Background

N.B.

Applications through UNDP jobs will not be accepted, only to the procurement.cv@cv.jo.un.org email address.

Interested candidates are required to read the Procurement Notice for Individual Consultants and its related documents, which are available in the following websites:

I. Background and Project Description

The consultancy will be developed in the framework of the project "Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into the tourism sector in synergy with a further strengthened protected areas system in Cabo Verde" (BIO-TUR), executed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAA), through the National Directorate of the Environment (DNA), in close collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Transport, and co-funded by the Government of Cape Verde, UNDP and the GEF.

The project’s main objective is to safeguard globally significant biodiversity in Cabo Verde from current and emerging threats, by enhancing the enabling and regulatory frameworks in the tourism sector and activating a critical further subset of the national protected areas system (SNAP).

The proposed alternative scenario, supported by the project, will create enabling conditions to mitigate the adverse impacts on biodiversity by the tourism sector in Cabo Verde. The frameworks will be developed at national level and tentatively rolled out in four priority islands – Santiago, Sal, Boa Vista and Maio – where immediate pressure is greatest and urgent action is required that can be replicated more widely in the future. This urgent action includes at the local level the pending operationalization of a number of critical terrestrial and marine/coastal protected areas (PAs) and the piloting of marine biodiversity and artisanal fisheries management together with communities in two selected sites. At the same time the project will harness the opportunities to establish more sustainable tools for PA financing, protected area management and local community development, contributing to the consolidation and diversification of Cabo Verde tourism product, and the sustainability of the destination and the sector. This will be achieved through the following two project components:

  • Under Component 1, the project will develop and put in place coherent and effective enabling frameworks (i.e. legal, policy, regulatory and institutional) for enhanced multi-sectoral strategic land-use planning at the landscape level, to focus on the tourism, fisheries and associated real estate/construction and fisheries sectors. This will involve: (1) strengthening the capacity at the institutional/governmental level for integrating biodiversity into the tourism sector, including through Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and related regulations in tourism planning and permitting, and for compliance monitoring and enforcement; (2) the setup of policy mainstreaming committees overseeing policy and planning coherence between tourism development and environmental/biodiversity management, at the national level and on the targeted islands with significant local tourism developments (i.e. Santiago, Sal, Boa Vista and Maio); (3) the development and revision of land-use planning regulations (i.e. SEA, EIA, Special Touristic Zones (ZTEs), Zones of Integral Tourism Development (ZDTIs), Zones of Touristic Reserve and Protection (ZRPT), etc.) so they fully integrate biodiversity concerns, and to ensure their recommendations are implemented and monitored; (4) implementation of SEAs to inform tourism development plans, where there are gaps in destinations where significant tourism development pressure is predicted; (5) the revision of financial tax incentives and licensing processes to integrate biodiversity criteria; (6) the establishment and piloting of best-practice standards for sustainable tourism and voluntary certification for enterprises and destinations; and (7) the design and piloting of innovative PAs financing mechanism, through biodiversity offsets.
  • Under Component 2, the project will support: (1) the operationalization of PAs through the development of management plans, ecotourism plans and supporting regulations for 7 in-operational PAs (i.e. one on Santiago, four on Boa Vista and two on Sal) to address existing and emerging threats to biodiversity; (2) identification of new potential Marine PAs (MPAs) sites for inclusion in the national PAs system, through a systematic assessment of biodiversity resources on the marine shelf, and contributing to the development of key missing marine species/habitat management plans; (3) the definition of and implementation of PAs governance, including co-management and conflict resolution mechanisms; (4) agreements on the regulation, management and enforcement of the use of land and natural resources by local communities/resource users; (5) the introduction of biodiversity-friendly and sustainable artisanal fishing in two pilot sites through the promotion and adoption of suitable gear and best practices, the designation of community-enforced no-take zones and seasonal fishing bans, etc.; (6) develop and pilot island-specific, cost-effective PAs revenue generation mechanisms in conjunction with tourism sector stakeholders – these will potentially include, inter alia, gate fees, tourism operator concession fees, ecotourism taxes, and biodiversity offset and reinvestment schemes; (7) installation of a tracking and environmental monitoring program and plan to track the impacts of tourism and fishing in PAs, using participatory approaches; and (8) the preparation and implementation of Informational Education and Communication (ICE) campaigns to promote the role of PAs and sustainable tourism.

Under Project Output 2.4 "PA revenue generation mechanisms developed and piloted in conjunction with tourism sector stakeholders." the BIO-TUR project supported the DNA in the development of a participatory process that brought to the elaboration of a National Strategy for PAs Financial Sustainability. Based on the outputs of that initiative, and other project-related activities, Governmental levels decided to begun the process to review the current management model of the National System of PAs.

At the systemic level, the project will assist the Government of Cape Verde in reviewing current institutional arrangement for the management of the National Protected Areas System (SNAP).

One of the options to be considered is the establishment of the first institutional unit fully dedicated to protected areas in the Country’s history, which will oversee and manage the overall PA system as well as specific PAs units. However, consensus building on the definitive institutional structure is still required.

In order to provide reliable supporting information to national decision-makers, and to the wider stakeholders community, and to build consensus among them, it was identified the need to develop an assessment of the current PAs management model capacity to provide expected services, outputs and outcomes.

Scenarios of more effective alternative management models for the SNAP will be developed, and financial needs assessment will be associated to each proposed alternative scenario.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Inception analysis of key and relevant documents provided by DNA/PMU and UNDP.
  • Prepare and discuss with UNDP and DNA/PMU the consultancy Inception Report that comprise the methodological proposal, associated workplan and a list of relevant stakeholders to be met during the first field mission, in order to develop the services described in these ToR.
  • Review and finalize the consultancy Inception Report according to the feedbacks received from UNDP and DNA/PMU.
  • Conduct a screening of the policy context with special focus on the following national strategic documents:
    • Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development (PEDS - 2017/2021);
    • National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP - 2014-2030);
    • National Protected Areas Strategy (ENAP - 2013-2022).

Other relevant national development plans, legislation, sectorial strategies will be also analyzed to verify which additional biodiversity goals exist that need to be considered, and to perceive how biodiversity is currently mainstreamed.

  • Review important trends in biodiversity change. This includes the prioritization of the country’s main positive and negative trends in biodiversity and understands their underlying drivers. This task doesn’t require specific studies because the strategic documents listed above, and other technical documents elaborated in recent years, already identified the main drivers of change in the Country.
  • Review and assess the existing institutional arrangements delivering protected areas management. This analysis should be developed in terms of:
    • a. Effectiveness, answering the main question: are the institutions and their staff currently responsible for PAs management able to effectively take on and deliver their management functions in order to aim and reach biodiversity/PAs planned goals?
    • b. Institutional arrangements, answering the main question: are institutional frameworks and governance arrangements currently in place suitable in order to aim and reach biodiversity/PAs planned goals?

The assessment will aim to understand the adequacy of:

  • Institutional structure, at central and island level;
  • Human resources allocated to PAs management (i.e. quantity and technical profiles required);
  • Governance setting;
  • Infrastructures.
  •  Hold meetings with stakeholders relevant to the assignment in order to:
    • Complete the collection of relevant data and information;
    • Identify pros/cons of the various options for institutional structure in order to reach defined strategic goals;
    • Engage stakeholders to build consensus on alternative and more effective and efficient institutional structures and governance arrangements for the management of the SNAP.
  • Carry out a first national workshop with relevant stakeholders in order to:
    • Present and discuss preliminary findings from the first field mission;
    • Inception proposals of three alternative management models for the SNAP;
    • Collect additional feedbacks useful to identify and define alternative structures for PAs system management to be submitted to decision-makers.
  • Hold final meetings with key project partners (MAA/DNA and UNDP) in order to collect final inputs to finalise the consultancy work.
  • Prepare and deliver to UNDP and DNA/PMU the consultancy Interim Report which will have at least to include:
    • The methodological proposal as approved in the Inception Report.
    • Discussion of preliminary results from the analysis of relevant data and information, with special focus on the policy and institutional context for PAs management delivery.
    • One section to report on stakeholder engagement and findings from consultation and workshop.
    • A systematic report, with associated key recommendations, on pros/cons of the various options for institutional structure in order to aim and reach defined strategic goals, based on outputs of stakeholders consultations and recommendation of decision-makers. This information is key to government officials to support their decision-making process for choosing an appropriate institutional structure.
    • Propose options for a reorganized structure, based on management needs assessment and stakeholder outputs. At least three proposals of alternative management models, suitable for the national context, will be developed for comparison with the current one. Definition of each one of the proposed alternative management models should at least comprise:
      • a. The proposed organization chart;
      • b. Staffing requirements;
      • c. Capacity development recommendations;
      • d. Observations on the potential of existing governance solutions at national and local level (e.g. co-management arrangements of relevant governmental & non-governmental entities);
      • e. Financial needs assessment (a task directly developed by the national consultant).
  • Carry out the second national workshop with relevant stakeholders in order to:
    • Present and discuss findings from the consultancy;
    • Reach consensus and select the management model proposal for the SNAP to be suggested to the MAA and other relevant governmental decision-makers as the most suitable one for the Cape-Verdean context.
  • Prepare and deliver to UNDP and DNA/PMU the first draft of the consultancy Final Report which will have at least to include:
    • The methodological proposal as approved in the Inception Report.
    • Discussion of the results from the analysis of relevant data and information, with special focus on the policy and institutional context for PAs management delivery.
    • One section to report on stakeholder engagement and findings from consultation and final workshops.
    • A systematic report, with associated key recommendations, on pros/cons of the various options for institutional structure in order to aim and reach defined strategic goals, based on outputs of stakeholder consultations.
    • Propose options for a reorganized structure, based on management needs assessment and stakeholder outputs. At least three proposals of alternative management models, suitable for the national context, will be developed for comparison with the current one. Definition of each one of the proposed alternative management models should at least comprise:
      • a. Changes, or adjustments in the legal framework needed in order to establish the updated SNAP management model;
      • b. Organization chart;
      • c. Staffing requirements;
      • d. Capacity development recommendations;
      • e. Proposed governance solutions;
      • f. Financial needs assessment (a task directly developed by the national consultant).
      • g. Step-by-step workplans to establish and operationalize reviewed SNAP management model;
      • h. A section that will comprise: i) overall considerations on the consultancy, ii) occurred constrains and limitations, iii) risks, iv) lessons learnt, v) recommendations.
  • Prepare and deliver the final draft of the consultancy Final Report according to the feedbacks received from UNDP, DNA/PMU and other relevant stakeholders.

Competencies

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.

Functional Competencies

Knowledge Management and Learning

  • Ability to provide top quality policy advice services on environmental issues;
  • In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

  • Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing in order to communicate complex, technical information to technical and general audiences;
  • 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.

Management and Leadership

  • Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
  • Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

  • Hold a Master degree related to natural resource management, or protected areas management, or other fields assessed as suitable to carry out the appointment (compulsory requirement).
  • Hold a PhD in fields assessed as relevant to carry out the appointment is an asset.

Experience and Skills

  • At least 10 years of extensive professional experience in marine and terrestrial PAs and natural resources management.
  • Experience in assessing the overall management effectiveness of the Protected Areas system at the institutional level.
  • Experience in institutional and human resources management in the field of PAs and natural resources management. This includes experience in Public Administration organizational restructuring and change management.
  • Experience in engaging various stakeholders in building consensus and development of PAs instructional structures. This includes, demonstrable skills/experience for conducting stakeholders’ engagement at national level.
  • Demonstrated track record of production of relevant publications and technical documents (papers, guidelines, planning documents, etc.) on instructional structures and effectiveness for PAs management.
  • Experience in similar assignments in the context of Small Islands Developing States (SIDS), or Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Prior experience with UNDP and/or GEF projects.

Language

  • It is required the working knowledge of at least one of the following languages: preference in Portuguese, English, French or Spanish is requested.
  • Working knowledge of spoken and written Portuguese is a strong competitive advantage.