Background

Duties and Responsibilities

• In close cooperation with the key national stakeholders, compiles/validates/completes the final baseline/situational analysis for the MSP. This will include a precise definition of baseline projects, activities, budgets, goals and co-financial links to GEF outcomes;
  
• Definition of GEF incremental value per outcome and output; presentation of results of the incremental cost-analysis in matrices;
• Among other activities, this will require the consultant to develop an appropriate Capacity Development Scorecard from the standard UNDP-GEF Capacity Development Scorecard and score the institutional capacities in place (baseline) as well as establish targets for promoting sustainable forest and land management in the Philippines; establish the baseline and targets of the % of SLM guidance delivered by the extension services; develop a land degradation index and establish baseline and targets for each of the target municipalities.
• Corroborates and expands the barrier description outlined in the PIF. This should include: Review of institutions that work on agriculture and forestry and other landuses and the current lack of working collaboratively; Expand on the lack of coordination of plans and programmes of national government agencies such as DENR, DAR and DA and the general lack of SLM prescriptions in these plans; Expand on the lack of coordination among extension services especially DENR and DA; (iv) Undertake a capacity assessment of staff of national agencies in regards to SLM; (v) Explain the lack of dedicated funding at LGU-level towards SLM.
• Based on the best international practice, prepares a quantified assessment of global environmental benefits for sustainable land management.
• Analyses the socio-economic benefits of the proposed interventions at national and local levels.
• Based on the international experience, assists in reconfirming/specifying the project strategy, finalizing project sections on: (a) An assessment of the social, economic and financial sustainability of proposed project activities; (b) Assessment of alternatives to the project strategy and establishing the cost effectiveness of the preferred strategy and suite of activities; (c) A replication strategy for project activities; (d) Assessment of the risks to the proposed project activities and identifying measure to mitigate these risks; (e) incremental cost analysis.
• Develops project monitoring and evaluation system (plan and budget) for the MSP including the completed tracking tools for land degradation, including a set of indicators, baselines and targets.
• Elaborates and improves the Project Results Framework based on the approved PIF and ensuring the coherence and logic of the project’s results and resources framework;
• Drafts ToRs for the key consultants/contracts to be employed by the project.
• Elaborates Stakeholder Involvement and Public Participation plans.
• Develops action plan for incorporation of gender aspects in the project, with quantifiable baseline and target indicators, as per GEF and UNDP guidance.
• Conducts environmental and social safeguard screening following the UNDP procedure, producing the checklist and summary report. This will include the undertaking of studies to address any opportunities/risks identified during an environmental and social screening of the project proposal. These will include: (i) integrate within the guidance to be provided to LGUs on the integration of SLM concerns into local development and land use plans steps in which environmental and social impacts are considered and negative impacts mitigated in line with the UNDP ESSP guidance and where positive impacts are promoted’ and (2) during project preparation, the criteria for ensuring that environmental and social issues are considered in the development of the land use plan should be listed and the vulnerable groups impacted prioritized in receiving support in SLM activities.
• Proposes and selects sites within the two selected municipalities (with total combined area of municipalities approximately 20,000 ha) with serious LD issues to demonstrate soil erosion techniques, gully stabilisation, fertility management and rainwater harvesting through small water impounding projects.
• Designs the co-financing arrangement, M&E system, organizational or institutional structure and mechanism and implementation arrangement for the project as part of the Project Document;
• Develops the indicative annual work plans and budget for the Project;
• Prepares the GEF CEO endorsement of the Project;
• Facilitates national consultations or workshops for the development of the Project;
• Accomplishes, with the assistance and inputs from concerned stakeholders, the GEF Land Degradation Tracking Tool.

Competencies

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

• Strong knowledge of the latest theories and concepts in urban development and sustainable cities in the Philippines and broader region;
• Strong analytical and research skills;
• Familiarity with current actors working on urban development challenges in the Philippines;
• Strong communication skills and ability to communicate with different stakeholders;
• Excellent in oral and written communication; have skills to write independent reports, documents, maintain systems and procedures in administering programs.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree on development management or economics, agricultural economics, soil science, environmental science or related fields.

Experience:

• With at least 5 years proven knowledge, experience and expertise in areas of development specifically in 1) project development and formulation; 2) monitoring and evaluation; 3) sustainable land management; 4) gender mainstreaming in sustainable land management; 5) land degradation assessment and 6) global environment issues
• Familiar and up-to-date with national and local programs, projects and initiatives on sustainable land management and in combating desertification and land degradation;
• Preferably with sufficient knowledge of UNDP and GEF and some level of familiarity with its operations.

Language: 

• Very good command of oral and written English.