UNDP Jobs - 31594- Landscape Technical Specialists (2 Positions)

Landscape Technical Specialists (2 Positions)

Location :

Iringa, TANZANIA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

17-Sep-2012

Application Deadline :

17-Aug-12 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

5 years

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 Global Environment Facility (GEF) in collaboration with UNDP has committed US$ 6.3 million to support strengthening the Protected Area Networks in Southern Tanzania; by implementing measures that will contribute to improving the effectiveness of National Parks in addressing threats to biodiversity conservation. This project aims at creating a coordinated landscape management approach in the Greater Ruaha landscape (GRL) and Greater Kitulo-Kipengere landscape (GKKL) to serve as a shield against human-induced pressures on southern Tanzania’s threatened biodiversity. In addition, the project will provide planned, targeted and effective support to the operational capacity of core protected areas within those landscapes. These two landscapes will be managed for the conservation of biodiversity and landscape values, including aligned revenue generation opportunities and enhanced economic performance, for ecosystem services (which are better managed at landscape level), for optimum ecosystem functioning, and for sustainable protected area management

The project entails the creation of active and functioning inter-sectoral District land management coordination mechanisms between TANAPA, district authorities, the Wildlife Division (WD) and Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) and will also involve planning, implementation, and monitoring by key state and civil society partners. The resulting coordination mechanisms will be used primarily for integration of management of NPs and broader landscapes in Southern Tanzania in both the Greater Ruaha and the Greater Kitulo-Kipengere landscapes through ensuring both that biodiversity management in National Parks, and wildlife migration corridors and dispersal areas is factored into decision-making governing land use management and that operational capacity is sufficiently enhanced to manage PAs effectively.

This project also aims to demonstrate that all sectors can work together through an integrated approach and that the development of land management coordination mechanisms that involve the state, communities, civil society and the private sector in decision making can lead to better conservation and sustainable livelihoods. A model will be produced for conserving biodiversity through coordination mechanisms and landscape level management planning starting with the three ecologically linked PAs that form much of the area of the landscapes of Ruaha National Park, Mpanga Kipengere Game Reserve and Kitulo National Park.

The project coordination unit has been established in Iringa, lead by a full time Project Coordinator and supported by a part time Technical Advisor. Other staff includes a Project Accountant, three drivers and one office secretary. The two Landscape Technical Specialists being sought by this TOR shall be stationed in Iringa with considerable time spent from respective secondary bases at Ruaha and Kitulo National Parks and will form part of this team. The main role of the project team will be to coordinate the implementation of project activities including providing guidance to a team of consultants and existing staff in the respective protected areas and other partners (including those in the districts).

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Coordinator, the Technical Advisor (TA) and TANAPA the two Landscape Technical Specialists (LTS) will be responsible for providing overall technical backstopping to the Project activities in the respective Landscapes. Each LTS shall act as a lynch pin to coordinate activities on a landscape level between the partners. The first (Greater Ruaha) will be quartered in the Iringa project management unit with approximately 50% of time spent at RUNAPA headquarters and coordinate GRL aspects of the project. The second (Greater Kitulo-Kipengere) shall be based in the Iringa project management unit with approximately 50% of time spent at KNP headquarters and coordinate GKKL activities.

In order to gain maximum efficiency in project implementation, through the guidance and assistance of the PC, each LTS will be responsible for the implementation of landscape related activities. Where there are lessons learnt, intra-landscape cross-over issues, or higher level engagement required, responsibility will be closely guided in consultation with the PC. The LTS will work closely with landscape level committees for the GRL and GKKL respectively, and these committees will be responsible for forging linkage between the project and the different government PA agencies and communities.

