Background

UNDP / AICS Project on Improving coverage and effectiveness management of MCPA Phase II, has supported country network of marine and coastal protected areas (MCPAs) as an essential complement to its network of terrestrial PA and contributes to Albania’s obligations under different UN Conventions and the EU accession process. However, multiple stages of development must be accomplished before an Albanian ecologically representative MCPA network is fully realized and provide coastal communities with sustained benefits from the marine and coastal environment. In this scope, UNDP, jointly with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, using such momentum of efforts and insights achieved into marine ecosystems assessment, intends to expand the system of Albanian PA, increasing it at 6 % of the coastal and marine areas coverage by 2020 (which is still less than 10 % of Aichi targets, but nonetheless, indicated target and MPA approach followed, represent a proven methodology for the conservation of marine habitats and populations), ensuring better biogeographically representation, as well as higher management effectiveness, and diversification of revenue sources.

In view of these, under Output 3, the project is supporting analyses and establishment of the MCPA network by replicating the K-S MPA model and experiences gained so far, applying general principles in designating and establishing new MPAs, tackling issues such as gap analysis of the existing information, obtaining necessary data for developing a dedicated database with specific records from key locations throughout the marine sites of Albania, networking with priority areas for protection and main coastal community representatives / stakeholders.

The project is developing and planning to apply a BIO-GIS Master Plan tool to increase nature protection and manage economic values of biodiversity, addressing the big gap on standardized quantitative data on marine species in Albania. The biotic component of the master plan will be very useful in underlining the ecological effects of ecosystem fragmentation, the sustainable management of resources in harmony with natural dynamisms and the evaluation of related problems. The expected results from the BIO GIS MP of the K-S MPA could allow to know and evaluate the buffer effect of both direct and indirect economic bene?ts coming from the activities planned or actually taking place in the MPA, like: sport ?shery, traditional but also touristic ?shery, diving excursions, snorkeling excursions, apnea excursions, whale and dolphin watching, science citizen projects, VR Video 360 for an immersive experience for the schools or tourist, Visitor Center activities, Turtles Hospital and many other activities. This way, BIO GIS Master plan becomes a very useful tool to better plan and manage the K-S MPA and future new MPAs along Albanian coasts. It is very interesting to realize a digital cartographic instrument able to show at every level of stakeholders a sort of actual and future projection on territory (both on environment and economic level), of every decision taken about the MPAs, representing an important multidisciplinary tool of integrated analysis, and even, a significant input to the socio-economic development of the MPA namely, the management elements to identify habitats considered as strategic environmental resources, to frame the incompatibilities existing with environmental resources between economic activities launched and those to be started, to formulate possible future development scenarios, to evaluate the price of biodiversity, to calculate future self-financing incoming from direct-indirect-others bene?ts linked to MPA and to prepare guidelines (Good Practices) for planning territorial development of the KS MPA, exactly like a fundamental instrument to create and manage future Albanian MCPAs.

Duties and Responsibilities

The scope of the assignment is to support the ecological assessment of main coastal MPAs, aiming completion of the quantitative survey of these sites, with existing (available) information and data on habitats and ecological status, strengthening the knowledge and capacity for MCPA management, biodiversity monitoring and reporting;

The methodological approach of this process responds to data supply / requirements for MPA network, biogeographic regions mapping, list of OSPAR Threatened & Declining species, with limited mobility, distribution maps for T&D habitat & species, species occurrence to environmental variables that influence juvenile fish and egg distribution, benthic marine landscape map, inshore/offshore territorial waters limits, EEZ, info on migration /dispersal distance, all these necessary for the assessment of representativity, replication and adequacy/viability within an MPA network. It includes spatial analysis based on various approaches such as visual overview / GIS overlay-neighborhood analysis etc. essential habitats, descriptive statistics GIS mapping, interpolation  

The purpose of this assignment is to project in GIS and map all data and information collected from different thematic areas, which play crucial role in MCPA network management, planning and conservation scenarios providing GIS product for the habitats and species presence and distribution in the targeted areas and generating thematic maps and data reports accordingly including for the targeted MCPAs sites, along with generation of data reports accordingly

Therefore, to provide a complete view of the habitat, all data of most up-to-date works regarding large faunal groups, data on marine ?ora & fauna, vegetation and biodiversity, shape ?les related to the Albanian / K-S MPA's area cartography should be taken into consideration, and based on GIS SW such as ArcGIS or similar, these will enable calculation of the Biodiversity Value/ Synthetic Biodiversity Indexes through the calculation of the economic value of biodiversity and thereafter developing a technical-administrative tool, very necessary for introducing and management of the blue business /economy.

I.         Expected Tasks:

The GIS consulting will work under supervision of Project Manager and will cooperate with the other biodiversity and affiliated expert team. The main tasks include:

-          GIS-overlay analysis & statistical analysis (generalized and then MPA benthic marine landscape dataset, the total number of patches, MPAs hosting the replicates of the different benthic marine landscapes etc.) Prepare (and /or update when relevant) habitat mapping and cartography of the targeted area through GIS, including detailed description of those special biodiversity values in the targeted area and verifications/ validation when deemed necessary (e.g. potentiality of zones for supporting ecological processes important for conservation purposes, any specific threats, occurrence and distribution of key habitats or species activity concentrations and ecosystems-terrestrial, freshwater, wetlands and especially marine ecosystems etc.), with due attention on management and conservation principles

-          Assess connectivity of the MPA network through theoretical and species-specific approach

-          Boundaries of targeted / potential sites and the extension of boundaries of existing CPAs with a marine shoreline should be marked manually on approved base maps by relevant experts, at the required scale/resolution (suggested scale 1:50.000 or 1:25.000). Any key economic activities (no-take zone, fishing tools, tourism development, etc.) would be optional.

-          The surface of water bodies should be calculated also separately from the terrestrial. The area of CPA that include marine shoreline or are entirely marine should be specified for land and water by geographically discrete network unit.

-          The maps should be simple in a portrait format in N/S orientation to fit within an A4 sheet (margins to be agreed). Each map should bear the UNDP logo, and have a border, a title, a scale, a compass, and a legend including the source map used. Maps should have the option to show shoreline, roads, land/sea use categories including urban concentrations, military areas, anchorages, munitions dumps, mining areas, protected area types, water courses, and civil administration boundaries.

-          The provenance of any resulting digital data should be clearly recorded in the GIS and provided on the hard copy maps if required. Data to be mapped will be provided by consulting team, entered into the GIS database from existing published digital data or digitized approved base-maps and internationally accepted digitizing standards.

-          Assist in setting up, administer and update of MCPA GIS database dedicated to available and intended data and information

The maps that should be prepared are described in more details below:

-          Distribution of habitats & species locations of ecologically significant areas (feeding& breeding areas, reproduction, distribution, etc.), for key habitats or species activity concentrations, following OSPAR methodological approach and data cross-tabulation for the assessment of connectivity within an MPA network, 

-          Illustrate and support justifications for proposed areas for ecosystem protection and the ecosystem linkages between these areas to be sustained by the proposed network.

-          A country map (regional context map) showing the proposed MCPA network comprising and clearly distinguishing existing protected areas, where boundary changes are proposed.

-          Separate maps should be provided for each actual and geographically discrete unit of the proposed network showing the actual boundaries and proposed boundaries together with any key economic activities (no take zone, fishing tools, tourism development, etc.).

-          The marine shoreline length within each current and proposed (extension and new) PA and for Albania should be calculated for the mainland and separately for islands;

This assignment is expected to produce at least two basic country maps incorporating the respective thematic layers, and separate mapping for proper MPA network regions (see “deliverables” below)  and corresponding data reports for the required areas and themes aligned with the project progress /management stages. The GIS consulting team will work under the supervision of the Project Manager, and has to:

-           Organize discussions with key stakeholders/partners to identify priority mapping issues.

-           Assist in setting up, administer and update of MCPA GIS database dedicated to collected data.

-           Develop the map of occurrence and distribution of key species and ecosystems (terrestrial, freshwater, wetlands and especially marine ecosystems) that need special protection within a PA system and lay it over onto the current protected areas, as well as highlighting the new areas that need further protection.

-           Contribute in the preparation of habitat mapping and cartography of the targeted area as MPA, with the respective zoning, based on management and conservation principles.

-           Prepare and deliver a brief training session with project stakeholders on the importance of spatial data and use of GIS in marine ecosystem research and management.

The GIS of the KS MPA BIO Master Plan will use some elements derived from the S.I.T. (Territorial Information Systems) of the Municipalities involved (for example Vlore) extended in the coordinate system UTM ED50. To the cartographic vector elements will be added C.T.M. (Regional Technical Maps) in raster format at scale 1: 5000 and 1: 25000. The original cartographic base will be subsequently implemented by georeferencing aerial photos (if possible). The aim of this operation is to obtain the best possible overlap with the basic cartography.

Al these works will have to be relied on sources of information such as the perimeter of the MPA, the SCI (Sites of Community Importance), SPA (Special Protection Areas), the Vegetation Map, the Land Use map and the Reclamation map of the Municipalities, for as long as the objectives of the BIO MP are consistent with the town planning instruments in force, of which the respective zoning and technical implementing rules are analysed. 

The assignment should be completed in one year period (tentatively March 2019 – March 2020) with a total of 50-man days home-based, including some missions in targeted sites when it is deemed necessary

   i.30 % - update of the existing map of MCPAs and dstribution of habitats & species locations of ecologically significant area s- 2 months after the contract signature

   ii.30 % - delivery of a country map (regional context map) showing the proposed MCPA network, comprising and clearly distinguishing existing protected areas, where boundary changes are proposed - 6 months after signing the contract

   iii.30 % - delivery of separate maps for each actual and geographically discrete unit of the proposed network - 8 months after signing the contract

   iv.10 % - completion of the final report and a guideline on GIS application in MCPA assessment – end of assignment

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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;

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.
• Act as a team player while also taking individual initiative to complete outlined tasks;

Functional Competencies

• Ability to use creative and effective communication tools that captures the attention of non-technical stakeholders;
• Strong interest in working with projects in Environment and Tourism fields, particularly with marine and coastal protected areas projects;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills,
• Reporting and documentation skills
• Ability and willingness to travel to the coastal and marine areas
• Willing to work in a team with national and international expert.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications

• University Degree in earth sciences with postgraduate GIS

Work Experience 

• At least 15 years of experience on GIS and its application in nature resource management.
• Previous experience on projects related to GIS applications in protected areas and coastal habitats is an advantage, particularly under GEF, UNDP, or other international projects;

Languages required:

• Good working knowledge of English and Albanian.

Evaluation Procedure

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that would consider both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their financial proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate whose offer:

·        Is deemed technically responsive / compliant / acceptable (only technically responsive applications / candidates will be considered for the financial evaluation)

·        And has obtained the highest combined technical and financial scores.

 Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max points: 70

 Combined weighted scoring: Technical (70%); Financial (30%).

o   Educational background - 10 points

o   GIS applications experience in nature resource management - 30 points

o   Previous experience on projects related to GIS applications in

protected areas and coastal habitats - 30 points

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max points: 30.

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Application Procedure

Interested applicants are advised to carefully study all sections of this ToRs and ensure that they meet the general requirements as well as specific qualifications described. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials