UNDP Jobs - 73070- Re-Advertisement for National Consultant for Econo

Re-Advertisement for National Consultant for Economic and Financial Analysis (Forestry Sector) -(Open to Myanmar Nationals Only)

Location :

Home-based with travel to Nay Pyi Taw and other locations in Myanmar, MYANMAR, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Jun-2018

Application Deadline :

30-Jun-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

40 working days

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

After four years of continuous economic growth and two years of particularly strong growth, economic growth in Myanmar in 2015 eased to 7% amid a supply shock from heavy flooding, a slowdown in new investment during an election year, and a more challenging external environment including lower commodity prices affecting Myanmar’s main exports. The elections of November 2015 and government transition in April 2016 created a general sense of economic optimism.

The impact of flooding from July to September 2015 on agriculture, which contributes almost 30% of the gross domestic product, contributed to a sharp rise in inflation peaking at 16% in October 2015. Due to the agriculture supply shock and declining commodity prices, exports declined by 12% in nominal terms in the first three quarters of 2015-2016 compared to the same preceding period. This has contributed to a growing trade deficit and pressures on the exchange rate. The agriculture sector is projected to bounce back over the short-term while investors’ demand for services and infrastructure construction are expected to be the main drivers of growth. As part of a broader effort to review natural resource management practices, the new government introduced a temporary ban on certain logging practices in July 2016.

Until 2006, most changes in forest cover were degradation as closed forest was converted to open forest. However, since 2006, while closed forest has continued to decline, open forest has increased much more slowly, thus indicating a greater role of deforestation. These patterns correlate with the politico-economic situation of the country. With limited foreign direct investment (FDI) in the early years of the millennium, logging was the major source of revenue for the government, whereas following political and economic liberalization, investment has become much more significant.

To be eligible to receive results-based finance for REDD+ results-based actions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Myanmar should develop the following elements:

A National Strategy or Action Plan
A national forest reference emission level and/or forest reference level
A robust and transparent national forest monitoring system for the monitoring and reporting of the REDD + activities
A system for providing information on how the safeguards on local community and forest biodiversity are being addressed and respected throughout the implementation of the REDD+ activities while respecting sovereignty

The Government of Myanmar is receiving international support from several bilateral and multilateral sources to prepare the country for implementing REDD+ under the UNFCCC, including through a UN-REDD National Programme. Additional funding will be sought from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) . Myanmar is still at an early stage of its REDD+ development process and a National REDD+ Strategy (NRS) is currently under development. The NRS will be supported by a National REDD+ Investment Plan (NRIP), which will provide a detailed breakdown of activities to be undertaken between 2018 and 2022, including clear budgets and approaches to financing.

UNDP Myanmar is supporting the development of the funding proposal to the Green Climate Fund through the provision of a team of technical experts.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under overall guidance of the international consultant on REDD+ financial and economic flows and in close collaboration with a broader team of experts, the national consultant will be responsible for mapping out the existing and potential sources of finance within the forestry sector relevant to REDD+ implementation in Myanmar (including from domestic government budget, private sector and international financial and technical partners). The consultant will also identify the scale of finance necessary for the development of the REDD+ Investment Plan, particularly to support the integration of various land uses, REDD+ and climate-smart objectives in national, provincial planning and budgeting.

The detailed scope and approach of work will be proposed by the International Consultant on REDD+ Financial and Economic Flows as part of the inception report. The assignment will build on the identification and quantification of relevant forest financial flows conducted at the national level as part of the elaboration of the resource mobilization framework of the national REDD+ investment plan.

The assignment will provide a deep-dive analysis into forestry financial flows at the national level, and up to two states/regions (to be determined). The approach taken will build on the work and results of multiple other assessments and will ensure consistency with the climate-relevant tracking approach developed. The consultant will take necessary actions under this assignment, while working in close coordination and consultation with the team of consultants on the development of Myanmar’s REDD+ Investment Plan (NRIP), Government, UN-REDD PMU staff and the UNDP Regional Technical Advisor. Key elements of the assignment are detailed below.

