UNDP Jobs - 67116- Re-advertise - Consultant

Re-advertise - Consultant - Biodiversity Mainstreaming Evaluation Expert

Location :

Manila, PHILIPPINES

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

35 working days spread over 3 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

This is a re-advertisment, candidates previously applied do not need to apply again.

The Philippines is considered to be one of the world’s most biologically rich countries. Its marine waters support the richest coral reef communities on the planet and its terrestrial ecosystems are similarly diverse, supporting a wealth of natural resources and a rich array of species diversity. It is one of the world’s 18 megadiversity countries, which together host more than 70% of the world’s species. Together with Madagascar, it is also one of the only two countries in the world which are both a megadiverse country and a global conservation hotspot. The entire country comprises a Conservation International Hotspot, and all remaining forest and coastal areas fall within one of four WWF Global 200 Ecoregions. This makes the Philippines one of the planet’s highest conservation priorities. The country is home to a vast assemblage of species, many of them found nowhere else in the world. The Philippines has among the highest rates of species discovery in the world (sixteen new species of mammals have been discovered in the last ten years alone). New species are being discovered at a remarkable rate and this pattern shows no sign of slowing. Current taxonomic estimates show that the Philippines has the highest level of endemism in the Indo-Malayan Realm on a per unit-area basis and the highest concentration of biodiversity on earth.

The primary government response to protect this important biodiversity has been the establishment of a system of protected areas through the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). However, the system currently excludes other areas of critical connective habitat and other sites which are globally significant for biodiversity conservation. These are the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and the surrounding production landscapes of PAs and KBAs which are important for connectivity of key biodiversity corridors. The result is a highly fragmented landscape, consisting of unsustainable agricultural and natural resources production systems and incompatible land uses which further expose the remaining natural habitats to threats. These are more evident at the level of local government units who are responsible for integrated management of lands under their jurisdiction, including PA/KBA territories, and the production landscape. To arrest fragmentation and ensure that activities in the surrounding landscape conserve species assemblages and maintain ecosystem functions, three major capacity constraints have been identified: (i) inadequate policies, systems, tools and capacities by government agencies at the national level to encourage local government unit (LGU) landscape level biodiversity conservation efforts; (ii) weak capacities and lack of tools by LGUs for mainstreaming biodiversity in landscape level and local development planning; and (iii) failure to integrate biodiversity concerns into local development planning, leading to unsustainable management of the surrounding landscape.

The Biodiversity Partnerships Project, hereinafter referred to as the BPP, directly addresses these barriers through an integrated approach aimed at strengthening enabling policies at the national level; enhancing capacities of LGUs, and demonstration in selected pilot sites. These would be achieved through partnerships with key national government agencies, LGUs and national and local conservation NGOs, to muster their resources and expertise.

Schedule of Payments:

The Biodiversity Mainstreaming Evaluation Expert will be contracted by UNDP and remunerated according to the reviewed and accepted financial proposal. The contract will be output-based and payment issued only upon delivery of satisfactory outputs/milestones.

First Tranche - 10% Upon submission and approval of TE inception report;
Second Tranche - 30% Upon submission and approval of the 1st draft terminal evaluation report;
Third Tranche - 60% Upon submission and approval (UNDP-CO and UNDP RTA) of the final terminal evaluation report.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of BPP is to demonstrate how Local Government Units (LGUs), with enhanced capacities, and working together with local and national partners, can plan and manage economic activities and growth in ways that meet landscape-level biodiversity conservation and sustainable use objectives in critical biogeographic regions.

The project, which is a programmatic initiative on biodiversity rather than the usual site-based projects, intends to generate the following major outcomes and corresponding outputs:

Outcome 1: National-level systems, policies, tools and capacities are in place to support LGU level biodiversity conservation efforts.

Policy & tools for biodiversity impact assessments of national agricultural & natural resource policies, plans & programmes adopted by DA & DENR.
National-level policy, programs & technical capacity to support biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices.
Enhanced national-level system for regulation of trade in wild plant & animal resources.
Policies to encourage investments in biodiversity-friendly business opportunities.
National-level systems for knowledge management.

Outcome 2: LGUs encompassing 1.6 Million hectares in five key biogeographic regions have the tools and capacities to integrate sustainable management into decentralized government structures.

