UNDP GEF Jobs - 58571- Landscape-Based Management Planning Assessment Co

Landscape-Based Management Planning Assessment Consultancy

Advertised on behalf of

UNDP GEF

Location :

Mbabane, SWAZILAND

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2015

Application Deadline :

10-Aug-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Ninety days (90 days) spread out in a duration of Eleven months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Ninety days (90 days) spread out in a duration of Eleven months

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

Swaziland’s formal Protected Areas (PAs) cover approximately 4% of the country’s total land area, and are relatively rich in biodiversity with their share of endemism as represented in various ecosystems. Furthermore, the country has set targets for the conservation of its ecosystems and species in line with the National Development Strategy (Vision 2022) and other international targets such as the Aichi Targets under the auspices of the Convention on Biological Diversity. While some of the critical ecosystems and species are found in existing PAs, some are found in areas where there is prone to unstainable utilization and overexploitation of resources, thereby threatening livelihoods and impeding sustainable development.

The Strengthening National Protected Areas Systems (SNPAS) in Swaziland is a six years (2014-2020) Project funded by GEF aimed at developing, expanding and effectively managing the capacities of Swaziland’s PAs network in order to adequately protect the biodiversity. This will be undertaken through the “landscapes” approach towards sustainable development and will involve integrated land and natural resource management that transforms the current PA patchwork into network and enhance vulnerable communities’ livelihoods, in particular those adjacent to the PAs.

The SNPAS Project has been organised around three components: (i) knowledge-based platform operationalised at the national, regional and community levels to address current and emerging threats to PAs and biodiversity conservation; (ii Expansion of PA network, and (iii) strengthening PA functioning through improved conservation management and operational support for existing and new PAs, including both formal and informal. PAs will be established and managed in critical biodiversity areas as clusters, integrating different sites that are managed by the Government of Swaziland (GoS), the private sector and local communities and enable a matrix of complemental land-use activities across board.

In this regard, the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs (MTEA) seeks the technical services of an International Consultant (IC) to undertake a Landscape-Based Management Assessment and make recommendations for the SNPAS project Swaziland.

Objectives

The landscape-based management plans will be generated for systemic planning, identification of support areas and management identify vulnerabilities stemming from conservation, land-use and socio-economic/cultural issues. The investigation will inform the landscape-based management programmes, and inform the sustainable investments and interventions in the various communities in the country.

Scope

The assessment will encompass capturing land-use data and information, in light of conservation management needs. It will identify PAs and community-based income generation activities, including tourism in both formalised and informal settings.

Duties and Responsibilities

Working under the guidance of the Swaziland National Trust Commission, SNPAS Project Technical Committee with day-to-day support from the National Project Manager, the International Consultant (IC) will have the following activities:

Review the GEF Round 6 Guidelines on the landscapes approach as well as international, regional and national frameworks, policies, strategies for land-use and biodiversity management;
Assess land-use management status and capacities of communities in particular under the four clusters Malolotja, Mkhaya, Ngwempisi and Lubombo, in considerations of the biodiversity conservation, tourism corridors and its infrastructure in Swaziland. Highlight vulnerabilities to conservation management and the potential for the landscape approach;
Assess the governance and organization at community level, focusing on existing mechanisms for planning, monitoring and regulation of natural resources management and livelihoods;
Collate and review existing data on the current land-use situation in the identified areas through verification of the proposed protected and mapped areas, and conduct an analyses of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in relation to the functionality of PAs (SWOT analysis);
Provide an analysis of the existing conflicts associated with gender roles and norms, and recommend mechanisms for sustainable integration to PA management;
Highlight through an analysis, issues related to biodiversity loss due to the land use types and levels of degradation or resource depletion;
Recommend on: Biodiversity/Eco-tourism Connectivity Corridors and Buffer zones; Sustainable Utilization of Natural Resources options; Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) initiatives;
Recommend income generating activities (IGAs) and institutional arrangements that can be adopted with clear identification of risks and assumptions, indicators for monitoring impacts and baseline values for the annual Project Implementation Reports (PIR) and Biodiversity (BD) National, Regional and Global tracking tools;
Recommend on the mechanism on how to integrate and address the climate change vulnerabilities as they affect biodiversity and PA management and gender inequalities;
Develop a Communications Strategy and Capacity Training Programmes with full participation of the government, land/private, communities, NGOs and diverse stakeholders;
Develop three (3) Streamlined Landscape-based Management Framework and Plans for the four clusters and PAs in the country to be implemented based on international conservation standards – including illustrations.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the UN;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
Proven leadership skills, able to lead a team of national experts;
Sound judgment and strong client and results oriented;
Fluency in English and understanding of Siswati will be an added advantage.

Functional Competencies:

Proven experience working on the Protected Areas in southern Africa and Swaziland land use planning and implementation;
Strong knowledge of Biodiversity Conservation and knowledge of the policy and institutional capacity for the PAs;
Strong knowledge of actors in the PAs, Tourism and Biodiversity sectors;
Strong knowledge of the Access and Benefits approach to Conservation Management.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A university degree (preferably MSc or PhD) in a subject related to Biodiversity/Conservation Management, Land-use planning, and Environmental Sciences, Development Studies or related discipline.

Experience:

At least 10 years of experience in natural resource management, sustainable land management (preferably in the context of PA management);
At least 5 years of demonstrable project/programme management experience;
Working experience with ministries, national or provincial institutions concerned with natural resource management and environmental protection is a plus;
Advisory experience in effective PA management would be an asset;
Adaptive management knowledge and experience;
Experience working on GEF programmes;
Knowledge of Swaziland and Regional PA organisation would be an advantage.

Language:

Fluency in English and understanding of Siswati.