UNDP Jobs - 73485- International Consultant/International GEF MFA Lea

International Consultant/International GEF MFA Lead Design Expert for the Preparation of a UNDP/GEF Full-Sized Project Document on Restoring Degraded Forest Landscapes and Promoting Community-based, Sustainable and Integrated Natural Resource Management

Location :

Asmara with field trips to the Project Sites, ERITREA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

10-Aug-2017

Application Deadline :

02-Aug-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

90 Working Days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

90 working days spread over 8 months (01 August 2017 – 31 March 2018)

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

The UNDP Eritrea Country Office is seeking a qualified international consultant/ International GEF Multi Focal Area (MFA) Lead Design Expert to lead Project Preparation activities in collaboration with two other international experts and three national consultants through a consultative process and prepare the documentation of a new GEF project, targeting the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF). From a technical point of view the Lead IC will be primarily responsible for the final expected products.

The goal of the consultancy is to develop the full-sized UNDP-GEF project document (with scope, strategy, and a well-defined result framework). The final outputs of the assignment will be:

A UNDP Project Document prepared per the official template; and
A GEF CEO Endorsement Request as per the official GEF template, which will be prepared in consultation with stakeholders and based on the project framework presented in the approved Project Identification Form (PIF) (annexed). Furthermore, all comments raised by GEF (GEFSEC, Council members and STAP) and countries will be addressed during the project development phase.

The proposed project will create the conditions necessary to mainstream sustainable land management, forestry and biodiversity conservation into land-use planning and agricultural production practices in the Nakfa Sub-Zoba. As indicated in the title of the project, the main approach for addressing land and ecosystem degradation and therefore promoting SLM and forestry and biodiversity conservation will be through the restoration of degraded ecosystems and landscapes so that they continue to provide the necessary ecosystem goods and services that guarantee that the livelihoods of arable and pastoral farmers remain viable. The project will promote enhanced social mobilization towards addressing land degradation and the upgrade of institutional and human resource capacity will improve implementation of on-the-ground measures – such as reforestation, enrichment planting, establishment of enclosures and agroforestry – to address environmental deterioration. There are few alternatives to ensuring food security in Eritrea, other than through intensifying agriculture and increasing agricultural productivity at household and farm level, but this has had significant negative consequences on Eritrea’s landscapes and ecosystems. The project will therefore demonstrate how agricultural development, landscape and ecosystem restoration/rehabilitation and sustainable forest management can be simultaneously achieved with tangible benefits for both the environment and local communities.

The proposed project is located in the Rora Habab Plateau, in the Nakfa sub-zoba. Rora Habab Plateau is situated approximately 250 km north-west of Asmara. The Plateau lies between 1,500m to 2,760m above sea level and extends about 40 km to the south, rising in many places up to 1,000m above the surrounding countryside. The juniper-olive woodlands and associated vegetation are important economic, ecological and cultural resources for local people.

The PPG will expand on the threats, long-term desired condition and baselines outlined in the PIF. This will include:

elaboration and expansion of the narrative on the threats to forests, rangelands, biodiversity and ecosystem services at national level in general and in the Rora Habab Plateau area (project area/site) in particular, quantifying the magnitude where relevant;
confirm the long-term desired condition, in view of these threats; and, confirm the baseline programs, clearly outlining their objectives, duration and budgets, and explaining the link between these expenditures and the proposed project outcomes (and activities where these are clear).

Duties and Responsibilities

The GEF MFA Project Design Expert/International Lead Consultant will be responsible for coordinating the work of all other consultants, and will ensure the quality and timely preparation of all reports and documentation.

More specifically, in coordinating Component E of the PPG (as articulated in PID), the consultant will complete the following tasks:

Provide an overall orientation to the PPG team in relation to GEF requirements for project planning and monitoring;
Provide methodological guidance for data collection related to project planning and monitoring with particular attention given to the description and quantification of the baseline investments;
Based on the inputs from national and international experts and in close cooperation with the key national stakeholders, compiles final baseline/situational analysis for the full-size project (FSP). This will include a precise definition of baseline projects, activities, budgets, goals and co-financial links to GEF outcomes; definition of GEF incremental value per outcome and output; presentation of results of the incremental cost-analysis in matrices;
Based on the inputs from national and international experts and the best international practice, prepare a quantified assessment of global environmental benefits for climate change mitigation, sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation;
Analyse the socio-economic benefits of the proposed interventions at national and local levels;
Based on the international experience, assists in reconfirming/specifying the project strategy, finalizing project sections on: (i) an assessment of the social, economic and financial sustainability of proposed project activities; (ii) assessment of alternatives to the project strategy and establishing the cost effectiveness of the preferred strategy and suite of activities; (iii) a replication strategy for project activities; (iv) assessment of the risks to the proposed project activities and identifying measure to mitigate these risks; and (v) incremental cost analysis;
Based on international and national experts’ inputs, develop project monitoring and evaluation system for the FSP;
With inputs from each of the consultants, review, conduct quality control and ensure accuracy and completion of each of the Tracking Tools for CC, BD, LD and SFM, including a set of indicators, baselines and targets;
Establish baseline and targets for indicators reporting on the UNDP Integrated Results and Resources Framework;
Elaborate a Project Results Framework;
Prepare M&E plan and budget;
Prepare an indicative Multi-Year Workplan, Monitoring Plan and Procurement Plan for the project;
Based on national experts’ inputs, draft ToRs for the key consultants/contracts to be employed by the project;
Based on national experts’ input, elaborate Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Plan;
Based on national experts’ input, develop action plan for incorporation of gender aspects in the project, with quantifiable baseline and target indicators, as per GEF and UNDP guidance;
Define recommended project monitoring and evaluation indicators;
Perform final reviews of the required project documentation; and
Conduct environmental and social safeguard screening following the UNDP procedure, producing the checklist and summary report. This process should fully address the concerns of the GEF Council on the need to safeguard vulnerable groups against child and forced labour and ensure that employment during project implementation is responsibly done and adheres to international best practice on Decent Work (in line with SDG 8, particularly Target 8.5 - By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value).

Competencies

Sound knowledge and understanding of forest restoration and sustainable land management;
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, in order to communicate complex, technical information to both technical and policy and general audiences, including strong policy advice skills.
Strong technical writing skills; and
Excellent coordination and leadership skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced degree (i.e.; Masters or equivalent) in relevant natural sciences/Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, social sciences or political sciences;

Experience:

Minimum 10 years of demonstrable experience in developing high quality project documents particularly for UNDP or GEF MFA, preferably in the area of Biodiversity, Land Degradation, Sustainable Forestry Management Mainstreaming, Climate smart agriculture and Climate Change Adaptation for targeting GEF funds;
Proven ability to verify, critically analyze data and information and to present finished work with a high degree of accuracy and technical quality in a relatively short time;
Work experience in Eritrea or the Horn of Africa and/or African countries preferred;

Language:

Full command of and fluency in English, with a high degree of proficiency in writing in this language is a requirement