UNDP Jobs - 61956- International Consultant for National Consultation

International Consultant for National Consultation on Forest Management and Conservation in CHT, Bangladesh

Location :

Dhaka, BANGLADESH

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

20-Dec-2015

Application Deadline :

05-Dec-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

25 working days within 3 months period

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

25 working days within 3 months period

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 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 live 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 CHTs’ workforce is either unemployed or underemployed.

In partnership with the Government, CHT communities and NGOs, UNDP supports the Promotion of Development and Confidence Building in the Chittagong Hill Tracts through the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility (CHTDF). The CHTDF plays a very important role ensuring a successful peace consolidation process and improving the development conditions of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) people.

Chittagong Hill Tracts Watershed Co-Management Activity (CHTWCA), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is one of the projects managed by the CHTDF to improve climate resiliency and biodiversity conservation in the CHT. It is designed to promote forest conservation in CHT, accounting for 43% of forest coverage in Bangladesh - through building the capacity of communities and CHT institutions on participatory forest management and diversifying sustainable livelihoods of the targeted communities. The CHTWCA works closely with CHT institutions such as Regional Council, Hill District Councils (HDCs), Circles, and other government offices including the Forest Department, and Upazilas and Unions in the CHT.

The CHTWCA-project’s expected results are as follows:

Result 1: Improved governance of community managed forests, more commonly known as Village Common Forests (VCFs) or Mouza forests, small streams and associated watersheds;
Result 2: Improved reserve forest management in place; and
Result 3: Improved livelihoods that are environmentally sustainable and resilient to climate change.

The project is organizing a series of consultations at various levels to support national and local actors to arrive at a set of recommended actions to address the limitations of existing policies and laws on forest governance in the CHT. A review of existing national legal, institutional and policy frameworks of forest governance in the CHT is being undertaken to identify gaps and contradictions between the legal status of the forests and tenure traditionally practiced over years.

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Policy Expert will support the Chittagong Hill Tracts Watershed Co-Management Activity CHTWCA of UNDP and USAID in preparing and conducting a national consultation process on forest management and conservation in Chittagong Hill Tracts, CHT.

The specific output of the assignment is to provide technical advice for the finalization of the study prepared for the national consultation drawing upon global best practices on forest conservation and management, prepare brief policy note, participate substantively in the national consultation, and help generate an indicative roadmap for reform implementation drawing on outcomes of the consultation

Competencies

Team work;
Strong coordination skills;
Plans, prioritizes, and delivers tasks on time and produces quality results to meet established goals;
Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
Formulates written information clearly and persuasively;
Shares information openly with co-workers and partners while using discretion to protect confidences;
Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Executes day-to-day tasks systematically and efficiently.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

Masters degree in forestry, natural resource management, environmental studies, geography, agricultural sciences, climate change or any other relevant field.

Experience:

At least 10 (Ten) years of relevant experience at the technical level;
Expertise in the area of policies on forest conservation and environmental legislation;
Proven record of experience working on community based forest management, environment management, climate change adaptation and mitigation;
Work experience in the area indigenous peoples, and in particular indigenous peoples in Bangladesh is an added advantage;
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 in the CHT (or any comparable region) is an added advantage.

Language:

Proficiency in English language.