Historique

Introduction: 

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS), an agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity, was adopted on 29 October 2010 in Nagoya (Japan) and entered into force on 12 October 2014, it provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of the 3rd objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Protocol applies to genetic resources that are covered by the CBD and to the benefits arising from their utilization, it also covers associated Traditional Knowledge (aTK) associated with Genetic Resources (GR) held by indigenous and local communities. Contracting parties to the Nagoya Protocol need to fulfil core obligations to take measures in relation to access to genetic resources, benefit-sharing and compliance. 

The UNDP-GEF Project “Strengthening human resources, legal frameworks, and institutional capacities to implement the Nagoya Protocol” (Global ABS Project) is a 3-year project that specifically aims at assisting 24 countries in the development and strengthening of their national ABS frameworks, human resources, and administrative capabilities to implement the Nagoya Protocol. The project seeks to achieve this through its 4 components namely: 

• Component 1: Strengthening the legal, policy and institutional capacity to develop national ABS frameworks;
• Component 2: Building trust between users and providers of genetic resources to facilitate the identification of bio-discovery efforts; and 
• Component 3: Strengthening the capacity of indigenous and local communities to contribute to the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol. 
• Component 4: Implementing a Community of Practice and South-South Cooperation Framework on ABS.

The implementation of the basic measures of the Nagoya Protocol in Comoros, Rwanda and Sudan similarly to the other participating countries will unleash a wide range of monetary and non-monetary benefits for providers of genetic resources. Some of these benefits should be reinvested in the conservation and sustainable use of the biological resources from where the genetic resources were obtained. This will fulfil the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. 

Following the request of the ABS country teams in Comoros, Rwanda and Sudan, the 3 countries will proceed with the recruitment of an international consultant to identify high value GR/aTK, analyze the economic potential of priority ABS value chains, draft national ABS strategies and proactively engage with the private sector to initiate ABS compliant research and biodiscovery partnerships.

Context:

Comoros

Comoros is a Party to the Nagoya Protocol since its entry into force (accession) on October 12, 2014. The Comoros archipelago is globally renowned for its unique and rich fauna and flora with high endemic rates putting Comoros as a high priority for the conservation of the world biological diversity. Biodiversity has not been adequately integrated into the policies and strategies of most of the country’s sectors and there are no ABS administrative, legislative, or policy measures in place for the country. 

The Comoros National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 2000) is based on nine major themes: a) integration of biodiversity conservation and sustainable management into sectoral policies and strategies; b) improvement of the implementation of conservation actions and sustainable management of biodiversity; c) protected areas; d) sustainable management and use of outside protected areas; e) ex-situ conservation (Article 9); f) fair sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological diversity; g) agrobiodiversity; h) biosafety; and i) implementation and monitoring of the NBSAP. Despite advances, many obstacles have impeded their implementation. Administration-level mandates are unclear and a revision of environmental policy and the NBSAP is needed to take the current context into account. Sectoral institutions concerning biodiversity do not sufficiently integrate issues in their policies, which can be explained by the fact that, as one of the poorest countries, the country’s financial priorities are far from being focused on NBSAP implementation. Political entities are poorly informed about the challenges of NBSAP implementation, and there is a significant lack of specialists (for example, taxonomists, engineering scientists, and environmental lawyers) to enable implementation. 

It is worth mentioning that a framework law on environment was adopted in 1994. It aims to i) Preserve the environmental diversity and integrity of the Islamic Federal Republic of Comoros, a vulnerable world heritage ii) create the conditions for a sustainable quantitative and qualitative use of natural resources for the current and future generations, and iii) Guarantee to all citizens a balanced and an ecologically healthy life.  No mention was made of ABS related aspects. 

The Direction Générale de l'Environnement et des Forêts, Vice-Présidence en charge du Ministère de la Production, de l’Environnement, de l’Energie, de l’Industrie et de l’Artisanat is the designated institution where the Nagoya Protocol on ABS focal point is hosted. The Direction will be in charge of the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol in Comoros.

For Comoros, special attention should be given to identify the top 100 high value GR/aTK, they to narrow the scope down to the top 3 priority ABS compliant value chains to be identified and analyzed within relevant sectors to showcase their socio-economic potential as a source of innovation for potential biodiscovery partnerships.

Rwanda

Rwanda ratified the Nagoya Protocol on October 12, 2014 and is on track to develop an enabling legal and institutional framework for the implementation of the Protocol. A draft Ministerial Order governing the Biodiversity permits has been developed and some of its articles determine the access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use.. Other related existing laws are the Organic Law No. 04/2005, which determines the modalities of protection, conservation, and promotion of the environment in Rwanda, especially in its articles 4, 19, 52 and 82; Law No. 70/2013 of 02/09/2013, which governs biodiversity in Rwanda, especially in its Article 29; and Law No. 31/2009 of 26/10/2009, which enforces protection of intellectual property rights (IPR).

Rwanda adopted a Biodiversity Policy in 2011 and a Biodiversity Law in 2013, and developed its first NBSAP in 2003. The document targeted the following five major outcomes: a) improved conservation of protected areas and wetlands; b) sustainable use of the biodiversity of natural ecosystems and agro-systems; c) the rational use of biotechnology; d) the development and strengthening of policy, institutional, legal, and human resource frameworks; and e) the equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of biological resources. 

Although many activities have been successfully achieved for each of the five outcomes, implementation challenges still persist in the following areas; coordination of activities due to lack of key permanent staff to manage and monitor the overall program; technical capacity; linkage with other international instruments; conflicting priorities based on institutional mandates; lack of new and appropriate financing mechanisms; mobilization and coordination of donors; and the absence of an established benefit-sharing mechanism in agroecosystems production and the initiation of new and stimulating incentives to protect agrobiodiversity. The revision and updating of the NBSAP has been completed in December 2016 and the new NBSAP was approved by the Rwanda Cabinet of Ministers on 03/02/2017.

Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) is the designated institution where the CBD and ABS focal points are hosted. The implementation of the basic measures of the Nagoya Protocol in Rwanda as one of the participating countries will unleash a wide range of monetary and non-monetary benefits for providers of genetic resources. Some of these benefits should be reinvested in the conservation and sustainable use the biological resources from where the genetic resources were obtained. This will fulfil the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. 

UNDP will contract an International Consultant to undertake this assignment on behalf of REMA. REMA will supervise the consultant and will facilitate logistical requirement for the work, such as the organizing of field visits. The Consultant will directly report to the ABS Project Coordinator at REMA and UNDP Country Office focal point. A Technical Working Group to guide the assignment will be established, made up of technical members of related government agencies, civil society, private sector, academia, REMA and UNDP. All deliverables should be accepted and approved by the Technical Working Group, and cleared by the DG REMA.

Sudan

Sudan’s rich biodiversity and genetic resources are key assets for the country’s economic development and the welfare of its people. Exercising national sovereignty over those very critical resources would ensure their sustainable use and conservation. 

Sudan is a Party to the Nagoya Protocol since its entry into force (ratification) on October 12, 2014. Sudan has not adopted specific measures on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing or related to access to TK associated to genetic resources. Sudan does not have a specific biodiversity law; the more general Environment Conservation Act of 2001 covers the protection of biodiversity. 

The government of Sudan has recently, on June 25, 2015, adopted the new Sudanese NBSAP 2013-2020. This document clearly states that “currently, there is no national legislation on access to genetic resources and aspects of sharing of benefits arising from their utilization” and that the “number of scientists and technicians, who are trained mainly on conservation of genetic resources, is very meagre and limited to some units such as the Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Research Centre of the Agricultural Research Corporation (APGRC/ARC).” Regarding the institutional structure to manage ABS in the country, the new NBSAP concludes, “there are no specific institutions that are totally responsible for handling such matters.” The institutional management of the conservation, sustainable use of biodiversity, and the sharing of benefits derived from the use of genetic resources in Sudan is done mainly through sectoral implementation. 

