UNDP Jobs - 48947- Specialist for Biodiversity/Protected Areas and Su

Specialist for Biodiversity/Protected Areas and Sustainable Land Management

Location :

Banjul, GAMBIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2014

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

50 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

50 working days

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 Government of The Gambia has sought UNDP support to implement the project preparation grant for the UNDP-GEF medium-sized project “Gambia Protected Areas Network and Community Livelihood Project”. The project has two components: 1) Strengthen national PA network planning and PA management effectiveness in a cluster of priority PAs, and 2) Improve land and natural resource management in and around the targeted cluster of priority PAs. The objective is to expand and strengthen the management of priority protected areas in The Gambia, including through enhanced community-based natural resource management – and by integrating environmental sustainability and biodiversity considerations into agricultural projects and activities.

The expected outcomes of this project are, in the targeted cluster of priority PAs – Jokadou National Park (JNP, 15,028 ha), Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve (BBWR, 22,000 ha), Kiang West National Park (KWNP, 11,526 ha): 1.1 Gazettement of a c. 5,000 ha expansion of JNP to connect to BBWR, and of a c. 10,000 ha expansion of KWNP; 1.2 Enhanced management effectiveness in both existing and added PA areas; (a) increase in METT scores and (b) quantitative and qualitative reduction of threats (incidence of wood extraction, charcoal making, harvesting of mangroves, land conversion, wild fires, and wildlife poaching); 2.1 Improved forest cover, habitat integrity and connectivity across the targeted PA cluster and surrounding landscapes (c. 60,000 ha), through: (a) a reduction of unsustainable wood/ mangrove extraction; (b) a reduction of incidence and severity of wild and forest fires; (c) a reduction in the conversion of natural ecosystems for shifting cultivation; and establishment of sustainable land and natural resource management regimes in the targeted landscape; 2.2. Enhanced diversity, sustainability and reliability of community livelihoods.

The Project Identification Form (PIF) of this Medium Size Project (MSP) was approved by the GEF on 13 March 2014. The UNDP Country Office (CO) in Gambia is seeking the services of an international consultant specialist in the area of biodiversity/Protected Areas and Sustainable Land Management to lead the implementation of the Project Preparation Grant (PPG).

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Specialist for Biodiversity/Protected Areas and Sustainable Land Management (Team Leader) will be responsible for the timely development of the UNDP Project Document and the GEF-CEO Endorsement Request package for submission to the GEF. He/She will work closely with UNDP and government specialists and other key stakeholders at the country level as well as with the UNDP-GEF regional staff providing technical and administrative support to this project.

Under the above overall responsibilities and with support from a team of national PPG consultants, the tasks of the International Specialist/Team Leader are expected to include, but may not be limited to:

