UNDP Jobs - 61688- National Expert on Protected Areas for reassessing

National Expert on Protected Areas for reassessing the zoning of the Marine and Coastal Protected Areas (MCPAs)

Location :

Tirana with frequent missions in targeted sites, ALBANIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

20 working days over 1 December 2015 – 30 April 2016

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 immediate objective of MCPA project is to improve the coverage and management effectiveness of Albania’s network of marine and coastal protected areas as an essential complement to its network of terrestrial PAs as well as to ensure the proper management of this area and to expand the MPAs. The main goal is to secure the long-term protection of Albania’s unique coastal and marine biodiversity, which has two main challenges ahead: i) improvement of bio-geographical representation of MCPA; and ii) improvement of management arrangements for MCPAs, institutional settings and capacity building aspects.

All these efforts must also contribute to enhancing coverage and management effectiveness of MCPAs including an expansion plan for progressive inclusion of additional MCPAs, as part of efforts to maintain political support and interest in piloting marine protected areas in Albania and successfully demonstrating win-win opportunities in these areas.

The project is entering a process for preparing revised maps of the Marine and Coastal PAs (as per Output 1.3 of the project document) which envisages considering of respective buffer zones and proper demarcation), assessing the ecological and conservation status of existing CPAs, update the zoning scheme with a clearly demarcated buffer zone (when applicable and possible).

This process follows findings from the draft Strategic Plan for Marine and Coastal Protected Areas, and intends to undertake a more in-depth assessment for main sensitive marine and coastal areas. It will include ecological quantification of MPAs ecosystems whereas recourse will be taken on possible ecological studies to filling the gaps identified and on GIS-based maps produced for the targeted areas. in addition to this, the newly established NAPA is in the process of verifying and defining all borders of the PA terrestrial and coastal, including also the necessary zoning updates; particularly this is relevant in view of transfer of forests, grazing and other ecosystem habitats, formerly under the general directorate of forest, while now, some of such habitats and areas are under the NAPA.

Scope of work:

The scope of the assignment is to assist in strengthening the knowledge and capacity for PA management, biodiversity monitoring and reporting through development of the MCPA zoning GIS mapping; this will have to consider earlier and existing the ecological assessment carried out for main MCPAs, aiming completion of the qualitative survey of these sites, with existing (available) information and data of the habitats and ecological status.

The purpose of this assignment is to administer all possible information regarding zoning (and habitat when available) with the proper demarcation and buffer zones, considering respective habitats and certain species through appropriate GIS mapping.

Duties and Responsibilities

The expert will work under supervision of Project Manager and will cooperate closely with the experts of the National Agency for Protected Areas.

The task is to provide insights and specific contributions involving desk studies of the existing data, data gathered on marine/ coastal ecology, climate change risk data with main focus onzoning and demarcation of sensitive areas.

The expert will provide also expertise and inputs by setting up and synergizing available and relevant experiences that will feed into his/her work methodology and provide required products; the expert will perform the following tasks:

Identification and agreements on the size and boundaries of the MPAs
Provide a throughout description of biodiversity values and environmental state in the targeted area, based on the existing data (borders, zoning, insights and desk studies on ecology, zoning and demarcation of sensitive areas)
Provide information related to quantitative assessment, distribution, ecological and environmental state for the most important and sensitive species and biocenosis in the targeted area, particularly establishing a qualitative description of the MCPAs by considering inventory and spatial distribution of known habitat with respective zoning by digital photographic quadrates with special attention to zoning principle (based on existing knowledge of valuable habitats and species in particular those annexed the SPA/BD Protocol, main sources of threats and impact
Contribute in the preparation of zoning (and habitat when available) mapping (maps and cartography) of the targeted area through the GIS expertise of the National Agency of Protected Areas and the GIS expert enabled from the MCPA project.
Provide a detailed description of those special biodiversity values (e.g. potentiality of zones for supporting ecological processes important for conservation purposes, any specific threats or for the key species in particular) in the targeted area and verifications/validation when deemed necessary.

Deliverables:

Preparation of draft report with the main data for map preparation (10 working days)
Preparation of 6 draft zoning maps (5 working days)
Handover of final report and 6 zoning maps – Note on maps below (5 working days)

Note on Maps for MCPAs: Protected Landscape of Buna river and Velipoja (IUCN project) –cat. V- update of the site border based on the aero-photo 2007; Managed Nature Reserve of Kune –Vaini-Tale (UNDP Climate Change) and Managed Nature Reserve of Patok-Fushekuqe (UNDP Climate Change) – both cat. IV- update of the site border based on the aero-photo 2007, merging in one area; Managed Nature Reserve of Rrushkulli; National Park Divjake-Karavasta (JICA)-cat. II- update of the site border based on the aero-photo 2007; Protected Landscape of Narta - Vjosa river –cat. V and PishPoro– cat. IV- update of the site border based on the aero-photo 2007, merging in one area; National Park Butrinti – cat. II- update of the site border based on the aero-photo 2007; Karaburun – cat. IV- update of the site border based on the aero-photo 2007

Duration of assignment:

The assignment should be completed in the period from 1 December 2015 – 30 April 2016, with a total of 20 working days.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
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:

Strategic vision, strong technical and analytical capabilities;
Strong reporting and writing abilities;
Ability to work in a team, develop synergies and establish effective working relations with National Agency of protected Areas;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Ability to accommodate additional demands on short notice;
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
Ability to manage heavy workload and solve complex problems with minimum supervision;
Ability and readiness to travel to the coastal and marine areas.

Required Skills and Experience

Education/Academic Qualification:

University Degree and/or higher level of qualification in forestry, biology or environmental sciences;

Work Experience:

Min 15 years of experience working experience in the Protected Areas, biodiversity conservation; good knowledge of the current marine biodiversity, PA management
Excellent knowledge with zoning (and habitat when available) of Marine and Coastal PAs.
Experience in GEF, UNDP, or other international projects, is an advantage.

Language requirements:

Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English.

Evaluation of applicants:

Individual consultant(s) will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants and financial proposal.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

Education and level of qualification in forestry, biology or environmental sciences, 15 points
Relevant work experience in the Protected Areas etc , 30 points
Knowledge of habitats of Marine and Coastal PAs, 25 points.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points

The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked consultants who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. Incomplete submission can be a ground for disqualification. The application should contain:

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
Filled P11 form for Individual Contracts including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://www.al.undp.org/content/albania/en/home/operations/jobs.html please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
Financial Proposal - lump sum amount in USD (including the breakdown of consultancy daily fee; travel /per diems or other possible costs related to the assignment if any);

Please attach the Financial Proposal with your P11 form in one file document as only one upload is allowed in the site.

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their financial proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores. Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.