Background

The ‘Ezerani’ protected area is a natural wetland area on the northern shoreline of the Prespa Lake. It is a high value wetland ecosystem covering a total area of 2080 hectares. The Prespa Lake (including the ‘Ezerani’ protected area) is on the list of Europe’s most important ornithological locations as well as on the list of the world’s most important wetlands, designated as a Ramsar site in 1995.
 
The ‘Ezerani’ landscape is an integral system of natural ecosystems that have been affected over the past years by anthropogenic factors, such as unsustainable agricultural practices, illegal fishing, illegal gravel/sand abstraction, illegal logging, human induced fires, pollution and other. The combined influence of human activity and natural factors, such as for example prolonged dry periods, have led to considerable degradation of the area’s natural values over the past decades. The area was proclaimed a strict nature reserve in 1996, due to the large population of nesting and non-nesting bird species. Nevertheless, since the very beginnings of its establishment, the management of the protected area was constantly challenged by the local population. Their opposition to new management arrangements rendered all protection efforts almost ineffective. This lack of support was mainly a result of general lack of information and insufficient involvement of the local population into discussions on how the new management arrangements would be affecting their usual activities.
 
Another obstacle is the limited understanding of the value of multitude of goods and services that the ‘Ezerani’ ecosystem generates. With the ecosystem being undervalued, no financial allocations have been made for its protection, which also led to the progressive loss of the area’s natural values.
 
The UNDP/GEF ‘Integrated Ecosystem Management in the Prespa Lakes Basin’ project, is currently supporting the responsible authorities (the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and the Municipality of Resen) in their efforts to bring in functional protection of this valuable ecosystem. A revalorization study was prepared, providing a comprehensive review of the region’s natural values and all relevant socio-economic aspects. Based on the study’s recommendations, a new law for the re-proclamation of Ezerani as a protected area has been drafted, and is currently undergoing adoption process. Pursuant to the new law, the protected area would have new boundaries, its protection status would be reclassified (from IUCN Category I to Category IV), and a new management body would be officially assigned.
 
In agreement with the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, the UNDP/GEF project already initiated the preparation of the protected area’s management plan, in line with the national regulations, the management objectives and the revalorization study’s key recommendations. Furthermore, the project has agreed to provide all the necessary capacity development support to the newly appointed management body, which will become effective as soon as the new law is enacted.
In parallel with these processes, the UNDP/GEF project is planning to prepare an Economic Valuation Report (EVR) which would aim at:
  • Valuating, to the extent possible, the ecosystem goods and services of the ‘Ezerani’ protected area in accordance to the latest state-of-the-art approaches and international environmental valuation best practices;
  • Supporting the process of management planning by justifying / or not the protection / restoration measures proposed in the revalorization study, and providing information on the next steps required for creating new opportunities for better valuation of the ecosystem (e.g. recommendations on data collection, appropriate assessment methods, and other);
  • Providing training to the key stakeholders to ensure that  the best economic valuation approaches are applied in the future management of the protected area;
  • Providing recommendations on possible revenue generating options from the potential / actual beneficiaries of the ecosystem goods and services;
Serving as one of the first examples of this kind in the country and the wider region that could be replicated elsewhere.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work
These TORs describe the scope of work required for the preparation of the EVR, with the existing revalorization study for ‘Ezerani’ serving as the basic guiding document. The report should comply with the latest environmental valuation approaches, and should also take into account the achievements of the recently completed UNDP/GEF “Protected Areas” project.
The assignment is primarily ‘home-based’, but also involves one short mission in the area (Prespa region, FYR Macedonia), meetings and delivering trainings to the main stakeholders. During the assignment, the expert will receive organizational and technical support both by the UNDP/GEF project team, and the two staff members employed at the recently established Natural Capital Resource Center in the Municipality of Resen.
 
