UNDP Jobs - 79360- International Consultant on Watershed Economic Val

International Consultant on Watershed Economic Valuation Study

Location :

Home-based and Cambodia, CAMBODIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Jul-2018

Application Deadline :

22-Jun-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

50 days, and from July 01, 2018 to October 31, 2018

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

50 days, and from July 01, 2018 to October 31, 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

Land degradation is a serious issue in Cambodia posing a direct threat to food and water security since it affects agriculture productivity and water retention capacity of watersheds. It is linked with deforestation and forest degradation, and exacerbated by climate change perpetuating increased vulnerability to climate related risks in turn. The project title “Collaborative Management for Watershed and Ecosystem Service Protection and Rehabilitation in the Cardamom Mountains, Upper Prek Thnot River Basin (CoWES)” is designed to reduce pressures on upland watershed areas from competing land uses by demonstrating collaborative management and rehabilitation of agriculture lands and forest areas by promoting sustainable land management and stabilizing watershed catchment functions in a priority degraded area, Upper Prek Thnot watershed in Kampong Speu Province as identified by the National Action Plan (NAP) to Combat Land Degradation 2018 - 2027 The project consists of three interrelated components: i) On-farm soil conservation and agroforestry practices improved; ii) Community forest areas restored and sustainably managed; and iii) Watershed management and monitoring capacity improved. They are consistent with UNDP Cambodia’s Country Programme Document (CPD) 2016-2018 as it specifically requires “building resilience” by contributing to strengthening environmental services and the system of forest management and protected areas, including sustainable land and watershed management.

Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) is the Implementing Partner (IP), with support from a number of key relevant Ministries. To ensure effective engagement of stakeholders in order to establish institutional arrangements at provincial and district levels to lead watershed management programs and host M&E system in partnership with relevant stakeholders at various levels, various capacity development and trainings for communities as well as for national, provincial and district government officials will be provided by the project through consultation meetings and workshops to promote sustainable land and forest management practices in the targeted area.

CoWES aims to restore and maintain forest cover and watershed stability functions while providing for sustainable livelihoods and ecosystem services in the Upper Prek Thnot Watershed. In order to achieve this objective, the project will demonstrate or pilot Sustainable Land Management (SLM) technologies with local household (small landholders), introduce SLM and technical advices to agribusiness (large landholders and Economic Land Concessions - ELCs) and experiment on wider landscape management for protection of ecosystem functional services.

Under component 3, it is specifically focused on watershed valuation study and follow by the discussions at subnational level the issues dealing with micro watershed levels management, build consensus on watershed land and water use strategies and monitoring framework, and formation and capacity development of an interim Watershed Coordination Taskforce.

The CoWES project is now recruiting an international consultant to conduct for Watershed Economic Valuation Study focusing on direct and indirect benefits from protection of watershed ecosystem functions in term of value of conserved land resources, forest (biodiversity) and water resources that contribute to social, economic and political perspectives.

Duties and Responsibilities

The International consultant on Watershed Economic Valuation Study will work closely with the Project Manager, IP of the Project and UNDP CoWES Project Team to ensure the technical report reflect to current situation of micro and whole Preak Tnoat Watershed with comprehensive and applicable recommendations provided on the watershed management in association with SLM, forest and water conservation. The consultancy will focus on a set of direct and indirect incentives that will be successful in demonstrating, promoting and scaling up with small landholders, agribusiness, communities and local authorities (communes and districts) for SLM and ecosystem conservation practices in Preak Tnoat, including the micro-watershed at the upper part.

With closed collaboration with the CoWES project Team, MAFF and other partners such as Department of Agricultural Land Resource Management (DALRM), Mlub Baitong (National NGO), Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (PDAFF) and other stakeholders, the consultant will carry out the following 3 focusing areas:

1. To conduct economic valuation of Preak Tnaot Watershed (Public Policy Research) on direct and indirect benefits and values of Preak Tnoat Watershed and Ecosystem (of public interests). The study or research needs to look at economic benefits, social, biological and political values

Review relevant literatures, documents and available studies on the types of economic values for ecosystem services contributing to agriculture (farming), forest/biodiversity and water resources;
Review of legal system, policies, programs, plans, projects and practices that have an impact on decision-making regarding sustainable land management, forest restoration/rehabilitation and water conservation in Preak Tnoat and Upper Micro-watershed;
Contribute to stakeholder mapping, building on earlier mapping done by the project and discuss among valuation researchers and policy makers to prioritize the target uses of the valuation and thus help guide the orientation of the study.

Review applicable/suitable models for valuation including the UNDP recommended Targeted Scenario Analysis as well as relevant Cost Benefit Analysis of value-ecosystem services options and apply the appropriate model for valuation of these options. This would lead to the determination of monetary quantification (sensitivity analysis) of the ecosystem products and services for each targeted priority areas, including biodiversity, land resources and water resources of Preak Tnoat Watershed.

