Background

• Improvement of environmental planning and management to accommodate global environmental objectives. This activity aims to strengthen cooperation and coordination capacities of the stakeholders involved in the process of environmental planning and management.
• Improvement of financial management capacity of the National Environmental Fund (EF) for increased global environmental financing. This activity is targeting to initiate and adopt new financial management approaches, as they are applicable for Uzbekistan. Both project activities imply institutional and human resource development components.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice to PM on the overall project implementation strategy;
• Provide policy advice on strengthening institutional capacities and regulatory framework for efficient environmental planning and financing by means of sharing development experience / good practices that have been acquired elsewhere with relevant stakeholders, as per the planned project activities;
• Provide recommendations and inputs on developing efficient mechanisms of project implementation taking into account the cross-cutting capacity building nature of the project. 

• Review the project document to update project Logical Framework Matrix;
• Meet with key stakeholders and beneficiaries to identify the changes in situation and to ensure that project outputs and indicators reflect the current realities;
• Conduct situation analysis and ensure that project indicators, targets, baselines, sources of verification and risks are updated;
• Elaborate and develop recommendations towards the revision of Project Logical Framework Matrix. Present them at the Inception Workshop;
• Provide assistance in preparation and conducting the project Inception Workshop;
• Participate at and help PM to facilitate the Inception Workshop;
• Jointly with Project Manager and based on inputs from national experts prepare Project Inception Report, including overview of changes in project environment, summary and justification for revision in Project Logical Framework, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) plan, Risk Logs, overall tentative project work plan,1st year Annual Work Plan and Budget, etc.;
• Based on Inception report develop a draft step-by-step strategy for project implementation;
• Conduct capacity needs assessment for project implementation. Prepare relevant Terms of References (TOR).

Competencies

 
The following deliverables and indicative schedule are expected from the consultancy contract. The final schedule will be agreed upon in the beginning of consultancy assignment.

All deliverables should be submitted to UNDP by the Consultant in English.

 Deliverables     

1. Prepared report on capacity needs assessment for project implementation including TORs for key national and international project technical staff  - Timeframe: 20 November 2009;   
2. Prepared final version of Inception Report, including revised Logical framework Matrix, tentative overall project Work plan, 1st year Annual Work Plan and Budget of the Project, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, and etc - Timeframe: 30 November 2009 

Payment conditions:

• October 2009 (3 working days) of home based work, including review of project document and elaboration of draft recommendations towards the revision of project Logical Framework Matrix
• October-November 2009 (7 working days) of country mission, including consultations with Project Team, national partners and experts. Conducting capacity needs assessment for project implementation.
• November 2009 (5 working days) addressing the comments and recommendations of Inception Workshop participants. Finalization of Inception report and report on capacity needs assessment.

Required Skills and Experience

 
Education: 

• Post-graduate or advanced university degree in environmental economics, environmental financing and other related field   

Experience: 

• At least 10 years of practical experience in the field of sustainable resource management with particular focus on environmental planning, management and financing;
• Knowledge of the political, social and environmental factors and issues related to natural resource management and planning systems in Central Asia, preferably in Uzbekistan;
• At least 5 years practical field experience in a similar professional role (i.e. International consultant, Technical Advisor, manager or equivalent, of a natural resource management project implementing practical activities;   

Language Requirements: 

• Full proficiency in English both written and verbal; knowledge of Russian and/or would be an asset   

Others: 

• Sound knowledge of international best practices on environmental management and financing;
• Familiarity with the goals and procedures of international organizations, in particular those of the GEF and UNDP
• Familiarity with result-based management in project formulation, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation, experience with GEF projects is a plus;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Application Process: