Mid Term Review Expert –Georgia Agrobiodiversity

The objective of the project is to mainstream biodiversity across sectors as well as landscapes and seascapes through the sustainable use of plant and animal genetic resources in the Samtskhe-Javakheti Region of Georgia.

Home Based

3 months - 44 days within a 3 months period

The United Nations Environment Programme is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment." Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UNEP's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and capacity development for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. UNEP's GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit, under the Biodiversity and Land Branch, serves as the implementing agency for projects within the Biodiversity and Land Degradation Focal Areas funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The Unit currently manages a portfolio of over 200 projects across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and West Asia and Asia and the Pacific regions. Georgia is rich in biodiversity and is one of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots. The Red List of Georgia contains 134 animal species and 56 plant species; 42 of the animal species and 18 of the plant species are categorized as endangered or critically endangered. Georgia’s biodiversity underpins ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services essential for human well-being. It includes ecosystems and habitats which harbour animals and plants used for food and other purposes, and which provide life-sustaining services. The wild flora of Georgia includes about 4,130 species of vascular plants, including 120 tree species, 240 shrub species, and approximately 3,800 herbaceous species. Out of all vascular species distributed in Georgia, 380 (9.0%) are endemic to the country and 600 (14.2%) are endemic to the Caucasus region. The level of generic endemism is also high, with 16 genera endemic to Georgia and also to the Caucasus, including Alboviodoxa, Woronowia, Chymsydia, Trigonocaryum, Symphyoloma, Pseudobetckea, Charesia, Mandenovai, Sredinskaya, Cladocheta, Pseudovesicaria, Gadellia, Agasyllis, Paederotella, and Kemulariella. In the past century, biodiversity has declined at an unprecedented rate across all ecosystems, including agro-ecosystems. The homogenisation and intensification of agricultural systems have led to genetic erosion and increased vulnerability of specialised crops. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, conservation of genetic resources—both in situ and ex situ—became disorganised. The Sukhumi Vavilov station in Georgia was destroyed during the civil war, and in the past three decades, the number of local endemic crops has decreased significantly, mainly due to the uncontrolled introduction of foreign cultivars. The Unit seeks to recruit a consultant to conduct the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Biodiversity conservation, sustainable land management in vulnerable Ecosystems and Rural Communities of Samtskhe-Javakheti region in Georgia which will analyze whether the project is on-track, what problems or challenges the project is encountering, and what corrective actions are required. The MTR will assess project performance to date (in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency) and determine the likelihood of the project achieving its intended outcomes and supporting their sustainability. This consultancy post is located in UNEP / Ecosystems Division / GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation unit. The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Task Manager and the overall guidance of the Portfolio Manager of the GEF Biodiversity and Land Degradation Unit based in Nairobi. Specifically, the consultant will be required to complete the following tasks: Inception phase: • Preliminary desk review and introductory interviews with project staff. • Prepare the review framework in line with UNEP's evaluation guidelines. • Identify stakeholders. • Develop the interview/questions matrix. • Plan the review schedule. • Prepare the Inception Report. Data collection and analysis phase of the review, including: • Conduct further desk review and in-depth interviews with project implementing and executing agencies, project partners and project stakeholders. • Regularly report back to the Task Manager on progress and inform of any possible problems or issues encountered. Reporting phase, including: • Draft the Review Report, ensuring that the review report is complete, coherent and consistent with the Task Manager guidelines both in substance and style. • Liaise with the Task Manager on comments received and finalize the Review Report, ensuring that comments are considered until approved by the Task Manager. • Prepare a Response to Comments annex for the main report, listing those comments not accepted indicating the reason for the rejection; and Managing relations, including: • Maintain a positive relationship with stakeholders, ensuring that the review process is as participatory as possible but at the same time maintains its independence. • Communicate in a timely manner with the Task Manager on any issues requiring its attention and intervention. • The consultancy will be home-based with possible field visits.

An advanced university degree in environmental sciences, international development or other relevant political or social sciences area is required; A bachelor's degree in combination with two additional years will be accepted in lieu of the Masters degree". - A minimum of 7 years of technical / evaluation experience is required, preferably including evaluating large, regional or global programmes and using a Theory of Change approach; and a good/broad understanding of natural resource management, mountain protection and development is desired. -Hands-on experience in managing national and international natural resources projects, in particular concerning biodiversity, natural resources management, protected area management, environmental information, management, capacity building etc. is highly desirable. -Working experience in an international environment is desirable .i.e. UNEP and GEF -Experience in the project target area in Georgia is an asset.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required and working knowledge of another UN Language is desirable.

Not available.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.