Under overall guidance of the international consultant on REDD+ Financial and Economic Flows, the first task will be to clearly define the proposed scope of work and identify the levels of forestry data assessment that is feasible within the existing time frame. It is anticipated that this will review and address the proposed scope, which is:

In conjunction with the national consultant working on the agriculture sector, highlighting potential specificities in the forestry sector:

Assist in the assessment of the budgetary process in Myanmar, identifying key actors, agencies, ministries involved in the budgeting process, as well as an overview of the budget coding system in Myanmar and consistency with the objectives of the assignment;
In close partnership with the team of consultants on the development of REDD+ Investment Plan, participate in the collection and processing of environment and land-use data for REDD+ Investment Plan development;
An assessment of existing and potential climate finance relevant to REDD+;
A definition of a methodological approach for:
- Ensuring necessary support from national and subnational stakeholders;
- Collecting quantitative and qualitative data from the domestic budget, ODA and, to the extent possible, the private sector in the forestry sector;
- Ensuring data consistency and avoiding double counting;
- Developing a typology for forestry investments, consistent with and related to national climate change and REDD+ policy frameworks;
- Managing data in a spreadsheet and coding per relevant categories for the analysis.

More specifically to the forestry sector:

Provide inputs in the assessment of international donor and private sector financial flows within the forestry sector and the breakdown of financing between national and subnational entities;
Review of government spending and break down of expenditures between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation/Forestry Department (MONREC/FD) and State/Region Forestry Departments (within state/region governments) and how this spending is broken down by areas of technical work;
Public financing flows (i.e. government funds, including staff salaries and funded policy instruments for the forestry sector (e.g. fiscal policies, taxes, levies, etc.)) linked to the main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation; and (existing and potential) finance for the implementation of policies and measures (PAMs) to address these drivers (as set out in Myanmar’s draft National REDD+ Strategy); The level of revenue generated through taxation, levies and other fees that flows as a result of forestry production and where possible where this finance is held / subsequently disbursed;
A review of existing planning frameworks influencing forestry investments at the national and subnational levels, including private sector investment related to development of infrastructure;
An assessment of the existing financial management structures within MONREC/FD for the above noted finances;
Opportunities to re-direct finance flows that are supporting activities linked to deforestation and forest degradation (e.g. alterations of fiscal frameworks);
Private sector financing sources: including finance for the implementation of sustainable production systems, e.g. certification schemes for agricultural (“forest friendly”) commodities and sustainable timber;
The results of the assessment presented in infographics which will be developed by the International Consultant to support easy dissemination to stakeholders;
Draw relevant conclusions and recommendations with regard (but not limited) to:
- The amount of forestry investment contributing to REDD+/climate-smart objectives in Myanmar;
- Gaps between current forestry finance flows and needs, both in terms of volumes and activities being financed;
- Potential barriers identified in financial flows at national and sub-national level;
- Opportunities for redirecting public forestry finance towards REDD+ objectives;
- Recommendations for financing the National REDD+ Strategy and selected policies and measures in Myanmar;
- Opportunities for public finance to support private REDD+-relevant investments in Myanmar;
- Opportunities and needs to improve coherence and coordination between national and subnational level forestry spending.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards and acts in accordance with the Standards of Conduct for international civil servants;
Advocates and 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.

Functional Competencies:

Good knowledge of the natural resource management particularly lake and watershed management, the concept of sustainability and sustainable development in the region and developing countries;
Ability to quickly grasp and synthesize inputs from a range of disciplines related to environmental conservation and lake management;
Ability to advocate and provide technical advice on the relevant sector/theme;
Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision;
Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners, respectful and helpful relations with all UN/UNDP staff;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master degree or higher in economics, forest economics, natural resource economics or other closely related field.

Experince:

At least 8 years of relevant work experience in areas such as economics of climate change, institutional capacity-building for public administrators on economics and finance development planning and budgeting, development management, public administration and related initiatives
Experience working with and delivering support to Governments;
Track record of applied research on the economics of climate change impacts, economics of climate change and impact evaluation assessments;
Experience working in capacity building for climate change is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English is mandatory.
Must be a Myanmar national

For more details and documents to be download following link: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=38064