UNDP Jobs - 60805- International Expert on Economic Valuation of Ecos

International Expert on Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services

Location :

Home Based with Trips to Kazakhstan

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

05-Nov-2015

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

November 2015 – April 2016, 69 work days in total

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

The need to integrate economic valuation of ecosystem services (EVES) into national sustainable policy of the country is associated with the fact that nature resources play significant role in the economy of Kazakhstan, but benefits obtained from them in the long perspective, are not considered by economic parameters. Conceptual EVES frameworks assume that people are the part of ecosystems and there is dynamic interaction between them, having an impact on human well-being.

State policy should consider benefits from ES, and EV is targeted at the inclusion of basic biodiversity and ecosystem parameters in the country’s economic system, creation of legal framework for the formation of environmentally oriented national accounts in order to incorporate biodiversity and ecosystem value in the national macroeconomic indicators (GDP) and international offset system.
It is required to perform works on the identification of ecosystem services for EVES performance and use its results in the economic and policy decision-making process. Identification of the beneficiary of ecosystem service and formation of the payment for ecosystem services mechanism (PES) are the next step.

Pilot works in this field are being carried out in the Ile-Balkhash region of the Almaty oblast and Aral-Syrdaria region of the Kyzylorda oblast. At moment the identification of ES of the two above-mentioned pilot regions has been accomplished and the next stage is EV of the identified ES for further implementation of payment schemes for frontmost ecosystem services. Therefore, EVES in two pilot areas is a successive phase of PES scheme development and implementation in order to attract private investments in the biodiversity conservation.
It is expected, that the results of the work will allow within the limits of the pilot regions to identify in money terms benefits, obtained from nature ecosystems, assess nature capital share of two pilot regions and country in the GDP, identify additional finance sources of conservation activities, form adequate PES system, enhance management practices and involve business and local communities in conservation activities.
Taking into consideration the reduction of state appropriations as a result of economic crisis, PES are critically important to overcome barriers in the conservation of nature resources and make possible to account ecological costs and benefits, when making decisions, in cases where the financial resources to address ecological and economic problems are limited.

There are currently very few PES practices in Kazakhstan within the context of water resources management. To upgrade the efficiency of biodiversity and ecosystem management, increase investments, the PES schemes should be integrated into the management of forestry, fishery, hunting, tourism and PAs sectors.

Duties and Responsibilities

Preparation stage

Study of reports on previous work on the identification of ecosystem services, performed in 2015; review and evaluation of the proposed PES schemes; preliminary selection of EVES methods, to be applied in pilot areas, presentation to the project staff; preparation of the preliminary work plan with the description of goals and outcomes.

Fisrt mission to Kazakhstan

Trip to Astana, meeting with the project staff and other stakeholders; collection of official statistic data necessary for evaluation, not presented in the reports; approval of at least 4 types of ecosystem services, that will be assessed; identification of indicators, that should be considered in EVES; selection, agreement with project staff the feasibility of selected EVES methodologies in forestry, fishery, hunting, tourism and PAs, agriculture sectors for performance of valuation; approval of the content and scopes of the final technical report.

Distance work

Processing of collected materials and presentation of the reasonable evidence (in money terms) of contribution of the selected ecosystems and ecosystem services to the forestry, fishery, hunting, tourism and PAs, agriculture sectors in pilot areas, assessment of common values of current benefit flow from ecosystems and from each service; identification of net benefits from actions/interventions, resulting in the change of ecosystem state.

Second mission to Kazakhstan

Presentation and justification of the results of the work performed with respect to meeting the requirements of terms of reference; delivery of practical one-day training on EVES methodology application for project staff, project staff training.

Presentation of the EVES results to wider audience, in order to upgrade knowledge of state coordinators, related to the importance of integration of environmental values in the decision-making and development planning process. The project staff will organize round table for stakeholders. During the round table consultant will present the work results.

International expert reports to UNDP biodiversity projects manager and expert on economic mechanisms of biodiversity management during his/her work.

NB:

Please see the Terms of References for details.

http://www.kz.undp.org/content/kazakhstan/en/home/operations/procurement/ic-contracts/international-expert-on-economic-valuation-of-ecosystem-services.html

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standard;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP and GEF;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge and experience with programming development, monitoring and evaluation;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates openness to change, flexibility, and ability to manage complexities;
Ability to work under pressure and with multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams and possess excellent inter-personal skills;
Demonstrates strong written and oral communication skills;
Remains calm, in control, and good humoured even under pressure;
Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills;
Ability to establish priorities for self and others, and to work independently.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree (at least) in Nature Use Economy (Environmental Economics).

Experience:

At least 7-year of work experience in nature use economy and its valuation on national and/or international level, specifically in such areas, as environment or nature resources management;
Knowledge and work experience in performance of economic valuation of ecosystem services;
Work experience in performance of economic valuation of ecosystem services;
Work experience in CA, Eastern Europe, South Caucasus countries;
Work experience in preparation of analytical reports
Knowledge of specific character of biodiversity management.
Strong skills in written presentations and reports.

Language:

Strong knowledge of English.

Imporant note:

For detailed information please refer to UNDP Kazakhstan web site: http://www.kz.undp.org/content/kazakhstan/en/home/operations/procurement/ic-contracts/international-expert-on-economic-valuation-of-ecosystem-services.html

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications to the e-mail address: assel.zhakupbekova@undp.org with the copy to: talgat.kerteshev@undp.org:

Confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Offer form;
UN Personal History Form P-11.
Brief description of earlier conducted works/projects on economic valuation of ecosystem services (at least two works/projects).