Background

The Dalmatian Coast constitutes a unique patchwork of marine, coastal, island, terrestrial and agricultural ecosystems with great variations regularly occurring over small distances. The bio- and landscape diversity have been in rather good shape compared to some other Mediterranean countries. However, recently this globally significant diversity is generally threatened by unsustainable elements in the main economic activities in the area, which include firstly real estate development and tourism but also agriculture, fisheries and mariculture. The aim of the “COAST” Project is to help Croatia seize a unique and short-lived opportunity to improve bio- and landscape diversity conservation in the Dalmatian coastal region before current unsustainable development trends cause irreversible damage to the ecosystems.

The Project focuses the problem of biodiversity and landscape protection and conservation in Dalmatia within a context of sustainable development. More specifically, it aims at promotion of sustainable development through identifying and raising awareness about the main driving forces of unsustainable development trends as well as the possible remedies, demonstrating responsible (i.e. “biodiversity-friendly”) use of natural resources, greening of businesses (in particular tourism, agriculture, fisheries, mariculture and banking/investments sectors) and mainstreaming care for biodiversity into national and local policies, regulation and practices. Although there will be some trade-offs, economic development will continue and globally important ecosystems will be protected.

The Project will work at several levels:

(i)                  national – by promoting reform of the enabling environment;

(ii)                regional (sub-national) - by integrating biodiversity concerns into development planning;

(iii)               local – by developing and implementing, at 4 demonstration sites, best practices for protection and conservation of bio- and landscape diversity through its sustainable use;

(iv)              sectoral – by working directly with the private sector and by making key economic sectors biodiversity friendly; and

(v)                protected area system in coastal/marine areas - by its better integration in the context of overall regional development through application of conflict resolution activities. 

 The Project is structured around 4 Outcomes, namely:

1) Bio-and landscape diversity friendly development is demonstrated in four small, globally important, productive landscapes;

2) An improved investment climate for bio- and landscape diversity friendly enterprises across the four counties;

3) Compliance with bio- and landscape diversity related regulations has increased significantly across all sectors across the four counties;

4) A national level enabling environment that appreciates, supports, institutionalizes and disseminates bio- and landscape diversity friendly development in coastal areas.


The Project aims to increase the understanding of all stakeholders (including environmental managers, conservationists, farmers and fishermen, entrepreneurs, developers and companies, banks and public authorities) of the drivers, constraints and opportunities for sustainable / biodiversity-friendly business development and environmental management across the Dalmatian coast. This understanding will be a basis for building trust and strengthening communication amongst the different stakeholders. The piloting of local integrated management processes will be a critical opportunity to convene the different stakeholders and test new approaches for private sector actors such as banks, tourism operators, hotel owners as well as for national agencies, municipal and county authorities who influence investments in industry related infrastructure such as water supply, roads and sewage treatment.


The Project will strengthen the incentive and regulatory structures, at the national level, in order to provide legal and financial motivation to the private sector to modify its behaviour. The Project will also develop the capacity within the economic sectors so that the key players have the commitment and ability to adopt the practices piloted through the local biodiversity-friendly sustainable development process. Finally, the Project will implement specific activities to ensure duplication and replication of the Project successes, as well as mobilization of the additional financial and other resources.

For more details – the consultant should consult UNDP/GEF Project document, updated and specified by the Inception Report, both of which can be found at the project web-site (www.undp.hr).  

Organic farming is a holistic production system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and biological activity within the soil. Since the EU legislation on organic farming came into force in 1992, tens of thousands of farms have been converted to this system, as a result of increased consumer awareness of, and demand for, organically grown products.

The European Commission has recognised the need for an action plan for organic farming as early as in 2002. In December 2002, it published a working document entitled "Analysis of the possibility of a European Action plan for organic food and farming". This policy document analysed the state-of-art of the development of organic farming in Europe and listed possible elements for actions to be included in the final Action Plan. In early 2003 the public was invited to react and comment on this paper, resulting in the "Report on the results of the online consultation: Action Plan for organic food and farming". In June 2003, the European Parliament held a hearing on organic farming where the Action Plan was discussed. In January 2004, the Commission organised a hearing in Brussels , which was attended by representatives from more than hundred organisations. Finally, in June 2004 the "European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming" was released. This document sets the overall strategic policy lines for developing organic farming and defines 21 actions in terms of regulatory, economic and informative policy instruments which should be put in place in order to boost further development of organic farming. Following these recommendations most EU Member States have started the work on own Action plans for organic farming and currently the work is in progress on 17 national and regional action plans.

In June 2005, following assistance from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management adopted the «National Strategy for Organic Agriculture in ». This policy document has been developed in cooperation with farmers, non-governmental organizations, private companies and other stakeholders. It envisages the increase of the area under organic farming management to at least 10% of the total agricultural area by year 2010.

Organic agriculture in the project area is in an early stage of development. Although there are 40 certified organic farmers from the project region recorded in Organic farmers register in Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, in reality there are not more then 10 farmers practising organic production. In Dubrovacko-neretvanska County there is not a single certified organic farmer!

The global trend of demand for “healthy” food and growth of selective types of tourism in Dalmatia offers opportunities for development of organic agriculture. Eco and rural tourism could benefit from the close link between organic agriculture and products of special quality. Although the demand for ecological products among urban populations and tourists is increasing, consumer awareness on organic agriculture in Dalmatia is still very weak. Especially, the link between organic agriculture and the biodiversity protection is missing.

The activity should be implemented in coordination, i.e. by complementing and using already available results and experiences of all other past and ongoing relevant projects.

These ToRs refer to definition of tasks and other modalities to be applied concerning the services to be rendered by part time consultant, sectoral expert for organic action plans, to be implemented within the activity Preparation of an action plan for development of organic agriculture in Dalmatia. Although the action plan will primarily in details elaborate priority activities to be implemented in the next 4 to 5 years (2008-2012), the activity itself should also identify long term vision for development of organic farming in Dalmatia , as well as strategy for its achievements.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key tasks to be implemented

 The Consultant will:

1. Perform a thorough assessment of this TOR and the current situation at the beginning of the activity implementation suggesting any necessary amendments (approx. 1day);
2. Analyze European Action Plan as well as selected Member States/regions Action plans for organic faming and outline applicability of the proposed actions for the COAST project region (approx. 4 days);
3. Collect and analyze relevant data on organic farming in the project area, including number of farms and structure of holdings, mix of products, technology applied, achieved yields and obstacles encountered. Assess the state-of-art of organic agriculture in Dalmatia , explicitly addressing potential, achievements, plans and lessons learned regarding barriers and still unsolved problems. (approx. 7 days);
4. Assess the state-of-art regarding the implementation of the on-going «National Strategy for Organic Agriculture in », its achievements, shortcomings and lessons learnt, with special reference to the COAST project region. Specify in which of the key policy documents on agriculture, biodiversity and nature protection, the «National Strategy for Organic Agriculture in » is considered (approx. 2 days) ;
5. Collect lessons learned, case studies, description of the current situation from the regions most advanced in organic agriculture, especially from the Mediterranean region (e.g. , , , , but also , , etc.). Assess applicability of theirs already proven solutions on situation in / Dalmatia . (approx. 12 days)
6. Perform a SWOT analysis on development of organic farming in the COAST project region. Special emphasis should be given on identification of critical barriers and actions / interventions required for its effective and efficient removal. This should be done in close collaboration and in a participatory manner with relevant stakeholders (e.g. county offices for agriculture, regional development agencies, farmers and farmers’ co-operatives, entrepreneurs, farm advisors, NGOs, etc.), through both consultation and dedicated 1-day workshop (approx. 13 days);
7. Brief analysis / rapid assessment of the key issues identified by SWOT analysis and required for formulation of the action plan, including: assessment of market potential, cost efficiency of adopted certification and control procedures; availability of repro-material, etc. Identify needs for further related studies required to promote development of organic farming in the COAST project region (approx. 15 days)  
8. Develop set of priority measures required for further development of organic farming in the COAST project region, covering all relevant aspects including: education, training, awareness raising / communication strategy / information campaign, development of infra- and supra-structure, improvement of production and processing practices, development of market, development of effective subsidies schemes, cooperation with other sectors (e.g. rural / eco / nature-based tourism). The measures should be in format of concrete project ideas ready for implementation, i.e. it should include information on responsible implementing actors, targets to be achieved, institutional settings, budget required, sources of financing, implementation time-table and monitoring/evaluation process. Among others, the set of measures should include those that will be implemented through Green businesses support program within the Counties development agencies, (approx. 25 days);
9. Present draft action plan at the workshop on organic farming to be organized in the framework of COAST project (approx. 1 day).
10. Facilitate establishment of Partnership for promotion and development of organic agriculture in Dalmatia , involving representatives of public, private and civil sectors.

     The Consultant will implement his/her tasks under the co-ordination and supervision of Project Implementation Unit and COAST Technical Expert for agriculture.
    
    Outputs of the activity
    
    The main output of the activity is a report titled Action plan for development of organic agriculture in Dalmatia covering above key tasks. The annotated outline of the report will be suggested by the Consultant as a part of the Inception report and approved by the COAST PIU.

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience

§           highly competent and experienced professional with at least ten years of relevant experience in the field of organic farming

§           Degree in agriculture. Related post-graduate degree is considered as an advantage

§           familiarity with the Croatian organic farming sector and related policies of the Government of the Republic of Croatia , as well as with those from the European Commission.

§           Familiarity with the project area, i.e. organic farming sector in the area, as well as familiarity with the organic farming in the Mediterranean context is considered as an advantage

§           proven project records and demonstrated experience in the preparation of the policy documents for the development of organic farming, as well as, knowledge on the policy documents related to the organic farming of the European Commission and EU Member States as well as of the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development

§           Proven capacity and experience with facilitation of the participatory planning processes

§           Proven experience in writing analytical reports for international organizations.

§           Ability to fluently communicate and write in Croatian and English language.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE POSITION:
·          go to www.undp.hr
·         select Jobs option
·         select desired position
·         click Apply Now