Background

The Arafura and Timor Seas (ATS) is part of the North Australian Shelf large marine ecosystem (LME), which is a tropical sea lying between the Pacific and Indian Oceans and extending from the Timor Sea to the Torres Strait and including the Arafura Sea and Gulf of Carpentaria. The region is adjacent to the Coral Triangle, which hosts the world’s highest marine biodiversity and contains some of the most pristine and highly threatened coastal and marine ecosystems. At the regional scale, the ecosystems of the ATS play an important economic and ecological role in the littoral nations bordering the Arafura and Timor Sea: Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Australia, and Papua New Guinea.

The marine environment in the ATS region is in serious decline, primarily as a result of overharvesting and other direct and indirect impacts of anthropogenic stresses and global climatic changes. Fisheries in the ATS region represent an extremely complex productive, socioeconomic sector, with multiple actors, target species sought, and technology used. The main characteristics of depletion of shared ATS transboundary stocks by fishery were assessed as part of the ATS transboundary diagnostic analysis (TDA) in 2012. In addition to climate change, unsustainable harvesting, illegal unreported unregulated (IUU) fishing, and bycatch are having significant impacts on the populations of key marine species in the ATS region, particularly globally threatened coastal marine megafauna including migratory, rare, and threatened species of turtles, dugongs, seabirds/shorebirds, sea snakes, cetaceans, sharks and rays. Lastly, potential sources of marine pollution in the ATS region include marine debris, marine based pollution from oil and gas activities, as well as waste from fishing and shipping vessels.

This project builds upon the foundational results realized in the first phase of the ATSEA program, which applied the tried and tested GEF International Waters focal area approach, starting with a participatory transboundary diagnostic analysis (TDA) and followed by the development of a regional strategic action program (SAP) and national action programs (NAPs). This second phase of the ATSEA program, is designed to support the initial implementation of the ATS SAP, endorsed through a Ministerial Declaration in 2014.

ATSEA 1 SAP of Timor Leste indicates that marine pollution and land-based pollution has serious impacts on the functioning of the overall ATS ecosystem and the services it can provide. The island of Timor is experiencing much greater sediment going to the sea and affecting coastal habitats due to ?rivers and tributaries on the islands of Timor are discharging sediments into the ATS. In addition, un-regulating ecosystem services due to coastal development has led to increased run-off on near-shore ecosystems such as alteration of coastal hydrology and increased tidal flat development. Therefore, landslides and erosion of river canals appear to dominate as sources of land based marine pollution. It is estimated that less than 5% of river sediment comes from erosion of hill slopes in the Laclo catchment on the north coast of Timor-Leste. The same result was obtained in the Caraulun catchment on the south coast of Timor-Leste. The ATSEA 1 SAP suggested that reducing land-based and marine sources of pollution in the ATS would require enhanced coordination of policies and implementing actions across sectors and different levels of government.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of this consultancy is to produce 4 interrelated reports that will provide baseline information and inputs to prepare pollution prevention and control plans for local communities, undertaking awareness campaigns on pollution management, delivering training to local authorities and relevant community groups (including training on oil spill preparedness and response for stakeholders in the south coast of TL).

The report will enhance data and information regarding the sources and sinks of contaminants in the ATS; identify pollution hotspots with the view of initiating appropriate controls of point and non-point sources of pollution and strengthening oil spill early warning systems and capacities strengthened.  An expected main achievement is the inclusion of oil spills response systems and procedures in the Integrated Coastal management ICM Plan of Manatuto Municipality.

The main responsibility of the Marine Pollution Specialist is undertaking a pollution hotspot analysis for the Timor-Leste portion of the ATS region in Manatuto, Manufahi, Viqueque and Covalima Municipalities. The results of the analysis will feed into the regional assessment under Activity 2.2.1-2.  

The consultant is required to travel Municipiu Manatuto, Manufahi, Viqueque and Covalima  to undertake field assessment, identified data and information for Marine pollution Hotspot and to identify level of understanding and awareness from key stakeholder to reduce marine pollution in the mentioned municipalities above from land based and ocean based.

In total a 30 days domestic travel is required for the consultant to undertake field base activities. It is estimated that the consultant will requires to spent 5 days in each municipalities including 1 travel days to each municipalities.

In close consultation with Government of Timor Leste (GoTL) counterparts, that is Directorate General for Fishery of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery (MAF), UNDP and other relevant stakeholders and with direction from the programme manager, the consultant will perform the following tasks:

1. In close collaboration and involvement of MAF DG Fisheries technical staff as well as MAF municipal fisheries official, undertake a pollution hotspot analysis for the Timor-Leste portion of the ATS region of Manatuto, Manufahi, Viqueque and Covalima Municipalities;

2. Collecting, consolidating and analyzing available data and information on sources, nature and levels of land based and sea based pollution from fisheries, agriculture, domestic sources, small-scale mining, tourism and ship cruises, and oil and gas operations including oil spill incidents in the identified marine pollution hot spots in the south coast region of the Arafura and Timor Seas (ATS) such as Manatuto, Manufahi, Viqueque and Covalima Municipalities,

3. Further to task number two above, identify priority pollutants and pollution hotspots; and provide recommendations for addressing the identified pollution issues including potentially important data gaps in the assessment for further training development on oil spill preparedness and response for stakeholders in the south coast region.

4. Assessing the level of understanding, awareness and capacities of key stakeholders in Manatuto, Manufahi, Viqueque and Covalima and providing recommendations for changing behavior and capacity development that will contribute to reducing marine pollution and preparing for and responding to oil spills in the ATS of Timor Leste with focus to develop awareness campaign regarding pollution management for Barique Posto Administrativo, Município Manatuto.

5. Analyzing the gaps of national and local regulations to manage and control marine and land-based pollution and develop a draft pollution prevention and control plans as a part of the ICM process for Município Manatuto  in Postu adimistrivo  Barique.

6. Analyzing and evaluating the potential socio- economic and ecological impacts of oil spills in the ATS region on coastal and marine biodiversity and people’s culture and livelihoods such as fisheries and tourism.  

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Competencies

1. Strong leadership and good communication skills and strong analytical, reporting and writing skills;

2. Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback and have ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;

3. Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;

4. Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and Internet in conducting research;

5. Good presentation and facilitation skills and demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;

6. Positive, constructive attitude to work and displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

7. Strong field work experience and strong communication skills in community and other relevant stakeholder;

Required Skills and Experience

1. Academic Qualifications:

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or higher) in Marine science, environmental anthropology, ecology, management/engineering, Marine biology and coastal management, natural resources economic or other relevant fields. 

2. Minimum experience requirement:

1.At least 5 to 7 years experiences in marine pollution or marine debris;

2.Experience in engaging government and community to support field assessment and Technical assistance 

3.Experiences working in issues related to oil spill and environment economic assessment are strongly desired;

4.Proven track record in coordination and working with ministries to align priorities with the national planning document;

5.Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior and high-ranking members of national and local institutions, government and non-government;

6.Cultural sensitivity to work in multicultural, multi-ethnic environment;

7.Experience in producing high quality reports;

8.Familiarity with government bureaucracy, oil, and Gas Company in Timor seas.

3. Language Requirements:

1.Fluency in English with excellent written communication skills, and strong experience writing reports is required;

2.Knowledge of written and spoken skills in Tetum would be an advantage.

Application deadline before COB, 21 January 2020 TLS Time. Any request for clarification must be sent in writing or by standard electronic communcation to procurement.staff.tp@undp.org