UNDP Jobs - 11018- Consultant on bat fauna

Consultant on bat fauna - COAST

Location :

Split, CROATIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

30-Jul-09 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Duration of Initial Contract :

up to 25 working days within a period of 9 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

up to 25 working days within a period of 9 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

The UNDP-GEF project COAST focuses the problem of biodiversity and landscape protection and conservation in Dalmatia within a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral context. The project will help Croatia seize the opportunity to improve the conservation of globally significant biodiversity in the Dalmatian coastal region before tourism and related economic development cause irreversible damage to the ecosystems. Therefore, the overall objective of the COAST project is to ensure that the development path of the Croatian coast is environmentally friendly, with the conservation of biological diversity firmly mainstreamed into that development path. The Project will work at several levels: i) national– by promoting reform of the enabling environment; ii) regional (sub-national) - by integrating biodiversity concerns in development planning; iii) local – by developing and implementing, at 4 demonstration sites, best practices for Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) aimed at bio- and landscape diversity conservation and protection; and iv) sectoral – by working directly with the private sector and by making key industrial sectors biodiversity friendly.

More information can be found at www.undp.hr/coast

Objectives of the assignment

The main objectives of this assignment are the following:

- to advise on possible new development plans and projects that might have an impact on area important for bat populations within the National Ecological Network (NEN) and proposed Natura 2000 network,

- to provide expertise, guidance and quality control on Natura 2000 topics regarding bat fauna and bat conservation in COAST project area,

- to help introduction and implementation of Nature Impact Assessment (NIA) procedure in coastal area,

- to raise awareness of the importance of the conservation of bats.

Duties and Responsibilities

The tasks will include but are not limited to the following:

Advising to the COAST team on introduction of Natura 2000 with special emphasis on habitats important for bat species and related activities to be undertaken by the COAST Project,
expert advising and quality control in assessment of potential imapcts upon the bat fauna expected at the planned locations for wind power plants,
Participating in round tables, workshops, conferences on Natura 2000 network, NIA practicies and related environmental issues within the COAST project as requested by and agreed with the Project Manager (PM),
Provide assistance or services, within respective field of responsibility and competence, on ad-hoc basis if needed and requested by the Project Manager,
Co-operate with other members of the Project Core Team of Experts, under the co-ordination of the PM.

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience

The consultant should have:

• At least a Masters degree (or its equivalent) or higher in the field of natural sciences,

• Competency in zoology with relevant expertise in bat ecology,

• Good knowledge of international and national situation and trends in biodiversity conservation; particularly in Natura 2000,

• Good understanding of the institutional and legal context of environmental and nature protection sector in Croatia,

• Familiarity with the activity area,

• Good communication and stakeholders management skills,

• Fluency in English, both written and spoken, and

• Good writing, presentation and reporting skills

OFFERS

Please take time to read the following instructions carefully. Failure to follow instructions will result in automatic disqualification.

The offer should consist of:

· Letter of Intention in English

· Personal History Form, in lieu of CV that can be downloaded at http://www.undp.hr under Jobs.

· Financial Offer with the Consultant daily fee (can not exceed 200 US$).

The candidates shall seal their Offers in one outer and two inner sealed envelopes. Both inner envelopes shall indicate the name and address of the candidate.

One inner sealed envelope should contain Letter of Intention and Personal History Form what should be clearly indicated on the envelope.

The other inner sealed envelope should contain Financial Offer what should be clearly indicated on the envelope.

The outer envelope shall be addressed to:

UNDP, Radnicka cesta 41/8, 10000 Zagreb
(Job Application - Consultant on bat fauna)

The prospective candidates should submit their offers at their earliest convenience but no later then 30 July 2009.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Selection criteria:

The evaluation criteria are attached for ease of reference.