UNDP Jobs - 59123- National Protected Area Policy, Planning and Manag

National Protected Area Policy, Planning and Management Specialist

Location :

Yangon with travel to Nay Pyi Taw and Tanintharyi Region, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

(60) 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

UNDP Myanmar has been implementing UNDP Country Programme for 2013-2017 with the aim to promoting local governance, growth and sustainable development with the emphasis on rights-based, gender sensitive, inclusive and equity. This goal will be pursued through three complementary components; Local Governance, Environmental Governance and Disaster Resilience, and Democratic Governance.

Environmental Governance and Disaster Resilience Component of UNDP focuses on strengthening capacities at local, regional and national level to manage and utilize natural resources in a sustainable way, and to enhance resilience and adaptive capacity to long-term climate change including variability impacts and to reduce the associated risk of natural disasters.

UNDP has been closely working with Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry (MoECAF) to improve environmental governance in Myanmar. UNDP developed the Project Identification Form (PIF) on Ridge to Reef: Integrated Protected Area Land and Seascape Management in Tanintharyi” with the guidance of MOECAF and in consultations with the relevant line departments and Tanintharyi Region Government. The PIF was submitted to Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and it was approved by GEF Secretariat.

A Project Preparation Grant (PPG) has been obtained to carry out necessary preparation of the full-fledge project proposal. In order to ensure the results of the project preparation work, UNDP is seeking a national consultant, Protected Area Policy, Planning and Management Specialist to support the development of project document. The approved PIF is attached for reference and to be supported for fully formulated project document.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision and guidance of Programme Specialist/Programme Analyst of UNDP CO and with the guidance of Regional Technical Adviser, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, Bangkok Regional Hub, the team leader of PPG and the Forest land/seascape planning and management specialist, the Protected Area Policy, Planning and Management Specialist will act as the lead national consultant to ensure generation of necessary information for project formulation. The specialist will coordinate local consultants’ inputs and provide technical support for data/information collection and analysis for developing the project document and CEO document.

The Specialist will:

Conduct desk-top, face-to-face consultation and field-based research to cover critical information gaps, possibly including: (i) an analysis of threats to biodiversity in the priority landscapes; (ii) policy, social, regulatory, socio economic, institutional, technical and knowledge barriers to implemented integrated land/seascape management; (iii) the developmental context (key business sectors, socio-economic development, political environment) and its current and future impacts on the biodiversity conservation in the land/seascapes; (iv) the spatial distribution, and conservation status of forest reserves and protected areas; (v) the spatial extent and development of satellite images and maps of the proposed priority landscapes; (vi) conservation and economic development plans, projects, programmes and initiatives affecting or impacting on the proposed project activities; (vii) a review and establishment of baseline information for each of the priority landscapes etc. (iii) review of the IUCN methodology (PA Governance From Understanding to Action 2013) as per the related council comment and response;
In cooperation with the National Fisheries and Marine Resource Management specialist, conduct in-depth assessment of the policy framework and systemic and institutional review related to land and sea use planning and the cross-sectoral planning for terrestrial and coastal management (including land/sea scape connectivity), and natural resource concession planning, decision making and management in the context of decentralisation process, for the purpose of ensuring integration of ridge to reef, KBA, HCVF approaches in land use and sector planning. The assessment will entail: (i) review of policy and legislative environment at the national and regional levels pertaining to land/sea use planning, land/marine concessions and sectoral planning, decision making and management including decentralisation policy and process; (ii) review of the Land Use Policy, its implementation plan and implications and opportunities for the project’s contributions; (iii) review of decision making processes regarding land/sea use planning and concession granting; (iv) Review capacity systemic and institutional capacity gaps for integrated land/sea scape planning and management;(v) mapping of the key actors, their incentives and the rules that constrain them (including gender relations) at national, regional and local levels and their interactive dynamics including formal and informal power and influence, as well as coordination; (vi) identify how to engage with different sets of stakeholders for achieving project objectives and outcomes; (vii) assessment of stakeholder’s institutional capacity and capacity development needs for implementing integrated land/seascape planning and management and KBA mainstreaming; (viii) identify project’s entry points for improving institutional and systemic environment for ridge to reef planning and management and KBA mainstreaming, associated risks/mitigation measures;
The expert will also review national, regional and local development planning processes and agriculture/plantation, forestry, fishery and other relevant sector activities in Tanintharyi Province threatening terrestrial biodiversity, and clarify: Policy and regulatory context, sector growth/development plans, decision making processes; existing social and environmental safeguards in sector operation and compliance monitoring systems; gaps in regulatory framework for the sector which lead to environmental degradation; plans for mainstreaming of KBAs/HCVFs/HCSFs in development and sector planning and operation with possible sector-specific standards, safeguards and incentive development with project support.
Assess the capacity of various agencies and stakeholder groups, in respect of: their roles, functions and/or responsibilities in the land use planning, sea use planning and protected area management and sector management and operation, and identify the capacity development needs of the different stakeholder groups to ensure the sustainability of project investments beyond the term of the project.
Organise stakeholder consultation sessions in order to solicit inputs and ensure stakeholder involvement in and buy-in to the project.

