Background

Sustainable natural resources and environment is integral for Cambodia to sustain its economic growth and its growing population. Whereas Cambodia has a body of laws that govern its natural resources and environment, there are no overarching principles that guide policies and laws towards the aim of sustainable natural resources management and development. In addition, overlapping jurisdictions and mandates among ministries over the governance of natural resources often created ambiguity concerning which ministry should own and manage a particular land and resource and for what purposes.

In order to tackle these challenges, in March, 2015, the Minister of the Ministry of Environment (MoE) made an official announcement of its goal to develop an Environmental Code, as a legal instrument to provide overarching guidance and direction towards the aim of sustainable development, and to bring clarity in terms of jurisdictions and mandates among line ministries to ensure efficiency, and effectiveness in achieving the goal.

Duties and Responsibilities

The expert is expected to provide technical inputs for the following sections related to the Code: 1) establishment of national conservation corridors, and 2) biodiversity management and endangered species protection, and related to the topics of wildlife and species management, biodiversity conservation, protected area management, wildlife trafficking, and wildlife farming. The main tasks include:

• Conduct thorough literature reviews including other countries’ laws and policies related to biodiversity conservation and utilize examples of successes and failures in conservation of endangered species (including wildlife farming), and management of protected areas and conservation corridors to inform the drafting of recommendations;
• The literature review should cover the following topics:
  • Types of classification of endangered species and protections of these species in Cambodia;
  • Analysis of CITES and other international agreements related to wildlife trafficking;
  • Analysis of other countries’ laws related to biodiversity conservation with best practices of species protection and conservation;
  • Issues related to all wildlife trade, including wildlife farming, prohibitions on hunting, trade, possession, sale of endangered species and prohibitions on import and export of endangered species;
  • Species management, including formulating species management plans;
  • International successful models in zoning and co-management of protected areas and corridors;
  • nternational best models in establishing "critical habitats" for endangered species and regulating use of land on which critical habitats are found.
• Drawing on the literature review findings, provide texts to be incorporated for the sections within the Environmental Code pertaining to wildlife and species management, biodiversity conservation, protected area management and wildlife trafficking;
• Liaise and work closely with members of STWG3-5 and other relevant experts as appropriate in the development of all recommendations and policy recommendations.

Interested offeror must read the Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice, which can be viewed at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=31653   for more detail information about term of references, instructions to offeror, and to download the documents to be submitted in the offer through online.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Knowledge of key factors that affect biodiversity and species protection in the region;
• Ability to coordinate with a variety of stakeholders including government, NGO and development partners.

Corporate Competencies:

•  Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
•  Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
•  Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
•  Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
•  Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

• At minimum, a master degree in Environmental Management, Forestry, Conservation biology, Ecology or a related fields.

Experience:

• At least 5 years’ working experience of biodiversity conservation, species management, in Southeast Asia. Working experience in Cambodia is a plus;
• Prior research experience in the field of biodiversity conservation and wildlife management.

Language Requirement:

• Fluency in English Language; knowledge of Khmer is asset.