UNDP Jobs - 71231- Individual consultancy – National

Individual consultancy – National - Land-Use Planning and Environmental Management Specialist.

Location :

Beirut, LEBANON

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

28-Mar-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

25 working days spread out over the period from April 2017 – December 2017.

Languages Required :

Arabic French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

25 working days spread out over the period from April 2017 – December 2017.

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

Current land management practices in Lebanon are not sustainable as they continue to erode the country’s natural resource base (soil, water, green cover, and landscape). While traditional practices such as terracing, controlled grazing and forest management have helped protect the land, modern practices have significantly altered the natural and social make-up of the land including perceptions of natural resources. Population growth, the continued loss of arable land and biodiversity, concerns about food security and the expanding infrastructure due to population growth and urban sprawl are major factors impacting land resources and the natural environment. Land degradation has been flagged as a serious environmental problem in Lebanon, resulting in losses estimated at US$132 million yearly. This is bound to be an underestimate due to the incomplete data, and damages and associated costs of environmental
degradation are certainly higher. Unsustainable growth is having a heavy toll on Lebanon’s natural resources with losses in forest cover, biodiversity and natural ecosystems, degradation of rangeland and desertification.
UNDP Lebanon in partnership with the Ministry of Environment is preparing a project proposal to be submitted to the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) which aims to work towards land degradation neutrality – restoring degraded land and preventing new degradation. The project plan is to survey and identify degraded land in mountain lands and high country environments of the North Lebanon and Mount Lebanon governorates and analyze the losses associated with this degradation in terms of lost agricultural productivity, deforestation and other loss of vegetation, loss of biodiversity habitats, reduction in environmental quality for ecotourism and outdoor recreation, reduced ecosystem services and ultimately unsustainable land use and impacts on society and communities. The project will assess why the baseline scenario is not working as it should and seek technical and institutional remedies which will be applied at a pilot scale to real-life impacts and problems.

Duties and Responsibilities

This consultancy is one of a number being set up by UNDP to formulate the project document and related documentation leading to project implementation. The Objective of this consultancy is to carry out the necessary survey work, assessments, consultations and other data gathering, and contribute the Land Use Planning and general Environmental Management elements of the project document.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Ability to function successfully as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, contributing from area of expertise and cooperating on common activities;
Ability to accept responsibility for area of specialization and take initiatives without supervision, but with the judgment of knowing when to ask for advice;
Access to efficient electronic communication.

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.

Kindly refer to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice and all related Annexes by visiting the below link:

http://www.lb.undp.org/content/lebanon/en/home/operations/procurement/

Please make sure to submit all the requested documents/information; otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

Graduate degree in land use planning, natural science, environment management, environmental law, environmental science or related field.

Relevant Experience:

At least 7 years of relevant work experience in land use planning and management including the regulatory, institutional and enforcement aspects.
Demonstrated adequate technical experience and know-how to undertake the necessary baseline surveys and assessment work;
Adequate knowledge and/or experience of Lebanese ecosystems and the protected areas system, and their legal and institutional foundations;
Experience in operating equally well at the political and senior decision-making levels, academic and technical circles, the private sector and grassroots community levels in Lebanon;
Familiarity with UNDP, its rules and regulations and its operational procedures;
Experience with GEF project design, implementation or evaluation is an asset.

Language requirements:

Excellent English and Arabic language writing and speaking skills.

Kindly refer to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice and all related Annexes by visiting the below link:

http://www.lb.undp.org/content/lebanon/en/home/operations/procurement/

Please make sure to submit all the requested documents/information; otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete