UNDP GEF Jobs - 25144- Consultant - Ecosystem and Biodiversity Project De

Consultant - Ecosystem and Biodiversity Project Development and Assessment (call of application for creation of roster)

Advertised on behalf of

UNDP GEF

Location :

Various countries within the Africa Region

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

10-Sep-11 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Contract duration will vary

Languages Required :

English French Portuguese

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

The UNDP Regional Coordination Unit (RCU) for Africa, located in Pretoria, is linked to the UNDP Regional Service Centre located in Johannesburg. The RCU serves to assist countries in the Region (Africa) to mobilize resources to address their development needs in the fields of Biodiversity and Ecological Services (including Sustainable Land Management), International Waters, Climate Change Mitigation and Climate Change Adaptation and to meet their commitments under the various international environmental conventions that they are parties to. The RCU assists countries in Region to move towards a low carbon, climate change resilient and sustainable development path.

Consultants may be utilized to undertake short-term assignments for the RCU in the preparation, management or evaluation of specific projects or programmes in countries in the African Region.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will be working with and reporting to the Biodiversity and Ecological Services (including Sustainable Land Management) Regional Technical Advisors (RTAs) of UNDP/GEF in UNDP Regional Coordination Unit in Pretoria, South Africa, and will be expected to undertake specific tasks in order to fully develop the GEF Biodiversity and Ecological Services (including Sustainable Land Management) projects and programmes. These tasks may include but are not limited to the following:

Assist the Regional Coordination Unit and the UNDP Country Offices in responding to the government requests for developing Project Identification Forms (PIF) for the nationally identified priorities in biodiversity and land degradation;
Be familiar with the existing land degradation and biodiversity portfolio under implementation in the respective country and propose ideas for combined biodiversity and land-degradation projects. This can be sector specific (e.g. agriculture, forestry, water management), but can also touch upon protected areas and carbon sink issues where feasible;
Based on desk review and mission travel to the country, develop a PIF in collaboration with the government, the UNDP CO and the relevant Regional Technical Adviser (RTA);
Based on the identified long-term solution to be sought by the project, identified the barriers hampering the achievement of this solution, the proposed outcomes and outputs, as well as accompanying impact indicators;
Identify potential co-financing contributions from potential partners of the project and in particular, advise on steps required for securing such co-financing contributions during the project preparation period;
Draft Project Preparation Grant (PPG) requests;
Assist the relevant RTA in providing responses to the comments on the PIFs and PPGs received from the GEF secretariat, GEF agencies and STAP and incorporate issues raised in to the revised documents;
Contribute to the project preparatory phase and work with the relevant governmental and non-governmental partners and UNDP in the development of the UNDP Project Document and other GEF required documentation, including letters of co-financing, project results framework, and others, based on the latest GEF requirements;
Review all comments received on the draft Project Document from countries, GEF Sec and other agencies and finalize the Prodoc for final approval;
Undertake independent evaluations (Special, Mid-Term and Terminal) of specific projects.

Competencies

Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.
Proven communication and leadership skills.
Fluent in English (written and spoken).
Excellent team player with good interpersonal skills.
Ability to manage workload with minimum supervision.
Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.
Ability to accommodate additional demands at short notice.
Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
Strong strategic planning, results-based management and reporting capabilities.
Display cultural, gender, religion, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum of an advanced university degree in environmental, natural or social sciences from a recognized university.
Successful applicants are expected to possess more than one of the following areas of expertise and proven experience in the respective areas in addition to the minimum qualifications specified above:
Policy or institutional development/implementation/reform related to Biodiversity and/or Sustainable Land Management resources planning/management.
Biodiversity and/or Sustainable Land Management project/programme development, implementation, or demonstrations at local, national and/or international levels.
Ecosystem based approach.
Ecosystem based adaptation to climate change.
Climate change adaptation in Biodiversity/ecological services (including Sustainable Land Management).
Project formulation, development, implementation, management, based on Logical Framework of Analysis.
Project or Programme level monitoring & evaluation for results-based management.
Multi-donor funded programmatic approach, which requires complex political, administrative, and technical coordination.
Development and/or implementation of strategic policy interventions with short-, medium-, and long-term objectives.

Experience:

Minimum 5 years proven and recent international experience with GEF Biodiversity or Land Degradation project development.
Knowledge of and experience with the GEF project development cycle, including the formulation of GEF Project Documents.
Knowledge of the latest GEF Focal Area Strategies in general and Biodiversity and Land Degradation focus areas in particular.
Experience in Africa is a strong asset.

Language:

Fluency in English is obligatory.
French and/or Portuguese required for certain countries.