UNDP Jobs - 60458- International Consultant for Institutional and Con

International Consultant for Institutional and Context Analysis

Location :

Myanmar (Yangon and Naypyitaw), MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

09-Oct-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30 working days ( including 10 working days as home-based) during October-November, 2015

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

Having signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 11 June 1992 and ratified the convention on 25 November 1994 and the Kyoto Protocol in 2003 as a non-Annex 1 party, Myanmar is fully aware of the causes and potential impacts of climate change. Hence, whilst undertaking political reform and aiming at rapid economic development, Myanmar is striving to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The government of Myanmar has recognized the potential of the REDD+ initiative to contribute to green development by protecting global environmental resources (forest carbon stocks, but also biodiversity), helping to reverse land degradation, helping to improve the livelihoods of the rural poor and aiding adaptation to climate change.

Although still largely a poor country, Myanmar is rapidly opening up to Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in the energy, mining and agricultural sector. Unless astutely managed, economic growth may have negative impacts on the environment and the natural resource base. In addition, climate change threatens to reverse socio-economic advances. Recognizing these inter-related challenges, the Government increasingly views the forestry sector as a key component and driver of sustainable and climate resilient economic growth and rural development. Myanmar has significant potential to reduce its forest carbon emissions, and enhance and sustainably manage its forest carbon stocks, by implementing REDD+ activities.

Myanmar became a partner country of the UN-REDD Programme in December 2011 and has quickly taken steps to start implementing REDD+ readiness activities. A REDD+ Readiness Roadmap was finalized in 2013, and this lead to a request for funding support from the UN-REDD Programme. The budget for the first year of this support was approved in December, 2013, and forms the basis for this consultancy.

The UN REDD Programmatic support seeks to build national capacity for the implementation of REDD+ under the UNFCCC enhanced and relevant (technical, legal, social) systems. To do so, five outcomes are envisaged:

Outcome 1: Relevant stakeholders engaged and their capacities developed

Outcome 2: National institutions have capacity to implement effective and participatory governance arrangements for REDD+

Outcome 3: REDD+ safeguards defined and national safeguards information system developed

Outcome 4: Development of Myanmar’s national forest monitoring system (NFMS) and preliminary forest RELs/RLs supported

Outcome 5: National REDD+ Strategy developed

Understanding the political economy that influence, drive and have an impact on policymaking is essential for identifying effective policies and measures to address deforestation and forest degradation. An Institutional and Context Analysis (ICA) sheds light on the political and institutional factors and processes in which a country make use of the national and external resources. The ICA for REDD+ in Myanmar is focusing on the policymaking process in which different actors are involved, interacted based on their incentives and political arenas. This ICA aims at assessing entry points to support REDD+ policy and measures for REDD+ in Myanmar based on an analysis that identifies different stages of the policy making process on forests and REDD+ and the key actors and issues influencing the formulation process of existing policy.

The objectives of the consultancy are:

An analysis of the policy making process in the forestry/NRM sector in Myanmar
Key actors and factors that influence existing policy making process in Myanmar in order to facilitate the implementation of policies and measures for REDD+ identified
Assess the entry points to support REDD+ policy and measures for REDD+ in Myanmar.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will work in a team with a national consultant under the supervision of Team Leader, Pillar II and will mainly be based in Nay Pyi Taw, working with the REDD+ Office of the Forest Department of the Ministry of Environmental conservation and Forestry, where he/she work closely on a day-to-day basis with the Director of the Forest Research Institute. His/her main role will be to conduct an Institutional and Context (Political Economy) Analysis with the aim to assess possible entry points for enhancing policy making for REDD+ in Myanmar. The work will be carried out in close collaboration with the UN-REDD regional advisor and governance specialist.

Summary of key functions:

Identify different stages of the policy making process in the forestry/NRM sector and relevant for REDD+;
Identify key actors and issues influenced the formulation process of policy making;
Assess the entry points to support REDD+ policy making process (policies and measures) in Myanmar.

Activities

Identify different stages of the policy making process on forests:

Identify recent relevant key policies on forests (and REDD+);
Make a desk study and interview relevant stakeholders illuminating the different stages of policy making of the selected policies;
Prepare and submit to the UNDP CO a brief report summarizing the structure of policy making process with a clear description and analysis of different stages.

Identify key actors and issues influencing the formulation of existing policy:

Identify and map out different actors involved in policy making processes;
Describe the relation between different actors identified above;
Identify incentives for participation in the policy making process;
Prepare and submit to the UNDP Co a brief report outlining findings.

Assess the entry points to support policies and measures for REDD+ (policy making process) in Myanmar:

Against the backdrop of the REDD+ objectives, identify gaps and weaknesses in the current policy process identified in activity 2;
Suggest entry points to ensure REDD+ objectives are considered in the policy making process;
Develop and submit a proposal for on-going activities to take advantage of the identified entry points so as to effect the required changes.

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:

Advanced University degree in the fields of democratic governance, public administration, finance, social science, or international law is a minimum requirement;
A specialization in environmental law or NRM management/governance would be a distinct asset.

Experience:

At least five years of demonstrated working experience in his/her specialist field;
Extensive knowledge and experience working on issues of governance, capacity development, public administration reform, anti-corruption, transparency, accountability and gender;
At least 1-2 years practical experience in the NRM, forestry sector and environmental governance;
Strong experience in the field of Political Economy Analysis, Institutional Context Analysis, or similar instruments;
Knowledge of the Myanmar government structure and roles of authorities related to revenue and benefit distribution, preferably applied to the natural resources sector is an asset;
Experience of implementing programme across the UN agencies and across government and understanding of the work of the UN-REDD Programme are definite advantages.

Language:

Fluent in English.