretariat wishes to outline that it is the responsibility of the nominating Government to ensure that each candidate it nominates has not been convicted of or is not currently under investigation or being prosecuted for any criminal offence or any violation of international human rights law or international humanitarian law. In the case of nominees who have been investigated for, charged with or prosecuted for any criminal offence but were not convicted, the nominating Government is requested to provide information regarding the investigation(s) or prosecutions concerned.

Individuals who are either nominated by Member States or who seek to serve with the United Nations in any individual capacity will be required, if short-listed, to complete a self-attestation stating that they have not committed, been convicted of, nor prosecuted for, any criminal offence and have not been involved, by act or omission, in the commission of any violation of international human rights law or international humanitarian law.

Conflicts of interest screening
All United Nations staff members are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. Senior leaders, in particular, have the responsibility to serve as role models in upholding the organization’s ethical standards. 

A conflict of interest occurs when, by act or omission, a staff member’s personal interests interfere with the performance of his/her official duties and responsibilities, or call into question his/her integrity, independence and impartiality. Risk for conflicts of interest may arise from a staff member’s engagement in outside (non-UN) employment or occupation; outside activities, including political activities; receipt of gifts, honours, awards, favours or remuneration from external (non-UN) sources; or personal investment. In particular, no staff member shall accept any honour, decoration, favour, gift or remuneration from any Government (staff regulation 1.2 (j)).

Where a real or perceived conflict of interest does arise, senior leaders are obligated to disclose this to the organization without delay. In order to avoid real or perceived family influence or preferential treatment and conflicts of interest that could stem from such situations, the UN Staff Rules provide that appointments “shall not be granted to anyone who is the father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister of a staff member” (staff rule 4.7(a)). 

Short-listed individuals will also be required to complete the pre-appointment declaration of interests for senior positions to identify possible conflicts of interest that may arise and to proactively prevent and manage, as much as possible and in a timely manner, situations in which personal interests may conflict or appear to conflict with interests of the United Nations, should the individual be appointed to this position.

 Empowering women is critical to the health and social growth of families, communities and countries. With this in mind, the Honourable Isalean Phillip, Minister of State responsible for Social Development and Gender Affairs said that when women are empowered, the entire nation benefits.

During her appearance on the debut edition of “Infocus”, the new SKNIS Television and Radio Programme on Wednesday, March 01, 2023, Minister Phillip reflected on the well-known African Proverb “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. But if you educate a woman, you educate a nation. ”

“That is essentially because we recognize in our context that we have a majority of matriarchal households and so, of course, if you empower a woman financially, you know you are also feeding her children. She will make sure that her children are well cared for,” said Senator Phillip. “When you bring women into spaces that were perhaps predominantly represented by men, you are bringing a different perspective. What women add to spaces are new ideas, new ways of doing things and we need that. It will help the bottom line for a business that has a Board of men if they have one or two women on that Board to be able to increase the profitability for everyone,” Minister Phillip added. 

Minister Phillip further stated that when women are empowered, living safe, fulfilled and productive lives, they can reach their full potential, which will then cause them to contribute their skills to the workforce while raising happier and healthier children.

“In this instance, everybody can benefit. And so, it is a matter of incorporating the full scale of competence and abilities that we have available to us in our human population so that we can all benefit in ways that we may not have imagined,” she said. “Maybe before, we did not necessarily include women in certain spaces or women that did not have as big a voice or maybe women were just not necessarily able to access those spaces. And so when we include women, everybody benefits. Our children have healthier life outcomes and our men benefit because of what is already established.”

The Minister’s comments are in time for the observation of International Women’s Day on March 08, 2023. Notably, the Department, in conjunction with Women Empowering Girls (WEG), will be hosting an Award Ceremony and Empowerment Toast at Government House under the auspices of Her Excellency Dame Marcella A. Liburd GCMG, JP.

Plans to develop a robust National Health Insurance system in St. Kitts and Nevis are advancing but will not be finalized without public consultation.

Universal healthcare, as it is commonly called is a priority for the government, with Prime Minister and Minister of Health, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, heading up efforts to make healthcare more accessible in the twin-island Federation. He referenced his medical background and noted that most persons will suffer a catastrophic illness during their lives and will either die or require prolonged care.

“I see it all the time,” the Prime Minister said. “… Right now, cancer is the number one cause of death in St. Kitts and Nevis, and I look around at us in the room, and I can count and say how many of us would end up with cancer. It’s just a reality, and 90 percent of people in St. Kitts can’t afford it.”

The burgeoning cost of chemotherapy, radiation treatment, CT scans, and other medical tests and treatments severely impact personal finances, making it extremely difficult to afford proper care. Dr. Drew said that he is “fed up of seeing people dying” because they cannot pay for medical treatment.