2. To contribute to the development of strategic development options and road map for Watershed and Ecosystem Management in collaboration with DARLM/MAFF:

Review relevant cases (international experience) relating to initiatives, best practices, lesson learned, of local and national schemes, and explore opportunities for watershed management and protected ecosystem functions in direct and indirect supports for agriculture , forestry and water resources;
Contribute to the development of a roadmap/strategy (short term—5 years and long term more than 10 years) for sustainable management of watershed and ecosystem protection (landscape management) in response to technological innovations (SLM, community forestry, eco-agriculture friendly, water conservation etc.) plus institutional arrangement;
Formulate communications/recommendations messages for public and private sector decision-makers, based on the values calculated/assessed, about the economic, social, biological rationale for protecting or conserving in farming land resources and forest/biodiversity conservation as well as water conservation;
Identify specific additional studies/analysis to strengthen the project and MAFF in scaling up SLM and sustainable ecosystem services to other areas (In or outside Preak Tnoat) in contributing to agricultural sustainable livelihood (small landholders), sustainable community forestry (CF)/community protected areas (CPAs), water conservation, NAP or national policies.

3. To review the current CoWES intervention (project document, studied materials), meeting and discussion with people and stakeholders at project target areas, provide technical recommendations or advices for micro-watershed management in supporting local livelihood and to generate/mobilize community/people and Local Authorities (LA) participations.

Currently, there is no institution as legal entity specific working on watershed management in Cambodia, therefore for this consultancy/assignment, the consultant will closely meet and discuss with the following:

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)
Department of Agricultural Land Resources Management (DALRM)
Forestry Administration (Forest Research Institute—APFNET Project)
Provincial Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
ELC Office (under Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)
Ministry of Environment
Ministry of Water Resource Management, and Meteorology
Ministry of Urbanization and Land Use Management
Cambodia program of the Mekong River Commission (MRC)
Ministry of Women Affairs
Sub-National Administrations (Provincial Administration, District Administration and Communes)
Relevant partner assisted projects on watershed management (e.g. FAO USAID)
Research institutions who have conducted various ecosystems valuation studies in other areas (CDRI, GM, SEI etc.)

Interested Offerors must visit this link http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=47128 to download Individual Consultant Procurement Notice, Terms of Reference, and Document Templates to be included when submitting this online application.

Competencies

Functional competencies:

Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
Excellent English written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports;
Ability to speak, read and write technical and conversational English;
Ability to understand new terminology and concepts easily and to synthesize information from different sources;
Skill in negotiating effectively in sensitive situations;
Skill in achieving results through persuading, influencing and working with others;
Skill in facilitating meetings effectively and efficiently and to resolve conflicts as they arise;
Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high-ranking members of international, regional and national institutions;
Displays sensitivity and adaptability to different cultures, genders, religions, races, nationalities and age groups;
Good oral communication skills and conflict resolution competency to manage inter-group dynamics and mediate conflicting interests of varied actors;
Good team player, self-starter, has ability to work under minimum supervision and maintain good relationships.

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;
Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in natural resource management, environmental economics, agricultural development, economy, public policy, disaster management, in development or related fields

Experience:

At least 5 years relevant work experience in ecosystems economic valuation
At least 7 years’ experience watershed or landscape management, sustainable land management, agriculture livelihood, ecosystem management.
Proven experience in managing project financed by GEF-Land Degradation and/or Sustainable Forest Management Fund, the Adaptation Fund, GEF-Least Developed Country Fund and/or Special Climate Change Fund;
Proven experiences on UNCDD projects or working related to integrated biodiversity conservation and agricultural improvement productivities.
Broad understanding of watershed governance and long-term perspective of strategy and policy for combating against land degradation and desertification
Experience in improved agricultural productivities, sustainable land and water management and biodiversity conservation.

Language Requirement:

Fluency in English

UNDP reserves right to reject any applications that is incomplete.

Please be informed that we don’t accept application submitted via email.

Interested Offerors are required to submit application via UNDP jobsite system as the application screening and evaluation will be done through UNDP jobsite system. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file. Your on-line applications submission will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Any request for clarification/additional information on this procurement notice shall be communicated in writing to UNDP office or send to email dalis.heng@undp.org and cc procurement.kh@undp.org . While the Procurement Unit would endeavor to provide information expeditiously, only requests receiving at least 5 working days prior to the submission deadline will be entertained. Any delay in providing such information will not be considered as a reason for extending the submission deadline. The UNDP's response (including an explanation of the query but without identifying the source of inquiry) will be posted in Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice page as provided above. Therefore, all prospective Offerors are advised to visit the page regularly to make obtain update related to this Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice.