Background

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is an independent sovereign island nation consisting of four States spread across the Western Pacific Ocean (from west to east): Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. Together, the States comprise 607 islands that stretch over a longitudinal distance of almost 3,000 km mostly located between 6 and 10 degrees North of the equator. The combined land area the FSM [High Islands and Atolls] is approximately 728 km2 with 2,700,000 km2 of EEZ in the Pacific Ocean. The total area of High Island is approximately 658 km2 (Yap 97 km2, Chuuk 95 km2, Pohnpei 358 km2 and Kosrae 110 km2).

Marine and terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem services underpin social well-being and the economy of the Federated States of Micronesia and are vital to food security. These resources and services, however, are currently being undermined by unsustainable natural resource use and practices; spread of Invasive Alien Species; the impacts of Climate Change; and, the limitations of government to effectively implement its programs and policies.

The FSM R2R Project is designed to engineer a paradigm shift in the approach to and management of natural resources from an ad-hoc species/site/problem centric approach to a holistic ecosystem-based management “ridge to reef” approach guided by planning and management process that are informed by actual data. The shift to an ecosystem-based approach within National and State governments will ensure that whole island systems are managed to enhance ecosystem goods and services, to conserve globally important biodiversity and to sustain local livelihoods.

The project promotes an integrated approach towards fostering sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation by seeking greater awareness, knowledge and participation of all stakeholders in achieving a greater balance between environmental management and development needs. In doing so it will reduce conflicting land-uses and land-use practices and improve the sustainability of terrestrial and marine management so as to maintain the flow of vital ecosystem services and sustain the livelihoods of local communities. Further, the project demonstrates sustainable land management practices testing new management measures, as needed, to reduce existing environmental stressors and institutional limitations. The project also supports the enhancement of capacities in the FSM to effectively manage protected areas as well as increase the coverage of the terrestrial and marine protected area network on the High Islands.

Duties and Responsibilities

.  The specific duties are as follows:

 

  • Facilitate lead role in assisting the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) to review progress to date as well as prioritizing activities between now and project closure;

  • Support PIU in developing a Multi-Year Work Plan for the Project from 2020 to project closure;

  • Lead development of an exit strategy for the project as recommended in the Midterm Evaluation;

  • Advise the PIU, Steering Committee and DECEM on key strategic and policy issues related to Ridge to Reef strategy and protected area management relevant to the FSM and in the context of a Pacific Island Country;

  • Provide assistance to the PIU in preparation/review of technical documents including PIR, quarterly progress reports and Steering Committee (SC) meeting reports.

  • Be responsible for quality assurance of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and Biodiversity (BD) conservation analysis and related studies to be undertaken by the project;

  • Preparation of Terms of References (TORs) and developing methodology in the execution of various technical studies to be carried out on the project;

  • Verifying that TORs have been met and assuring quality of technical reports compiled by IPs and consultants;

  • Provide technical inputs to terminal evaluation exercise, especially in updating of tracking tools and scorecards prior to project closure;

  • Produce policy-briefing papers, project technical and periodic reports for advocacy and knowledge management as appropriate;

  • Provide technical support and mentoring for Project Implementation Unit

  • Ensure that sound systematic conservation planning principles are adhered to during project intervention and be responsible for monitoring that intended SLM and Biodiversity conservation outcomes of the project are attained;

  • Coordinate and facilitate cooperation and lessons learning/sharing between all Pacific Island Countries (PICs), Ridge to Reef (R2R) projects, specifically facilitate initiatives such as South-South co-operation, sharing lessons learnt & best practices between the PICs; and

  • Perform other duties relevant to the project and his/her expertise.

Competencies

  • Minimum of 10 years relevant experience

  • At least 5 years of experience in community-based Locally Management Marine Protected Areas, Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Land management and has a good idea on challenges and opportunities for technical and behavioral evidences of biodiversity, and land management-related development impacts,

  • Broad knowledge of systematic conservation planning and application internationally, especially knowledge of applied spatial biodiversity planning for land use planning and protected area development;

  • Proven track record of project management and project team experience working with government, NGOs, and other key stakeholders;

  • Strong analytical, reporting and writing skills;

  • Ability to engage various partners and stakeholders and builds strong relationships with clients and other stakeholders;

  • Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;

  • Demonstrates integrity and commitment to UN principles and values and ethical standards;

  • Experience working in Pacific Island Countries, preferably in the Micronesia Region is necessary and,

  • Experience working with GEF projects.

Required Skills and Experience

  • Minimum degree in conservation, environmental management and sustainable development

  • Offerors must send the following documents.

  • CV including names/contacts of at least 3 referees.

  • A cover letter indicating why the candidate considers himself/herself suitable for the required consultancy

  • Please use the bidder’s guide for submission of proposal

    Completed template for confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal.

    Individuals applying for this consultancy will be reviewed based on their own individual capacity. The successful individual may sign an Individual Contract with UNDP or request his/her employer to sign a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) on their behalf by indicating this in the Offerors letter to Confirming Interest and Availability

    Bid Submission Address

    https://etendering.partneragencies.org

    BU Code: FJI10

    Event ID: 0000005193

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    All the relevant documents ( Terms of Reference,Confirmation of interest form, Biddrs guide) can be obtained from UNDP Pacific Website https://www.pacific.undp.org/content/pacific/en/home/procurement.html