“… Nobody can save enough money to take care of themselves facing a catastrophic illness, and that is why I am asking our people to do, like what we did with social security, to pool our money and contribute to it,” Honourable Dr. Drew stated.

The government is mulling over several proposals related to National Health Insurance. The matter will also be discussed with officials from the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) who meet with local health officials next week.

“We need now to discuss it at that level so that we can bring something to the people because we want the people’s input; we want to hear from the people,” the Prime Minister said. “Do you think it is a good idea? If you don’t think so, why not? This is [what] we propose. Do you think we should modify it? We want the people to be involved because at the end of the day, we will be asking the people to contribute to National Health Insurance.”

Dr. Drew noted that the government recently provided financial assistance to two children who had to travel to the Cayman Islands for heart surgery. The medical bill for one surgery is US$30,000, while the other is US$70,000.

“That is the cost of healthcare, and our best chance of beating it is to have a good healthcare system, an accredited [health] institution, and National Health Insurance,” Prime Minister Dr. Drew expressed, adding that there is “no other way around it.”

The Order Paper has been circulated for a sitting of the National Assembly to be held at the National Assembly Chambers, Government Headquarters, Basseterre, on Tuesday 7^th March, 2023, at 10:00 am. Notice has been given.
 
The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister responsible for Finance, National Security, Citizenship and Immigration, Health and Social Security, Dr. Terrance Drew, will seek leave to introduce and have read a first time Banking (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Nurses and Midwives (registration) (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
 
Additionally, the Honourable Prime Minister will move the second reading of Nurses and Midwives (Registration) (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
 
The National Assembly will be broadcast live on ZIZ Radio (96 FM) and participating radio stations. It can also be viewed live on TV Channel 5 in St. Kitts and Channel 98 in Nevis. It will also be streamed live at www.zizonline.com
 
Copies of Bills are posted on the website (sknis.kn) of the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service under the section: Bills.   

Following sharply on the heels of two UNESCO technical expert study visits and capitalizing on the arrival of Ambassador to UNESCO, H.E. David Doyle, to the federation, the St. Kitts and Nevis UNESCO Secretariat convened a meeting of the National Commission on Wednesday 1st March, 2023. The meeting was held at the Red Cross Building at Horsford Road, Basseterre, and chaired by Project Officer, Mrs. Shirmel Dore-Henry.

The Hon. Minister for Education Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, who oversees the UNESCO portfolio was in attendance to meet and greet the members of the commission. The Permanent Delegate to UNESCO in Paris, Ambassador David Doyle, briefed the National Commission stakeholders on several UNESCO technical assistance interventions.

Secretary-General to the National Commission, Ms. Dorothy Warner stated in her welcoming remarks, “These are exciting times at the Secretariat. We are grateful for this opportunity for the local focal contact persons to share with the Commission members and Minister Hanley on a range of particularly productive technical assistance interventions by UNESCO.”  

The presentations/updates and presenters were as follows:

• Intangible Cultural Heritage

Marlene Phillips

• Anti-Doping in Sport and Implementation of the National Sport Policy

Mr. Shawn Seabrookes

• SKN Accreditation Enhancement Initiative (phase 2)

Mrs. Trisha Francis

• Professionalisation and Standardisation of the Teaching Services in SKN

Mrs. Carla Diamond

• Optimising the Use of Water Catchments and Aquifers in SKN 

Dr. Leighton Naraine

• St. Mary’s Biosphere Reserve MAB Earth Science Network Project 

Mrs. Telca Wallace

In his brief address to the gathering, Minister Hanley stated, “I recognise the importance of all these UNESCO projects in strengthening our institutional capacity and I wish to commend UNESCO, the Ambassador, National Commission, Secretariat and indeed everyone for your input.”

Ambassador Doyle noted that in the past year, St. Kitts and Nevis has secured some US$ 260,000.00 towards technical capacity-building assistance from this specialized UN agency. The funds are to be dispersed over seven projects being implemented across the twin-island federation. He emphasized, “Valuable expertise is being deployed by UNESCO to St. Kitts and Nevis in areas as diverse as developing solid education policy framework, to identifying suitable cultural heritage sites; from measuring the efficiency of the country’s water aquifers to compiling elements of inter-generational intangible cultural heritage to be preserved and protected.”

It was noted that the first in a series of study visits to the St. Mary’s Man and Biosphere reserve had recently been completed by a leading UNESCO-accredited biosphere expert, to advise on transforming the reserve into a sustainable and biodiversity-led agricultural environment. Also worthy of note is that St. Kitts and Nevis is the only SIDs to benefit from funds to develop a policy Framework for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

In conclusion, the Secretary-General remarked that the government and people of St. Kitts and Nevis are grateful for the tangible and technical benefits which UNESCO continues to provide.