A. Project Title:  Conserving Biodiversity and Restoring Ecosystem Functions in the Day and Mabla Mountains

B. Project Description

The Republic of Djibouti is a small coastal country in the Horn of Africa, with a total land area of 23,180km2 and a coastline of between 314 and 372 km. Djibouti's climate ranges from arid in the northeastern coastal regions to semi-arid in the central, northern, western, and southern parts of the country.

Day Forest is a mountain forest in the Goda mountain range, located entirely in the region of Tadjourah. Reaching a maximum elevation of 1783m asl, the mountain range is rugged, with high plateaus, cliffs, and steep mountain slopes, intersected by wadis.

The Mabla Mountains straddle the regions of Obock and Tadjourah, c. 60 km to the north-east of the Day Forest. Emerging to the north of the coastal plain, the range reaches elevations of 1370 metres. The Mabla Mountains contain the second-largest area of relict montane forest in Djibouti, with remnant degraded Juniperus procera stands in addition to Buxus hildebrandtii, Tarchonanthus camphoratus, Terminalia brownii, Olea africana, Acacia seyal, A. etbaica and A. mellifera.

The degradation and regression of these forest represents a major loss for biodiversity and the human populations that depend on it. Moreover, it undermines the value of the Goda Massif watershed, a key watershed in the country required by communities living in its surroundings and beyond: local populations have seen the water tables at both the top and the foot of the Goda Massif dry up and flash floods become more intense and frequent when it rains.

The project “Conserving Biodiversity and Restoring Ecosystem Functions in the Day and Mabla Mountains” objective is to protect and restore biodiversity, forests and ecosystem functions and enhance the livelihoods of vulnerable communities in degraded mountain landscapes in Djibouti. The project targeted regions are Mabla and Day Forest.

To achieve this objective, the project will implement the following four components:

• Component 1: Enhance PA (Protected Areas) system policy and financing framework and emplace management in Day and Mabla forest
• Component 2: Safeguard and restore rangeland and forest ecosystem functions through forest restoration and sustainable land management in and around the Day and Mabla Pas
• Component 3:  Safeguards, Gender & Knowledge Management
• Component 4 Monitoring & Evaluation

The PIF (Project Identification Form) of this project submitted to the GEF (Global Environment Facility) was approved on June 23, 2022.  The objective of the GEF PPG (Project Preparation Grant) is to develop the project concept into a full project. More specifically, it is to develop a GEF CEO Endorsement Request package (including a UNDP-GEF Project Document and supporting documentation) for the Medium-Sized Project “Conserving Biodiversity and Restoring Ecosystem Functions in the Day and Mabla Mountains”. 

C. SCOPE OF WORK

Participate in and support the PPG process, research, field mission, project design development and the preparation of the PRODOC/GEF CEO Endorsement Request package.

D. Expected outputs/key deliverables

The following lists key responsibilities and deliverables of this contract; the PPG Implementation Plan provides further and more detailed guidance regarding the responsibilities of the prospective PPG team and must be consulted accordingly.

1) Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews (Component A): Prepare inputs and support the required analyses/studies, as agreed with the GEF PPG Team Leader, including:

• Review and update the SESP pre-screening of the PIF; and support the detailed assessment of all project safeguards risks.
• Assess presence of Indigenous Peoples/Local Communities within project landscapes and their interests. If present, assess potential impacts of the project on rights and interests, lands, territories, resources, and traditional livelihoods and determine when FPIC applies in accordance with national contexts and preferences.
• Oversee the stakeholder analysis and stakeholder consultations and ensure these are complete and comprehensive in line with international benchmarks and gender responsive. This should involve consultations with local communities to assess level of understanding and capacity to give consent and identify community preferences for FPIC process. Based on these assessments, and if relevant, integrate relevant matters as needed including FPIC into project design and into the comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
• Oversee the preparation of the gender analysis.

2) Formulation of the ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request and Mandatory and Project Specific Annexes (Component B):

• Lead the preparation of the Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
• Lead the preparation of a Gender Action Plan and Budget and work closely with the GEF PPG Team Leader to ensure its findings are meaningfully integrated into the project’s strategy, theory of change and results framework.
• Lead the preparation of the required SES deliverables (SESP, ESMF, IPLC-PF), based on assessments and consultations undertaken during Component A and detailed development of project interventions, and identify management measures to mitigate risks to be incorporated into the ProDoc.
• Contribute to the development of the Work Plan and budgetary items related to the stakeholder Engagement Plan, Gender Action Plan and SES deliverables

3) Validation Workshop (Component C):

• Support and contribute to the Inception and Validation workshops and mission
• Support and contribute to the inception and validation workshops.
• Support the completion of the inception and validation workshop reports.

4) Final Deliverables:

• Stakeholder Engagement Plan including on gender-responsive consultation and consultations with IPLCs present within the demonstration landscape
• Gender Analysis and Action Plan
• Finalized SESP, ESMF, IPLC-IP
• Appropriate inputs to the final UNDP-GEF project document based on guidance from the PPG Team Leader.

1. Qualification of the Successful Individual Consultant

Travel Plan

The consultant will be expected to travel to Day in Tadjourah and Mabla in Obock.

F. Institutional Arrangement

The PPG Team Leader will be the lead of the formulation team composed of:

• International Social and Environmental Safeguards Specialist
• National Safeguards, Stakeholder Engagement and Gender Specialist Consultant
• National PPG Support Consultant

All deliverables will be paid for based on a certification signed by the UNDP Country Office Program Specialist. Deliverables must be approved by the RTA as well.

G.   Duration of the Work and Duty Station

Duration of assignment: 40 working days

Professional Experience: 

• Minimum of 5 years professional experience more specifically in the assessment and management of social and environmental safeguards risks of development projects;
• Experiences in developing quality GEF projects;
• Project evaluation/review/formulation experiences within United Nations system or international Agencies;
• Sound understanding on linkages between climate change, ecosystems and small-scale Infrastructures evidenced through past work experience;
• Experience working in indigenous people/local community contexts (consultations, FPIC, protection of cultural heritage, and/or community engagement), with knowledge of international standards in this domain;
• Demonstrated experience working on policy and programmatic issues with national and local governments and civil society organizations including community organizations.

Functional / Technical Knowledge: 

• Excellent written communication skills in English with working knowledge in French;
• Excellent skills conducting research with vulnerable populations;
• Ability to consolidate information from multiple sources;
• Able to prepare strategic information for decision makers;
• Ability to work independently as well as good team player;
• Excellent time management and ability to produce outputs as per agreed deadlines.

Language requirement:

• Fluency in written and spoken English, with a working knowledge in French

H.    Qualifications of the Successful Individual Contractor

• University degree in a relevant field, such as in social sciences, gender and development, anthropology, economy, environmental management, etc. 

L. ANNEXES

ANNEX 1- OFFEROR LETTER / OFFRE FINANCIERE

https://popp.undp.org/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/UNDP_POPP_DOCUMENT_LIBRARY/Public/PSU_%20Individual%20Contract_Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability_FR.docx&action=default&DefaultItemOpen=1

you can upload your documentation in one time in one PDF or WORD file.

For any clarification regarding this assignment, please write to proc.dji@undp.org quoting the vacancy announcement in the subject line no later than 09 octobre  2022 at 10:00 (local time in Djibouti). Late and incomplete applications will not be considered.

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to the address or e-mail indicated above. The UNDP Procurement unit will respond in writing or by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.