In order to carry out field missions in UNESCO Global Geoparks candidates as well as revalidation missions, UNESCO and the Global Geopark Network (GGN) are launching a call for evaluators.

Application deadline: 15 April 2020

These evaluators will have combined and proven professional experience relevant for UNESCO Global Geopark development (geological heritage, conservation, sustainable development, tourism development and promotion, and environmental issues).

Documents allowing new evaluators to apply and carry out field evaluation for new aspiring UNESCO Global Geoparks and revalidation missions are available online:

In accordance with the Statutes of the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (Article 5) and the Operational Guidelines for UNESCO Global Geoparks (Article 4), UNESCO in conjunction with the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) will establish and maintain a roster of evaluators.

The UNESCO Global Geopark Bureau will assign evaluators, who are on this roster, to carry out field evaluations of new applications for aspiring UNESCO Global Geoparks and revalidation missions of established UNESCO Global Geoparks. These evaluators will have combined and proven professional experience relevant for UNESCO Global Geopark development (geological heritage, conservation, sustainable development, tourism development and promotion, and environmental issues).

Evaluators will serve in their personal capacity, not as representatives of their respective States or any other affiliated entities. The UNESCO Secretariat Evaluators should ensure no conflict of interest regarding new UNESCO Global Geopark applications or those requiring revalidation. Evaluators will not seek or accept instructions from governments or other authorities and will not conduct missions in their own country. The UNESCO Global Geoparks Bureau will assign two evaluators from the roster of evaluators per field evaluation / revalidation mission.

Evaluation Teams shall independently:

1. Evaluate applications, extensions and revalidations for UNESCO Global Geoparks on the basis of the strict guidelines provided by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council;
2. Prepare a report to the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council on the applications, extensions and revalidations evaluated.

Procedure for inscription in the roster of evaluators

Each individual wishing to become an evaluator for UNESCO Global Geoparks should fill in the application form for evaluators for UNESCO Global Geoparks and send it to the UNESCO Global Geopark Secretariat (Kristof Vandenberghe, k.vandenberghe@unesco.org(link sends e-mail)), and the President of the GGN Association (Nikolaos Zouros, nzour@aegean.gr(link sends e-mail)), accompanied by their CV, including the necessary documentation and references.

Criteria for inscription

The evaluators must have taken note and respect the Statutes of the International Geoscience and Geoparks Programme (IGGP), the Operational Guidelines for UNESCO Global Geoparks, the Terms of Reference, as well as the Guidelines for Field Inspection Missions for UNESCO Global Geoparks. They must be ready to dedicate time to carry out the evaluation/revalidation missions and study a number of documents related to the UNESCO Global Geopark applications and revalidations. A good knowledge of and ability to speak fluently and understand the English language is required.

Each evaluator should fulfil at least two of the criteria below:

• To be/have been a manager or representing geoscientist in a “green card” holding UNESCO Global Geopark for at least four years;
• To be/have been a member of the scientific committee of a “green card” holding UNESCO Global Geopark for at least four years;
• Must have proven combined professional experience relevant to UNESCO Global Geopark development and backed by a corresponding recognized higher education degree in at least three of the following areas:
  • geological heritage,
  • geological conservation,
  • sustainable development, tourism development and promotion,
  • environmental issues,
  • community engagement, and
  • public communication of geoscience for at least five years;

Those individuals, who were part of the Roster of Evaluators in the past, do not have to reapply.

Documents:

Complete Call for Evaluators documents (.pdf)

Call UNESCO Global Geoparks Evaluators Form (.pdf)

Guildelines for Field Inspections Missions (.pdf)

Terms of Reference of UNESCO Global Geoparks Evaluators (.pdf)