Background

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The UNDP starts implementation of the USAID’s Local Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Project  (USAID/UNDP LEED). The overall Project's goal is to strengthen the role of the private sector in the economies of Brest and Grodno regions and in the thriving tourism sector of the Republic of Belarus through achieving the following specific objectives:

1. Creating favorable environment for the ecotourism private sector development and  introduction of public-private partnership mechanisms into the sustainable local development strategies;
2. Strengthening capacity of private ecotourism stakeholders and business support organizations;
3. Establishing sustainable public dialogue, conducting information and education campaigns, promoting the region as an ecotourism destination.

The National Executing Entity of the Project is the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus (the MST).
The objective of the assignment is to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of corresponding project activities.  

Duties and Responsibilities

The Ecotourism Adviser provides assistance to the Project Manager in the implementation of day-to-day project activities to support the development and growth of private micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) thus reducing citizens’ economic dependence on the state and increase interaction between people within and outside Belarus. It is envisaged that he/she will advise to and strengthen the knowledge of MSMEs, the MST and its regional structures staff in sustainable eco-tourism practices, cooperation opportunities with local authorities and private sector and broadening the market place of ideas for local initiatives realization and experience sharing.

The Ecotourism Adviser reports to and coordinates with the Project Manager. He/she works in tight cooperation with the Grant Manager, PR/event coordinator and Task coordinators in regions. He/she supervises works being implemented by consultants and staff hired under relevant project activities. The Ecotourism Adviser is expected to:

Overall relevant component management:

• Assume primary responsibility for the daily component activities - both organizational and substantive matters, budgeting, planning and general monitoring of the component implementation to ensure the results are in accordance with the Project Document and the rules and procedures established in the UNDP Programming Manual and USAID requirements;
• Support the Project Manager in planning and implementing component’s activities;
• Coordinate relevant project activities with other project activities and relevant technical assistance programs in Belarus;
• Be responsible for the thematic part and the best ways of Project events conducting, including launching ceremonies, kick-off meetings, trainings, tours (in-country and abroad), similar;

Partnership building:

• Maintain regular contacts with the UNDP Country Office, the National Project Director, the USAID office on the activities implementation issues within their respective competence;
• Liaise with relevant ministries, national institutes, MSMEs and other relevant and interested institutions in order to involve their staff in the project activities as necessary and gather and disseminate information relevant to the project tasks, which he/she is responsible for;
• Ensure adequate information flow, discussions and feedback among the various stakeholders of the relevant project activities;
• Provide constant evaluation of state and conditions of SMSEs development as well eco-tourism development during the Project implementation;
• Ensure the relevant number of local initiatives program participants and the high quality of applications submitted in time;

Support to the Project Manager: activities administrative and financial management:

• In consultation with the MST, the UNDP and the USAID, draft detailed work plans, ensure their implementation, draft work plan revisions, if required;
• Prepare and provide briefing and background materials to the Project Manager, the MST, the UNDP, the USAID and other relevant stakeholders;
• Draft and agree with the Project Manager, the MST, the UNDP, the USAID terms of reference for national consultants and subcontractors;
• Draft and agree with the members of the Project Steering Committee terms of reference for selecting the Touristic Destinations (16 TDs) on competitive bases;
• Ensure the high quality of developed ecotourism strategies in the pilot TDs;
• Provide support to the Grant Manager in drafting and authorization by the members of the Project Steering Committee the terms of reference for Contest of Local Initiatives;
• Provide support to local task coordinators and Grant Manager in qualitative realization of selected applications in accordance with the UNDP, USAID and national procedures;
• Monitor the expenditures, commitments and balance of funds under the relevant project activities’ budget lines;
• Organize and supervise workshops and trainings planned under the relevant project activities;
• Prepare the Terms of Reference and guide the work of consultants and sub-contractors; oversee compliance with the agreed work plan;
• Provide assistance in supervising respective Task Coordinators in Grodno and Brest;
• Assist the Project Manager in guiding and coordinating the work of national and international consultants and subcontractors under the project tasks, which he/she is responsible for, and oversee its compliance with relevant part of the agreed work plan;

Reporting and appropriate informational support of achieved results:

• Draft necessary component’s progress and financial reports, as required by the relevant UNDP, USAID and national procedures;
• In cooperation with PR/event coordinator be responsible for elaboration and final reconciliation with the UNDP, MST and USAID the numerous publications about the results Project activities implementation;
• In cooperation with PR/event coordinator be responsible for elaboration and final reconciliation of the numerous articles concerning  results of local initiatives implementation;
•  Provide PR/event coordinator support in dissemination of the publications and articles  through the Mass Media;

Competencies

• Demonstrates corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acts as a team player and facilitating team work;
• Outstanding analytical, organizational and administrative skills;
• Able to work effectively with a multi-cultural and decentralized team;
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

• Higher education in economics, tourism, environmental management, law, geography;  
• Advanced degree or academic training in economics, tourism, environmental management, law, geography is a strong asset;
• At least 5 years of work experience in the area of tourism (eco&agro)/entrepreneurship/sustainable development/environmental protection/small and medium business development in Belarus;
• Familiarity with the concepts, principles, national and international legal regulation of tourism (eco&agro), entrepreneurship, small and medium business development in Belarus;
• Experience of cooperation with international organizations and state institutions in Belarus;
• Experience in working with the civil society and with participatory approaches;
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills;
• Previous experience with UNDP projects in the area of development would be considered as an asset;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc);
• Fluency in written and spoken English, Russian, including the ability to draft, edit and finalize documents in English and in Russian.