UNDP Jobs - 45898- Local Forestry Consultant

Local Forestry Consultant

Location :

Home-based position with missions in Beijing, CHINA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

16-Jun-2014

Application Deadline :

16-May-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

10 working days

Languages Required :

English Chinese

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Local Forestry Consultant will assist the team leader and deputy team leader. S/he will be responsible for consultations, facilitation with forestry relevant authorities besides providing technical inputs to the project design.

The Foreign Economic Cooperation Office of the Ministry of Environmental Protection has requested GEF assistance through UNDP for the preparation a project proposal for a full sized project: “Developing and Implementing the National Framework on Access and Benefit Sharing of Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge”. The project aims to develop and implement China’s national framework on access to and benefit sharing (ABS) of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge in accordance with provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol (NP). The project will remove the aforementioned barriers and enable the country to ratify and implement the NP by promoting the establishment of the National Regulatory and Institutional Framework on ABS, Strengthening ABS Capacity Building and Awareness Raising, and support up to 6 such pilots focusing on genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge in Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan, Guangxi Provinces and/or Inner Mongolia.

The Project Preparation Grant (PPG) has been requested to formulate the full-sized project through appropriate situation analysis and stakeholder consultations. The preparatory phase will include the collection of information and gathering of data for the project design and improve baseline context for the project; identifying implementing partners and implementation arrangements; develop results framework that has optimal resource allocation from GEF and other stakeholders to meet the project objective; identifying and selecting pilots from potential pilots; developing more investigation on risks lists in PIF. The activities of the PPG include: baseline and capacity needs assessment of ABS for China; conduct logical framework analysis (LFA) and define project goal, objectives, outcomes, outputs and key activities. The outcome of the PPG will be Project Document and Request for CEO Endorsement.

Please download Project Identification form (PIF) for you to better know about the project from this link: http://yun.baidu.com/share/link?shareid=2065158734&uk=2217764688.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will carry out the following tasks:

Review existing data, reports and studies to collate a situation analysis report on forestry relevant biodiversity and genetic resources;
Collect information on the forestry relevant authorities at national and local levels and other partners’ baseline activities and planned investments, as well as complementary activities by various partner organizations;
Ensure the accuracy of indicator baselines with clear methodologies for monitoring, as well as the feasibility of targets for the project, especially from forestry perspective;
Assist in data collection related to project planning and monitoring , especially from forestry perspective with particular attention given to the description and quantification of the baseline information;
Assist team leader to organize consultation sessions in order to solicit inputs and ensure forestry relevant stakeholders involvement in and buy-in to the project;
Any other responsibilities, especially from forestry perspective as required by the team leader and ABS expert in order to complete the submission package to GEF;
Defining operational strategies and resource needs, and providing administrative support for effective project design, especially from forestry sector perspective.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Computer proficiency, related to professional office software packages (Microsoft Office);
Demonstrated ability to work in a team;
Ability for managing timely and effective delivery of both quantity and quality before the deadlines;
Demonstrated strategic technical and intellectual skills in the substantive area;
Demonstrated leadership, facilitation and coordination skills, ability to manage technical team and long term strategic partnership;
Excellent communications (both oral and written) and partnership building skills with multi-dimension partners, people skills for conflict resolution and negotiation.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree in forestry, NRM/Biodiversity Conservation/environmental science, etc.

Experience:

At least 10 years experience in developing or implementing projects with focus on forestry biodiversity related projects;
Experience in policy and legal analysis;
Working experience with international organizations is an advantage as is knowledge of GEF, UNDP policies, procedures and practices;
Experience in collaborating with government agencies, institutes in China;
Experience in project formulation that addresses technical assistance and capacity development for implementing partners.

Language:

Excellent Chinese and English language skills, particularly in the preparation of written documents.