UNDP Jobs - 76961- Provision of National consultancy services for the

Provision of National consultancy services for the development of Management plans for Rangelands outside Forests (RMP) in the districts of West Bekaa and Rachaya.

Location :

Beirut, LEBANON

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

15-Feb-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

80 working-days over a period of 8 months

Languages Required :

Arabic English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

80 working-days over a period of 8 months

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 Sustainable Land Management in the Qaraoun Catchment (SLMQ) Project aims at embedding sustainability considerations in land use planning and development activities in the Qaraoun Catchment. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Environment in Lebanon. The project is intended to reshape land and natural resource management to (i) alleviate land degradation, (ii) maintain existing ecosystem services and (iii) improve livelihoods in the Qaraoun Catchment.
The project objectives will be achieved by developing institutional tools upstream at national level which will provide the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) as well as related agencies such as the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, the Bekaa Governorate, and District Administrations and Municipalities in the districts of Zahle, Rachaya, and West Bekaa with the know-how, means and mechanisms for promoting sustainable land use as in the best interest of the land owners, farmers and communities as well as the nation.
The implementation of the proposed project will have an immediate environmental benefit, through the increased management efficiency of arable land and rangelands and the expansion of the area under forests through land use plans, buffer zones, and riparian strips. It will also contribute to the restoration of natural productivity and conservation of the habitats of various plant and animal species and valuable ecosystems and will secure migratory bird pathways.
As grazing remains socially and economically critical to rural livelihoods, high priority should be given to the sustainable management of the natural resources base that supports them. Indeed, grazing animals are a major practical method of exploiting natural vegetation and pastoralism and is considered an important economically, culturally and socially appropriate strategy for maintaining the well-being of rural communities, as it can simultaneously provide secure livelihoods, conserve ecosystem services, promote wildlife conservation and honor cultural values and traditions. Thus, the basis for action at the local level requires the implementation of national measures to manage rangelands and restore and rehabilitate rangelands identified in the districts of West Bekaa and Rachaya so as to ensure the sustainability of available resources.
In this context, the project is seeking to procure the services of a rangeland management expert to work under the guidance and supervision of the Project Manager (PM) to support the Project Team in the development of Management plans for Rangelands outside Forests (RMP) in the districts of West Bekaa and Rachaya including the establishment of their underlying elements in the Project Area.
This exercise will be done in close collaboration with an International Consultant contracted by the Project and whose main tasks is to develop the National Guidelines for the Management of Rangelands Outside Forests and in coordination with the MoA and MoE as well as local communities including municipalities, land owners, herders etc. to ensure the sustainability of the implemented measures.

Duties and Responsibilities

The herder’s main impacts on natural resources are intrinsically related to their use of trails and resources during their seasonal migration (transhumance) through the region. By documenting the livestock systems, transhumance routes and the natural resource management (NRM) upon these routes, this consultancy gives the information necessary to negotiate and collaborate with local stakeholders to introduce sustainable development and conservation into this region.
The objective of this consultancy is therefore to establish the basis for the development of Management Plans for Rangelands Outside Forests and to develop locally adapted management plans in the districts of West Bekaa and Rachaya.
The RMPs will ultimately lead to the improvement in the management of rangelands in the area and an increase in rangeland productivity as well as contribute to an improvement of local livelihoods by a more sustainable and equitable use of rangelands outside forests. Furthermore, the RMP shall constitute a working plan for the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as other public-sector authorities such as municipalities and other concerned stakeholders for the implementation and monitoring of RMP.
This consultancy is divided into the following tasks:

Task 1: Desk review of existing local rangelands management initiatives;
Task 2: Validation of the National Guidelines for Management of Rangelands Outside Forests and editing of the Arabic version;
Task 3: Assessment of rangelands management elements in the districts of Zahle, West Bekaa, and Rachaya;
3.1 - Assessment of small ruminants’ systems;
3.2 - Analysis of productive potential and stocking capacity of rangelands;
3.3 - Study of space use patterns by small ruminants;
Task 4: Development of management plans for rangelands outside forests for the districts of West Bekaa and Rachaya;
Task 5: Execution of targeted trainings for the adoption of RMPs.

Competencies

Functional competencies:

Proven knowledge of the existing related policies, legal and regulatory frameworks.

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:

Post graduate degree (MSc and/or PhD) in natural resources related field with extensive knowledge in herd management and rangeland ecology or related field.

Experience:

At least 7 years of working experience in rangeland resources management, rangeland inventory, monitoring and assessment;
Experience in working with central and/or local agencies/NGOs/herders on rangeland-related assignments;
Experience in GIS-based assessments of animal movements is an asset;
Experience in rangeland management planning at the local level;
International experience in rangeland management is an asset.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in English and Arabic languages. French is an asset.

How to Apply:

1. Read the additional information and annexes on teh UNDP lebanon website at http://www.lb.undp.org/content/lebanon/en/home/operations/procurement/

2. The consultancy is open for all national consultants who meet the selection criteria and propose a competitive fee. Interested consultants are requested to apply only through this UNDP jobs portal.

Submissions through any other media will not be considered.

The application must include the P11, technical proposal, Annex 3 (Offerors Letter) and the financial proposal in one single document and uploaded as word or PDF file to the UNDP job site.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.