Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, working in 177 countries and territories. In Timor-Leste, UNDP provides technical advice and assistance to build strong and capable public institutions at national and sub-national levels in justice, parliament, human rights, anti-corruption, police, economic development, environmental management and disaster risk management that bring development, peace and justice to the population and reach out to the poor and vulnerable sections of society.

Mangroves occupy only a small area of Timor Leste when compared with neighboring countries, such as Indonesia and Australia. This limited coverage of mangrove areas – is estimated to be declining at an approximate loss of 80 percent since 1940 (across Timor Leste), with 40 percent of this loss taking place in the 2000 – 2008 period alone1. Mangrove felling for firewood and building material is high, and revenue from selling the wood provides income to a number of people with limited livelihoods or land. Clearing the coastline from the mangrove stands has resulted in greater exposure to sea surges, inundation, erosion and accretion processes. The limited expanse of mangroves makes their protection of particular value as their regeneration capacity is restricted to specific coastal locations. Although covering limited strips of coastal area and estuary, mangroves provide unique coastal protection function against rising sea levels as well as the storm surges by increasing overall sedimentation levels and by slowing the flow of water and reducing surface waves. Many people rely on mangroves for subsistence. They provide fish nurseries, foster juvenile fish (i.e. snapper, jack and barracuda species) and crustaceans; thereby fostering important sources of protein intake for coastal communities as well as livelihood sources, and regenerate fish supplies for commercial fishing. Similarly, loss of coastal wetlands disrupts the hydrology that supports mangrove systems, that also protects coastal areas from water inundation by slowing and filtrating flows. Moreover, coastal natural ponds, wetlands and marches act as important storm and flood water storage facilities. They also buffer seawater intrusion into the aquifers. Aquifers themselves protect against salt-water intrusion provided that water tables are kept at appropriate levels. Long-term resilience of coastal areas thereby demands comprehensive approaches that examine and address risk acceleration factors at a broader coastal landscape and catchment area. Improved watershed management upstream, reforestation and restoration of degraded lands will reduce excessive sediment loads to downstream coastal waterways, and areas that cause siltation of natural pond, mud-march and wetland systems, as well as in some places contributing to coastal accretion. Therefore, coherent plans for the restoration and protection of such natural systems within a broader landscape are essential for coastal resilience. Mangrove and wetland protection and restoration needs to be addressed from the National level through to community level and livelihood practices.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Conduct a baseline survey on:
    • women’s participation in sub-national development planning processes (as a community member), specifically on women’s role and level of participation in formulating suco (village) plans;
    • women’s participation in livelihood activities (as an economic agent within the household or society); women specific livelihood activities (e.g. salt production and others);
    • women’s participation and role in Tara Bandu land use agreements in relation to women’s participation and role in stewarding natural resources, specifically mangrove protection and management, and;
    • women-specific coastal adaptation needs and the types of women led livelihood activities with a high potential of delivering adaptation benefits.
  • Analyze among the project development team and with government partners as to what specific activities can be undertaken in the project to minimize differentiated impacts of climate change on women.
  • Review the UNDP Environmental and Social Screening Process Guideline and identify specific ways to ensure that women’s views and concerns are addressed and reflected in project activities.
  • Draft a section on Gender Strategy of the Project Document and contribute inputs with regards to specific activities that have gender-focus.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

  • Technical expertise in gender considerations in climate change and/or disaster management solutions;
  • Ability to effectively communicate to a broader audience, complex, technical information;
  • Demonstrated track record of relevant experience in the mentioned area (publications, project proposals, reports);
  • Good knowledge of results based management (RBM), and;
  • Strong knowledge of climate change/environment issues and how they relate to gender.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • An advanced degree in gender and/or gender-responsive approaches for livelihood development.

Experience:

  • 5-10 years of experience in project design with extensive knowledge of gender responsive approaches in natural resource management, sustainable livelihoods, climate change and/or disaster management;
  • Extensive knowledge of Timor-Leste or other countries in Asia, demonstrated by previous experience and involvement in the country/region;
  • Evidence of development and/or implementation of specific gender related activities;
  • Evidence of development and/or implementation of specific gender related activities, and;
  • Strong knowledge of climate change/environment issues and how they relate to gender.

Language:

  • Proficiency in English is required, especially writing.

Proposed Methodology: