# Application for Research position ([IDDRI](https://www.iddri.org))

IDDRI International Marine Policy Officer

Dear ████████ and ██████,

I am writing to apply for the advertised position of International Marine Policy Officer at IDDRI. I address the selection criteria below and attach a CV for your perusal. Please note that key terms in this letter and my CV are hyperlinked for your convenience.
I have an undergraduate degree in Law and a Masters in Law, with a focus on environmental law. I am currently undertaking a PhD investigating the law of the sea implications of new industrial development of the oceans, using the emerging marine renewable energy industry as a case study.
As a Research Assistant at the University of New South Wales, I extensively researched issues regarding biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, developing a deep knowledge and strong interest in this engaging topic. I conducted a comprehensive literature review, reading and summarising 40 papers and assessing the treatment of the issue by the Informal Consultative Process, the Ad-hoc Working Group, and the UN General Assembly. I am therefore well versed in current proposals and key debates, such as the dichotomy between freedom of the high seas and common heritage of mankind.
I am familiar with other relevant processes and institutions, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Working Group on Access and Benefit Sharing, the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources.
During my doctoral studies I have gained an excellent knowledge and understanding of a range of other oceans governance topics, include Marine Spatial Planning, marine licensing, Integrated Coastal Zone Management, environmental impact assessment and offshore oil and gas regulation. I have recently enrolled to undertake an online course in Contemporary Issues in Ocean Governance in order to further my understanding. I have experience in both non-profit and private sector organisations. I worked for two years at an environmental organisation on a project to improve environmental outcomes through better regulation of the electricity sector. I was also a Paralegal in the Energy and Resources group at a top-tier commercial law firm where I worked on mining, oil and gas, and renewables projects. I am currently undertaking a 6 month Research Internship at REN21 in Paris, working with a small team in the Secretariat and a global community of experts to produce the Global Status of Renewables Report.
I have excellent written and verbal communication skills, as evidenced by my strong record of publishing and public speaking. In addition to peer-reviewed academic papers on various topics, I have broad experience writing a communications for different audiences, including working papers, submissions to government, letters to clients, media articles and press releases.
I have a wealth of experience drawn from extra-curricular activities. I have long been involved in environmental activism and last year was a member of a university delegation to Rio+20. I have volunteered for Amnesty and the Green Party, and recently co-founded Ambiente, a journal publishing the work of young researchers in environmental fields.
English is my native language, though I have a passion for learning foreign languages. I speak Spanish and Indonesian at an advanced level. I am at an intermediate level in French and am currently focussing my efforts on attaining fluency. I am also intermediate in Swedish and have begun to learn a little Mandarin. I am a keen traveller and am willing to travel for this role as required.
I appreciate you considering me for this position. I believe that I am an ideal candidate for this role and look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,

Marine Spatial Planning in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction
Developing a research agenda

Background
Single-sector management -> holistic ecosystem-based management
There is no adequate mechanism yet for effective management, surveillance and enforcement in ABNJ. A well-planned approach to managing use of marine space is necessary – the future of the oceans depends on it

### Issues and challenges

Two kinds – those applicable to MSP generally and those specific to high seas context

### General issues

MSP is an emerging tool and many concepts are still open to very diverse interpretations Science and knowledge gaps, constraints in policies and legislation, institutional fragmentation Costs of development, implementation, monitoring
Difficulty of coupling environmental goals and resource use with expectations and needs of stakeholders Lack of clear demonstration/guidance on how to implement MSP (though this is changing) Currently most MSP initiatives are on a national/regional level and thus only take account of impacts that transcend boundaries

High seas issues
A number of issues with MSP are exacerbated by the high seas context
•	Institutional fragmentation
•	Stakeholder engagement
•	Cost
•	Knowledge gaps
MSP is not explicitly specified in UNCLOS or the CBD
MSP could close off certain areas to human activities, but this conflicts with the freedom on the high seas principle of UNCLOS Potential conflicts of interests, rights and competence of various entities, e.g. rights of coastal States over their extended continental shelf Potentially conflicting competences of global organisations (e.g. the International Seabed Authority) and regional environmental or fisheries organisation International cooperation required on a very large scale to make it work
A successful MSP will preferably be implemented as a statutory and enforceable process – this is difficult in ABNJ There are currently only a small number of regional seas agreements covering ABNJ – outside such regions there is currently no institution with the mandate/capacity to coordinate/regulate activities on the high seas Lack of political will
UNCLOS is premised on the duty of cooperation, but there is no institutional mechanism for cooperation/discussion of substantive implementation issues – it is hard to imagine MSP in ABNJ without such a mechanism No one state can claim jurisdiction and take the lead, however, this means that states are on the same footing and have a shared interest in protection

First steps
Fundamental question: is it better to create a new instrument or leverage existing ones? In either case, a number of elements of a research agenda will be the same:
•	Literature review
•	Comprehensive identification/exploration of barriers/challenges for MSP in ABNJ
•	Identification and assessment of existing MSP or MSP-like instruments on the high seas
•	How have existing MSP efforts fared – within national jurisdiction and beyond
•	Assessment of potential legal foundations for MSP in ABNJ
•	Criteria for identifying areas for MSP
•	Assessing funding mechanisms/opportunities from existing funds
•	Setting/publishing a research agenda, such as the Big Ocean shared research agenda

Improving/building on existing instruments
The broad range of existing institutions and agreements suggest that some level of high seas management is possible, but it will be somewhat piecemeal. Not all possible institutions/provisions have yet been leveraged e.g. the ISA can advance MSP in relation to seabed mining but is yet to do so and RFMO’s have been slow to use their full powers to protect vulnerable ecosystems Identification of areas where implementing MSP may already be possible, based on Assessment of political will, existing measures in that region, etc. Propose reforms to existing institutions to better support conservation and further MSP Develop standards for SEA and EIA to move towards MSP in future
Consider the institutional reforms that would be needed to support MSP:
•	Strengthening/revising the mandate of an existing agency or process to better serves as an intergovernmental steering mechanism, improve coherence of the UN system and contribute to work on MSP and other areas
•	Establishment of an Independent scientific advisory body
•	MSP could require engagement by RFMOs and consideration as to how RFMOs can help implement the plan as well as how conservation measures adopted by RFMOs could be integrated within the plan.
•	Implementation Agreement could make provision for consultative links between the overarching global body dealing with biodiversity conservation in ABNJ and RFMOs, FAO and global and regional bodies with sectoral or conservation interest or competence in ABNJ. New instrument
Can MSP be tagged onto IA to UNCLOS as part of a ‘package deal’ to protect biodiversity in ABNJ Can the experience of other IA’s/similar be used in this context
Consideration of what MSP provisions would look like – drawn from national MSP legislation and best practice elements from other international agreements on conservation/use management