The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), acting as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is providing assistance to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR) in the implementation of the GEF BD Enabling Activity (BD-EA) project “National Biodiversity Planning to Support the implementation of the CBD 2011-2020 Strategic Plan in Republic of Azerbaijan”.

This project is part of the second generation of Biodiversity Enabling Activities (BD EA) under the GEF. Azerbaijan has been Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) since 2000. The project addresses the country’s need to continue to fulfill its obligations under the CBD, with particular focus on the Convention’s Article 6 and the CBD COP Decision X/2. The project builds on the current status and achievements of Azerbaijan with respect to biodiversity planning and reporting. It aims to integrate Azerbaijan’s obligations under the CBD into its national development and sectoral planning frameworks through a renewed and participative ‘biodiversity planning’ and strategizing process. This process is expected to produce measurable targets for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. It will equally ensure that the value of ecosystems’ goods and services, as well as the challenges and opportunities for ecosystem-based adaptation and resilience are taken into consideration in the process. The project will achieve its objective through the implementation of three components, whose activities are thoroughly described in the GEF approved proposal for BD EA. They are: (1) A participative stocktaking exercise on biodiversity planning takes place and national biodiversity targets are developed in response to the global Aichi Targets; (2) The NBSAP is developed and it fully integrates new aspects of the CBD strategic plan, such as mainstreaming and anchoring the implementation of the plan into national development frameworks, valuing ecosystem services and promoting ecosystem-based adaptation and resilience; and (3) National frameworks for resource mobilization, Convention reporting and exchange mechanisms are strengthened.

 

Specific tasks and responsibilities are as follows:    

• Draft a clear roadmap, work plan on the scope of services and project tasks to be accomplished under the guidance of the Project Manager, key national implementing partners and the UNDP technical staff.
• Play a pivotal role in designing the process (including participatory activities) for producing the NBSAP, specifying and coordinating the outputs of all consultants, as well as overseeing the technical quality of deliverables.
• Provide guidance for reviewing and stocktaking of products and results from previous biodiversity planning processes at the national level. Based on existing studies and analyses, identify key gaps in the existing NBSAP, understand the primary drivers and root causes, means of overcoming barriers and challenges. The main output of this exercise will be a stock-taking report.
• Work closely with the Project Manager and project team in setting national targets, principles, & main priorities of the strategy. In particular guide the development of the National Aichi Targets in response to the Global Aichi Targets and ensure their incorporation into the NBSAP
• Ensure that all climate change-related issues highlighted in the second National Communication to the UNFCCC that affect Biodiversity (Adaptation) or affected by Biodiversity (Mitigation) are integrated and addressed in the final NBSAP.
• Ensure that all lessons learnt in the mainstreaming of biodiversity into the production sectors (this includes measures against Invasive Alien Species) and all above mentioned reports and studies are incorporated into the NBSAP.
• Integrate integration of the NBSAP implementation plan with the CBD Programme of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA).
• Provide detailed comments and feedback on  draft and revised versions of all studies and reports of the NBSAP activities to the Project Manager, key national implementing partners and UNDP technical staff, per reporting timelines agreed.
• Assist in developing an effective, user-friendly and easily updateable country-driven CHM (clearinghouse mechanisms) that is linked up to the CBD’s global CHM networks and to other information and knowledge exchange network on biodiversity.
• Contribute to identification of implementation partners for undertaking the various activities and develop an overall implementation plan.
• Contribute to ensuring that institutional leadership for implementation is established and strategic partnerships forged (nationally and internationally), needs assessments on capacity, technology and finance are carried out, a strategy for resource mobilization for the implementation of the NBSAP is produced and includes a baseline of existing biodiversity finance.
• Submit a final draft of the NBSAP to the Project Manager, incorporating stakeholder inputs and guidance provided.
• Provide guidance to help ensure that the national targets, developed in line with the global Aichi Targets, are duly monitored during the project duration and beyond, and this is reported to the CBD through the 5^th national report and other means.
• Contribute to and guide the development of the 5^th National Report to the CBD

      

 
Core competencies:

• Demonstrate commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values
• Displaying cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional competencies:

• Ability to work together with UNDP Project Manager, the Project Team and stakeholders
• Outstanding communication and presentation skills
• Outstanding time-management, organizational and inter-personal skills
• Sharing knowledge and experience, communicating ideas and managing information flow
• Strong team building skills, team management
• Respond positively to feedback and differing points of view
• Planning, organizing and multi-tasking
• Analytical thinking