UNDP Jobs - 77214- Consultancy for SMSMCL Project

Consultancy for SMSMCL Project - Land Use Survey Specialist

Location :

UNDP MCO, SAMOA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

05-Mar-2018

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

40 working days

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

The project will enhance Niue’s capacity to effectively create and manage protected areas for biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of natural resources, and safeguarding of ecosystem services. It focuses on the expansion of its protected estate on land and on its marine areas through a combination of community conservation areas and government-led protected areas. In Community Conservation Areas, both strict protection and sustainable use zones will be identified and planned carefully, using innovative protection tools recognizing that tenure over most land areas is vested in local communities. This project has been designed to engineer a paradigm shift in the management of terrestrial, coastal and marine protected sites from a site-centric approach to a holistic “ridge to reef” comprehensive approach. Through this approach, activities in the immediate production landscapes adjacent to marine and terrestrial protected areas will be managed to reduce threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services stemming from key production activities (e.g. tourism and agriculture). Additionally, the project also introduces the concept of connectivity between landscape and seascape in Niue. Terrestrial protected areas will include a landscape that links strictly protected community areas (tapu) to each other to enhance their integrity and to form a functional ecological corridor between them. Similarly, the creation of a Marine Protected Area at Beveridge Reef also satisfies the integrated and holistic approach promoted by the project by recognizing the link that is thought to exist between the Reef and mainland Niue through which the former serves as a source of recruitment for clams and other marine species that make up Niue’s coral reefs.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Land Use Surveying Specialist is expected to carry out land use surveys of the entire island based on available information supplemented as necessary by field survey to fill any significant gaps. The Expert will work alongside a Cultural and Heritage Expert who will be conducting a national survey of cultural resources.

The Specialist will undertake the following tasks:

Source, collate, review and map onto GIS all land use information and determine relevance, reliability and gaps;
Design survey approach (to extend to the edge of the reef and including caves) in consultation with the PIU and Lands & Survey to ensure local participation (including working committee members and Niue High School students), sharing of local/traditional knowledge, capacity building and training;
Conduct survey to fill in gaps and assemble and transfer new data collected onto GIS mapping systems;
Provide a comprehensive report that sets out the results and includes some analysis of changing land use patterns and activities that present possible threats to biodiversity;
Assist the Project team (PIU) in presenting results, data, graphs, maps and photographs in simplified presentations for translation in Niuean language to key stakeholders and village communities.

Competencies

Demonstrates commitment to the Government of Niue mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Good inter-personal and teamwork skills, networking aptitude, ability to work in multicultural environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

At least a degree in Land Use Policy and Planning, Land Management or in a field relevant to the above assignment;

Experience:

Minimum of 3 years professional experience in projects related to land use and planning;
Demostrable skills in office computer use - word processing, spread sheets, etc;
Knowledge of possible Climate Change impacts on agriculture and rural environment and livelihoods;
Knowledge of community-based natural resource management, social land management, coastal reef planning and management, land tenure and management issues in Niue and advantage as well as possible climate chang impacts on agriculture and rural environment and livelihoods;
Good understanding of national, regional and international policies and agreements related to sustainable land managment;
Ability to transfer analytical results into simple and workable solutions;
Working experience in government projects in Niue an advantage;

Language:

Excellent english written and communications skills

Note:

Please visit the procurement website to download copy of the TOR and relevant templates to assist with your proposal: http://procurement-notices.undp.org.

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document or send all documents to procurement.ws@undp.org