UNDP Jobs - 56370- Consultant to Prepare an Aligned National Action P

Consultant to Prepare an Aligned National Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation

Location :

Home-based, with travel to Georgetown, GUYANA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Jun-2015

Application Deadline :

29-May-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Two months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Twenty-five 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

This consultancy is undertaken under a Project entitled “Support the Alignment of Guyana’s National Action Plan to the UNCCD’s 10-Year (2008-2018) Strategic Plan”.

The Project addresses Guyana’s need to continue to fulfill its obligations under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), with particular focus on Decision 3 of the UNCCD COP 8 (Paragraph 5-“Urges affected developing country Parties, and any other affected country Party in the framework of its Regional Implementation Annex, to align their action programmes and other relevant implementation activities related to the Convention with The Strategy, inter alia, by addressing the outcomes under the five operational objectives”).

Guyana has been a Party to the UNCCD since September 24, 1997. The Project is a significant contribution to Guyana’s efforts towards implementing the UNCCD 10-Year Strategic Plan (2008-2018) at the national level. The Project builds on the current status and achievements of Guyana with respect to planning to align the National Action Plan and UNCCD Reporting. The Project aims to integrate Guyana’s obligations under the UNCCD into its national development and sectoral planning frameworks through a renewed and participative National Action Plan framework and strategizing process. This process is expected to produce measurable targets to prevent and reduce the impacts of land degradation and droughts, and to promote Sustainable Land Management.

The Project will achieve its objective through the implementation of two components whose activities are thoroughly described in the GEF approved proposal for Land Degradation (LD) Enabling Activity (EA). These are: (1) Alignment of the National Action Plan (2006) to fully integrate new aspects of the UNCCD’s 10-Year Strategy (2008-2018) and (2) Undertaking UNCCD Reporting and Review process.

The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) is the Government institution responsible for the implementation of the Project and will act as the National Implementation Partner in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and its Sectoral Agencies, and other Governmental and Non-Governmental Organisations. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Agency for the Project and accountable to the GEF for the use of funds.

The Need for an Aligned National Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation

The project to “Support the Alignment of Guyana’s National Action Plan to the UNCCD’s Ten Year (2008-2018) Strategic Plan” is intended to integrate the country’s obligations to the UNCCD into its national development and sectoral planning frameworks.

The Aligned National Action Plan (NAP) will contribute to Guyana’s efforts towards implementing the UNCCD 10-Year Strategic Plan (2008-2018) at the national level. This process is expected to produce measurable targets for Sustainable Land Management. To support this work, four (4) consultancies have been completed and will provide information for the Outline of the Draft Aligned NAP: a National Stocktaking Exercise; a consultancy to develop a Drought Early Warning Protocol; a consultancy to develop an Integrated Financial Strategy and Investment Framework; and a consultancy on policy mainstreaming.

A local Database Expert is also currently working on the design of a database for land degradation information, and will prepare standard forms for data collection and monitoring, and train relevant stakeholders on the use, interpretation and analysis of data, particularly for national reporting and updating UNCCD reports.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives:

To conduct stakeholder consultations on the UNCCD reporting process;
To prepare an aligned NAP.

The Key Tasks of the Consultancy are as follows:

Discuss and agree on the final set of tasks, budget and a workplan with the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys within one week of award of the Contract;
Conduct stakeholder consultations on the UNCCD reporting process, using data collected in earlier phases of the project;
Prepare a draft Aligned NAP in line with the UNCCD’s 10-Year (2008-2018) Strategy, with an implementation plan, strategies for building cross-sectoral institutional mechanisms, and monitoring framework;
Conduct a consultation and validation workshop on the draft Aligned NAP;
Prepare a compendium of best practices to combat land degradation and promote sustainable land management linking to the national developmental priorities in Guyana;
Review the capacities available and capacities needed to support the institutions for long term monitoring and data management, providing recommendations for the development of necessary capacities;
Finalize and submit all Reports based on comments/feedback from Stakeholders and the Implementing Agencies.

Information on Working Arrangements:

Estimated level of effort: 25 working days;
The Consultant will work under the technical guidance and supervision of the Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, and will report and liaise with the Project Staff for all administrative and logistical arrangements;
All deliverables must be submitted in Microsoft Word, in soft copy, to facilitate review and dissemination at consultations;
Duration of mission to Guyana: 12 days.

Competencies

Functional Competencies

Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
Proven ability to collect, verify and analyze information;
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, in order to communicate complex, technical information to both technical and general audiences;
Ability to present research with a high degree of accuracy and technical quality in Reports and Presentation;
Knowledge and understanding of the relevant UN Convention;
Knowledge of the work of UNCCD and the National Focal Point Agency, and functions of other stakeholders.

Core Competencies

Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
Positive, constructive attitude to work.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Advanced Degree (MSc or higher) in the area of Environmental Science/ Natural Resource Management and/or Public Policy.

Experience

Minimum 5 years of professional experience in the development of national and regional policies, action plans, strategic documents, and other planning documents;
Previous experience in the development of Aligned National Action Plans, and previous experience with the UNCCD, land degradation and sustainable land management will be considered an asset.

Language

Fluency in written and spoken English.

Documentation to be submitted:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

Personal CV in P11 template, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
Technical proposal, including a) a brief description of why you are the most suitable for the assignment; and b) a methodology on how you will approach and complete the assignment;
Financial proposal, Consultant must send a financial proposal based on the breakdown of the all-inclusive amount.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

UNDP P11 Form can be downloaded from: http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.

Financial proposal:

The Contract will be based on lump sum payment;
Consultant must send a financial proposal based on the breakdown of the all-inclusive amount.

The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TORs, including professional fee, travel costs, DSA and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be a fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration.

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.