Mariculture Capacity Development Specialist

Water and Energy Cluster

Based in Copenhagen, the UNOPS Water and Energy Cluster provides specialized project management services to partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Bank. Together with partners, the cluster executes projects that support sustainable development by:

• promoting international cooperation to prevent and reverse environmental degradation of international water systems
• enhancing the resilience of communities and eco-systems to climate change
• lowering emissions by bridging renewable energy solutions
• developing Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions to strengthen climate-resilient development

UNDP/GEF is providing assistance through UNOPS to countries bordering Yellow Sea in support of their efforts to address among others the increasing trends of depleting fishery stocks, loss of coastal wetland, land and sea-based pollution and implementation of the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem Strategic Action Programme (YSLME SAP) adopted by China and RO Korea with support of DPR Korea. One of the assistance programs to implement the SAP is the UNDP/GEF/UNOPS project entitled Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem: Restoring Ecosystem Goods and Services and Consolidation of a Long-term Regional Environmental Governance Framework, or the UNDP/GEF YSLME Phase II Project. The project was launched in July 2017.

The objective of this regional project is to achieve adaptive ecosystem-based management of the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem bordered by China, RO Korea and DPR Korea by fostering long-term sustainable institutional, policy and financial arrangements for effective ecosystem-based management of the Yellow Sea in accordance with the YSLME SAP.

There are four components of the project:

1. Sustainable national and regional cooperation for ecosystem based management.
2. Improved Ecosystem Carrying Capacity with respect to provisioning services.
3. Improved Ecosystem Carrying Capacity with respect to regulating and cultural services.
4. Improved Ecosystem Carrying Capacity with respect to supporting services.

The key outcomes sought are:

1. Establishment of a self-sustaining cooperative mechanism for ecosystem-based management.
2. Recovery of depleted fish stocks and improved mariculture production and quality.
3. Improved ecosystem health;
4. Improved inter-sectoral coordination and mainstreaming of ecosystem based management principles at the national level, maintenance of habitat areas, strengthened stakeholder participation in management and improved policy making.
5. Skills and capacity significantly developed for region-wide ecosystem-based management.

In the TDA of YSLME, unsustainable mariculture is identified as one of the key transboundary environmental concerns represented by the falling productivity per unit area as the area under cultivation grows. This fall in productivity may be due to the fact that only unsuitable cultivation areas now remain, or that increased proximity of farms has resulted in increased disease transmission between farms, raised concentrations of organic wastes and increased competition for food resources among cultivated organisms. These factors increase stress and lower the growth and survival rates of the cultured organisms, thus reducing productivity. Unsustainable mariculture also contributes to the pollution and eutrophication identified as transboundary concerns in the TDA. 

Studies in PR China, RO Korea and other countries have shown that the social, economic and environmental benefits of IMTA are significant. In this context, YSLME will support the scaling up of IMTA in Shandong Province and YSLME through development of training module for IMTA, promotion and trainings to achieve observed reduction of nutrients and other pollutants while increasing the production per unit area. Currently the Chinese version of the training module has already been completed and translated into English.

Objectives                                                                                  

The objective underlying this consultancy is to consolidate and finalize the IMTA training module to standardize IMTA for easy replication to other sites in YSLME and outside YSLME.

Under supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor and technical guidance of the RWG-M, in close collaboration with the local project team, the subcontractor will conduct the following activities:

• In consultation with the RWG-M team, provide additional inputs to the training modules to reflect the experiences of IMTA in RO Korea and other practicing countries;
• Improve the training modules in a way that is more user-friendly to the effect that the following aspects of the training modules can be optimized for effective learning by users:
  • Background and descriptive information
  • Directions on how to use the curricula
  • Course planning forms and checklists
  • Guidance on tailoring each particular workshop or training course so that it matches the needs or wants of participants, or fits a program’s needs
  • Specific, measurable, and realistic learning objectives
  • Assurance of clear, consistent and cross-referenced course content
  • Integrated evaluation plan/tools
• Finalize the draft for review and recommendation for adoption by MSTP
• Based on the English version of training module and in consultation with the Regional Working Group on Sustainable Mariculture, design a training course to include: 1) design of training modules and learning objectives; 2) identification of training materials available and to be developed, 3) a roster of trainers and experts to be engaged to facilitate the training and to review materials; 4) identification of effective training methods to deliver the knowledge to trainees;
• Provide guidance on the development of good aquaculture practice of IMTA currently undertaken by Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute with participation of members of Regional Working Group on Sustainable Mariculture (RWG-M);
• Participate in the meetings of the RWG-M to facilitate the discussion and design of the GAP of IMTA;
• Review and provide inputs to the draft GAP of IMTA prepared by the YSFRI;

Inputs

UNDP/GEF YSLME Phase II Project management Office (PMO) will provide the background information and English version of the training module.

Timing

The contract will begin in July 1, 2018 and end until the completion of the GAP of IMTA in mid 2019.

Reporting

The consultant will produce reports within the following timelines:

• By August 20, 2018, user-friendly version of the training module with inputs of experiences of RO Korea and other practicing countries;
• By September 10, 2018, training program with course materials and spreadsheets;
• Delivery of other consultancy products as determined by the RWG-M and the PMO.

Education:

• A relevant master’s degree, specializing in subjects such as water management, aquaculture, fisheries and/or other similar areas;
• A Bachelor degree combined with two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master's degree.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in fisheries, mariculture or aquaculture is required;
• Previous experiences with development of trainings is required, preferably in aquaculture area;
• Working experiences with Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), particularly around food standards, would be considered assets;
• Knowledge of Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) is highly desirable.

Language:

• Excellent level of English in written, spoken, and reading is required.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

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