UNDP Jobs - 49552- International Consultant International Biodiversit

International Consultant International Biodiversity and Protected Area Financing Expert

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 :

40 working days

Languages Required :

English French Portuguese

Expected Duration of Assignment :

8 weeks (40 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 Guinea Bissau has sought UNDP support to implement the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) for the UNDP-GEF full-sized project “Strengthening the financial and operational framework of the national PA system in Guinea-Bissau”. The project seeks to strengthen the financial sustainability and management effectiveness of the national PA system in Guinea-Bissau, and has two components: 1) Strengthening the financial framework of the national PA system, and 2) PA and buffer zone management in Cantanhez National Park. The expected outcomes of this FSP are:

1.1 Initial capitalisation of the endowment of the BioGuinea Foundation (FBG) with $8,600,000, increasing sustainability of PA system and consolidating terrestrial PAs of Guinea Bissau;

2.1 Collaborative cost-effective management of Cantanhez NP and related buffer zones and forest areas improving management effectiveness at least 50% over baseline levels;

2.2 Improved management effectiveness reduces threats as measured by: the reduction in the illegal utilisation of woody vegetation and deforestation rates, and the recorded levels of poaching;

2.3 Collectively this reduces the loss of critically threatened W-African forest habitats across c. 106,000 ha of PAs and surrounding zones, and delivers improved protection to globally significant species and other key biodiversity resources in the forest belt biome;

2.4 Benefits to local communities.

The Project Identification Form (PIF) of this Full Sized Project (FSP) was approved by the GEF Council on 20 June 2013. In collaboration with the Government and most notably the Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Areas (IBAP), the UNDP Country Office (CO) in Guinea Bissau is seeking the services of an international expert consultant in the area of Biodiversity and Protected Area Financing to support the implementation of the Project Preparation Grant (PPG).

This International Biodiversity and Protected Area Financing Expert will be part of a team of consultants to work closely with, and under the overall guidance of, the UNDP Country Office, the UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor and the Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Areas of Guinea-Bissau.

In addition to the International Biodiversity and Protected Area Financing Expert, the team is expected to consist of:

An International Protected Area Management Expert (Team Leader), who will have considerable international experience in PA Management and who will lead the implementation of the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) and the team of PPG consultants;
A National Consultant: Project Development, with experience in the development and implementation of environmental and development projects, and responsible for coordination of national partners and country-specific information and operations;
A National Consultant: Biodiversity/Natural Resources, with experience in biodiversity, forestry and natural resources management in Guinea Bissau;

In addition to the International Biodiversity and Protected Area Financing Expert, the team is expected to consist of:

An International Protected Area Management Expert (Team Leader), who will have considerable international experience in PA Management and who will lead the implementation of the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) and the team of PPG consultants;
A National Consultant: Project Development, with experience in the development and implementation of environmental and development projects, and responsible for coordination of national partners and country-specific information and operations;
A National Consultant: Biodiversity/Natural Resources, with experience in biodiversity, forestry and natural resources management in Guinea Bissau.

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Biodiversity and Protected Area Financing Expert will be responsible for analysing the setup of the Fondation BioGuinee Conservation Trust Fund, for securing the co-financing tentatively committed by partners towards the project, and for the timely development, writing and completion of the sections in the UNDP Project Document and the GEF-CEO Endorsement Request package pertaining to biodiversity financing. He/She will work closely with the relevant key stakeholders on the development and finalization of the PRODOC and CEO Endorsement Request package, most notably seeking and participating in regular exchanges with the focal points and specialists from Government Partners, the UNDP Country Office and the UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor.

Under the above overall responsibilities and with support from UNDP, national partners and consultants, the tasks of the International Biodiversity and Protected Area Financing Expert are expected to include, but may not be limited to:

Component A: Technical review and Stakeholder Consultations:

Help scope PPG activities & work plan;
Participate in the PPG inception meeting bringing together the key stakeholders from government, partners and UNDP, as well as the team of PPG consultants to agree on processes, roles, quality assurance and any further specifications necessary. Depending on timelines and availability, this may involve participants participating online. Support the preparation of the PPG inception report.
With leading input from national consultants:
Contribute to a PPG and MSP stakeholder analysis (government, local communities, private sector, etc.) and defining their responsibilities pertaining to biodiversity/PA financing in the targeted PA and the surrounding landscape;
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;
Analyse barriers and adequacy of the proposed project solution in the area;
Contribute to raising awareness amongst key stakeholders about the project and securing their input to its design;
Complete/update the GEF PA System Financial Sustainability Scorecard;
Support the negotiation of partnerships with on-going projects funded by the World Bank, European Union and others, to align activities and resources; design implementation arrangements that potentiate synergies, as stated in the approved PIF;
Review the institutional setup of the Fondation BioGuinee as well as of recent progress in developing financing mechanisms and in capitalising the FBG endowment fund, considering most notably the potential of the sale of (REDD) carbon credits from Cantanhez NP;
Contribute to the validation and further elaboration of the problem, baseline investment and barrier analyses in the PIF, helping determine the project’s system boundaries and scope;
Contribute to a risk assessment involving an evaluation of the vulnerability of project implementation, with particular emphasis on governance and political instability; and addressing the opportunities/risks identified in the GEF STAP Review;
Help assess and address the opportunities/risks identified during the environmental and social pre-screening of the project proposal; this should early on establish whether a full environmental and social assessment is required (with particular emphasis on issues related to income generation and land access and tenure);
Building on the PIF and with leading input from national consultants, research and elaborate on appropriate project interventions related to biodiversity financing, assessing and defining their technical feasibility, additionality, incrementality and cost-effectiveness, and further develop the project strategic/results framework on matters pertaining to biodiversity financing, including suitable objective-level and outcome-level quantitative and qualitative SMART indicators and the related baselines and end-of-project targets, including socio-economic and sex disaggregated indicators;
Support the development of a detailed monitoring and evaluation (M&E) work plan, to include clear identification of responsibilities and accountabilities;
Address any further comments in the GEF SEC PIF Review Sheet and GEF STAP Review pertaining to biodiversity financing.

Component B: Institutional arrangements, co-financing investments and financial planning:

With leading support from national consultants, IBAP and UNDP, mobilise the co-financing committed from project partners (participating government institutions, bilateral development partners, multilateral development partners and NGOs) towards the FSP as stipulated in the PIF (or equivalent other ones) and ensure completion of the required official co-financing letters;
Provide support to the project team and partners in addressing the GEF STAP Review on its comment: “Failure of establishing and capitalizing this Trust Fund would place the whole project, and biodiversity conservation in Guinea Bissau, at risk. STAP recommends that the establishment and capitalization of the TF be given high priority during PPG”;
Stakeholder consultations during Component B: To ensure strong national ownership, involve key agencies in the development of the project’s financial strategy. Related stakeholder consultations will involve most notably personnel from IBAP and Fondation BioGuinee, as well as the presumed co-financiers, namely the World Bank, MAVA Foundation, the European Union, and the French Government.

Component C: Finalisation and Validation of Key Outputs:

Building on the above and in regular exchange with partners, contribute the sections pertaining to biodiversity finance to the PRODOC and Request for CEO Endorsement Package. The team of consultants will be required to obtain guidance by the UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor and UNDP Country Office on applicable formats and templates and ensure that his/her work is compliant with UNDP/GEF and UNDP CO requirements;
Help address any review comments pertaining to biodiversity finance received from UNDP-GEF management and/or the GEF Secretariat prior to or following the submission of PRODOC and GEF CEO Endorsement Request package.

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, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Skills in achieving results through persuading, influencing, & working with others.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree(s) in a field relevant to biodiversity conservation and/or environmental finance (biology, ecology, forestry, natural resources management, environmental science, rural development, economics, or any other relevant discipline)

Experience:

Three years of experience in environmental/biodiversity/PA financing sources and mechanisms, including most notably the setup and operationalisation of Conservation Trust Funds, as well as REDD financing and related safeguards;
Previous experience with GEF project development and related results-based management and logical frameworks is desirable but not essential;
Knowledge of environment and development issues in Guinea-Bissau or the wider region is an asset, as is working experience in the region;
Experience in working and collaborating with governments in developing countries and UN and other international agencies is an asset.

Language:

Excellent knowledge of English including writing and communication skills;
Working knowledge of Portuguese and/or French is highly desirable.