Antecedentes

UNDP is working with UN Environment to convene an Africa-Asia Symposium on Legal Frameworks for Combating Wildlife Crime (the Symposium). The Symposium will be held between late May and early July 2017 (dates to be confirmed) in Bangkok, Thailand, and has four objectives tentatively proposed as:

Review regional and international commitments to address illegal wildlife trade: participants will review regional and international commitments in addressing illegal trade in wildlife and recommend changes needed in reforming domestic legal frameworks; 

Share national experiences and best practices: participants will share experiences and exchange views on best practices for strengthening and harmonizing domestic legal frameworks for addressing illegal wildlife trade;

Consider recommendations on ‘criteria’ for evaluating legal frameworks: Participants will consider and make recommendations on criteria developed by UN Environment and partners for reviewing the effectiveness of legal frameworks on addressing illegal wildlife trade; and

Provide a platform for inter-regional dialogue: The Symposium will consider establishment of an inter-regional platform for African and Asian countries for dialogue on effective legal responses in combating wildlife crime.

Countries in Africa and Asia have committed at the regional and international levels to strengthening legislation to effectively address the illegal trade in wildlife. Relevant international obligations and commitments include those made under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, two resolutions of the United Nations Environment Assembly, a resolution of United Nations General Assembly, the London Declaration, the Kasane Statement, and the Hanoi Statement. Relevant regional commitments include those made by the African Union Summits culminating in the African Strategy on Combating Illegal Exploitation and Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa, and the Association of South East Asian Nations Summit Declaration on Combatting Wildlife Trafficking, among others. 

Several countries in Africa and Asia have embarked on strengthening national legislation in light of these obligations and commitments. Addressing wildlife crime requires comprehensive review and strengthening of laws and regulations extending beyond wildlife legislation to anti-money laundering, customs legislation, police powers, and mutual legal assistance arrangements, among others.

The Symposium will provide a valuable opportunity to take stock of recent developments and share best practices in strengthening legal frameworks. Strengthening cooperation in combating inter-country and trans-regional wildlife crime especially between Africa and Asia requires strategic policy engagement between the two regions.  Sharing of information and best practices as well as devising innovative inter-regional collaborative means of effective legal responses will contribute to the fight against wildlife crime. The Symposium will draw on existing initiatives in this area, including but not limited to the 2016 ASEAN Handbook on Legal Cooperation to Combat Wildlife Crime prepared with support from Freeland Foundation, the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, and others. 

The Symposium will support the participation of an estimated 20 representatives from Africa and Asia. An estimated ten countries (five from Africa and five from Asia Pacific) will be invited to nominate two representatives each to attend the Symposium. International and regional organizations active in addressing wildlife crime will also be invited as partners and resource persons. The Symposium will build on and complement existing initiatives undertaken by partners in both regions. The Symposium will be conducted over three days, with a proposed two days for the Symposium and a third day tentatively scheduled as a one-day field trip to a national park in Thailand (subject to confirmation and to be co-organized with an implementing partner).

UNDP and UN Environment are seeking the support of a Wildlife Crime Legal Expert to assist in the preparation and delivery of the Symposium.   

Deberes y responsabilidades

The Wildlife Crime Legal Expert will perform the following functions:

• Review, amend, and finalize a draft concept note for the Symposium including objectives, outputs and outcomes of the Symposium and target participant groups and stakeholders;
• Draft and finalize an agenda, background note, and other meeting documentation for the Symposium. The background note is to include a synthesis of existing international and regional commitments and identify those commitments that are most relevant and the highest priority for discussion at the Symposium. Relevant existing initiatives and platforms related to African-Asian regional dialogue on effective legal responses in combating wildlife crime should also be identified and summarized;
• Assist in identifying and inviting key participants and resource persons to be invited to the Symposium;
• Coordinate communication with participants, resource persons and partner organizations as required to ensure the smooth functioning of the Symposium;
• Participate in the delivery of the Symposium and draft a communication piece/press release highlighting the findings and outcomes of the Symposium;
• Prepare a meeting report including synthesis of the findings of the Symposium, outcomes and agreed next steps.

Expected deliverables:

• Amended concept note and recommended list of participants and resource persons by 31 March 2017;
• Completion of draft agenda and background note by 1 May 2017;
• Participation in Symposium and completion of meeting report and press release by 31 July 2017.

Payment Schedule:

• Amended concept note and recommended list of participants and resource persons – 20%;
• Completion of draft agenda and background note – 30%;
• Participation in Symposium and completion of meeting report and press release – 50%.

Information on Working Arrangements:

• The Consultant will work from home, with one mission travel to Bangkok;
• The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• The Consultant will report at least weekly via Skype conference and/or emails to the UNDP Regional Technical Advisor for Ecosystems and Biodiversity in Bangkok;
• The consultant will work under the supervision of the UNDP Regional Technical Advisor for Ecosystems and Biodiversity in Bangkok, and in close collaboration with UN Environment’s Regional Programme Officer for Ecosystems and Regional Legal Officer in Bangkok. 
• The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection;
• Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the consultant is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones;
• Payments will be made upon submission of a certification of payment form and acceptance and confirmation by the Supervisor on outputs delivered.

Travel:

• Mission travel to Bangkok will be required for the conference (four days in Bangkok);
• Any necessary mission travel must be approved in advance and in writing by the Supervisor;
• The Advanced and Basic Security in the Field II courses must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
• 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 https://dss.un.org/dssweb/;
• Consultants are responsible for obtaining security clearances and any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;
• The consultant will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies;
• All related travel expenses will be supported by the project travel fund and will be reimbursed as per UNDP rules and regulations for consultants.  Costs for airfares, terminal expenses, and living allowances should not be included in financial proposal. 

Competencias

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

Technical Competencies:

• Demonstrates technical knowledge of legal concepts and their application in national law.

Professionalism:

• Demonstrated ability in analytical thinking;
• Strong organizational, reporting and writing abilities;
• Capacity to plan, prioritize and deliver tasks on time.

Teamwork:

• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Ability to work in and manage teams.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas