UNDP Jobs - 49464- International Consultant

International Consultant

Location :

Bissau, GUINEA-BISSAU

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

15-Sep-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

26 days

Languages Required :

English French Portuguese

Expected Duration of Assignment :

26 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

Guinea-Bissau is a small country wedged between the sub-Saharan arid ecosystems and the Guinean moist forest ecoregion. The resulting combination creates majestic terrestrial landscapes and a patchy mosaic of dense and open forests, gallery forests and woodland savannah that are rich in globally significant plant and animal life and a refuge for many migratory species that move across the West-African savannahs. The forest belt region of Guinea-Bissau (south and southwest) contains several and rare and threatened species of birds, higher plants, reptiles and mammals, including elephants (Loxodonta africana), large ungulates such as the buffalo (Syncerus manus), hippopotamus (Hyppopotamus amphibius) and the eland (Taurotragus derbianus). Dozens of families of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) inhabit that area and are poorly studies. These outstanding terrestrial ecosystems have until now remained unprotected. In turn, protection of the coastal and marine region of western Guinea-Bissau –also extremely rich in biodiversity – has received for the past decade the undisputed attention of both donors and Government in their effort to conserve the country’s natural endowment. Six marine and coastal parks have been created and are being effectively managed. They cover almost 15% of the country’s territory.

This GEF-UNDP project proposes to correct this imbalance in conservation priorities with respect to ecosystem representation. It will focus on the conservation of the Dulombi-Boé-Tchetche (DBT) Complex of protected areas in the forest belt region of Guinea-Bissau. The area large remnants of forest and savannah habitat and cover 319,000 hectares of terrestrial ecosystems under increased threat.

Through this project, the Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Areas (IBAP), which has the broad responsibility for biodiversity conservation in Guinea-Bissau, intends to expand the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP) onto the southeastern forest belt region and protect an additional 8.8% of the country territory seeking the following results:

(i) Better ecosystem representation in the SNAP;
(ii) Enhanced ecological connectivity;
(iii) The enabling of trans-frontier migration of large mammals and threatened and endangered species (including elephants); and
(iv) Increased resilience of the Complex overall to the effects of climate change and desertification process.

Five new protected areas will be created and managed: Dulombi National Park with 98,951 ha; Boé National Park with 95,280 ha; Tchetche Wildlife Corridor with 33,604 ha; Cuntabane-Quebo Wildlife Corridor with 55,003 ha; and Salifo Wildlife Corridor with 36,162 ha. In this unique arrangement of protected areas with core parks and connecting wildlife corridors, the DBT Complex, rural communities, grass root organizations and local NGOs will share responsibilities for achieving conservation objectives, while obtaining concrete benefits from sustainable use of natural resources through ecotourism, sustainable farming and animal husbandry, and the production of ecosystem services. Engaged communities with their livelihood and cultural survival at stake will become strategic partners in participatory conservation management arrangements, increase cost effectiveness and provide a living laboratory of harmonic coexistence of humans and biodiversity. This project is part of the GEF’s Strategic Programme for West Africa (SPWA), Sub-component on Biodiversity. Despite being one of the poorest nations on Earth, the Guinea-Bissau is showing great courage in conservation and expects through this project to protect almost a quarter of its territory, preserve globally important biodiversity, maintain regionally critical migratory routes, protect emblematic species such as the western chimpanzee and the African elephant and give its people viable options for sustainable development.

The project’s goal is to conserve globally significant biodiversity in Guinea-Bissau’s forest belt region by creating and strengthening protected areas. The project objective is to establish and operationalize terrestrial PAs in the Dulombi-Boé-Tchetche (DBT) complex and thereby significantly expand and strengthen Guinea-Bissau’s PA system.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project design:

Review the problem addressed by the project and the underlying assumptions. Review the effect of any incorrect assumptions or changes to the context to achieving the project results as outlined in the Project Document;
Review the relevance of the project strategy and assess whether it provides the most effective route towards expected/intended results. Were lessons from other relevant projects properly incorporated into the project design?
Review how the project addresses country priorities. Review country ownership. Was the project concept in line with the national sector development priorities and plans of the country (or of participating countries in the case of multi-country projects)?
Review decision-making processes: were perspectives of those who would be affected by project decisions, those who could affect the outcomes, and those who could contribute information or other resources to the process, taken into account during project design processes?
Review the extent to which relevant gender issues were raised in the project design. See Annex 9 of Guidance For Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects for further guidelines;
If there are major areas of concern, recommend areas for improvement.

Results Framework/Logframe:

Undertake a critical analysis of the project’s logframe indicators and targets, assess how “SMART” the midterm and end-of-project targets are (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound), and suggest specific amendments/revisions to the targets and indicators as necessary;
Are the project’s objectives and outcomes or components clear, practical, and feasible within its time frame?
Examine if progress so far has led to, or could in the future catalyse beneficial development effects (i.e. income generation, gender equality and women’s empowerment, improved governance etc...) that should be included in the project results framework and monitored on an annual basis;
Ensure broader development and gender aspects of the project are being monitored effectively;
Develop and recommend SMART ‘development’ indicators, including sex-disaggregated indicators and indicators that capture development benefits.
Draft related parts of the evaluation report; and finalize the whole evaluation report in French/English and submit it to UNDP Guinea-Bissau.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Competence in adaptive management, as applied to conversation or natural resource management;
Demonstrated understanding of issues related to gender and Biodiversity;
Knowledge of gender sensitive evaluation and analysis.
Excellent communication skills;
Demonstrable analytical skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A Master’s Degree in development studies, economics, environment or fields related to biodiversity.

Experience:

A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience;
Substantive experience in evaluating similar projects, preferably those involving UNDP/GEF or other United Nations development agencies or major donors;
Highly knowledgeable of participatory monitoring and evaluation processes, and experience in evaluation of technical assistance projects with major donor agencies;
Ability and experience to lead multi-disciplinary and national teams, and deliver quality reports within the given time;
Familiarity with Guinea-Bissau or other countries in West Africa is an asset; and Excellent in human relations, coordination, planning and team work.
Recent experience with result-based management evaluation methodologies;
Experience applying SMART indicators and reconstructing or validating baseline scenarios;
Experience working with the GEF or GEF-evaluations;
Experience working in West Africa;
Work experience in relevant technical areas for at least 10 years;
Project evaluation/review experiences within United Nations system will be considered an asset.

Language:

Excellent French and English writing and communication skills;
Kknowledge of Portuguese will be an asset.