UNDP Jobs - 74528- Marine Protected Areas Specialist

Marine Protected Areas Specialist

Location :

Home-based

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2017

Application Deadline :

20-Sep-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

8 days

Languages Required :

English Portuguese

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Estimated 8 working days spread over the period 01 September to June 2018

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Government of Angola has sought UNDP support to implement the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) for the UNDP-GEF medium-sized project “Creation of Marine Protected Areas in Angola”. The project seeks to expand the protected areas network into the marine environment through creation of Angola’s first marine protected area (MPA), and has three components: 1) Strengthening the policy, legal and institutional framework for the creation of Angola’s first MPA, 2) Operationalization of an MPA in a location of high biodiversity priority, and 3) Project learning, knowledge sharing and M&E. The GEF resources allocated to the project amount to US$ 1,945,250 (including Project, PPG and UNDP Fee).

The GEF Secretariat approved the Project Identification Form on 05 July 2017. Project development now will include a preparatory phase in the form of a Project Preparatory Grant (PPG). During the PPG, a team of international consultants together with the UNDP Country Office in Angola and the responsible UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor (based in Cambridge, UK) – and working in close collaboration with key government officials, donors, NGOs and CBOs – will undertake literature reviews, studies, stakeholder consultations and field visits, with the view to further develop the approved PIF into a fully formulated project ready for implementation.

The UNDP Country Office in Angola will lead the PPG/IP, in close coordination with the Ministry of the Environment of Angola. The Key Expected Outputs of the PPG/IP will be a technically robust UNDP Project Document (PRODOC) and a Request for MSP Approval package ready for submission to the GEF Secretariat. The preparatory phase will moreover fully determine the baseline and GEF incremental benefits, confirm the lead national implementing agency, identify further implementing partners and responsible parties, and negotiate and define implementation arrangements. Consultation with stakeholders relevant for project activities will put emphasis on building the partnerships required for realizing the project’s objectives and the mobilization of co-financing. The national consultation process will also include the local communities that are expected to benefit from the Project, and address gender issues as well as social and environmental safeguards as indicated.

Considering the above PIF approval date and the 12-month milestone established by the GEF, the GEF MSP Approval Request package and PRODOC must be submitted to the GEF by 04 June 2018. Failure to meet this deadline will lead to automatic cancellation of the project by the GEF. The PPG team (which includes the PPG consultants, the Government of Angola, UNDP Angola and the UNDP-GEF regional support team) is requested to submit final draft versions for internal clearance to UNDP at the latest two months before this deadline (i.e. by 30th April 2018). Subsequent revisions addressing UNDP-GEF or GEF Secretariat queries may be required and are part of the PPG. The final submissions to the GEF will require prior government validation and clearance. Submission to the GEF will only be effected after all due clearances have been obtained.

The UNDP Country Office (CO) in Angola is seeking the services of an International Marine Protected Areas Specialist to support the implementation of the Project Preparation Grant (PPG).

The International Marine Protected Areas Specialist will be part of a team of consultants to work closely with, and under the overall guidance of, the UNDP Country Office, the UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor, the Team Leader of the PPG team and the project counterparts in the Angola Government. In addition to the International Marine Protected Areas Specialist, the team is expected to consist of:

An International Specialist for GEF Biodiversity Project Development – Marine Protected Areas (Team Leader);
An International Livelihoods and Gender Specialist.

Duties and Responsibilities

Review the conservation needs and benefits (biological rationale) of creating an MPA at one of the two potential sites, either adjacent to Iona or to Quiçama National Park.
Review and establish a clear economic business case for the creation of this MPA (conservation of spawning grounds and its impact on adjacent fisheries, tourism value etc.).
Propose approximate extension and limits of the new MPA, taking into consideration the afore-mentioned points as well as expected climate change impacts.
Review land and sea based threats and pressures that would have to be mitigated through the creation of the MPA and the implications of these pressures for the management and monitoring of the MPA.
Provide a brief review of other MPAs in the southern Africa region with their biological and economic impacts and the lessons that can be drawn from these prior experiences for the new MPA in southern Angola.
Assess opportunities for transboundary collaboration on the MPA
Assist in the definition of baselines and indicators related to the management of the MPA and adjacent terrestrial areas including river and estuary systems impacting on the MPA.
Review entire PRODOC and provide detailed comments and input on all sections.

