Background
Cambodia’s specific geographical location and long history and complicated topographical, ecological and social features has resulted in it becoming a prosperous, rich and diverse plant genetic resource country. While diverse climatic conditions diversified the country’s flora with both tropical and temperate plants, thousands of years of agricultural practice by ethnic groups enriched its crop genetic resources with great numbers of local cultivars and land races. In terms of medicinal plants, the high level of genetic diversity makes Cambodia an attractive country for bio-prospecting, especially given that there are approximately 800 known medicinal plants, many of which have associated traditional knowledge.
However, Cambodia faces a wide range of issues that threaten its biological diversity and ecological security. These threats emanate from the transition from a subsistence-based agrarian economy to a consumption-based cash economy, competing land-use from urbanization and infrastructure development, poaching of wild plants and animals, localized overharvesting of timber, fuel wood and non-wood forest products, human-wildlife conflicts, and climate change. Because of the threat to biological resources, the traditional knowledge of local communities that is associated with genetic resources is disappearing rapidly, due to the change of traditional lifestyles. A large volume of traditional knowledge, such as medicinal use of biological resources, is being replaced by modern technology. The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) of Cambodia was adopted in 2002. The NBSAP identified equity as the most important thing biological resources sustainably in the long run and calls for consideration of poor and economically disadvantage group to secure their access to common resources.
To counter the various threats to biodiversity, the country has planned various strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources for socio-economic development. However, making use of its biodiversity and traditional knowledge for the promotion of bio-prospecting and of access and benefit-sharing (ABS) national regime that is constrained by several factors. Cambodia has no existing policy or legislation on ABS, the government recognizes the importance of establishing innovative schemes to derive equitable benefits through economic activities that are linked to sustainable utilization of natural resources and the institutional and personal capacity to carry out bio-prospecting beyond basic level and develop and manage ABS schemes that are compliant with Nagoya Protocol.
The project aims at strengthening human resources, legal frameworks and institutional capacities on access and benefit sharing of genetic resources to facilitate the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing. The above objective would be achieved through two components, namely:
Component 1: Creating an enabling national policy, legal and institutional framework for ABS consistent with the CBD and its Nagoya Protocol
Component 2: Developing capacity and administrative measures for the implementation of the national ABS legal framework.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance and supervision of the National Project Director, Project Director and UNDP Programme Analyst, the selected International Consultant will be responsible for reviewing the technical details of the project, updating the Project Results Resource Framework/ Prepare work Plan and Monitoring Plan, identify the key requirements for the development of National ABS Framework, Policy and, accordingly prepare the ToRs for the International and National Consultants.
Update Project Results Resources Framework, Work Plan and monitoring plan
Develop ABS Framework for Policy, Regulations and its Procedures
Develop the Term of References (ToR) for the International and National Specialistsfor the two components
Competencies
Strong analytical skills and ability in development of Policy and framework.
Excellent analytical capacity and ability to synthesize project outputs and relevant findings for the preparation of quality project reports;
Ability to understand ABS terminology and its concepts and to analysis/synthesize information from different sources into a coherent project log-frame and framework;
Skill in achieving results through persuading, influencing and working with others;
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 team player, self-starter, has ability to work under minimum supervision and maintain good relationships.
Required Skills and Experience
Education: At least Master’s degree in natural resource management or environmental science, genetic resources, legal, ecosystem services, and/or related field.
Experience:
Experience on ABS legislation, research and development, knowledge on the institutional framework on ABS and related issues;
Proven experience in ABS procedure, policy and legislation development in both user and provider countries;
- Proven experience in the management of projects including familiarity with logical frameworks, SMART indicators and strategic planning. ABS projects will be an asset. Knowledge about UNDP Programming cycle, applied rules and regulation is an asset;
Language Requirement:
Fluency in English required.
- Ability to speak and understand Khmer is an asset.
Interested Offerors must visit this link http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=59157 to download Individual Consultant Procurement Notice, Terms of Reference, and Document Templates to be included when submitting this online application.
UNDP reserves right to reject any applications that is incompleted.
DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS
Interested individual offeror must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
Cover letter: Explaining why the Offeror the most suitable for the work;
CV or UNDP Personal History Form (P11), which is available on UNDP website
Offeror’s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) assignment and Final all-inclusive price proposal with breakdown of costs as per UNDP template
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 aphikovith.phin@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