UNDP Jobs - 63492- Consultant - Protected Area Finance and Economics

Consultant - Protected Area Finance and Economics Advisor

Location :

MAHE, SEYCHELLES

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Mar-2016

Application Deadline :

16-Feb-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Up to two years

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

2 years

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 Seychelles consist of over 100 islands of granitic and coralline origin with a total land area of 455 km2 and a coastal length of 151 km. Coral reefs surround the granitic islands. Coral islands are rich in marine life, and due to their size and homogeneity are considered part of the coastal zone. Tourism and fishing are the main industries, with light manufacturing and service sectors also contributing to the economy. Tourism employs 40% of the work force and provides the population with 60% of foreign currencies. The country’s tourism industry and socio-economic development mainly depends on its environment, more specifically its unique biodiversity and its high landscape value. The needs to extend Protected Areas and to strengthen the Protected Areas System are stressed in the 2013 PA Policy. Seychelles is in the process of operationalizing a major PA expansion on the basis of the new PA Policy.

The project aims at securing the financing for PA more sustainably and it is organized into two components

The first component of the project is focused on enabling planning and legal framework for an improved use of existing and new PA finance. This component will support the Government of Seychelles, SNPA and other entities managing PAs in evaluating the financial performance of the PA System, determining financial gaps and identifying opportunities for improving overall functionality of both the current and the proposed expanded PA estate. It focuses on the delivery side of the conservation equation. Under this component GEF funding will be used to develop a national PA System Investment Plan and site-level PA Financing Plans. GEF resources will also be used in this component to strengthen the financial management capacities of the national PA managing entities in order to reduce cost-inefficiencies, improve revenues and develop mechanisms for revenue-sharing.

The second component of the project is focused on increasing and securing revenue generation for PA management. The project will improve the financial sustainability of the PASystem and the individual PAs to ensure that they have adequate financial resources to cover the full costs of their management at an optimal level. Among other things, GEF resources will be used to support the building and renovating small infrastructures, introducing new cost-effective practices, systems and schemes, all aimed at making sites more attractive to visitors and increasing their own revenue generation capacity. Thorough site-level and PA finance assessments have been carried out in connection with the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

The main duty of the PAF Advisor will be to provide technical oversight and assist in coordinating the implementation of project activities, together with related activities being implemented by other project partners/responsible agencies, helping to ensure the different activitiesand interventions complement each other and do not replicate tasks, and with specific reference to the following;

Provide overall technical guidance and advice in the planning and implementation of the relevant technical assistance components of the project, including advising in the preparation of work plans and technical reports;
Provide specific technical assistance to the following activities of the project, as detailed in the project document.
Output 1.1 – PA System finance and investment plan.

Support the development of a PA System Financing and Investment Plan that will provide a definitive baselinefor available finance, expenditure, costs and the way these are distributed across the system. Support the implementation of a detailed assessment of needs, gaps and targets for investment, based on the initial (baseline) assessment of sites’ management effectiveness (METT analysis). Support the development and initial implementation of individual PA Business/Investment Plans, setting out appropriate financing mechanisms for sites and sub-systems (focusing in particular on the SNPA and potentially also on the ICS sub-systems of PAs where the greatest need lies, but encompassing other PA sub-systems as needed).

Output 1.2 – PA costs, management and conservation effectiveness

Support the establishment of a pilot data management system for Seychelles PAs, so as to facilitate a dynamic and combined analysis of both management effectiveness and PA finance parameters for sites, sub-systems and the entire system. In respect to SNPA areas; a) provide inputs into the updating and finalizing of draft Management Plans for Morne Seychellois NP, Praslin NP, Veuve Reserve, Ste Anne MNP, Curieuse MNP, Ile Coco MNP, Baie Ternaie and Port Launay MNPs in line with the 2013 PA Policy (this will be a stepwise process over the lifetime of the project, and the inputs of the PAF Advisor will build capacity to continue the process beyond the contract duration of the PAF Advisor); b) support the identification and agreement of benchmarks for management and conservation effectiveness and their monitoring within the PA database; c) advise on the potential for cross-subsidization of sites; d) advise on mechanisms to ensure that PA performance monitoring is integrated into PA management decision-making.

Output 1.3 – Funding mechanisms

Working with the Legal, Policy and Institutional Development Specialists of the project, supportthe development of a legal framework for implementing a system-wide investment programme with funds from various existing and innovative sources. In particular, focus on the legislative environment in relation to: (i) more effective collection of user fees, taxes and permits; (ii) ensuring that the debt-for-nature swap mechanism also contributes to PAs (in collaboration with TNC); (iii) creating the basis for an mitigation hierarchy and off-setting programme from oil & gas to effectively contribute to biodiversity safeguarding and PA management.

Output 1.4 – Capacity building of PA management entities

Based on initial baseline assessments (e.g. 2015 PA management capacity assessment) develop a programme of capacity building for PA financial management and sustainability. Regarding SNPA, particular focus should be given to following up as necessary in regard to the issue of financial autonomy: this includes capacity-building for improved revenue, expenditure, HR management and corporate strengthening.

Output 2.1 – Institutional review and reform of SNPA

Support the implementation of a step-wise approach for fulfilling necessary conditions and upgrading of the institutional status of SNPA to a financially autonomous parastatal (following on from assessments, institutional strengthening and legal text revisions would carried out under outputs 1.3 and 1.4 and/or BIOFIN Project). Support the development of a tracking systems and the implementation of a plan for revenue re-investment in line with the SNPA PAsBusiness/Investment Plans.

Provide support to SNPA and potentially to other PA management agencies/entities under Output 2.2 (PA management and revenue generation effectiveness on the ground), dependent on his/her specific areas of expertise.

Assist in the implementation of other technical aspects of the project as needed.

Deliverables are as follows:

Contributions to project quarterly and annual reports which describe the general status of the project achievements, challenges faced and make recommendations to the SNPA and Project Manager to address issues arising;
Specific written inputs to project technical activities as appropriate.

Competencies

Demonstrable ability to maintain effective communications with different stakeholders;
Fully computer literate;
Good presentation and reporting skills;
Have effective interpersonal skills and ability to work in complex, multi-stake-holder projects;
Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favouritism;
Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum of a Masters’ degree in Environmental Economics, Conservation, Ecology or a similar discipline.

Experience:

Minimum of 10 years of practical experience, with specific demonstrable expertise in at least 4 of the following technical areas, plus at least some knowledge and experience in the other areas;
PA Management;
PA Finance;
Strategic Planning and Investment;
Environmental Economic Assessments (e.g. mainstreaming, offsetting, PES schemes);
Public Policies;
Public-Private Partnerships;
Institutional Development;
Capacity Development and Training;
Practical experience in similar assignments, particularly experience in PA systems in Small Island Developing States;
Demonstrated leadership ability and technical ability to communicate complex ideas verbally and in writing;
Prior UNDP/GEF project experience and knowledge of UNDP and GEF procedures and guidelines is an advantage.

Language:

Excellent English, both written and oral.