Key UNDP/GEFreferences for this Project/PPG:

GEF-6 Focal Area Strategy for Biodiversity
PIF for “Creation of Marine Protected Areas in Angola”;
GEF Secretariat Review Sheet and GEF STAP Review of the PIF/Project;
UNDP Project Document and GEF MSP Approval Request package guidelines and templates;
UNDP & GEF M&E Guidance;
GEF Biodiversity Tracking Tools and UNDP Capacity Development Scorecard;
UNDP Environmental and Social Screening Procedure - Guidance Note and PIF Environmental and Social Screening;
UNDP Guidance on Gender Assessment;
Relevant UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures;
Relevant documents from regional marine initiatives, such as the Benguela Current Commission

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

The International Marine Protected Areas Specialist will provide a report addressing the topics listed under (3). The report will be written in such a way that sections can, to the extent possible, be integrated directly or with little adaptation by the Team Leader into the PRODOC and MSP Approval Request documents. In addition, the consultant will review the entire PRODOC and MSP Approval Request package.

The key deliverables under this contract will be:

A technical report prepared under the guidance of the Team Leader, addressing the following topics:

Review of the conservation needs and benefits (biological rationale) of creating an MPA at one of the two potential sites, either adjacent to Iona or to Quiçama National Park.
Review of and establishing a clear economic business case for the creation of this MPA (conservation of spawning grounds and its impact on adjacent fisheries, tourism value etc.).
Propose approximate extension and limits of the new MPA, taking into consideration the afore-mentioned points as well as expected climate change impacts.
Review of land and sea based threats and pressures that would have to be mitigated through the creation of the MPA and the implications of these pressures for the management and monitoring of the MPA.
Brief review of other MPAs in the southern Africa region with their biological and economic impacts and the lessons that can be drawn from these prior experiences for the new MPA in southern Angola.
Assessment of opportunities for transboundary collaboration on the MPA
Assist in the definition of baselines and indicators related to the management of the MPA and adjacent terrestrial areas including river and estuary systems impacting on the MPA.

In addition, the consultant will:

Review entire PRODOC and provide detailed comments and input on all sections.

Payment is based upon output and will be made upon confirmation by UNDP that contract obligations have been met in a satisfactory manner in accordance with milestones, i.e. delivery of the services specified in the ToR to be approved by UNDP and meeting agreed deadlines. The tentative payment schedule is as follows: Upon contract signature: 20% of the total amount. Upon submission and acceptance of the report: 60% of the total. Upon satisfactory review of the PRODOC and MSP Acceptance Request: 20% of the total.

Approval: Review of the deliverables regarding quality and timeliness will be undertaken by the UNDP Country Office and the Angola Government counterparts, then the UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor and eventually the UNDP/GEF Senior Technical Advisor to ensure alignment and compliance with UNDP and GEF requirements.

Implementation arrangements:

The International Marine Protected Areas Specialist will report to the Team Leader of the PPG team.

To guide and assist the team of consultants, a joint project development and facilitation team will be established that includes the UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor, the UNDP Country Office, as well as project focal points at the Ministry of Environment of Angola. The main responsibilities will be to provide the required data/information and feedback to the team of consultants; backstopping and providing relevant templates; supporting stakeholder consultations and ensuring their participation; supporting problem analysis; liaising with partners and leading national stakeholder involvement on project strategy and institutional and management arrangements and on co-financing matters; and supporting alignment with national priorities and understanding of the local and national contexts.

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. Consultants are responsible for obtaining valid visas for travelling to Angola, however the CO will support visa applications.

Duty Station:

Home based.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrate commitment to UNDP's mission, vision and values
Displays cultural, gender, reigion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to conduct research and analysis, with strong synthesis skills.
Ability to work with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams;
Results oriented.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum University degree in marine biology or a related subject.

Experience:

At least 5 years’ experience in marine biology research and assessment in Africa; specific knowledge of fisheries in the southern Africa region;
Specific experience in MPA design and management is required;
Past experience in UNDP-GEF project formulation/design is an advantage.

Languages:

Fluency in English is required;
Ability to read Portuguese documents is a distinct advantage.

Application procedure:

Interested candidates in the position should apply on UNDP jobsite indicating their earliest availability to start the assignment as well as an updated CV/P11 and a financial proposal (with separately listed travel costs). And for any clarifications?please contact aguiar.cuiundana@undp.org; irene.machado@undp.org?or jose .torres@undp.org

Applications should be composed of the following:

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the UNDP template;
Personal CV or P11, 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;
Technical proposal explaining why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a methodology, if applicable, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, with separately listed travel costs.

Proposals will be evaluated according to a combined scoring method where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted at 70% and the price offer will be weighted at 30%.