Regular exchanges with the UNDP-GEF RTA, UNDP CO and Government Partners on the development and finalization of the PRODOC and CEO Endorsement Request package;
Leading and guiding the team of national PPG consultants, controlling quality and providing technical clearance of inputs and outputs;
Helping scope PPG activities & work plan;
Conducting a stakeholder analysis;
Developing and implementing a plan and activities for stakeholder participation during the PPG;
Participating in the PPG inception workshop and leading the preparation of the PPG inception report;
Participating in the PRODOC validation workshop;
Facilitating meetings that will lead to the mobilisation of co-financing commitments for the project;
Desktop studies, field-based research and stakeholder consultations, for further developing the conservation and sustainable development situation analysis, focusing primarily but not exclusively on the targeted landscapes with its existing and proposed PAs and the related communities and their livelihoods. This will include inter alia: (i) status in the targeted landscape of productive ecosystems, natural habitats and species, with a focus on globally threatened species mentioned in the PIF; (ii) PA ecological gap analysis considering the spatial distribution, and conservation status of permanent reserved forests and PAs more widely in the country and related biodiversity conservation opportunities; (iii) an analysis of threats to biodiversity in the targeted landscape; (iv) analysis of policy, social, regulatory, socio economic, institutional, technical and knowledge barriers to effective landscape management; (v) review of suitability and viability of tentatively proposed new PA areas/boundaries/corridors; (vi) review of existing PA financing flows, PA staffing and capacity, PA infrastructures, decision-making and management structures, institutional frameworks, management plans; (vii) development context (key business sectors, socio-economic development, political environment, economic development plans/projects/programmes) and its current and future impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services in the landscapes; (viii) SWOT of livelihood (especially agricultural) activities;
Developing a plan and activities for stakeholder participation/ engagement during the actual MSP implementation: (i) identify community stakeholders and their responsibilities pertaining to land, forest and natural resource management in target PAs and surrounding landscapes; (ii) assess socioeconomic situations surrounding the target PAs; (iii) take stock of past and ongoing community-based natural resources and PA co-management activities and compile lessons learned for use in project development; (iv) compile information on the target communities under the project and identify opportunities for livelihood project intervention; (v) assess communities’ roles in the project implementation and their capacity needs for fulfilling the roles through extensive consultation process; (vi) identify opportunities for alternative livelihood/livelihood enhancement interventions in target landscapes and develop a concrete plan for project support; (vii) ensure local communities’ understanding and consent to the project and their full participation in project development and implementation; (iix) conduct a gender assessment reviewing the role of both females and males in the project development and implementation and the potential impacts of the project on each gender group;
Researching and elaborating appropriate project interventions, building on the PIF, such as on: (i) PA management measures for the project, such as on designation, demarcation, management planning and zoning, partnerships, capacity building, ecosystem restoration and financing, considering new institutional models for demonstration in the target PAs; (ii) improvements at the PA network level and strengthening and rationalising institutional arrangements; (iii) appropriate and potentially innovative INRM/SLM measures and activities (alongside sustainable livelihood initiatives), to be piloted/adopted by the communities surrounding the targeted PAs, and to be integrated into agricultural development planning and endeavours in the Gambia more widely;
Validating and further elaborating on the problem, baseline investment and barrier analyses in the PIF;
Assessing and defining the technical feasibility, additionality, incrementality and cost-effectiveness of the project’s interventions;
Helping determine the project’s system boundaries and scope;
Further developing the project strategic framework, most notably the monitoring and evaluation framework including suitable impact indicators and the related baselines and targets;
Completing/updating the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tools (METT) for each of the targeted PAs in close consultation with the executing agencies and stakeholders;
Preparing a budget and work plan for the project, indicating the inputs needed (consultants, contractual services, travel, etc.) in the applicable format;
Assessing the risks and sustainability of project interventions, and recommending measures for mitigating these risks and ensuring sustainability;
Further aligning the project with relevant national policy documents;
Addressing the opportunities/risks identified in the GEF STAP Review;
Defining institutional & implementation arrangements;
Stimulating partnerships and helping to confirm the necessary project co-financing via support letters.

Competencies

Excellent technical, analytical and editing skills, allowing effective communication in English of complex technical information;
Strong strategic planning, results-based management and reporting capabilities;
Excellent team player with good interpersonal skills;
Ability to manage workload with minimum supervision;
Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
Ability to accommodate additional demands at short notice,
Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master's degree (or preferably PhD) in a field relevant to biodiversity conservation (biology, ecology, natural resources management, socio-economy, rural development, etc.) with professional specialization in PA management and/or Integrated Natural Resource Management and/or Sustainable Land/Ecosystem Management.

Experience:

Relevant to extensive knowledge of PA management issues (minimum of 5 years), including legal and policy frameworks, PA management effectiveness (including community involvement, sustainable livelihood and capacity issues), PA planning (including business planning) and ecological monitoring systems for PAs;
Relevant to extensive knowledge of INRM/SLM issues and viable options;
Previous experience with GEF project development is a pre-requisite;
Experience in policy development processes associated with environment, biodiversity, land degradation and sustainable development an asset;
Experience in working and collaborating with governments an asset.

Language:

Excellent knowledge of English including writing and communication skills.