UNDP Jobs - 60971- Chief Technical Specialist (Forest and Watershed M

Chief Technical Specialist (Forest and Watershed Management), CHT Development Facility

Location :

Dhaka, BANGLADESH

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

15-Nov-2015

Application Deadline :

10-Nov-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

Initially 01 (One) year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Renewable upon satisfactory performance and availability of funds

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

More than two decades of protracted conflict in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) have left the majority of its inhabitants in conditions of extreme poverty, and tensions over land tenure, resource access, and ethno-demographics remain challenges to sustainable development. More than 50% population lives below the national poverty line; 50% of primary- enrolled children drop out in their first few years; and it is estimated that 40% of the CHT’s workforce is either unemployed or underemployed.

A CHT Peace Accord was signed in December 1997 and was recognized as a significant political achievement for the region which is home to 11 distinctive indigenous groups and Bengalis. It raised high expectations that it would serve successful peace building process and as a means for opening up new opportunities for development. Relevant institutions have been established to support this process although not all subjects as per the CHT Peace Accord have yet been transferred to them, and several important parts of the Peace Accord are yet to be realised.

The CHT contains about 43 percent of forest coverage of Bangladesh and is rich in biodiversity under two category of forests – (i) Reserve Forest (RF) (about 25% of the CHT area) – managed by the Forest Department (FD) and (ii) Mouza Forest (or forest outside the RF), also known as the Village Common Forests (VCF), which is under the traditional institutions (Circle Chief, Headman and Karbari) and the Hill District Councils (HDCs) as per the CHT Regulation of 1900 and HDC Act. However, yet the subject to be transferred to the HDCs. The VCF is a traditional forest conservation practice in CHT and it is estimated that there are still about 300+ VCFs exist in CHT – which provides livelihood supports to the communities and work as micro-watersheds in the area. The size and number of VCFs are also decreasing day by day due to the lack of proper management and policy support.

Widespread conflict and absence of a prudent governance system have been unanimously identified as the most serious issue in conserving and managing the forest resources in the CHT. UNDP-Bangladesh has a funding agreement with USAID to work to implement the CHT Watershed Co-management Activity (CHTWCA) to develop a co-management system for improving the CHT forests and watersheds as well as to improving the livelihood situation of the natural resources dependent population. However, the CHT suffers from a high degree of forest degradation and deforestation due to high population growth, excessive timber extraction, expansion of agricultural areas and improper management of forest. Due to rapid loss of forest coverage and watersheds, people face water scarcity during dry season adversely affecting agricultural growth and livelihoods – particularly in remote places where basic services are hardly available. The project has two main aspects: working in (i) RF areas and (ii) working in Mouza Forests or Village Common Forests (VCF) in the CHT. The CHTWCA plans to work through a partnership with the Forest Department (FD) to develop forest conservation models in the RF and the second part is to be managed through CHT institutions and communities with the objective of introducing and strengthening a co-management system for the VCF and improving livelihood of the forest dependent communities.

UNDP’s Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility (CHTDF) – established in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) and financial support from seven development partners (DP) – is the implementing agency for the CHTWCA. The CHTDF implements UNDP’s multi-disciplinary “Promotion of Development and Confidence Building in the CHT” project that has “Participatory Forest Management and Conservation” as one of its main focus. The CHTDF project was started in 2005 and was expected to end in September 2015. The government has agreed to extend one more year to bridge with the new 5 (five) year project from 2016 – 2021. The new project, following the UN Joint Programme Framework for CHT agreed by the government, is under designing stage and CHTWCA project will be part of the new project.

The incumbent, in close coordination with the Manager of CHTWCA (Chief, Community Empowerment) will work under the supervision of the Director of CHTDF. S/he will be responsible for leading the works on forest related policy issues, forest governance activities, coordinating with GoB, donor and other actors working in the field, supporting in managing the project and will work as the focal person for the CHTWCA project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Manage policy and advocacy works on forest and environment;
Ensure effective coordination with GoB, donors and other relevant actors;
Develop necessary implementation guidelines for different project activities;
Capacity building support to the relevant institutions, project team and partners;
Producing reports and case studies;
Lead the management of the CHTWCA with support from the CHTDF management.

Manage policy and advocacy works on forest and environment:

Develop strategic papers on UNDP-CHTDF’s engagement to support on decentralized forest / NRM governance for CHT, REDD+ and climate change adaptation programmes and resilient building based on thorough analysis of current situation, existing legal frameworks and policies;
Actively promote ensuring joint efforts for co-management of CHT watershed with the involvement of all concerned parties with specific focus on RF and VCF;
Develop advocacy strategies to work on the policy and legal issues for decentralized sustainable forest management in CHT in line with the Peace Accord signed in 1997.

Ensure effective coordination with GoB, donors and other relevant actors:

Coordinate with the Ministry of CHT Affairs (MoCHTA), Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), FD and other relevant govt. stakeholders, development partners, relevant actors, research institutions to address the issues related to sustainable forest management in CHT;
Coordinate with USAID, other relevant development partners and keep updated them on the progress of the project regularly;
Organise different workshops, seminars and dialogues engaging all relevant parties at national and local levels.

Develop necessary implementation guidelines for different project activities:

Following approved work plans and budget prepare necessary implementation guidelines on different project activities to be followed by the project team and partners;
Ensure donor guidelines are followed and strategic visibility of the project recognized.

Capacity building support to the relevant institutions, project team and partners:

Provide necessary trainings to the project team and partners to build their capacities;
Ensure necessary technical supports to Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on the Forest and Climate Change of the MoCHTA and prepare strategic technical notes for the National Steering Committee (NSC);
Provide necessary capacity building supports to FD, MoEF, MoCHTA, CHT Regional Council, HDCs, traditional leaders and other partners.

Producing reports and case studies:

Prepare necessary concept notes, producing reports for donors, GoB counter parts and UNDP;
Document best practices, covering different concepts, strategies and implementation approaches and support the management in mainstreaming programme policies and practices relevant to forest and watershed management and climate resilient.

Support to CHTDF management in managing the project:

Support CHTDF management to manage the CHTWCA project effectively.

Measurable Outputs and Performance Indicators:

High quality technical advisory services and guidance in managing the project activities;
Effective advocacy works on policy streamlining related to sustainable forest management in CHT in line with the Peace Accord signed in 1997;
Strong networking on the subject matter and effective coordination with GoB, Donors, partners and other relevant actors established;
Producing high quality reports;
Improved performance of staffs and partners.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN values and ethical standards;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Participates effectively in a team –based, information –sharing environment, collaboration and cooperating with others.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Confidentiality;
Ability to lead strategic planning, result-based management and reporting;
Ability to effectively coordinate with partners in and outside the UN organizations;
Knowledge of UNDP Rules and Regulations is an advantage.

Leadership and Self-Management:

Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills and strong leadership qualities;
Ability to work with people from different backgrounds and cultural customs and to communicate effectively;
Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
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 complexities;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests & concerns of others, and give duly credit to other people’s ideas and suggestion.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in forestry, natural resource management, environmental studies, agricultural sciences, climate change, law, development studies or any other relevant field.

Experience:

At least 7 (Seven) years of relevant experience at policy and advocacy works;
Proven record of experience working on community based forest management, environment management, climate change adaptation and mitigation or climate change resilient;
A good understanding on policies related forest management, climate change and climate change adaptation;
Relevant working experience with UN agencies or INGO is an added advantage;
Demonstrated ability to produce good quality briefs/reports in English;
Ability to critically review relevant technical materials and recommend appropriate measures to overcome the issues;
Experience of working post-conflict area and working with indigenous peoples will be an added advantage.

Language:

Excellent knowledge of English, both written and oral.

Computer Skill:

Excellent computer skill and good experience on internet browsing;
Good computer typing skill.