NCA and NbS Decision Support Specialist – Samoa

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a NCA and NbS Decision Support Specialist for a urban consultancy assignment financed by UNDP in Samoa.

Aninver Development Partners is seeking an expert NCA and NbS Decision Support Specialist for an upcoming initiative in Samoa funded by UNDP. The project focuses on mainstreaming environmental considerations and institutionalizing nature-positive decision-making across key economic sectors like tourism and agriculture.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Institutionalize nature-positive decision-making across key economic sectors in Samoa.
• Design and deploy user-friendly, open-source National and Local Decision Support Tools (DST) to evaluate Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
• Enhance national capacities for environmental-economic planning and climate adaptation.

Scope of work

• Updating and expanding priority Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) modules including energy, water, waste, mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass, and forests.
• Integrating expanded NCA accounts into national accounts and the Tourism Satellite Account.
• Developing and deploying user-friendly, open-source National and Local Decision Support Tools (DST) to evaluate Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
• Delivering a comprehensive capacity development program targeting national and local stakeholders.

Your role as NCA and NbS Decision Support Specialist

• Lead the design and implementation of digital decision-support, geospatial, scenario, cost-benefit, or multi-criteria systems.
• Manage operational decision-support and analytical platforms, overseeing user requirements, architecture, development, testing, deployment, documentation, and maintenance.
• Apply strong knowledge of NbS appraisal, ecosystem services, spatial planning, scenario modelling, and cost-benefit analysis.
• Utilize open-source web or desktop technologies, databases, APIs, source-code management, and information security protocols.
• Conduct administrator training and ensure seamless integration of user experience best practices.

Requirements

• Education: Advanced university degree in information systems, software engineering, GIS, environmental economics, planning, decision science or a closely related field
• Minimum 10 years of experience designing and implementing digital decision-support, geospatial, scenario, cost-benefit or multi-criteria systems
• Languages: Not specified

Desirable

• Prior Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) experience is strongly preferred.

An innovative digital decision-support expert with extensive experience in geospatial systems, open-source technologies, and Nature-based Solutions appraisal for government planning in island contexts.

Assignment details

• Location: Samoa
• Financed by: UNDP
• Sector: Urban
• Estimated duration: 18 months
• Expected input: 75 days
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a UNDP-financed project in Samoa.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.