Antecedentes
General background
In mid-2015, the Council for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) approved, as part of its "Programmatic Approach" titled Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development, a Child Project Concept for Zimbabwe with UNDP as the selected GEF agency. The project has the following titles and reference:
UNDP-GEF Project Title: Strengthening Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management and Climate-Smart Landscapes in the Mid to Lower Zambezi Region of Zimbabwe.
Reference short title: PIMS 5693 Zim Strengthening Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management and Climate.
See more information about the GEF’s Programme here: www.thegef.org/gef/project_detail?projID=9071
The project’s target GEF funding is $10M and it has been duly endorsed by the Government of Zimbabwe.
The full project to be developed on the basis of the Child Project Concept will be implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate (MEWC), with support from UNDP Zimbabwe and key management agencies at the focal PAs and landscapes (to be determined during the PPG phase).
The project’s objective is to build Zimbabwe’s capacity for taking an integrated landscape approach to managing wildlife resources, carbon and ecosystem services in the face of climate change, with a focus on the protected areas and community lands of the Mid to Lower Zambezi Regions. This will be achieved through the delivery of three integrated components, including:
- Strengthening capacity and governance frameworks for integrated biodiversity, carbon and land-use management in Zimbabwe;
- Strengthening and expanding Zimbabwe’s PA estate in areas of global BD significance [site level];
- Mainstreaming BD and ES management, and climate change mitigation, into the wider landscape.
Project preparation process
The project responds to national priorities and its PRODOC needs to be prepared with consideration for the new strategy for combating poaching and illegal wildlife trade, to be developed during the project, and in alignment with other relevant national frameworks as well as international commitments, and in close collaboration with key government partners in several institutions, financing partners, research entities, the private sector and in particular with the CSOs responsible for the management of targeted landscapes.
In order to prepare the required documentation for the final approval of the project, a Project Preparation Grant (PPG) provided by the GEF is being implemented with clear and realistic targets and deliverables.
The GEF submission documentation to be prepared consists of a complete UNDP Project Document (PRODOC) and a CEO Endorsement Request form, to be duly filled in on the basis of the PRODOC, which takes precedence. These two key documents are to be accompanied along with co-financing letters, indicator tracking tools for the applicable GEF focal areas and social-environmental risk screening, using UNDP's methodological procedure.
All PPG consultants share the responsibility of mobilizing co-financing and forging partnerships useful for the project. They are expected to work as a team to implement the following activities:
- PPG Activity 1: Preparation for strengthening capacity and governance frameworks for integrated biodiversity and land-use management in the face of climate change in Zimbabwe (for Component 1 of project)
- PPG Activity 2: Preparation for expanding and strengthening biodiversity conservation at site level (for Component 2 of project)
- PP Activity 3: Preparation for mainstreaming biodiversity and ecosystem management, and climate change mitigation, into the wider landscape
- PPG Activity 4: Assess baseline investment, project risk, develop the strategy, budget and consolidate the project documentation for submission
The PPG phase will be implemented between January and December 2017. Consultants are expected to start work in April 2017 and follow a detailed timeline.
The final deadline for delivering the complete and finalized UNDP-GEF documentation for the internal review by government, partners and UNDP is 31 September 2017. This deadline is non-negotiable.
Deberes y responsabilidades
Function as the expert advisor in all matters relating to sustainable landscape management, working in close collaboration with other PPG consultants, with the main goals of ensuring that the design of capacity building strategies for biodiversity and ecosystems conservation in Zimbabwe, and the design of interventions and conservancies in the focal landscapes, is based on sound knowledge of sustainable landscape and natural resources management.
Co-lead, together with other PPG consultants, the implementation of the following PPG Activities:
- Activity 1.2: Review of current capacity for integrated biodiversity, carbon and land-use management in Zimbabwe at national level;
- Activity 2.1: Select three priority sites for establishment of conservancies and corridors for protected area expansion;
- Activity 3.1: Determine options for developing CAMPFIRE-based sustainable livelihoods to reduce potential involvement in wildlife crime;
- Activity 3.2: Determine options for improving land and forest management;
- Activity 4.2: Apply the UNDP Social and Environmental Safeguards (SESP) screening to the content of the PRODOC.
