National Consultant on National IAS Specialist

Background

Background

Ministry of Agriculture in China has developed the PRC-GEF Partnership Program on Sustainable Agricultural Development through extensive consultation with national and local government agencies with the support of three GEF agencies – UNDP, FAO and the World Bank. The programme objective is to:

• Strengthening coordinated approaches to reduce IAS threats to globally significant agrobiodiversity and agroecosystems in China (IAS project; PFD child project 2)
• Participatory in-situ conservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity in Hainan (Hainan agrobiodiversity project; PFD child project 3)
• Conservation and sustainable use of indigenous agricultural genetic diversity in Hubei (Hubei agrobiodiversity project; PFD child project 4).

Project Preparation Grants (PPGs) have been secured by UNDP to formulate these four full-size projects through situation analyses, identification and documentation of relevant baseline conditions, stakeholder consultations, identification of implementing partners and arrangements, consolidation of cofinancing opportunities, development of results frameworks having an integrated set of SMART[1] indicators and targets that monitor outcomes and key outputs, realistic assessments of risks and their mitigation, gender mainstreaming and social inclusiveness, identification and selection of target sites and pilot demonstration initiatives, and coordination with other initiatives.

This is the Terms of Reference for the procurement of up to nine GEF Biodiversity Project Development Specialists (International Consultants and National Consultants) to lead the development of the three child projects. Applicants may apply for one or two projects; they should indicate clearly for which of the projects they are applying and those able to commit to two projects are likely to be preferred. The three child projects are outlined below.

Child Project 1: Strengthening coordinated approaches to reduce invasive alien species (IAS) threats to globally significant agrobiodiversity and agroecosystems in China (R-IAST). This project aims to strengthen intersectoral coordination mechanisms, approaches and technical capacity for more effective prevention, control and management of IAS threats to agrobiodiversity in China.

Child Project 2:  Conservation and sustainable use of indigenous agricultural genetic diversity in Hubei. This project aims to strengthen the in-situ conservation and sustainable use of globally significant agrobiodiversity in Hainan through the development of incentive mechanisms for farmers to sustain populations of endemic crops and livestock, the establishment of a supportive ‘enabling environment’ and strengthened institutional capacity. 

Child Project 3: Participatory in situ conservation and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity in Hainan. This project aims to strengthen long-term conservation of Hubei’s globally significant agrobiodiversity, through enhanced provincial policy framework and institutional capacity, and the establishment of innovative incentive mechanisms and technical approaches to support in-situ conservation of indigenous agricultural varieties.

[1] Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound

Duties and Responsibilities

Role:

The National IAS Specialist will provide expert technical inputs and guidance to support the development and design of the full-sized UNDP-GEF project ‘Strengthening coordinated approaches to reduce invasive alien species (IAS) threats to globally significant agrobiodiversity and agroecosystems in China’. The National IAS Specialist will work closely with the PPG Team Leader, National Specialist, Inspection & Quarantine, National Specialist, Environment & Ecological Security, Local Specialist Hainan, and national and provincial government partners, to deliver the following:

Competencies

Deliverables:

1. Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews (Component A): Prepare inputs and support the required analyses/studies, as agreed with the PPG Team Leader, including:
   1. Prepare inputs for the baseline/situational analysis on national IAS frameworks and capacity including baseline projects, activities, budgets, and goals;
   2. Assess national IAS legal frameworks, including any multilateral and bilateral agreements on the prevention, control and management of IAS impacts on agrobiodiversity, multi-sectoral coordination and policy on IAS, and inter-agency communication and information sharing, and identify appropriate project interventions to improve IAS legal frameworks, multi-sectoral coordination, communication and information sharing;
   3. Assess existing IAS early warning, risk assessment, data management and monitoring systems and identify appropriate project interventions to improve the national IAS monitoring and early warning network, including data management and evaluation;
   4. Identify key training needs for IAS management agencies (national and provincial) and the key training needs and priorities of farmers in demonstration landscapes (in collaboration with Local Specialist for Hainan project site);
   5. Adapt the UNDP Capacity Assessment Scorecard to suit IAS and conduct baseline assessments of the capacity of IAS agencies using the adapted scorecard, and provide inputs to the completion of the GEF IAS Tracking Tool;
   6. Coordinate the identification of the IAS demonstration landscapes, and define these landscapes and their selection criteria;
   7. Support the stakeholder analysis and consultations and ensure that they are complete and comprehensive;
   8. Support the preparation of the gender analysis;
   9. Support the identification of social and environmental risks linked to the project and co-financing and the completion of the UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP);
   10. Support the completion of any additional studies that are determined to be needed for the preparation of the ProDoc and all other final outputs.

1. Formulation of the ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request and Mandatory and Project Specific Annexes (Component B): Prepare inputs and support the development of final PPG deliverables, as agreed with the PPG Team Leader.

1. the Stakeholder Engagement Plan;
2. the Gender Action Plan and Budget;
3. Contribute to the updated SESP, as needed, based on assessments undertaken during Component A;
4. Support the development of environmental and/or social management plan(s) for all risks identified as Moderate or High in the SESP; and
5. Support the agreements on project management arrangements.

1. Validation Workshop (Component C):
   1. Contribute to the validation workshop; and
   2. Support all necessary revisions that arise during the workshop, as appropriate.

1. Final Deliverables:
   1. A report on the detailed analysis of IAS baseline (legal, multi-sector cooperation and information-sharing, institutional capacity) and recommended project interventions to improve prevention, identification, management and control of IAS through improved legislation, policy, multi-sector cooperation, capacity and farmer engagement.
   2. Detailed profiles for IAS demonstration landscapes and focal ports;
   3. Completed capacity assessments for IAS agencies using the UNDP Capacity Development Scorecard (adapted for IAS).
   4. Appropriate inputs to the final UNDP-GEF project document and GEF CEO ER based on guidance from the PPG Team Leader.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field, such as natural resources management, biodiversity conservation, environmental policy/planning and/or international trade/development;
• Minimum 10 years of demonstrable experience in the technical area of biosecurity and IAS management systems and frameworks, with experience in IAS threats to agrobiodiversity and agricultural landscapes an asset;
• Demonstrated understanding of political, legal and institutional context for IAS management in China;
• Fluency in written and spoken English and excellent written skills.

Applicants are requested to apply online. Individual consultants are invited to submit applications together with their CV and Offeror's letter for these positions.

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that will take into account the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals. Qualified women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply.

Offeror’s Letter and proposal Download Link: 

https://pan.baidu.com/s/1i6x9Qlf

Selection criteria:

Technical evaluation - 70% (includes 20% of Job Related Technical  Expertise; 25% of Relevant working experience; 25% of Methodology &   Approach to Assignment)

Financial Evaluation - 30%;

The final offer goes to the highest combined score winner.