UNDP Jobs - 71290- Agroforestry Expert toProvide Technical Support fo

Agroforestry Expert toProvide Technical Support for Community-based Climate-smart Agro-forestry and Woodlots Interventions in Sierra Leone

Location :

Freetown, SIERRA LEONE

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

05-Apr-2017

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

120 days (April to December 2017)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

120 days (April to 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

Sierra Leone is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of global climate change. This is exacerbated by uncontrolled deforestation, partly due to unsustainable agricultural methods and charcoal production. While charcoal/fuel wood provides a key source of rural income and energy Sierra Leone does not have adequate wood-fuel policies or certification procedures, strategies or programmes in place.

The external pressures caused by unsustainable charcoal production and rapid deforestation are threatening the sustainability of the natural environment and its ability to perform ecological services. This in turn poses a grave challenge to sustainable socio-economic development and resilience as the vast majority of the rural population in Sierra Leone relies on natural resources for their livelihoods and nutrition

Sierra Leone’s third Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper aims to pursue economic development without creating additional burdens on natural resources, thereby preserving ecosystems that are critical to maintaining the quality of life and providing environmental services to society. UNDP supports the Government of Sierra Leone with interventions designed to enhance livelihoods in ways that are both economically and environmentally sustainable.

As part of this approach, UNDP is supporting pilot community-owned woodlots and agroforestry (and associated livelihoods) initiatives in two districts; production of certified charcoal, climate-smart agroforestry. The interventions are designed and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Energy, National Protected Areas Authority and the National Secretariat for Climate Change (EPA).

To support this, the UNDP sought the services of an expert to provide technical support for the establishment of woodlots and climate smart agroforestry initiatives while enhancing capacities of the local communities for nursery and woodlot maintenance, and develop recommendations for upscaling. The Agroforestry expert will provide technical support to increase the success of the abovementioned interventions and ensure that the communities where the woodlots have been established are informed on the technical knowledge to facilitate capacity enhancement.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Local Agroforestry Expert will work under the supervision the UNDP-GEF Project Manager and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, NPAA, EPA and the Local Councils within the areas that the woodlots have been established. The Consultant will be required to perform the following tasks;

Assessment of existing proposals for agroforestry interventions in the targeted communities, and development of recommendations for strengthening the interventions;
Assessment of bioenergy hotspots in Tonkolili District (Rochain Malal village) and Bombali District (Makarie village) in the Northern region of Sierra Leone for scale out project interventions;
Provision of advice on procurement of seedlings and tools for climate smart agroforestry;
Provision of technical advice on the production of certified charcoal;
Development of training modules and provision of training for targeted communities;
Development of recommendations for future support and possible up scaling;
Design and provide technical oversight in the construction of the Bioenergy Resource Centre and water points in target communities;
Design community nursery and provide guidance on nursery development and training for seedling production in target beneficiary communities by June;
Provide technical support in the expansion and establishment of bioenergy woodlots and bioenergy resource centres in target communities (Mawoma and Rochain Makarie) throughout contract tenure;
Conduct training on preventive management against bush fires for targeted communities;

Deliverables

Based on the scope of work outlined above, the contractor will be expected to deliver the following outputs;

Detailed work plan including timeframes, to be submitted to UNDP for review and approval within the first week upon signing the contract.
Recommendations for the management of the established community based woodlot in the Mawoma axis in Port Loko District submitted within three weeks of signing the contract.
Assessment report on bioenergy hotspots in Tonkolili District (Rochain Malal village) and Bombali District (Makarie village) in the Northern region of Sierra Leone for selection to scale out project interventions by March.
Lists of items to be procured, submitted within third week of March 2017.
Conduct training on preventive management against bush fires for targeted communities by April.
Design and provide technical oversight in the construction of the Bioenergy Resource Centre and water points in target communities by May.
Design community nursery and provide guidance on nursery development and training for seedling production in target beneficiary communities by June.
Provide technical support in the expansion and establishment of bioenergy woodlots and bioenergy resource centres in target communities (Mawoma and Rochain Makarie) throughout contract tenure.
Draft report including an overview of lessons learnt and recommendations, submitted by November 24th 2017.

Final Summary Report, submitted no later than 8th December 2017.

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant is expected to work from his/her home and is expected to use his/her own laptop access to communication facilitates and Internet. The consultant will undertake regular missions to the pilot sites in Northern Sierra Leone The cost of the above missions should be reflected in the financial proposals of the consultant. The consultant is expected to arrange her/his own travel and be responsible for accommodation when at the pilot sites. The fare will always be “most direct, most economical” at no additional cost to UNDP and any difference in price with the preferred route will be paid for by the consultant. Travel costs (fixed and non-negotiable) for above mission travels shall be included in financial proposal of applicants.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Treats all people fairly.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

Demonstrated knowledge of environmental challenges in Sierra Leone
Strong analytical skills, particularly applied to environment profiling

Functional Competencies:

Building Strategic Partnerships
Ability to identify needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners.

Results Orientation

Ability to take responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved.

Team Work and Communication skills

Excellent time management, monitoring and evaluation skills.
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback.
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.
Knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advance degree in Forestry, Agroforestry, or related professional field.

Technical Experience

At least five years’ experience in agroforestry issues and adequate knowledge in climate-smart operations will be required.

Language Requirement

Fluency in written and spoken English.
Strong reporting and presentation skills.

How to apply

Qualified candidates are hereby requested to apply. The application must contain the following:

Brief letter of application.

Personal CV or P11, indicating relevant professional experience, as well as the contact details (email address and phone number) of at least three professional references.
Brief description (max. 1 page) of the proposed methodology on how you intend to complete the assignment.
Financial proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price supported by a breakdown of costs (including professional fee, international travel, and specified other costs if applicable)

Note:

The information in the breakdown of the offered lump sum amount provided by the offer or will be used as the basis for determining best value for money, and as reference for any amendments of the contract.
The agreed contract amount will remain fixed regardless of any factors causing an increase in the cost of any of the components in the breakdown that are not directly attributable to UNDP.
Approved local travel related to this assignment will be arranged & paid by UNDP Sierra Leone.
Visa will be arranged and paid by UNDP Sierra Leone.
The contractor is responsible for arranging and meeting the cost of their vaccinations and medical/life insurance.

Please note that applications will only be considered if they include ALL of the items listed above. Also note that this website only allows for one document to be uploaded, so please combine all of the abovementioned items into one single Word or PDF document before uploading.

Evaluation Criteria

Offers received will be evaluated using a Combined Scoring method, where the qualifications and proposed methodology will be weighted 70%, and combined with the price offer, which will be weighted 30%.Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the Technical Evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation. Criteria to be used for rating the qualifications and methodology:

Technical evaluation criteria (total 70 points):

Professional qualifications and experience with respect to the TOR: 25 points.
Methodology of approach in accomplishing the consultancy including though not limited to (a) stakeholder engagement strategy, (b) timeline, (c) strategies addressing possible risks and barriers and management responses: 45 points.

Financial evaluation (total 30 points):

All technically qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below. The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals receive points according to the following formula: p = y (µ/z) where: p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated; y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal; µ = price of the lowest priced proposal; z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

Payment Modalities

The consultant is expected to submit the periodic monthly reports as indicated in the deliverables (iv above). Payment to the consultant will be made a monthly basis upon satisfactory completion of the about deliverables.