The LTS will strive to ensure ownership and sustainability of the project through ensuring that project activities are integrated to other ongoing initiatives in the regions and district surrounding the respective landscape. The LTS will therefore provide sound technical advice to the Project Management Unit; the landscape Committee and partners surrounding respective landscapes as the basis for implementing project activities including the formulation and implementation of the participatory ecological monitoring and evaluation systems that are based on the best scientific evidence available, and generate lessons that should be documented and shared to inform future programming. The LTS is expected to adopt an on-the-job capacity building approach targeting the district technical teams in the participating district councils. Specific activities will include the following:

Coordinate, manage and monitor the implementation of the landscape level aspects of the project, ensuring that all the site activities are carried out on time and within planned budget to achieve the stated outputs;
Coordinate detailed budget and annual work plan preparation and revision of the Project Management Plan by field staff and government agencies in close liaison with the NPC
Assist and advise the NPC in the coordination of the work of all consultants and sub-contractors, ensuring the timely delivery of expected outputs, and effective synergy among the various sub-contracted activities as well as on site level activities and updates
Ensure financial resources are availed on time to implementing partners, government agencies and field staff
Manage the landscape level action project finance, oversee overall resource allocation and where relevant submit proposals for budget revisions to the PSC and UNDP as appropriate;
Coordinate and oversee the preparation of the outputs of the site actions and progress reports and share reports with all participating parties
Ensure effective communication with the relevant authorities, institutions and government departments;
Foster, establish and maintain links with other related national and international programmes and National Projects;
Assist with the organisation of National Coordinating Committee meetings;
Support the PSC in maintaining effective communication with the relevant authorities, institutions and government departments;
Assist with the identification of the consultants and experts, and supervise their performance, assist the PSC in ensuring that all the activities are carried out on time and within budget to achieve the stated outputs, especially where related to the appropriate landscape focus;
Assist the PC in the preparation and submission to UNDP, of regular quarterly progress and financial reports; as well as Project Implementation Report or Annual Project Report (PIR/APR), technical reports, for submission to TANAPA, UNDP/GEF, and Government Departments, as required in appropriate formats
Assist with the preparation and implementation of a project monitoring and evaluation plan including identification of appropriate project indicators able to reflect progress of activities as well as impact
Assist with minute taking and capturing and incorporating recommendations from PAC meetings into project execution and monitoring and evaluation plan
Assisting with providing information as needed to carry out any monitoring and evaluation activity as part of the UNDP/GEF internal guidelines
Assist the National Project Coordinator in liaison work with project partners, donor organizations, NGOs and other groups to ensure effective coordination
Contribute to capturing and documenting lessons from project implementation and make recommendations to the coordinating and Steering Committee for more effective implementation and coordination of project activities.

Competencies

The LTS will require substantial training and experience in environment and Natural Resources Management and conservation. In addition, experience in working with government staff, local Government authorities and research or private institutions and extensive involvement with technical support to project development, implementation and management. Prior involvement in implementing UNDP/GEF funded projects would be an advantage. In summary the LTS should have the following competencies:

Strong research and analysis skills, proven ability to plan, organize and effectively implement activities.
Ability to coordinate and work in teams, as well as in complex environments, proven experience in participatory processes, and in facilitating dialogue between Government, Development partners, private sector and civil society.
Strong communication and advocacy skills, understanding of UNDP/GEF functioning and reporting procedures.
Understanding of wildlife and landscape conservation and management.

Required Skills and Experience

At leastMasters Degree or equivalent in Natural Resources management; environment, economics or natural sciences with experience in research, project planning, implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation coupled with knowledge on Institution building.
A minimum of ten (10) years of post-graduate professional experience in the field of natural resources management.
Highly developed and proven communications and facilitations skills
Proven Experience of Engagement with both Government, Private Sector and Community Stakeholders
Thorough understanding of Landscape planning; forest, wildlife and biodiversity conservation issues including environment policies and governance systems
Project Management, Monitoring and Reporting Experience including ability to work in the field / in isolated conditions
Considerable knowledge of the southern circuit / southern regions of Tanzania
Proven experience of working within or closely with MNRT agencies / TANAPA will be an added advantage
Substantive knowledge of UNDP/GEF programming tools for planning, monitoring, and general knowledge of the UNDP Practice Areas, particularly Environment
Strong spoken Swahili an added advantage, knowledge of the GRL / GKKL landscapes a distinct advantage.