Support other PPG consultants/contractors with the implementation of the following PPG Activities:
- Activity 1.1: PPG Inception Workshop;
- Activity 2.2: Assess current management of key existing PAs to determine actions needed to strengthen management;
- Activity 4.1: Financial baseline assessment;
- Activity 4.2: Mapping proposed sites - the land use surveys in general to characterise the project area;
- Activity 4.4: Leverage the project’s co-financing;
- Activity 4.5: Compose relevant and required chapters in the PRODOC for national validation;
- Activity 4.6: PRODOC Validation Workshop;
- Activity 4.7: Completion of project documentation in view of submission to the GEF.
ey products/deliverables
Specific Deliverables for which the incumbent will have lead responsibility include the following:
Deliverable 1: To be delivered by 15th May 2017
Joint (with Conservation Management Capacity Consultant) assessment report of Zimbabwe’s national capacity for integrated biodiversity, carbon and land-use management, including details on policy and regulatory frameworks, current scientific knowledge (i.e. biological data) available to inform decisions, current capacity of national PA authorities for conservation, national action plans for biodiversity, financial resources available for biodiversity, national awareness of biodiversity and ecosystem conservation; and recommendations for strengthening capacity.
Deliverable 2: To be delivered by 30th July 2017
Comprehensive strategy documents for establishing three conservancies and corridors in priority PA landscapes. To include baseline maps and biodiversity data and maps depicting conservancy plans (e.g. conservation areas, sustainable management areas) and corridor locations; to include roles of different stakeholders, interventions required (including human-wildlife conflict mitigation, income-generating activities, community informant networks, awareness raising plan), feasibility studies of potential livelihoods, and capacity assessment and recommendations for community co-management of resources. Include development of resettlement or livelihood action plans if there is physical and/or economic displacement identified as part of the project. Include costings and timeline, risks, sustainability, indicators (with baselines and targets).
Deliverable 3: To be delivered by 15th June 2017
Review of Zimbabwe’s CAMPFIRE model and examples of implementation, to identify gaps and weaknesses and recommend improvements.
Deliverable 4: To be delivered by 22nd June 2017
Support for, and contribution to report on, assessment of management effectiveness of existing priority PAs, review of available mechanisms to address threats (such as climate scenario predictions), and plans for building capacity for PA management and anti-poaching, and management of corridors between PAs and conservancies. With costings and timeline, risks, sustainability, indicators (with baselines and targets).
Deliverable 5: To be delivered by 30th July 2017
Strategy designed for development of CAMPFIRE-based sustainable livelihoods in selected areas aimed at reducing poaching and involvement in IWT, based on review of CAMPFIRE model, including feasibility studies of different livelihood options, e.g. non-timber forest products, eco-tourism; with capacity assessment of local leadership (by other PPG consultant). With costings and timeline, risks, sustainability, indicators (with baselines and targets).
Deliverable 6: To be delivered by 30th June 2017
Assessment of current levels of degradation of habitat in selected landscapes, and of current practices of land management, including forests, wetlands and agricultural land, with recommendations for more sustainable practices and means of rehabilitating habitats; also to include assessment of high fire-risk areas and determine best means of preventing wildfires. Review social and environmental risks associated with proposed conservation measures and develop appropriate risk management measures where needed. With costings and timeline, risks, sustainability, indicators (with baselines and targets).
Deliverable 7: To be delivered by 30th July
UNDP Social and Environmental Safeguards (SESP) screening[1], with gender assessment.
Deliverable 8: To be delivered by 7th August
Contribution to relevant sections of PRODOC
Proposed schedule of fee payments
- Upon Submission of Inception Report: 10%;
- Upon submission and clearance of Deliverable 1: 45%;
- Upon Submission and clearance of Deliverables 2-4: 25%;
- Upon clearance of complete CEO Endorsement documentation: 20% (expected by 30 Dec 2017).