The NBSAP establishes the following priority actions in regard to ABS: a) enactment of necessary national legislations for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity taking into consideration the matters related to access and benefit-sharing as well as protection of the local communities, farmers, and pastoralist rights to biological resources and their indigenous knowledge, practices, and technologies; including issuance of a national legislation on PGR; b) creation of institutional bodies for regulating the access to plant agro-biodiversity and relating indigenous TK on the basis of fair and equitable benefit-sharing with necessary consideration to farmers’ and local community rights consistent with the international instruments of relevance such as CBD and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA); and c) documentation of indigenous knowledge, practices, and technologies that are associated with the Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) and the conservation and sustainable use of forest and rangeland biodiversity.

The Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources (HCENR) has the competence to develop environmental policies regarding plant agro-biodiversity, forest biodiversity, rangeland and livestock biodiversity, and wildlife, marine, and inland waters ecosystems. The HCENR is the designated institution where the Nagoya Protocol on ABS focal point is hosted.

In Sudan, 4 pilot ABS complaint value chains are to be identified and analyzed within 4 sectors namely agriculture, medicinal and aromatic plants, wildlife and animal resources. 

Objectives of the assignment

This international consultancy aims to secure the expertise needed by the national consultants to identify high value GR/aTK, analyze the economic potential of priority ABS value chains, draft national ABS strategies and proactively engage with the private sector to initiate ABS compliant research and biodiscovery partnerships. Moreover, the international consultant will provide high quality strategic advisory services to the nationally designated ABS FPs and NCAs.

In each of the participating countries, the IC will 1) Support the national task forces in charge of GR/aTK inventories to identify high value GR/aTK and priority ABS value chains; 2) Undertake a detailed analysis of the economic potential for each of the selected value chains and 3) Ensure strategic guidance with regards to the drafting of national ABS strategies and facilitate the initiation of research and biodiscovery partnerships.

Devoirs et responsabilités

The Consultant shall work in close coordination with the project country teams in Comoros, Rwanda and Sudan. The country teams shall include, at minimum and in line with national circumstances, the National Project Directors and Coordinators, the National Project Managers from UNDP country offices, the Global Project Manager and the Regional Project Specialist for Africa from the Global ABS project team.

The consultant will adhere to National procedures for development and adoption of National guidelines, regulations, policies and legislative mechanisms.

This consultancy will help answer the following questions:

Support the national task forces in charge of GR/aTK inventories to identify high value GR/aTK and priority ABS value chains:

• Which socio-economic and ecological criteria to consider in identifying high value GR/aTK within specific sectors and between different sectors? (economic potential, importance for conservation and ecosystems, socio-culture value…etc.) 
• What is the methodology to select the top priority value chains within specific sectors?

Undertake a detailed analysis of the socio-economic potential for each of the selected value chains

• Which sectors are directly/indirectly dependent on GR/aTK? and what are their current socio-economic value /potential?
• What are the contributions of  GRs and aK in  the national economy? What is the estimated economic value of such contributions?
• What is the business model of the key industries operating in the identified value chains? What are the global market trends and predictions for these value chains? 
• What is the potential socio-economic value of GR/aTK? How can ABS through the valorization of GRs and aTK contribute to achieving national SDG targets?

Provide strategic guidance and backstopping with regards to the drafting of national ABS valorization strategies and facilitate the initiation of research and biodiscovery partnerships.

• Who are the current/potential users of GR/aTK in the identified priority value chains?
• How to approach and structure existing/new research and bioprospecting partnerships?
• How to proactively engage the private sector to promote the development of ABS compliant value chains?

Duration: 
The consultant is expected to work app. 45 days over a 9-month period; app. 15 working days per country.

Location:
Home-based with the possibility of field missions based on country needs

Deliverables:

• Deliverable 1 by 30 April 2018 (expected date) - Methodology for the identification of high value GR/aTK and the selection of priority ABS value chains (work input: app. 4 working days; payment 10% of total amount);
• Deliverable 2 by 15 May 2018 (expected date) – Socio-economic analysis (in collaboration with the national teams and including capacity building and training workshop as specified by each country) of selected ABS value chains (work input: app. 24 working days; payment 50% of total amount);
• Deliverable 3 by 15 June 2018 (expected date) – Strategy for initiating research and biodiscovery partnerships and engaging the private sector in ABS complaint value chains (work input: app. 10 working days; payment 20% of total amount);
• Deliverable 4 by 10 December 2018 – Report of the strategic advisory services provided to the nationally designated ABS FPs and NCAs (work input: app. 7 working days; payment 15% of total amount).

Travel: 
If needed, country teams will indicate the number of missions to be conducted for each country and the duration for each mission as per their national needs. Mission related costs will be paid separately as per UNDP rules and regulations. An indicative planning shall be developed at the induction session following the hiring of the international consultant.

Compétences

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP.

Technical competencies: 

• Ability to provide guidance on implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS), especially with regards to the valuation of GR/aTK within priority ABS compliant value chains;
• Knowledge of the science-policy-business interface related to ABS and the ability to apply it to strategic and/or practical situations;
• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines.

Functional competencies:

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to contribute to strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects;
• Ability to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations.

Knowledge Management and Learning:

• Demonstrates practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
• Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP. 

Client Orientation:

• Maintains relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude; 
• Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.

Professionalism:

• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Academic Qualifications/Education: 

• Minimum Master’s degree in biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, environmental finance, or another related field. 

Experience: 

• At least 5 years of experience in working with key industries using GR/aTK;
• Experience in valuing genetic resources and providing strategic advisory services for initiating ABS compliant partnerships;
• A least 3 years of experience working on the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol and ABS regimes in Africa region; specific experience in Comoros, Rwanda or Sudan is an asset;
• Experience providing strategic and technical support to national experts and other stakeholders from relevant national institutions;
• Working experience in an international organization or knowledge of UN policies, procedures and practices is an asset. 

Language skills: 

• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English and French; knowledge of Arabic will be an advantage.

Evaluation of Applicants

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.

The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
responsive/compliant/acceptable, and having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews and interviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. 

Only those candidates who will obtain min. 70% of points will be invited for the next stage of the technical evaluation and financial proposal evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

• Criteria A - Relevant education background – max points: 5
• Criteria B - 10 years of experience in working with key industries using GR/aTK - max points: 10
• Criteria C - Experience in valuing genetic resources and providing strategic advisory services for initiating ABS compliant partnerships- max points: 15
• Criteria D - A good understanding of the main challenges facing the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol and ABS regimes in Africa region; specific experience in Comoros, Rwanda or Sudan is an asset – max. points: 10
• Criteria E - Experience providing strategic and technical support to national experts and other stakeholders from relevant national institutions- Max Points: 5
• Criteria F - Working experience in an international organization or knowledge of UN policies, procedures and practices is an asset - Max Points: 5 
• Criteria G - Methodological note (Approach on the deliverables of this consultancy, excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English and French; knowledge of Arabic will be an advantage). max. 10 points
• Criteria H – Interviews  
  Experience in valuing genetic resources and providing strategic advisory services for initiating ABS compliant partnerships - max. 2.75 points
  Experience working on the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol and ABS regimes in Africa region; specific experience in Comoros, Rwanda or Sudan is an asset - max. 2.75 points
  Experience providing strategic and technical support to national experts and other stakeholders from relevant national institutions - max. 2.75 points
  oral communication skills in English and French; knowledge of Arabic - max. 1.75 points

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

Application procedures

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application. 
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded fromhttp://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/dam/rbec/docs/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc); please upload the P11 instead of your CV. 
• Financial Proposal (in USD)* - specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (number of anticipated working day sand any other possible costs).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination, personal security needs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). 

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner. 

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
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.