Tools, guidelines & methods developed to mainstream biodiversity in local development policy making, planning, budgeting, M & E.
Toolkits & implementation capacity for application of SEAs, as well as, landscape & seascape level natural resource management, across multiple LGUs.
LGU-level policy framework & technical capacity to support biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices in critical eco-regions.
Strengthened local regulation of trade in wild plant & animal resources.
Regulatory structures & incentive systems to encourage the development of biodiversity-friendly businesses, including investor codes of conduct, established at the LGU level.
Intra-LGU data & knowledge-sharing & advocacy network to synthesize project lessons learned into national policy & decision-making.

Outcome 3: Systems, policies, tools and capacities for landscape level biodiversity conservation and sustainable development are applied at eight pilot sites covering 700,000 hectares across five critical biogeographic regions (Luzon, Palawan, Negros-Panay, Mindoro and Mindanao).

Biodiversity-friendly projects, programmes & policies achieved via impact assessments incorporated into LGU planning process (all sites).
Trans-boundary integrated planning achieved via the implementation of toolkits (QPL, CPM, NNNP, Lake Mainit, Mt. Hamiguitan).
Biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices (e.g. use of indigenous crop varieties), achieved via enhanced & extended standards & associated certification processes (all sites).
Improved regulations & enforcement of wild animal & plant gathering & trade achieved via strengthening of permitting system & implementation of trade regulation (CPM, Malampaya, Mt. Hamiguitan).
Biodiversity-friendly investment programs promoted in selected sites (Siburan, NNNP, CPM, Mt. Hamiguitan).
Incentive systems and innovative financing programs to reduce destructive activities by PA/KBA dependent communities (PES in QPL and NNNP, pilot CCAs in PPLS, QPL, CPM, NNNP and Mt. Hamiguitan).
Data and knowledge management to underpin preceding themes (awareness campaigns, support to inter LGU knowledge sharing, biodiversity monitoring, biological assessments).

The TE will be conducted according to the guidance, rules and procedures established by UNDP and GEF as reflected in the UNDP Evaluation Guidance for GEF Financed Projects.

The objectives of the evaluation are to assess the achievement of project results, and to draw lessons that can both improve the sustainability of benefits from this project, and aid in the overall enhancement of UNDP programming.

Competencies

Corporate competences

Commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Sensitivity to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age differences.

Functional competences

Experience in working in the private sector, or in an outreach position relating with the government and private sector;
Past experience and effective communication skills for dialoguing with senior level private sector executives;
Strong initiative and desire to succeed, accountable and willingness to be pro-active in identifying suitable companies for BCtA membership and engaging in appropriate business opportunities;
Experience and knowledge of the international development sector, e.g. through working at the UN in the private sector engagement and/or development field;
Existing work experience in the Philippines and with the Philippines-based private sector organizations/companies, donor partners and UN agencies;
Possess strong intellectual interest in economic development and the role of the private sector in driving poverty reduction; knowledge of private sector – development impact assessment;
Past international work experience preferred;
Demonstrated ability to function in a team environment & to deal with complex multi-stakeholder environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree in Urban and Regional Planning, Environment and Natural Resource Management; Environmental Economy; Environmental Science, Agrobiodiversity or related fields;

Experience:

Demonstrated experience in conducting project evaluations; prior experience in GEF Project evaluations would be an advantage
At least 5-10 years of proven experience in local development planning with strong elements of biodiversity conservation and environmental assessment and management;
Demonstrated strong knowledge of Monitoring and Evaluation methods for development projects; knowledge of UNDP’s results-based management orientation and practices;
Familiarity with biodiversity conservation issues in the Philippines;
A solid understanding of environmental management with a focus on participatory processes, joint management, and gender issues;
Fluency in the English language and excellent oral and written communication skills
Willingness to undertake regular field visits and interact with different stakeholders, especially primary stakeholders;

Desirable:

Knowledge of the biodiversity, climate change and land degradation - focal areas in which the project operates;
Understanding of UNDP and GEF procedures;
Experience in data processing and with computers.
Experience in the evaluation of technical assistance projects, preferably with UNDP or other United Nations development agencies and major donors. If possible, experience in the evaluation of GEF-funded capacity building projects.

Language:

Very good command of oral and written English.

Criteria for selection process:

The offer will evaluated based on the Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications will be weighted a max. of 60% and combined with the financial offer which will be weighted a max of 40%.

Application requirements:

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.

Application requirements should be emailed to procurement.ph@undp.org and registry.ph@undp.org on or before 16 August 2016.

This is a re-advertisment, candidates previously applied do not need to apply again.