Background

This project is the first upscaling initiative by the Government of Samoa to ensure land degradation issues across all level of society are well addressed through the integration of sustainable landscape management into planning framework and actions across multi-sectoral arrangements in order to achieve the Government of Samoa’s long-term goal:

“Samoa’s productive landscapes are protected and sustainably managed to mitigate land degradation and to increase soil carbon sequestration so as to contribute to poverty alleviation and mitigation and adaptation to climate change impacts, as well as to contribute to global environmental benefits by overcoming barriers to integrated sustainable land management.”

The primary objective of this project is to strengthen local capacities, incentives and actions for integrated landscape management in order to reduce land degradation and greenhouse gas emissions and promote nature conservation whilst enhancing sustainable local livelihoods.

In order to achieve this objective the project will support local household and wider community actions to reduce pressures on natural resources from competing land uses in the wider landscape.

The project has two outcomes and four outputs:

• Outcome 1:  Communities and farmers are able to undertake and benefit from integrated land and water management on their traditionally owned land;
• Output 1.1: Landowners engaged in farming in the targeted communities increase village land area under Sustainable Land Management practices;
• Output 1.2: Community leaders in targeted villages endorse participatory action plans and engage in sustainable land management practices on village land;
• Outcome 2: Strengthened national enabling environment to promote integrated landscape management though local households and communities;
• Output 2.1: National agencies involved in land use activities are able to effectively coordinate field interventions using a multi-sectoral approach;
• Output 2.2: Policy makers and key stakeholders have an increased knowledge of Sustainable Land Management through services and training.

On behalf of the Government of Samoa and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, UNDP is now recruiting an expert to contribute to both Outcomes: a GIS Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist.

Duties and Responsibilities

A part of the Inception Phase for the project was specifically dedicated to a review of the Strategic Results Framework, its indicators, the baseline and the targets this project is to achieve in a 5-year period.  The Inception Phase highlighted that both baseline and target data in the project document are based on outdated estimates from 2004 work on forest and land use in Samoa. The JICS Forest Preservation Project completed in 2014, has updated spatial information on changes in land use cover and deforestation, forest mapping and inventory as well as a first detailed assessment of carbon-biomass for different land cover in Samoa corresponding to 8,814,724 ton for Upolu island and 36,921,502 ton for Savaii island (these measurements include above-ground tree biomass, litter and soil carbon). These valuable new forest and land use data, maps and databases, together with recent climate change impact on forest ecosystems data produced from the ICCRIFS project, are contained in the SamFRIS data system under the custody of the Forestry Division. These can now be layered on the project geographical priority areas for more accurate assessment of avoided GHG emissions through project activities, as well as mapping village land management plans and mapping key biodiversity areas land cover for targeted surveys and SLM activities.

In this context, the GIS consultant’s role in the project will be three-fold. The consultant will first assess, review and update baseline and targets of the Strategic Results Framework of the project using most recent GIS maps of land cover data produced as part of the JICS project and then develop the full monitoring framework for the project.  He will then assist the project team in close collaboration with the AF project and their review of CIM plans, in developing the template for village land management plans and maps to be developed for coordinating SLM activities on the ground. Finally, he will assist the project team in mapping existing ecological and biodiversity data for the planning, monitoring and reporting on four key biodiversity areas targeted by the project for baseline ecological surveys and management plans. This work will be conducted in close collaboration with the Adaptation Fund experts at PUMA responsible for the development of the new LIDAR mapping system being introduce in Samoa.

Tasks

The GIS Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will work in close collaboration with the project and MNRE divisions technical staff and will carry the following tasks:

• Assess, review and update indicators, baseline, targets and means of verification of the Strategic Results Framework of the project using most recent GIS maps of land cover and carbon-biomass data produced as part of the JICS project, but also from recent land information data available from other Divisions and Ministries, when appropriate;
• Develop the full monitoring framework for the project including planning and monitoring tools, means of verification, reporting tools needed for the project regular and accurate monitoring and reporting on these revised project key indicators;
• Liaise with MAF and provide a thorough review and update of the GIS soil suitability component to selected crops under the ICCRAHSS project and make recommendation taking into consideration any lesson learnt to assist with formulation of village sustainable development plans and planning for sustainable land management practices at the village and community level.

Provide capacity-building and training of Land Management Division and project staff in the use:

• geographical sites by land cover, critical landscapes, soils, land degradation and land tenure;
• Report on existing ecological information and key data gaps for further ecological survey effort for the four key biodiversity areas covered by the project;
• Summary maps showing ecological data availability and data gaps by theme (taxonomic group) and by geographical area;
• Updated SamFRIS with user-friendly interfaces incorporating monitoring tools on Sustainable Land management indicators;
• User manual for the monitoring and assessment, analysis and mapping of project indicators results;
• Capacity-building workshop and training for Land Management Division, Forestry Division and other relevant MNRE divisions staff in the use of SamFRIS and other monitoring tools developed by the specialist during this assignment.

Competencies

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Good inter-personal and teamwork skills, networking aptitude, ability to work in multicultural environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A post-graduate degree in natural resource management, sustainable land management or other related disciplines, with specialised GIS training.

Experience:

• At least 10 Years experience in data base, GIS system management and GIS mapping, as well as experience in natural resources management, land management or conservation planning information systems;
• Extensive knowledge of SamFRIS and/or other land use data information systems used in the Pacific region would be an advantage;
• Fluent in the use of both MapInfo and ArcInfo GIS softwares;
• Demonstrated experience in capacity-building and training of GIS tools to a variety of end-users;
• Proven ability to work in a team and facilitate work of other experts in the field;

Language:

• Fluency in English (oral and written) is a requirement.