UNDP Jobs - 50812- National Consultant on Natural Resource Management

National Consultant on Natural Resource Management/ Biodiversity and Land Management

Location :

Sana'a, YEMEN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

28-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

15 working days during a period of two 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

As an LDC, Yemen experiences numerous development challenges which include high population growth rate and poverty, inadequate access to basic social services, limited infrastructure, high illiteracy rate, low per capita income, slow economic growth, and environmental degradation. Poverty in Yemen is also more pronounced in rural areas. Rural areas have 72.6 percent of the total population, it accounts for 84 percent of the poor. Yemen is characterized by a rich variety of natural habitats, species and genetic diversity, including many endemic species. These resources are of major economic importance because of their potential for tourism and the wildlife and fisheries they support. Yemen's coastal and marine ecosystems which include extensive mangroves, coral reefs, and sea grass areas are of major economic importance for fisheries and tourism. However, in recent decades human activity has transformed the landscape and resulted in over-exploited biological resources, resulting in the deterioration of many habitats, land degradation which jeopardizes livelihood sustainability of the vulnerable communities especially the poor.

Under current economic growth patterns, environmental quality is fast deteriorating, as dramatized by the increased occurrence of environmental problems. Specifically, the gains of economic growth are being diminished, or even negated, by numerous factors including: deforestation; pervasive coral reef destruction; massive pesticide poisonings; degradation and erosion of agricultural lands; pollutant intrusion into aquifers; irresponsible tourism activities; marsh and mangrove destruction; loss of forest and green cover associated with massive urbanization; industrial pollution; continued reliance on non-renewable energy sources; destructive fishing methods; and indiscriminate oil exploration and exploitation.

Biodiversity is an important issue that does not only refer to the environmental challenges that affect natural resources and its life; it affects also the quality of life, especially the vulnerable groups such as the poor, women and children. Since the majority of the Yemen population are rural dwellers whose main livelihoods depends on access to natural resources, poverty will tend to rise when biodiversity declines and vice versa. As such, any efforts to reduce poverty in Yemen, must constantly come accompanied by proper biodiversity conservation and land management measures.

Main threats in Yemen are due to land resources degradation in various forms, over hunting and overexploitation. In general, Yemen vegetation is being drastically reduced by rapid degradation of the environment, a direct result of desertification and droughts. These phenomena have increased drastically in Yemen and threaten about 90 percent of the land and can be attributed to the following: cultivation and poor agricultural practices; wood cutting for firewood, timber and charcoal; over-grazing; soil salinity; wind erosion and sand dune encroachment; and construction expansion in cities and villages. On the other hand, threats to terrestrial fauna in Yemen are also common and are mainly to: destruction, degradation and loss of habitats; over-hunting and proliferation of firearms; and road construction opening up avenues into the hinterland. Climate change is also emerging as an issue posing new threats to biodiversity conservations in Yemen.

The project proposal is contribute to support the Government of Yemen addressing the aforementioned issues and specially the following national biodiversity and land degradation priorities:

Establishment of new protected areas;
establishment of national protected area network;
Sustainability of key protected areas;
Control of Invasive Alien Species (IAS);
Sustainable land management;
Promotion of livelihood approaches in Natural Resource Management (NRM).

Duties and Responsibilities

The national consultation will assume responsibilities in in close collaboration with the international consulting firm:

Collect relevant data and information to establish baseline on the situation of biodiversity and land degradation in Yemen, including existing natural resources management practices and collate information that could serve as a baseline project for the GEF investment;
Prepare problem, root cause and barrier analysis for water harvesting development in Yemen at a scale that is necessary to address climate change induced water shortages;
Support the international consulting firm to prepare E&SS screening report;
Support the international consulting firm to prepare project proposal;
Identify the key stakeholders to be involved in the formulation and implementation of the project;
Conduct national stakeholder consultations, local donors and potential implementing agencies on national priorities in biodiversity conservation and land degradation;
Review relevant documents (reports, plans, strategies and action plans, studies/assessments) in Yemen related to biodiversity conservation and land degradation;
Analyze the problem tree and sketching of the intervention strategy;
Preliminary identification of key areas for piloting and implementation.

Deliverables

Baseline report for 2 working days;
Stakeholder matrix for 2 working days;
Problem analysis and proposed policy measure matrix for 2 working days;
Field work consultation report for 5 working days;
Support in preparation, finalization of the E&SS for 2 working days;
Support in preparation, finalization of the PIF for 2 working days.

Competencies

Functional Competencies

Excellent inter-personal and team-work skills, with a demonstrated ability and commitment to knowledge sharing, collaborative work, and ability to contribute innovative solutions to achieve common aims;
Ability to work under tight deadlines;
Strong analytical skills;
Good drafting, writing, and communications skills (oral and written), including previous experience in preparing similar assignments;

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Ability/disposition to work as part of a team.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Postgraduate or other advanced university degree related to environmental management, biodiversity conservation, land management or relevant disciplines.

Experience:

At least five (5) years of relevant experience in the field of biodiversity and land management in Yemen;
Extensive conceptual and practical knowledge of UNDP/GEF systems and practices;
Demonstrated ability of analytical and report drafting work;
Demonstrated ability in stakeholder consultation;
Extensive experience analyzing data and preparing analytical reports.

Language:

Written and spoken proficiency in both Arabic and English.