Background
The Syrian crisis has placed a tremendous pressure on the economic situation in vulnerable communities across the country, limiting the capacity of vulnerable Syrians and Lebanese to sustain their own well-being. Moreover, the crisis is having a large impact on the already strained natural resources and energy supplies, including negative impacts of over felling of trees during the winter season and overgrazing by Syrian sheepherders all year around.
Lebanon’s surface is covered by 13% of forest including Pine, Cedar, Oak, Fir, Juniper and others. Most of these forests are found on the western slopes of the Mount Lebanon chain in the north, whereas the South has the least forests. In addition, Lebanese forests contain a wide range of aromatic, wild and medicinal plants and are habitat to a wide range of animal and bird species. The forest area has decreased by 35%. This reduction was among others caused by erosion, wars, temperature surges, urbanization and the increase in fuel prices which has forced people to look for alternative sources of heating. The main threats to forests are over felling, overgrazing and forest fires. Forest fires are an
annual occurrence due to the dryness of the terrain, climate change, agricultural malpractices and poor management. Lebanon loses approximately 1,500 to 2,000 hectares annually to wildfire, deforestation, urbanization and other factors. These forests provide economic opportunities for many Lebanese and support ecological functioning in an ever-changing regional climate. Forests are one of the country’s most important natural assets. They contribute to: land degradation neutrality; livelihoods for forest-dependent communities especially when they provide valuable products including seeds, fruits, aromatic and medicinal plants; and recreational opportunities. In Lebanon, Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) directly generate between US$ 80 to 97 million of sales per year, creating (primary and secondary) income for 10 000 to 15 000 rural households, so between 42 000 and 63 000 people1.
To improve livelihoods and reduce tensions between Lebanese host community members and Syrian refugees, UNDP seeks to support forest and land management initiatives through its Livelihoods and Local Economic Development Strategy. The strategy seeks to address the challenges faced by Lebanon, in light of the Syrian crisis, in relation to the deteriorating economic conditions in the country and the increasing unemployment rates, poverty levels and consequently social instability, particularly in the most vulnerable host communities. This includes labor intensive forest and land management activities, with the dual benefit of supporting vulnerable Syrian and Lebanese beneficiaries with an income for their daily work, while contributing to the implementation of the national strategies of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) for increasing green spaces and reducing the risks of forest fires.
Duties and Responsibilities
The tasks requested from the forest management site supervisor are:
1. Following on the implementation of the workplan and activities,
2. Ensure that the activities are in line with the ministry of agriculture and ministry of environment rules and regulation,
3. Contribute to the regular staff meetings with the implementing partners,
4. Participate in the outreach session, meetings and trainings,
5. Ensure the workers recruited for each site respond to vulnerability criteria and gender
6. Supervise the workers recruitment by the implementing partners for each site,
7. Support in Filling a baseline survey with the beneficiaries,
8. Support the project team in the application of recommendation or mitigation measures,
9. Verification of the workers presence and daily count on site though a comparison with the biometric system daily inputs. Any variation or justifications should be compiled and reported appropriately,
10. Monitor the field work and report any complaints, miss-conduct, inappropriate activities related to forest management safety, security, protection etc.
For additional information, please refer to ANNEX I – Terms of Reference
Competencies
Competencies:
Excellent writing, reading, and oral communication skills in English.
Other assets:
Good Knowledge in preparing timely reports on progress of the work.
Computer literate.
Valid driving license is a must.
Willing to travel daily to sites of work.
Required Skills and Experience
I. Academic Qualifications:
A minimum certificate of bachelor’s degree in agriculture, environment or related field.
II. Years of experience:
A minimum of 3 years of supervision work experience in the field of forest management, agriculture or another related field.
III. Technical experience:
Experience in workers’ supervision in cash for work projects
Experience in forest management and/or agriculture activities is a plus; such silviculture techniques and others.
How to apply:
The consultancy is open for all national consultants who meet the selection criteria and propose a competitive fee. Interested consultants are requested to apply only through this UNDP jobs portal.
Submissions through any other media will not be considered.
The application must include all of the following documents that are found on UNDP Procurement site( https://procurement-notices.undp.org/index.cfm):
- P11,
- Annex 3 (Offerors Letter) and
- Financial proposal
All files shall be submitted in one single document and uploaded as word or PDF file to the UNDP job site https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_jobs.cfm. .
It has been observed that bidders don’t submit all requested documents and thus reducing their chance to be selected for a contract with UNDP. before you submit your offer please revise that the application is complete and comprises all documents.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.