The Economic Valuation Report (EVR) for ‘Ezerani’ protected area shall be prepared in accordance with the latest state-of-the-art environmental valuation approaches and international best practices. The report shall valuate, to the extent possible, the ecosystem’s numerous goods and services, and provide justification for the restoration programme proposed with the revalorization study. Having in mind the time constraints and the data availability, the entire process should be primarily considered a demonstration exercise which is expected to provide valuable support to the protected area’s management planning process. The report development process shall also be seen as a training exercise, aiming to enhance the knowledge of the local stakeholders in applying environmental valuation approaches to protected areas management.
 
Duties and Responsibilities:
 
Under the supervision of the Project Manager and in close cooperation with the relevant stakeholders (Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, the Municipality of Resen and its Natural Capital Resource Center) the expert is expected to perform the following:
 
Phase I: Preliminary Assessment
  • Review thoroughly the revalorization study for ‘Ezerani’ protected area, to understand the local context, and to assess the availability of the data necessary for preparation of the EVR  (the full study can be downloaded at: http://prespa.iwlearn.org/resources/other-materials/draft-feasibility-study-for-ezerani);
  • Study the country context in regard to protected areas management, as well as the latest progress in environmental valuation, payment for ecosystem services and protected areas financing made within the UNDP/GEF project ‘Strengthening the Ecological, Institutional andFinancial Sustainability of Macedonia's National Protected Areas System’ (the following reports will be made available by UNDP: ‘Economic Valuation of Protected Areas: Options for Macedonia’, ‘Payment for Ecosystem Services: Options for Macedonia; ‘Protected Areas Financing: Options for Macedonia);

Prepare a preliminary report based on the review of the available documentation, with a focus on the following:

  • Analysis of availability of data necessary for preparing the EVR
  • Selection / prioritization of the goods and services to be valued (based on the management aims, data accessibility, and possibilities for conducting supplementary data collection mindful of the constraints in time).
  • Selection of appropriate valuation techniques
  • Specification of the data needs for valuation, along with analysis of likely sources of data, including field surveys
  • Recommendations on the data collection and analysis: for the data to be additionally collected for the needs of the EVR, the expert will provide recommendations on the approaches/methods of collections and analysis.
The expert is not expected to be directly involved in the data collection process, but only in specifying the methods and monitoring the work. If there is a need for conducting a survey (e.g. willingness-to-pay / willingness-to-accept), then the expert will be responsible for drafting the necessary questionnaires. Based on the nature and complexity of the data collection process, such data collection exercises may be carried out by the project personnel, the staff of the Natural Capital Resource Center, and/or local consultants. If additional data are collected, the expert will be responsible for their analysis and inclusion in the EVR).
 
Phase II: Site Visit and Capacity Development Work:
  • Upon completion of the tasks specified under Phase I, and prior to receiving the input from the supplementary data collection process, visit the Prespa region and the ‘Ezerani’ protected area;
  • Take part in meetings with the stakeholders to discuss the next steps of the EVR preparation process, provide guidance on the possible data collection exercise, agree on the training topics to be covered and other issues (special meetings will be organized with the expert team that prepared the revalorization study, as well as the expert responsible for drafting the management plan);
  • Give 2 – 3 days introductory training on the basics of economic valuation of ecosystems and its use in protection / restoration of ecosystems and operation of protected areas. The training will also be used as an opportunity to involve all relevant stakeholders in the process of preparing the EVR (the specifics of the training to be previously agreed with the UNDP/GEF project);
  • Provide recommendations on next steps / actions to be included in the management plan for ‘Ezerani’, or other planning documentation (e.g. in terms of data collection and analysis), to enable better future application of the demonstrated valuation approach.
Phase III: Drafting of the Report:
Based on the previous work planned under Phases I and II, prepare and submit the draft of the Economic Valuation Report for ‘Ezerani’ protected area. Through the valuation of the ecosystem goods and services, the report should attempt to justify the existence of ‘Ezerani’ protected area, as well as to confirm the feasibility of the restoration programme described in the revalorization study (through applying simple cost-benefit analysis). For the ecosystem goods and services whose values cannot be determined in the course of the assignment, (because of lack of data), best possible approximations should be made (to ensure demonstration of the approach). The report shall also elaborate brief analysis of the possibilities for generating revenues for the protected area from the potential/actual beneficiaries of the goods and services of the ecosystem;
Prepare and submit the final Economic Valuation Report and follow-up on comments and recommendations made by the UNDP/GEF project and stakeholders upon initial review of the draft;
Prepare short report on the economic value of the ‘Ezerani’, in simple and plain language, to be used for public information purposes (including preparation of a brochure/leaflet for general population).
 
Main Outputs - The main expected outputs of the assignment are:
  • A preliminary report setting out the process for preparation of EVR, based on the review of the existing documentation;
  • Economic Valuation Report for ‘Ezerani’ protected area;
  • A short report on the economic value of the ‘Ezerani’ ecosystem, prepared in simple and plain language, to be used for public information purposes;
  • Presentations and training materials to be used during the training workshop(s).
 

Competencies

  • Excellent communications and facilitation skills and excellent analytical skills.
  • Excellent public speaking and presentation skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualification Requirements:
  • Advanced university degree (minimum M.Sc.) in relevant area (Environmental Economics, Natural Resources Economics, Protected Areas Management, Natural Resources Management or similar). PhD will be considered an asset;
  • Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience (preparation of environmental valuation reports / studies, participation in projects involving protected areas valuation);
  • Record of participation in at least 7 successfully completed relevant assignments (environmental valuation reports / studies), in 2 of which s/he would have a leading role;
  • Previous experience in relevant assignments in the Balkans will be considered an asset.
Terms and Conditions
Timeframe
  • The assignment needs to be completed in a period of up to 4 months upon signing of contract. 
Reporting
  • The consultant will report to UNDP through the UNDP/GEF Prespa project office. The whole documentation needs to be submitted in English language.
Logistical support
  • Logistical support throughout the implementation of the assignment will be provided by the UNDP/GEF Prespa project, and the staff of the Natural Capital Resources Center. Support will be provided not only in organizing various meetings and trainings, but also in the field work, carrying out surveys, and other data collection exercises.
 Methodology
  • The interested experts need to submit a short methodology describing the approach and steps they plan to undertake to successfully complete the assignment. 
Travel and other associated costs:
 
The costs for the travel to and from the project region (DSA and transport costs) for the needs of the assignment will be covered by the UNDP/GEF Prespa project based on the applicable UNDP procedures Therefore, the financial offer submitted by the interested experts needs to contain the consultancy fee only.
 
Application procedure:
The Consultant is expected to provide the following: 
  • United Nations Personnel History form (P-11) () (CV of the Consultant)
  • Brief methodology and approach on how the assignment will be carried out including detailed timetable of the proposed activities;
  • Financial offer in USD expressed as daily fee per expert-day (USD/expert day); The offer submitted should only include the consultancy, as the other costs, which may occur in the course of the assignment (the travel related costs), will be reimbursed by UNDP in accordance with the applicable UNDP procedures
    Reference list of similar work/projects and contact details of the clients. 
Evaluation procedure:
The cumulative analysis approach will be applied in the evaluation of the applications. The contract will be awarded to the candidate achieving the highest cumulative score from the technical and financial parts of the proposal. The financial proposal will account for 30% of the total evaluation score.
 
Criteria
Weight
Max. Point
Technical
70%
70
·         Advanced university degree (minimum M.Sc.) in relevant area (Environmental Economics, Natural Resources Economics, Protected Areas Management, Natural Resources Management or similar). PhD will be considered an asset;
10%
10
·         Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience (preparation of environmental valuation reports / studies, projects i involving protected areas valuation);
20%
20
·         Record of participation in at least 7 successfully completed relevant assignments (environmental valuation reports / studies), in 2 of which s/he would have a leading role;
15%
15
·         Previous experience in relevant assignments in the Balkans will be considered an asset
10%
10
·         Methodology
15%
15
Financial
30%
30
 
Payments schedule
The payment for the services will be performed in three installments as presented in the table below:
MILESTONE
Percentage (%)
Upon submission of preliminary report
30
Upon submission of the draft EVR
40
Upon submission of final EVR
30
Total:
100