UNDP Jobs - 16728- Niger Delta Conservation Project Preparation Grant

Niger Delta Conservation Project Preparation Grant (PPG) Coordinator

Location :

Preferably based in Abuja or Port Harcourt (alternatively based in Asaba, Yenagoa, Uyo or Calabar), NIGERIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

31-May-2010

Application Deadline :

24-May-10 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 (six) months (or 27 effective working weeks) throughout the duration of the PPG

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

From early May to end Nov 2010

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 GEF has approved a Project Preparation Grant (PPG) for Nigeria in order to produce a UNDP Project Document and a GEF CEO Endorsement Request (both using the appropriate templates) under the guidance of UNDP-GEF and working in close collaboration with key government officials, donors, NGOs, CBOs and the private sector.

The project, budgeted for $3.6 million in GEF funding and $6.2 million 5,265,000 million in co-financing to be mobilized, will conserve globally important biodiversity in Nigeria by mainstreaming biodiversity management priorities into the Niger Delta oil and gas (O&G) sector development policies and operations. This process will contribute to averting threats and risks to biodiversity linked to O&G operations in priority Niger Delta ecosystems within a spatial area of 4,600,000 hectares. This will be achieved through the following three components:

Governance framework for the mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation into the O&G sector in the Niger Delta
O&G industry and community engagement in biodiversity management in the Niger Delta
Financial mechanisms for O&G sector support to biodiversity conservation

The PPG process is to be implemented between May and November 2010 and will focus on the activities necessary for approving and finalizing the proposed project. The focal points for the project in government and the PPG team of consultants will work in collaboration with existing related initiatives to carry out the following activities:

Baseline data collection and information gap analysis

Analyze the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan’s Biodiversity Sector Report.
Collect and collate available ecological data on the biological and ecological diversity of the Delta (threats, impacts and barrier analysis)
Prepare a preliminary biodiversity valuation exercise for biodiversity in the Niger Delta.
Prepare comprehensive activity/output component and Terms of Reference for the development of an application of the IBAT for the Niger Delta that is useful to the O&G industry and useful for guiding conservation planning.
Analyse existing legal and policy frameworks governing the O&G sector and their ability to support the incorporation of biodiversity conservation imperatives into them (concessions, EIAs, O&G siting agreements, biodiversity offsets)
Baseline Capacity Assessment. (1) At the federal level: FMoE, NDCC, MNDA, NOSDRA and NESREA). (2) At the state level: Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers.
Baseline Capacity Assessment at local level.
Map and estimate the spatial mainstreaming targets will be better

Industry Assessment and Initial Industry Engagement Plan

Identify and map the O&G industry players in the Niger Delta,
Assess whether these companies have (or plan to have) CSR plans or policies, oil spill contingency plans, and their positions on biodiversity conservation; assess the adequacy of these.
Assess companies willingness to join together in a compact to contribute to a Biodiversity Trust Fund and to establish biodiversity-maintreamed siting agreements
Identify potential incentive mechanisms for engaging the industry in the project
Outline a capitalization plan for the Trust Fund proposed under the project’s component 3
Compile the Initial Industry Engagement Plan: Propose a plan with clear recommendations for the engagement of the O&G industry in the project and in its objectives

Delta Biodiversity Conservation Financing Assessment

Assess relevant laws, policies, and institutional baseline for the Delta Biodiversity Trust Fund in Nigeria.
Apply the GEF’s checklist of eligibility requirements for GEF funding of Trust Funds
Consider how the Trust Fund could be designed (i.e. financial and administrative aspects) with measures to ensure the security of assets, from invasion, currency devaluation and attachment, and to manage investment risks.
Confirm whether co-financing targets can be satisfied, and development of a preliminary fund raising strategy

Stakeholder consultation and engagement

Identification of related projects, programmes and initiatives
Site selection and a strategic assessment of what is required to enable local communities chosen for pilot work to become more involved in biodiversity conservation planning, monitoring and activities in the Delta area.
Identification of groups that will be targeted to participate in training seminars
Planning of these seminars within the framework of the project’s work plan and propose the most appropriate and cost-effective way of delivering them
As a final result of this activity, production of a report containing a ‘Stakeholder Matrix’, a ‘Stakeholder Involvement and Capacity Building Plan’, and ‘Recommendations for the full-size project on stakeholder involvement’.
Identification and confirmation of potential sources of co-financing, through the activities of stakeholder and industry engagement as a whole.