The Specialist will be responsible for the following sub-output, with support from the forest land/seascape planning and management specialist and other international consultants.

Collection and compilation of the baseline data for indicators:

These include at a minimum exact means of measurement, baselines and targets fo the following indicators:

A refined calculation of carbon benefits from project results including reference level deforestation rate, extent of HCVFs/HCSFs that are to be protected through the projects ;
scoring of financial scorecard for the Tanintharyi PA system to establish the baseline and target;
Baseline situation of integrated natural resource management practices;
Baseline level of various threats including poaching, agriculture/plantation expansion, local/regional trade and trafficking for target PAs and land/seascapes
Selection of indicator species and their current status;
Current status of coral reefs (spatial extent, species diversity and abundance) in demonstration areas.

PA Land/Seascape Profiling:

For the demonstrationland/seascapes, PA land/seascape profiles will be compiled through desk top studies as well as field-based research and stakeholder consultations, including:

An analysis of threats to biodiversity in the priority landscapes;
The developmental context (key business sectors, socio-economic development, political environment) and its current and future impacts on biodiversity conservation and PA management;
The spatial distribution, and conservation status of PAs and other forest areas;
Assessment of current PA management activities in particular law enforcement;
The spatial extent and development of satellite images and maps of the proposed priority areas;
Assessment of existing conservation and economic development plans, projects, programmes and initiatives complementary or impacting on the proposed project activities;
A review and establishment of baseline information for each of the priority PAs and surrounding landscapes;
Robust biodiversity indicators with baseline and targets for each target PA landscape with a monitoring framework;
Development of plans for most cost effective project support for each of the land/seascapes.

Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) assessments (part of BD-1 Tracking Tool) for selected existing and emerging PAs:

This includes assessment of:

Existence and state of management plans and gaps;
Existing PA management structure, biodiversity/habitat monitoring system and capacity gaps;
Available financing and equipment for park management and human resources and financing needs;
Information on poaching, encroachment, other local threats, local stakeholders, status of indicator species/habitats;
PES, offset, community based tourism development potential;
Opportunities for co-management of resources/areas;
Baseline activities and investment.

GEF focal area tracking tools:

Lead drafting of the GEF tracking tools required for this project submission, with technical inputs from the national and international consultants.

These are: BD METTs, the Financial Sustainability Scorecard, the Land Degradation PMAT and Sustainable Forest Management Tracking Tool.

The consultant will produce the following outputs which fully support development of the UNDP-GEF Full Project Document at the end of the assignment.

Collection and compilation of the baseline data for indicators;
PA Land/Seascape Profiling;
Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) assessments (part of BD-1 Tracking Tool) for selected existing and emerging Pas;
GEF focal area tracking tools.

The Specialist will, in particular, play a central role, co-leading the production of the following PPG outputs with the forest land/seascape planning and management specialist.

Needs Assessment for Integrated Land/seascape Planning and Management;
Identification of specific sites for intervention and landscape profiling;
PES and Offset Feasibility Assessment;
PA Land/Seascape Profiling;
GEF focal area tracking tools.

For more details and documents to be download following link: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=24486.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards and acts in accordance with the Standards of Conduct for international civil servants;
Advocates and 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.

Functional Competencies:

Good knowledge of the natural resource management particularly lake and watershed management, the concept of sustainability and sustainable development in the region and developing countries;
Ability to quickly grasp and synthesize inputs from a range of disciplines related to environmental conservation and lake management;
Ability to advocate and provide technical advice on the relevant sector/theme;
Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision;
Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners, respectful and helpful relations with all UN/UNDP staff;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in natural sciences, environmental studies or other related fields.

Experience:

In-depth knowledge and minimum 10 years of demonstrable experience in the field of protected area management and biodiversity conservation in Myanmar;
Excellent knowledge and understanding of the political and institutional context of Myanmar at both national and regional levels;
Sound understanding of Myanmar’s decentralisation and land use policies as well as conservation policies;
Specialist knowledge on and experience in protected area strengthening and associated capacity development support;
Computer proficiency, especially related to professional office software packages (Microsoft Office)

Language Requirements:

Excellent ability to work in English, effective oral and written communication skills.