Background

UNDP would like to engage an experienced consultant, who has a strong background in wildlife trade and policy in India and can effectively contribute to the development of a Full Sized Project by designing key project interventions related to illegal wildlife trade.

The proposed project aims to support the Government of India to effectively promote sustainable land and forest management in the alpine pastures and forests in high range Indian Himalayan ecosystems that secures sustainable livelihoods and community resilience and ensures conservation of globally significant biodiversity and threatened species.

The project will engineer a paradigm shift from the current approach of relying solely on small, isolated Protected Areas and other conservation actions to deliver biodiversity conservation including conservation of threatened species to one that takes an integrated approach – that considers PAs as corner stone of biodiversity conservation but whose integrity and effectiveness can only be attained by working at multi-sector and landscape scales, focusing on important areas outside PAs, and also working with sectors and partners outside the conservation sector to effectively reduce threats to globally significant biodiversity. This approach recognizes that the major and emerging threats to biodiversity in the region, including to the survival of threatened species such as the snow leopard, stem from beyond protected areas and also in several cases beyond the conservation sector (and in some cases beyond the region) – these consists of land use change demands for development especially infrastructure development; harmful practices by production sectors and heavy reliance on natural resources by local communities; and emerging threats of illegal wildlife trade and wildlife crime etc. It further recognizes the importance of a landscape approach to the conservation and management of important areas in the Indian Himalayan region, by ensuring that key biodiversity areas, buffer zones, corridors are sustainably managed in tandem with the sustainable use and management of areas that are contingent to these conservation areas or outside of it in the wider landscape. Further, the project recognizes that these landscapes and ecosystems underpin the lives of a large number of local communities and that implementation of a coherent strategy to secure livelihoods and promote alternative livelihood options is an integral part of the solution. It will be implemented over a six year period.

The project will be led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) together with the State Governments of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. In addition the project will engage several relevant government agencies, autonomous agencies and NGOs.

This Project falls under GEF-6 Programme 3 Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development, comprising one global coordination project and a series of national child projects. The development of the FSP will thus entail working closely with the global coordination project to ensure synergies in project planning and implementation, as well as to eliminate duplication of efforts.

During the Initiation Plan period, a number of studies and stakeholder consultations will be undertaken with a view to further developing the approved project concept (see GEF PIF) into a fully formulated project document.  The final output will be a UNDP-GEF project document and GEF CEO endorsement template, with GEF Tracking Tools ready for submission to UNDP and GEF.

• No. of days and work period - 30 days between March 2016 and October 2016;
• Travel Requirement - Missions to the project states, India;
• Assignment Objectives -   Contributing to the development of the project document by undertaking a situational analysis at national and individual state levels and, in response, designing key project interventions related to illegal wildlife trade.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will report to the environment team of UNDP Country Office, Regional Technical Adviser in Bangkok, and the Wildlife Division, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. He/she will work closely with other staff in the UNDP Country Office and government counterparts.

Closely working with the International Consultant and the lead National Consultant (Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Management), the National Consultant - Wildlife Trade and Policy will perform the following general functions:

• Review of the policy, legal and institutional framework for wildlife trade in India. Based on experience and meeting with MoEFCC, State Governments and relevant partners on issues related to wildlife trade in India, the Consultant will undertake review of India’s compliance under CITES, review the legislative framework and make recommendations for necessary institutional and regulatory reforms;
• Analysis of Information-sharing and database systems relating to wildlife trade in India and the region. The Consultant will conduct a nationwide assessment of the existing databases relevant to wildlife crime; review the types of data stored in those databases; understand existing information-sharing agreements both between national government agencies and between government agencies and international agencies (e.g. Interpol); and document current data management protocols. This will include compiling baseline data on the rate of inspections, seizures, arrests and successful prosecution of wildlife crime cases, and the number of regional cooperation enforcement actions. The analysis will produce recommendations for the full project on how information-sharing systems and databases should be developed, within government agencies, between government agencies, with NGOs, and with international enforcement agencies. The baseline data collected will inform the design of key project interventions related to illegal wildlife trade;
• Assessment of the range of enforcement mechanisms. The Consultant will identify ways in which law enforcement against forest and wildlife crime are currently managed and implications including financial costs and capacities. The results of the analysis will be used to evolve the integrated model for wildlife crime management and will also inform the design of capacity building programme for relevant government agencies, community and other parties (NGOs, private sector) to effectively address wildlife trade. Technical areas for capacity-building should include understanding of the law and regulations, prosecutions, evidence, wildlife forensics, data recording and information sharing, international conventions and regional cooperation, and cybercrime. Separately, the Consultant will adapt the UNDP Capacity Development Scorecard for assessments of capacity and understanding of wildlife trade, and use the scorecard to determine current capacities and conduct training needs assessment for government officers in target landscapes and trade routes;
• Document good practices of illegal wildlife trade management from the project states;
• Contribute to the completion of the relevant GEF Tracking Tools and will also lead the development and application of project indicators relevant to addressing illegal wildlife trade;
• Work closely with the other consultants and ensure the soundness and appropriateness of the interventions based on the real issues on the ground.

