UNDP Jobs - 74493- International Specialist for GEF Biodiversity Proj

International Specialist for GEF Biodiversity Project Development – Marine Protected Areas (Team Leader)

Location :

Luanda, ANGOLA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2017

Application Deadline :

20-Sep-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

42 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Estimated 42 working days spread over the period 1 September 2017 to early June 2018

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Government of Angola has sought UNDP support to implement the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) for the UNDP-GEF medium-sized project “Creation of Marine Protected Areas in Angola”. The project seeks to expand the protected areas network into the marine environment through creation of Angola’s first marine protected area (MPA), and has three components: 1) Strengthening the policy, legal and institutional framework for the creation of Angola’s first MPA, 2) Operationalization of an MPA in a location of high biodiversity priority, and 3) Project learning, knowledge sharing and M&E. The GEF resources allocated to the project amount to US$ 1,945,250 (including Project, PPG and UNDP Fee).

The GEF Secretariat approved the Project Identification Form on 05 July 2017. Project development now will include a preparatory phase in the form of a Project Preparatory Grant (PPG). During the PPG, a team of international consultants together with the UNDP Country Office in Angola and the responsible UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor (based in Cambridge, UK) – and working in close collaboration with key government officials, donors, NGOs and CBOs – will undertake literature reviews, studies, stakeholder consultations and field visits, with the view to further develop the approved PIF into a fully formulated project ready for implementation.

The UNDP Country Office in Angola will lead the PPG/IP, in close coordination with the Ministry of the Environment of Angola. The Key Expected Outputs of the PPG/IP will be a technically robust UNDP Project Document (PRODOC) and a Request for MSP Approval package ready for submission to the GEF Secretariat. The preparatory phase will moreover fully determine the baseline and GEF incremental benefits, confirm the lead national implementing agency, identify further implementing partners and responsible parties, and negotiate and define implementation arrangements. Consultation with stakeholders relevant for project activities will put emphasis on building the partnerships required for realizing the project’s objectives and the mobilization of co-financing. The national consultation process will also include the local communities that are expected to benefit from the Project, and address gender issues as well as social and environmental safeguards as indicated.

Considering the above PIF approval date and the 12-month milestone established by the GEF, the GEF MSP Approval Request package and PRODOC must be submitted to the GEF by 04 June 2018. Failure to meet this deadline will lead to automatic cancellation of the project by the GEF. The PPG team (which includes the PPG consultants, the Government of Angola, UNDP Angola and the UNDP-GEF regional support team) is requested to submit final draft versions for internal clearance to UNDP at the latest two months before this deadline (i.e. by 30 April 2018). Subsequent revisions addressing UNDP-GEF or GEF Secretariat queries may be required and are part of the PPG. The final submissions to the GEF will require prior government validation and clearance. Submission to the GEF will only be effected after all due clearances have been obtained.

The UNDP Country Office (CO) in Angola is seeking the services of an International Specialist for GEF Biodiversity Project Development – Marine Protected Areas (Team Leader) to lead the implementation of the Project Preparation Grant (PPG).

The International Specialist for GEF Biodiversity Project Development – Marine Protected Areas (Team Leader) will be part of a team of consultants to work closely with, and under the overall guidance of, the UNDP Country Office, the UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor and the project counterparts in the Angola Government. In addition to the International Specialist for GEF Biodiversity Project Development – Marine Protected Areas (Team Leader), the team is expected to consist of the following two consultants who will work under the supervision of the Team Leader:

An International Marine Protected Areas Specialist
An International Livelihoods and Gender Specialist

Duties and Responsibilities

Will be responsible for preparing the full PRODOC, together with the MSP approval request, tracking tool, social and environmental screening, and letters of cofinance.
Lead other PPG consultants to ensure the timely drafting of the required documents for submission to the GEF, strictly adhering to the agreed deadlines and ensuring quality control.
Lead process to identify a single site for the MPA creation in collaboration with stakeholders
Review provisions under Angolan law for creation and management of MPAs
Review status of adjacent terrestrial PA and its influence on the new MPA
Identify partnerships that will support MPA creation and management
Obtain clear understanding of local use of marine resources and its influence on the new MPA
Determine baselines and indicators related to the new MPA’s management
Undertake institutional capacity assessment regarding MPA creation and management
Assess potential for building public awareness for marine and coastal conservation
Show how project will be synergistic with Government development plans
Compile and summarise the analysis that supports the development of the project scope and approaches.
Play a pivotal role in developing a work plan and coordinating the input and outputs of all consultants and in overseeing quality.
Finalize the project results framework, M&E plan, replication plan, adaptive management plan and sustainability plan.
Plan all activities of the project.
Define the schedule, and the multi-year work plan and budget for the project.
Clarify the additionality of the proposed outcomes and activities, and ensure that the project approach is the most cost-effective according to GEF guidelines.
Propose institutional and implementation arrangements in synergy with already existing arrangements for other GEF projects in the country.
Complete the required GEF focal area tracking tools
Prepare multiyear budget
Explore cofinancing opportunities
Address all comments on the project design by the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel and in the GEF review sheet.
Facilitate the process of confirming the co-funding and co-financing plan.
Facilitate consultations with all relevant stakeholders regarding the proposal, including detailed budget, detailed TORs for all project staff, and a detailed activity and work plan, in line with GEF eligibility principles.
Prepare indicative procurement plan which will be confirmed by the Country Office
Work with the CO to select an indicator for one of the outcomes of UNDP's 2014-2018 Strategic Plan and Integrated Results and Resources Framework

Expected outcome and deliverables:

The International Specialist for GEF Biodiversity Project Development – Marine Protected Areas (Team Leader) assumes the overall coordination and responsibility for the timely completion of the full GEF MSP Approval Request Package and PRODOC in appropriate quality. This will involve writing the largest share of these documents as well as editing, reconciling and merging sections prepared by the team of supporting consultants. The key deliverables under this contract will be:

Writing of PRODOC and MSP Approval Request and all its components
Guidance, coordination of and support to other consultants in the team in the preparation of their contributions to the afore-mentioned documents so that these are directly useful to the preparation of the PRODOC and MSP Approval Request
Integrating and adapting contributions written by other consultants in the team into the PRODOC and MSP Approval Request
A separate/annexed full Social and Environmental Impact Assessment of the project and building thereon a UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Procedure;
A separate/annexed Gender Assessment, building on the work of the Livelihoods and Gender Expert
The completed and cleared GEF MSP Approval Request and UNDP-GEF Project Document, as well as the required UNDP and GEF Tracking Tools, using updated templates following guidance by the UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor.

UNDP may contact the contractor at any time during working hours and request the contractor’s expert support and guidance, technical inputs, participation in meetings (including by skype or telephone) and elaboration of a document pertaining to the execution of the PPG/Initiation Plan outlined above.

Payment is based upon output and will be made upon confirmation by UNDP that contract obligations have been met in a satisfactory manner in accordance with milestones, i.e. delivery of the services specified in the ToR to be approved by UNDP and meeting agreed deadlines. The tentative payment schedule is as follows: Upon contract signature: 20% of the total amount. Upon submission of a complete draft MSP Approval Request Package and a complete draft PRODOC and clearance for submission by UNDP: 40% of the total. Upon subsequent review and final approval by the GEF Secretariat of the PRODOC and issuance of MSP Approval: 40% of the total.

Approval: Review of the deliverables regarding quality and timeliness will be undertaken by the UNDP Country Office and the Angola Government counterparts, then the UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor and eventually the UNDP/GEF Senior Technical Advisor to ensure alignment and compliance with UNDP and GEF requirements.

Implementation arrangements:

The Team Leader will supervise the two other consultants who are part of the team:

An International Marine Protected Areas Specialist;
An International Livelihoods and Gender Specialist.

To guide and assist the team of national and international consultants, a joint project development and facilitation team will be established that includes the UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor, the UNDP Country Office, as well as project focal points at the Ministry of Environment of Angola. The main responsibilities will be to provide the required data/information and feedback to the team of consultants; backstopping and providing relevant templates; supporting stakeholder consultations and ensuring their participation; supporting problem analysis; liaising with partners and leading national stakeholder involvement on project strategy and institutional and management arrangements and on co-financing matters; and supporting alignment with national priorities and understanding of the local and national contexts.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org. Consultants are responsible for obtaining valid visas for travelling to Angola, however the CO will support visa applications.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP´s mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Functional competencies

Ability to conduct research and analysis, with strong synthesis skills;
Ability to work with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams;
Results Oriented.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum postgraduate degree in Environmental or Biological Sciences, International Development, or a related subject.

Experience:

At least 10 years’ experience designing and/or implementing environment and natural resources management activities in developing countries; direct experience in MPA projects or similar projects is desirable.
Experience working with international organizations, including UNDP, is preferred but not required.
Proven and extensive international experience in environment and natural resources management projects.
Proven experience in UNDP-GEF project formulation/design, including the drafting of GEF-compliant project documents and endorsement requests.
Previous experience working in Africa is an advantage.
Experience in Angola is desirable.

Language:

Fluency in English is required;
Portuguese is an asset.

Application procedure:

Interested candidates in the position should send an email indicating their earliest availability to start the assignment as well as an updated CV/P11 and a financial proposal (with separately listed travel costs) addressed to UNDP Angola, P.O. Box 910, Angola, to aguiar.cuiundana@undp.org indicating “Marine PA PPG International Team Leader” in the subject field.

Applications should be composed of the following:
Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
Technical Proposal explaining why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, with separately listed travel costs.

Proposals will be evaluated according to a combined scoring method where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted at 70% and the price offer will be weighted at 30%.