Background
Background
Ministry of Agriculture in China has developed the PRC-GEF Partnership Program on Sustainable Agricultural Development through extensive consultation with national and local government agencies with the support of three GEF agencies – UNDP, FAO and the World Bank. The programme objective is to:
- Strengthening coordinated approaches to reduce IAS threats to globally significant agrobiodiversity and agroecosystems in China (IAS project; PFD child project 2)
- Participatory in-situ conservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity in Hainan (Hainan agrobiodiversity project; PFD child project 3)
- Conservation and sustainable use of indigenous agricultural genetic diversity in Hubei (Hubei agrobiodiversity project; PFD child project 4).
Project Preparation Grants (PPGs) have been secured by UNDP to formulate these four full-size projects through situation analyses, identification and documentation of relevant baseline conditions, stakeholder consultations, identification of implementing partners and arrangements, consolidation of cofinancing opportunities, development of results frameworks having an integrated set of SMART[1] indicators and targets that monitor outcomes and key outputs, realistic assessments of risks and their mitigation, gender mainstreaming and social inclusiveness, identification and selection of target sites and pilot demonstration initiatives, and coordination with other initiatives.
This is the Terms of Reference for the procurement of up to nine GEF Biodiversity Project Development Specialists (International Consultants and National Consultants) to lead the development of the three child projects. Applicants may apply for one or two projects; they should indicate clearly for which of the projects they are applying and those able to commit to two projects are likely to be preferred. The three child projects are outlined below.
Child Project 1: Strengthening coordinated approaches to reduce invasive alien species (IAS) threats to globally significant agrobiodiversity and agroecosystems in China (R-IAST). This project aims to strengthen intersectoral coordination mechanisms, approaches and technical capacity for more effective prevention, control and management of IAS threats to agrobiodiversity in China.
Child Project 2: Conservation and sustainable use of indigenous agricultural genetic diversity in Hubei. This project aims to strengthen the in-situ conservation and sustainable use of globally significant agrobiodiversity in Hainan through the development of incentive mechanisms for farmers to sustain populations of endemic crops and livestock, the establishment of a supportive ‘enabling environment’ and strengthened institutional capacity.
Child Project 3: Participatory in situ conservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity in Hainan. This project aims to strengthen long-term conservation of Hubei’s globally significant agrobiodiversity, through enhanced provincial policy framework and institutional capacity, and the establishment of innovative incentive mechanisms and technical approaches to support in-situ conservation of indigenous agricultural varieties.
[1] Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
Duties and Responsibilities
Role:
The National Specialist, Environment & Ecological Security, will provide expert technical inputs and guidance to support the development and design of the full-sized UNDP-GEF project ‘Strengthening coordinated approaches to reduce invasive alien species (IAS) threats to globally significant agrobiodiversity and agroecosystems in China’. The National Specialist, Environment & Ecological Security, will work closely with the PPG Team Leader, National IAS Specialist, and national and provincial government partners, to deliver the following:
Competencies
Deliverables:
- Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews (Component A): Prepare inputs and support the required analyses/studies, as agreed with the PPG Team Leader, including:
a. Prepare inputs for the IAS baseline/situational analysis specifically on environmental impacts of IAS, particularly on agroecosystems and agrobiodiversity, and key IAS threats to ecological security including baseline projects, activities, budgets, and goals;
b. Support the baseline assessment of the capacity of MEP (using the UNDP Capacity Assessment Scorecard) and identify key training needs;
c. Support the definition of the agroecological landscapes, including environmental characteristics and priorities;
d. Support the stakeholder analysis and consultations, in particular by facilitating consultations and inputs from across MEP, and ensure that they are complete and comprehensive.
2. Formulation of the ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request and Mandatory and Project Specific Annexes (Component B): Prepare inputs and support the development of final PPG deliverables, as agreed with the PPG Team Leader.
a. the Stakeholder Engagement Plan;
b. the Gender Action Plan and Budget;
c. Contribute to the updated SESP, as needed, based on assessments undertaken during Component A;
d. Support the development of environmental and/or social management plan(s) for all risks identified as Moderate or High in the SESP; and
e. Support the agreements on project management arrangements.
3. Validation Workshop (Component C):
a. Contribute to the validation workshop; and
b. Support all necessary revisions that arise during the workshop, as appropriate.
4. Final Deliverables:
a. Provide inputs for the baseline report on IAS baseline, focussed on environmental impacts and threats of IAS to ecological security, and recommended project interventions to improve ecological security.
b. Appropriate inputs to capacity assessment scorecards and the final UNDP-GEF project document and GEF CEO ER based on guidance from the PPG Team Leader and National IAS Specialist.
Required Skills and Experience
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field, such as natural resources management, biodiversity conservation, environmental policy/planning and/or international trade/development;
- Minimum 10 years of demonstrable experience in the technical area of ecological security and prevention and management of IAS impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity, with experience in IAS threats to agrobiodiversity and agricultural landscapes an asset;
- Demonstrated understanding of political, legal and institutional context for IAS management in China;
- Fluency in written and spoken English and excellent written skills.
Applicants are requested to apply online. Individual consultants are invited to submit applications together with their CV and Offeror's letter for these positions.
UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that will take into account the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals. Qualified women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply.
Offeror’s Letter and proposal Download Link:
https://pan.baidu.com/s/1htG8IxA
Selection criteria:
Technical evaluation - 70% (includes 20% of Job Related Technical Expertise; 25% of Relevant working experience; 25% of Methodology & Approach to Assignment)
Financial Evaluation - 30%;
The final offer goes to the highest combined score winner.