UNDP GEF Jobs - 63806- Project National Technical Advisor (Part-time)

Project National Technical Advisor (Part-time)

Advertised on behalf of

UNDP GEF

Location :

Mbabane, SWAZILAND

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Mar-2016

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

12 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

12 months renewable based on performance

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

Despite the global significance of its biodiversity, Swaziland’s formal Protected Area (PA) estate is comprised of relatively small and vulnerable PAs, covering only 4% of the country and inadequately representing the countries varied ecosystems. There is therefore a need to expand the PA estate, while strengthening PA management competencies. This will in turn require the participation of a broad range of stakeholders, including private landholders, local communities and the tourism industry, to establish new State PA, private and community managed reserves. A landscape approach is needed, to strategically place these different PAs in proximity to one another, and manage land in immediately adjacent areas to reduce threats to biodiversity and improve connectivity between the PA sites. The long term solution is that Swaziland adopts a landscape conservation paradigm that allows a broader range of stakeholders to work together to manage biodiversity more effectively. Under this approach, PAs will be established and managed in critical biodiversity areas as clusters—different sites managed by the State, private landowners and communities in proximity to one another. These PAs will need to be managed as part of a matrix of land uses across landscapes that allow biodiversity management objectives to be integrated in the strategies, production practices and decisions of a range of land and resource users occupying land immediately adjacent to PAs (and between them—so as to maintain functional corridors).

The project’s goal is to strengthen the management effectiveness of the PA system of Swaziland to ensure a viable set of representative samples of the country’s full range of natural ecosystems are conserved, through a network of PAs. The project objective is to effectively expand, manage and develop Swaziland’s protected area network in order to adequately protect the biodiversity and landscapes of the country. This will involve devising a system of integrating land and natural resource management that transforms the current PA patchwork into a protected areas network, while creating incentives for all Swazis (land management agencies, conservancies, private landowners and tourism operators) to work together toward conservation and sustainable economic development. In order to achieve the project goal and objective , the project’s interventions have been organised in three components:

Component 1: Knowledge based platform operationalised at the National and regional level to address current and emerging threats to PAs and biodiversity conservation;
Component 2: Landscape approach operationalised and leads to expansion of PA network;
Component 3: Strengthening PA functioning through improved Conservation management and Operational support for existing and new PAs, including both formal and informal PAs.

Objectives:

The SNTC – The Project National Technical Advisor (NTA) will be responsible for providing oversight and technical advice in all project activities as well as providing quality control, ensuring that Project objectives are timely met.

Duties and Responsibilities

The NTA will work closely with the Project Management Unit (PMU), report to the Project Steering Committee (PSC) Chairman and:

Bring technical experiences to project planning and implementation to ensure that full use is made of global and national lessons, and that best practices are used to achieve the project goal of realising sustainable PA management within the landscape context, securing biodiversity and ecosystem services;
Provide technical advice to the National Project Manager in preparing Terms of Reference for consultants and sub-contractors, and provide assistance in the selection process;
Provide technical support to the National Project Manager and Project Managers in coordinating the work of all consultants and sub-contractors, ensuring timely and quality delivery of expected outputs, effective synergy among the various sub-contracted activities, and integration of project outputs intoGovernment work;
Provide technical guidance for undertaking and management of site activities, monitoring, and impact assessment.
Advise the PMU and relevant private and community PAs on key strategic and policy issues related to biodiversity, protected areas, institutional strengthening processes, and appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems and knowledge management systems;
Guide the PSC Chairman and National Project Manager with technical input in preparation of the inception report, Combined Project Implementation Review / Annual Project Report, and technical reports for submission to UNDP, the GEF, other donors and the Government, as required;
Advise the PSC Chairman and National Project Manager in mobilizing staff and consultants in conducting the mid-term project review, and in undertaking revisions in the implementation of the project strategies based on evaluation results;
Provide capacity building support to the PMU and relevant private and community PA staff and managers;
Advise the PSC Chairman and National Project Manager in liaison work with project partners, donor organizations, NGOs and other groups to ensure effective coordination of project activities, with local, national and international complementary projects and programmes;
Advise the National Project Manager in documenting lessons learned through implementation of the project and assist in making recommendations thereafter;
Produce policy briefing papers and technical reports to support decision-making processes, advocacy and knowledge management;
Perform other tasks as may be requested by the PSC Chairman.

Competencies

Strong knowledge about the political and socio-economic context related to the CFS Master Plan, protected area system, biodiversity conservation at national and state levels;
Knowledge of the GEF and UNDP funded projects and their technical and operational requirements;
Good management, coordination and organization skills to facilitate production of quality outputs in a timely manner;
Strong knowledge of the Sustainable Utilization of Natural Resources and approach to Conservation Management;
Knowledge of actors and experience with Swaziland PAs, Tourism and Biodiversity sectors;
Negotiation, organization, coordination, skills to influence a win-win position to facilitate achievement of results;
Ability to communicate effectively complex, technical information together with an excellent command of English.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A postgraduate degree (MSc or higher) in a subject related to Natural Resource Management, Biodiversity/Conservation Management, and Environmental Sciences, Development Studies or related discipline.

Experience:

At least 10 years of experience in biodiversity conservation (preferably in the context of PA planning and management);
Strong knowledge of integrated biodiversity management, landscape approach and conservation protection;
At least 10 years of demonstrable project/programme management experience;
Working experience with national or regional institutions concerned with biodiversity conservation and protected areas is a plus;
Advisory experience in effective PA management would be an asset; and
Knowledge of Swaziland and regional biodiversity conservation institutions would be an advantage.

Language:

Excellent command of English and the language of the duty station.