Project Scoping, Costing, Risk Assessment and M&E Planning

Summary of the local, national and global biodiversity benefits of the project;
A thorough analysis of the barriers to achieving the proposed project outcomes
Appropriate scoping of the project, based on the conceptual elements outlined in the PIF and the results of the PPG studies, where comments from GEF Council, GEF Secretariat and STAP will be specifically taken into account;
Identification of lead implementing partners and implementation arrangements, and a complementary strategy for partnerships and co-funding;
A learning (adaptive management) plan, including potential lessons and knowledge products;
A replication plan to ensure that project interventions are geared towards ensuring replication, following the removal of barriers;
An analysis of project risks and risk mitigation measures, including (if applicable) climate change associated risks;
Costing of expected project outcomes through detailed inputs-budgeting, including where applicable in-cash co-financing sources and co-financing commitments in compliance with the GEF incrementality principle;
A cost effectiveness analysis to identify the most effective project alternatives;
Analysis of the social, institutional, economic and financial sustainability of proposed project activities; and
An overall project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, with recommendations on how to track the project’s progress and effectiveness, and the baseline and target values on indicators.

Duties and Responsibilities

Encompassing approximately 27 weeks of work throughout the duration of the PPG, the ‘Stakeholder engagement / PPG Activity Coordination will serve as the PPG team leader. He/she will report to UNDP’s Environment Focal Point in close coordination the project focal point at the national designated agency - FMoE.

Functioning as the activity coordinator and liaising between the Federal Ministry of Environment (FMoE), UNDP for all logistical, financial and procedural matters, the incumbent will have the flowing primary responsibilities:

Refine TOR where needed and support UNDP and FMoE with the effective mobilisation of the PPG team.
Prepare a detailed chronogram of activities for the PPG, broken down by weeks and with clear milestones and dates for key activities and events (missions, workshops, consultations, conclusion and review of studies etc.)
Ensure, in close collaboration with UNDP and FMoE, that the necessary means for the realisation of PPG activities are made available in a timely manner and in strict compliance with applicable procedures under the execution modality for this PPG; this will include the preparation of documents, requests for payment, liaising with vendors/service providers, government agencies, UNDP Programme and Finance and others applicable.
Organise key PPG events from a logistical point of view, in particular missions, key meetings, workshops and consultations, liaising with UNDP, government (at the federal and state level), O&G companies, development partners and others applicable), preparing invitations, agenda, requesting tickets, bookings and organising all other logistical details.
Ensure that PPG consultants adhere strictly to set deadlines, liaising with them along the process of producing PPG deliverables, assisting where possible with the sourcing and circulation of information.
Ensure the timely and effective distribution process of PPG products in connection with their review process, functioning as the focal point for the circulation of draft and final reports among the team members and other relevant stakeholders, coordinating the commenting process and ensuring the cross-fertilisation of knowledge and quality control within the team (international consultants are primarily responsible for quality control and technical guidance, while UNDP Country Office and UNDP/GEF quality control on the final target product, the UNDP PRODOC and annexures).
Play a proactive role in the mobilization of co-financing and in the engagement of stakeholders in the PPG process.

With respect to the stakeholder engagement activities, the consultant will:

Analyze current and completed projects relevant to biodiversity and the Niger Delta to determine lessons learned and identify areas that can be replicated in the current project;
Conduct stakeholder analysis for the development of the Niger Delta Conservation Project;
Indentify capacity barriers and capacity building needs;
Recommendations for coordinated national, regional and local management of the project
Identify opportunities for public-private partnerships;
Play a key role in the mobilization of co-financing;
Develop stakeholder participation and engagement plans for project
Play a key role in developing the partnership agreement with specialized research centers and NGOs in connection with the application of IBAT; and
Make recommendations for relevant project activities and their costing.

Competencies

Above all, be a competent and dynamic manager.

In addition:

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing in order to communicate complex, technical information to technical and general audiences
Skill in negotiating effectively in sensitive situations
Skill in achieving results through persuading, influencing and working with others
Skill in facilitating meetings effectively and efficiently and to resolve conflicts as they arise

Required Skills and Experience

The general qualifications required are

Advanced degree in the relevant field of Expertise for this position;
At least 5 years of work experience, including relevant experience as an independent consultant with demonstrated quality products, respect for deadlines and good presentational skills (written and oral);
Analytical thinking; and
Excellent written skills in English.
Previous experience in managing projects and knowledge of UNDP procedures is an asset.