The Consultant will carry out the above mentioned reviews and identification of gaps on a state-by-state basis and in a systematic manner to draw out best practices and highlight weaknesses in a comparative manner between the states. He/ she would also look at overall national provisions and assess their adequacy and provide solutions at Central Government level that will empower the individual states.

Final Product:

Based on the above assessments, the Consultant will develop the following reports that will focus on both national and state level perspectives:

• A review of the policy, legal and institutional framework for wildlife trade in India including recommendations for necessary reform, especially at the national level;
• A nationwide assessment of the existing databases relevant to wildlife crime, existing information-sharing agreements and current data management protocols;
• An integrated model for wildlife crime management, including design of a capacity development programme for all key stakeholders;
• An assessment of training needs for the key stakeholders in the target landscape and trade routes and suggest models for these trainings;
• Good practices of wildlife trade management from the project states.

The key deliverables will need to be cleared by UNDP Regional Technical Advisor for Biodiversity and Ecosystem, UNDP India Country Office and the International Consultant.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent technical writing skills in English;
• Strong coordination and relationship management skills.

Corporate Competencies:

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Post-Graduation in economics, agricultural development, natural sciences, environmental studies or other related fields.

Experience:

• Excellent knowledge and minimum 10 years of demonstrable experience in the field of biodiversity conservation and wildlife trade;
• Extensive knowledge and practical experience in wildlife trade in India and especially in the project region;
• Experience in project design, in particular of GEF projects.

Language:

• Written and oral proficiency in English is required;
• Knowledge of Hindi along with regional languages of the project states will be desirable.

Payment Schedule:

• 20% upon approval of the technical approach and work plan for the assignment;
• 40% upon submission of a report on the review of the policy, legal and institutional framework for wildlife trade in India;
• 20% upon submission of Progress update report;
• 20% upon satisfactory completion and acceptance of the deliverables by UNDP RTA, UNDP India CO, and International Consultant and submission of Final Report. 

Travel: 

• Consultants would be required to travel to the project states; where appropriate, he/ she should schedule the field missions along with the other Consultants (for relevant parts) as well as with the International Consultant.
• All prior approved travel from New Delhi to the project states and field visits, including accommodation, will be reimbursed as per actuals in line with UNDP rules and regulations upon submission of  supporting documents or will be arranged by UNDP. This does not include personal phone calls and internet usage, laundry, minibar and other personal expenses. These should not be included in the financial proposal.
• UNDP does not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the Consultant wish to travel on a higher class, he/ she should do so using their own resources.

Evaluation Criteria:

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

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

Technical Criteria weight – 70 marks.

• Technical Proposal: 35 Marks;
• Relevant Experience:25 Marks;
• Qualification:10 Marks.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical marks) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Criteria weight – 30 marks.

Documents to be submitted:

• Financial Proposal specifying all-inclusive per day consultancy fee. 
• Detailed CV with contact details of three references;
• A brief (not more than 3 pages) technical proposal that analyses threats to biodiversity in the priority areas and suggests innovative mechanisms to control illegal trade while also taking learnings from other countries with a similar landscape, especially keeping in consideration the wildlife found in the project area. The document should be referenced appropriately and a select bibliography provided with the proposal.

All the above requested documents should be combined in a single PDF document while uploading, as the system has provision for uploading one attachment only.

Notes:

• Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual;
• Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered;
• Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone etc. would not be reimbursed; Tickets will be issued considering the most direct and economical option and Consultants are not eligible for DSA;
• The consultants must bring his/her own computing equipment.

For any clarifications please write to: manikandan.srinivasan@undp.org