[1] A key question for the SESP as it is carried out: what is the risk of physical displacement and imposition of involuntary access restrictions on non-poaching local communities in the new areas? With the focus on community-based management of the areas and support for alternative livelihoods as a core element of the approach, the risks appear potentially low. However, if these risks were to be significant, then a displacement expert should be engaged (and the UNDP Displacement standard applied), with appropriate baseline and social surveys and development of resettlement plans. For communities whose non-poaching livelihoods could be adversely impacted through involuntary access restrictions, then a livelihoods action plan would be needed. If any new/expanded sites are potentially on lands/territories claimed by indigenous peoples (broad definition provided in SES Standard 6), the project will need to ensure consent of the relevant groups. A process of free prior informed consent will need to be initiated early on, and the project would need develop an Indigenous Peoples Plan. Standard 6 and the supporting guidance note in the SES Toolkit provides further guidance.
Competencias
- Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
- Building support and political acumen;
- Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
- Building and promoting effective teams;
- Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
- Leverages multi disciplinary, institutional knowledge and experience;
- Creates and cultivates networks of partners to promote UNDP’s image;
- Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
- Leverages different experiences and expertise of team members to achieve better and more innovative outcomes;
- Strong analytical and writing skills;
- Ability to communicate effectively in order to communicate complex, technical information to both technical and general audiences;
- Skills in negotiating effectively in sensitive situations;
- Skills in achieving results through persuading, influencing and working with others;
- Skills in facilitating meetings effectively and efficiently and to resolve conflicts as they arise.
Habilidades y experiencia requeridas
Profile required (70 points in total):
Education:
- Master degree in a relevant field such as social sciences, biodiversity, land use management planning and ecosystem services (either with ecological or socio-economic background) and with professional specialization in issues of biodiversity, agrobiodiversity, sustainable landscape management (including forests and wetlands). (max. 10 pts).
Experience:
- At least 10 years of overall professional experience, with incremental responsibilities, preferably with some experience in the UN system. (max. 5 pts);
- At least 7 years of experience and in-depth knowledge of biodiversity and sustainable landscape management issues in the context of project design or management at regional levels, is an eliminatory requirement. (max. 15 pts);
- Demonstrated track record in the preparation of documents, project proposals, evaluation reports and, preferably also, publications within the theme of biodiversity, ecosystem services, climate change mitigation and sustainable land-use management is a highly sought qualification for this position. (max. 15 pts);
- Knowledge of environmental issues, policies and programs in Southern Africa is desirable. (max. 10 pts);
- Specific experience with GEF project development is highly desirable. (max. 5 pts).
Language:
- Excellent mastery of written English is an eliminatory requirement. (max. 5 pts);
- Minimal working level of other UN language is a plus (max. 5 points).
Technical Proposal (30 points in total):
- Have the important aspects of the task been addressed in sufficient detail? (max. 10 pts);
- Are the different components of the project adequately weighted relative to one another? (max. 5 pts);
- Is the scope of task well defined and does it correspond to the TOR? (max. 10 pts);
- Work plan - Is the presentation clear and is the sequence of activities and the planning logical, realistic and promise efficient implementation to the project? (max. 5 pts).
Submission must be online following the instruction given on the website
Please submit the following to demonstrate your interest and qualifications. Please note that all the documents below must be submitted as one PDF file:
- P11 (required), 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;
- Personal CV (optional);
- Brief Technical Proposal/Proposed Methodology
- Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided [see link further down];
- Travel: All envisaged international travel costs must be included in the financial proposal in a separate line, though not the cost of in-land travel, which will be handled directly by the UNDP Country Office.
Application Evaluation Process:
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the Cumulative Analysis methodology [weighted scoring method], where the award of the contract will 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 technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Technical Criteria weight; [70%].
Financial Criteria weight; [30%].
Only Individual Consultants obtaining a minimum of 70% of the obtainable 100 points in technical evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
General Conditions of Contract for the ICs:
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf
UNDP Personal History form (P11) required of all applicants:
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc
Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability