UNDP Jobs - 48055- Project Development Expert

Project Development Expert

Location :

Manila, PHILIPPINES

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Aug-2014

Application Deadline :

22-Jul-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

100 days spread over 5 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

100 days spread over 5 months

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 Philippines is the world’s second largest archipelago country after Indonesia and includes more than 7,100 islands covering 297,179 km2 in the westernmost Pacific Ocean. It is one of the world’s richest countries biologically. The country is one of the few nations that is, in its entirety, both a hotspot and a megadiversity country, placing it among the top priority hotspots for global conservation. The island geography, the climate and the once extensive areas of rainforest, have resulted in a high level of biodiversity endemism in the country. At the very least, one third of the more than 9,250 vascular plant species native to the Philippines are endemic. Of the 530 bird species found in the Philippines, 185 (35%) are endemic. 61% of the mammal species, 68% (160 species) of reptiles and 70% of nearly 21,000 recorded insect species found in the Philippines are endemic. The endemism is even higher (85% or 90 species) for amphibians, Philippines plays host to 65 endemic fish species, with 9 endemic genera. 70% of the nearly 21,000 insect species are aendemic.

Biodiversity loss is a problem of global proportions. The world’s biodiversity is estimated to be experiencing rates of extinction at least 1,000 times higher than any time previously in Earth’s history, with some 20,000 species known to be threatened with extinction and many more likely to be threatened (Barber et al., 2004, p. 30). Habitat destruction is identified as the main driver of biodiversity loss. To prevent further habitat destruction and conserve biodiversity, countries and governments designated national terrestrial and marine protected areas. As of January 2009, there are 122,512 nationally designated protected areas in 235 countries and territories included in the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). These areas cover 21,242,195 sq km, or about 12.1 per cent of the earth’s surface. This includes both terrestrial and marine protected areas. While there has been considerable progress in the growth of protected areas over recent decades, there is growing scientific agreement and policy recognition that existing areas are not sufficient to meet the increasing challenges of biodiversity conservation.

In the Philippines, where 5.4 million hectares have been established as protected areas (representing 18% of the country’s total land area), there is agreement among stakeholders that there are huge gaps in coverage and representativeness of the protected area system. Compared to the extent of identified key biodiversity areas (KBAs) in the country, existing protected areas cover only 35% of KBAs. There are an estimated 4.6 million of KBAs that need to be placed under some form of effective protection. Filling these gaps only by expanding conventional protected areas is impractical given both the enormous areas to be covered and issues of jurisdiction where about 4.3 million hectares have been recognized as ancestral domains and an additional 2.6 million hectares are covered with application for certificates of ancestral domain titles (CADTs). Using the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) approach, the legislation required to gazette a protected area takes years to complete. Unless there are other cost effective ways of accelerating the expansion of conservation coverage, it is likely that degradation will cause irreparable damage to these KBAs before these can be placed under effective protection, resulting in direct loss of Philippine endemic biodiversity. In order to address this, the government, through the UNDP-GEF supported New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project (NewCAPP), has pilot tested the recognition of new and diversified governance regimes in the establishment and management of protected areas. One which has gained international recognition is the country effort in documentation, mapping and recognition of indigenous community conserved areas (ICCAs) in territories occupied by indigenous peoples, which have overlaps in biologically significant terrestrial areas, estimated to reach about 1,345,198 hectares (involving CADTs in 91 KBAs). This means that 29% of the entire area of KBAs requiring protection falls into territories occupied by indigenous peoples, so creating mechanisms for recognition and strengthening of ICCAs creates the enabling enviornment for a significant contribution to the strategic expansion of the protected area estate to protect globally significant biodiversity. By working on several pilot areas, NewCAPP has initiated policy and structural changes, such as the inclusion of new forms of protected areas in the National PA System Plan that is currently under formulation. This has created an opportunity for a significant expansion of the national conservation estate, through recognition of ICCAs, which typically coincide with areas of greatest surviving endemism. As a result of the work done by NewCAPP and other partners such as NGOs and NCIP, there is now significant interest from many ICC groups to map, document and recognize their ICCAs.

However, the institutionalization of ICCAs is still hindered by challenges in the policy arena as well as the weak capacities of national institutions to support the management of ICCAs. To contribute in addressing these barriers, the Biodiversity Management Bureau in partnership with the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) with support from several NGOs, has proposed to GEF a project entitled “Strengthening National Systems to Improve Governance and Management of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Conserved Areas and Territories” which aims to increase the capacities of the national systems to support the management of ICCAs. The GEF has also provided an initial grant to develop and prepare the required UNDP/GEF Project Document and GEF CEO Endorsement.

For more information: please go to the link: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id-=16732.

Duties and Responsibilities

In close cooperation with the key national stakeholders, compiles 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;
Conducts detailed analysis of threats and barriers as indicated in the PIF;
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;
Elaborates the project strategy and enhance the results framework ensuring its logic and coherence and finalize 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;
Set criteria for site selection and recommends at least 10 sites within the list of potential sites as indicated in the PIF (with ICCAs combined area of 100,000 hectares) and prepare site profiles highlighting the biodiversity resources and the threats in the area including the preparation of the GEF PA Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool;
To fully justify and detail specific outputs proposed in the PIF, in particular: (i) Component 2 addresses capacity building for effective governance and management of ICCAs. The output of regional networks of at least 10 ICCAs representing the country’s ethnographic regions are identified, documented, mapped, recognised and registered at UNEP/WCMC should be clearly described;
Develops project monitoring and evaluation system for the MSP including the relevant tracking tools for biodiversity, set of indicators, baselines and targets. This will include the establishment of the baselines of indicators.
Further describe and cost the programmatic baseline projects as discussed in the PIF; analyse weaknesses and gaps in these, and identify opportunities for joint action/identification for co-financing. This will among others include:
Describe in detail the work that has been undertaken under NewCAPP, in particular the establishment of the seven pilot ICCs; the advocacy work resulting in significant acceptance of ICCA among ICC leaders.
Describe in detail the work undertaken by Foundation for Philippine Environment (FPE), the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF), the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), GIZ Assisted Protected Area Management Enhancement, other NGOs e.g. PAFID and AnthroWatch and other UNDP supported projects related to ICCAs.
Addresses specific technical issues and questions raised by the GEF Sec; Council members and STAP, including the following specific comments: “The PIF mainly describes the current situation and does not explain clearly what the project will do and how it will do it. It will be important to develop the components at the next stage” [GEFSEC] “Socio-economic benefits to be added” [GEFSEC]; “A map will be helpful depicting the existing and planned ICCAs” [GEFSEC];
Completes the annexes required in the Project Document/CEO Endorsement;
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;
Integrates and consolidates the inputs of the Policy and Institutional Expert and those gathered from consultations in the Project Documents and CEO Endorsement, when necessary and relevant;
Designs the co-financing arrangement, 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;
Facilitates national consultations or workshops for the development of the Project.

Competencies

Corporate 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.

Functional and technical competencies

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 in human ecology, community development, anthropology, or environment and natural resource management, and/or any related courses.

Experience:

At least 5 years proven expertise/knowledge in areas of development specifically in: (1) Project Development and Formulation; (2) Monitoring and Evaluation; (3) Biodiversity Management; (4) Gender mainstreaming in biodiversity management; (5) ICCAs and (6) Global environmental issues
Familiarity and up-to-date with national and local programs, projects and initiatives on biodiversity management or indigenous peoples’ empowerment;
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.