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Re-Advertisement - National Consultant - Incentive Based Biodiveristy Mainstreaming in Agro Ecosystems

Colombo

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Colombo
  • Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Environment
    • Agriculture and Forestry
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

Background

"Enhancing Biodiversity Conservation and Sustenance of Ecosystems services in Environmentally Sensitive Areas" is a Global Environment Facility funded project, implemented by the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment (MoMDE) and supported by UNDP, Sri Lanka. The primary objective of this project is "to operationalize Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) as a mechanism for mainstreaming biodiversity management into development, in areas of high conservation significance". To achieve this objective, the project has two major outcomes; (1) national enabling framework strengthened to designate and manage ESAs and (2) biodiversity-friendly ESA management for long term integrity and resilience ensured at two proposed sites identified in the Kala Oya river basin. The first site is situated towards upper reaches of the river basin and encompasses a large water body (reservoir or tank) called Kala Wewa and covers Palagala, Galnewa, Kakirawa & Ipalogama Divisional Secretariat (DS) divisions. The second site is in lower part of the basin and encompasses marine area including the Bar Reef and the estuary of the Kala Oya River and covers Wanathawilluwa & Kaluwaragaswewa DS divisions.

The Project adopts landscape level land use   planning approach while integrating biodiversity conservation into inter sectoral plans and actions in agriculture, forestry, coastal development and tourism sectors. It proposes to bring 25,000 hectares of agro ecosystems under biodiversity compatible agricultural practices within ESAs and envisages the land use planning and management frame work as the key entry point to optimize land management in ESAs to ensure conservation of biodiversity and other natural resources while allowing the ESAs for sustainable economic activities under proper management. The particular agro ecosystems (including paddy fields, slash and burn land and home gardens) will be identified and management prescriptions that are compatible with the land suitability will be recorded/ notified by the planning teams who were responsible for the development of the integrated multi-sectoral landscape plan for the two sites. The project needs to work with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Development, MASL, FD and farmers' organizations to promote environmentally sustainable production practices through a two-pronged approach of making available the technical know-how and relative skills enhancement, while ensuring that incentives and dis-incentives applicable to these economic sectors are designed and implemented. In parallel, the wider population should be made aware that the successful implementation of this project will establish a sustainable model for managing critical landscapes of high biodiversity while securing and sustaining the livelihoods in the locale. For this assignment, UNDP seeks a national expert, to work with the Project Management Unit of the ESA project & Biodiversity Secretariat in Sri Lanka.

Scope and Objectives

To support the integrating biodiversity conservation into inter sectoral plans development and implementation of incentive based mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation into agriculture, fisheries, and homestead management.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities

  • Understand the programme strategy and align the work plans with the concepts/ objectives and goals of the project document in collaboration with the international consultant and the other key stakeholders;
  • Ensure biodiversity conservation is integrated into planning and policy processes through NBSAP operationalization in the Kala Oya Basin;
  • Ensure that incentives and dis-incentives applicable to agriculture, fishery, slash & burn agriculture, homesteads sectors are designed and implemented;
  • Share and recommend specific experiences of incentive based fisheries and marine/ aquatic resources management for site 2;
  • Build capacity of extension agents and local government agencies to include promotion of incentive oriented agro-ecosystems management;
  • Guide extension agents and local government agencies to link farming households with market mechanisms and other incentives to adopt and maintain biodiversity-friendly land use practices.  (creation of a special label for biodiversity friendly products to give it a distinct market niche,  marketing linkages through national chain of supermarkets or to restaurants etc.);
  • To support the international consultant in the process of developing national guidelines, tools on integrate biodiversity conservation into inter-sectoral plans and actions (agriculture, forestry, protected areas, coastal development and tourism);
  • Develop an extension program to make the wider population aware that the successful implementation of this project will establish a sustainable model for managing critical landscapes of high biodiversity while securing and sustaining the livelihoods in the locale;
  • Support and develop tools for the extension officers in the relevant sectors to carry awareness raising material and extension messages to promote incentive oriented agroecosystems management and guide land users to adopt biodiversity compatible agricultural production practices.

Expected Outputs

The following results are expected from the consultancy:

  1. A work plan for this assignment, including methodology, indicative outline of each deliverable and a delivery schedule;
  2. Design and guidelines on incentives and dis-incentives applicable to agriculture, fishery, slash & burn agriculture, homesteads, marine/ aquatic resources management sectors;
  3. A session plan, training materials and training report on incentive oriented agro- ecosystems management to adopt biodiversity compatible agricultural production practices;
  4. Feasibility report with a way forward, to ensure that incentives and dis-incentives applicable to these economic sectors with links to market mechanisms are designed and implemented;
  5. New models and modalities to ensure biodiversity conservation is integrated into slash and burn agriculture practices and homestead development.

Timeframe

The envisaged time frame of the consultancy is 240 working days over a period of 20th November 2017 to 30th April 2019. 

Competencies

Consultant Profile

The prospective consultant should have following competencies and qualifications.

Competencies:

  • Good knowledge and understanding of markets and marketing issues of agro-products in Sri Lanka and the main stakeholders in the agriculture sub-sector;
  • knowledge of practical approaches to mainstream biodiversity conservation into agriculture and fisheries;
  • Capacity to work with multiple stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines;
  • Demonstrated leadership, facilitation and coordination skills, ability to manage technical team and long term strategic partnership;
  • Excellent communication (both oral and written) and partnership building skills with multi-dimension partners, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of case studies and progress reports;
  • people skill for conflict resolution and negotiation;
  • Maturity and confidence in dealing with the staff of government institutions and private sector;
  • Ability to seek and apply knowledge, information and best practices from multiple sectors;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Excellent coordination skills and result oriented collaboration with colleagues
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Good team player who has ability to maintain good relationships.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications

Education:

The prospective consultant should have Master’s Degree or equivalent in the areas of agriculture, soil conservation, environment, rural development, or related field.

Experience:

  • Minimum 8 years’ experience in the implementation of development projects, especially in the field of linking agriculture and environment with state and non-state sector stakeholder engagement;
  • Proven ability in carrying out market studies, capacity building and community consultations;
  • For site 2, experience on sustainable resource use and marketing of marine, coastal resources are required;
  • Knowledge of practical approaches to mainstream biodiversity conservation into agriculture and fisheries;
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment, to effectively manage and to motivate state and non-state actors to effectively work towards the project's objectives and expected outcomes;
  • Preferred past involvement in similar projects in the dry zone of Sri Lanka;
  • Good communication skills and competence in handling project's external relations at all levels.

Languages/ Other:

  • Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English;
  • Fluency in Sinhala and/or Tamil is an additional requirement.

How to Apply

To apply please access UNDP Jobs site http://jobs.undp.org.

The application should contain:

  • Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work;
  • Updated CV to include qualifications/competencies and relevant past experience in similar projects and contact details of 3 professional referees who can certify your competencies, professionalism, quality of writing, presentation and overall suitability to this TOR;
  • Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a combination of factors including cover letter, the credentials on offer and brief interview (optional) and the offer which gives the best value for money for the UNDP;
  • Please send the Financial Proposal separately to the following e-mail address: procurement.lk@undp.org  stating the vacancy number/position in the subject line.

Financial Proposal

a). All-inclusive Lump Sum Fee (Professional Fees): (LKR)

b). All-inclusive Lump Sum Fee (other costs as indicated below): (LKR)

c). Total Lump Sum Fee (a+ b): (LKR).

Note: Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in his/her “All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee” including his/her consultancy and professional fee, travel (economy class flights is required to and from the Duty Station) honorarium, board and lodging, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consultant. UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily perdiums and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.

For an Individual Contractor who is 62 years of age or older, and on an assignment requiring travel, be it for arriving at the duty station or as an integral duty required travel under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided.  Such medical examination costs must be factored in to the financial proposal above. Medical examination is not a requirement for individuals on RLA contracts. 

Payment for Services

The vendor shall receive payments in instalments from UNDP as follows:

10% of total contract value:  A work plan for this assignment, including methodology, indicative outline of each deliverable and a delivery schedule;

25% of total contract value: A design and guidelines on incentives and dis-incentives applicable to agriculture, fishery, slash & burn agriculture, homesteads, marine/ aquatic resources management sectors;

30% of total contract value: A session plan, training materials and training report on incentive oriented agro-ecosystems management to adopt biodiversity compatible agricultural production practices;

15 % of total contract value: Feasibility report with a way forward, to ensure that incentives and dis-incentives applicable to these economic sectors with links to market mechanisms are designed and implemented;

20% of total contract value: New models and modalities to ensure biodiversity conservation is integrated into slash and burn agriculture practices and homestead development.

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.
This vacancy is now closed.
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