National Specialist Consultant to undertake Review and Designation of High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) Sites in Savannakhet Province (Lao nationality only)
Vientiane
- Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
- Location: Vientiane
- Grade: Consultancy - National Consultant - Locally recruited Contractors Agreement
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Occupational Groups:
- Environment
- Agriculture and Forestry
- Resilience and Climate Change
- Crisis Response
- Closing Date: Closed
Background
The UNDP-GEF Sustainable Forest and Land Management in the Dry Dipterocarp Forest Ecosystems of Southern Lao PDR Project (SAFE Ecosystems Project) aims to support the government of Lao PDR to facilitate a transformative shift towards sustainable land and forest management in the forested landscape of Savannakhet Province. This sustainable management will help to secure critical wildlife habitats, conserve biodiversity and maintain a continuous flow of multiple services such as the provision of quality water and flood prevention. The project will be implemented over a period of six-years from May 2016 to May 2022 by the Department of Forestry (DOF) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The Dry Dipterocarp Forest (DDF) ecosystems located in Savannakhet Province are recognized for being globally important as habitat for a number of globally significant and threatened species, and nationally important for their provision of numerous ecosystem services that benefit the people of Lao PDR. In recent decades, DDF ecosystems and the species within them have come under increasing threat from large-scale conversion of forest, degradation of forest ecosystem services, and species loss.
Recognizing their global and national importance, the Government of Lao PDR (GoL) has prioritized the conservation and sustainable management of the Dry Dipterocarp Forests landscape of Savannakhet province. As a measure of the GoL’s commitment to the DDF landscape, it has selected this area to be the site of the newest National Protected Area in the country, and as a demonstration site for testing the implementation of new national policies and processes related to Strategic Environmental Assessment, Integrated Spatial Planning, and High Conservation Value Forests. The GoL has also identified this landscape as suitable for the development and implementation of innovative financing mechanisms for sustainable forest management and protected area management, as well as community participation in protected areas management, ecotourism programs, and livelihoods programs linked to conservation outcomes through formal Conservation Agreement mechanisms.
This SAFE Ecosystems Project will seek to strengthen land and resource use planning capacities and procedures, and the policies and regulations that govern them, while simultaneously expanding and strengthening the management of resources on the ground by government agencies, local communities and private sector actors. Furthermore, the project is developing innovative financing mechanisms and programs (including ecotourism and livelihoods programs) that can ensure the sustainability of improved land use and resource management approaches.
Existing intact forests designated as High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) to strengthen ecological connectivity between forest complexes
Conservation and Protection forests are not adequately zoned for biodiversity and ecosystem services, which has led to the degradation of areas of natural forest that provide critical habitat and/or important ecosystem services. There is an urgent need to identify such areas and designate them as High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) and/or place them under increased PA protection categories/zones. During project preparation, six candidate sites for HCVF designation were identified, based primarily on identifying areas that include significant Dry Dipterocarp Forest ecosystems that provide important habitat, connectivity with existing conservation areas, and/or community benefits.
The project will support the designation of approximately 193,684 hectares of intact forests within the five targeted districts of Savannakhet Province as High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs). Designation of sites as HCVFs is intended to maintain and/or enhance critical environmental and social values and to provide a greater degree of recognition and protection to ensure their long-term maintenance, particularly if they may be negatively impacted by practices undertaken in logging concessions, agricultural plantations or other production activities. This involves through greater attention to deciding and implementing appropriate management measures and monitoring both the implementation and effectiveness of these measures.
The project will support a process to adapt HCVF categories to the specific conditions of the Lao PDR. Based on that, the project will follow the step by step approach developed by the “HCV Resource Network” to identify, manage and monitor the selected HCVF sites, starting with a more thorough and detailed HCVF Assessment process, including stakeholder consultations, analysis of existing information and the collection of additional information where necessary. The HCVF Assessment will result in a report that will finalize the selection of HCVF sites and categories, and as far as possible will provide information on areas of habitat, key resources, and critical areas that support such values. Once the selected areas and relevant HCVF designations have been confirmed / revised, the project will define and mark the boundaries of the HCVFs; and support community capacity building for participatory management of HCVF areas.
Finally, the project also will undertake education and awareness raising programs in Savannakhet Province for provincial and district policymakers and natural resource managers, for communities within and adjacent to areas of dry dipterocarp forest, and for the general public. These programs will provide outreach and education on new and existing regulations and policies related to resource management and use, including changes resulting from the expansion of existing protected areas and the designation of HCVFs.
Duties and Responsibilities
National expertise is required to: (i) perform an assessment to finalize the selection of HCVF sites and categories at the SAFE Ecosystems Project site, (ii) provide information on areas of habitat, key resources, and critical areas that support such values, and (iii) once the selected areas and relevant HCVF designations have been confirmed/revised, assist the project will define and mark the boundaries of the HCVFs. For this assignment, the SAFE Ecosystems Project is seeking a National Independent Consultant/Expert to work in close consultation with the UNDP Lao PDR Country Office and relevant agencies of the Government of Lao PDR (Savannakhet Province PAFO, DAFOs, and District Offices of Industry and Commerce of the 5 target districts). SCOPE OF WORK | |
Under supervision of the UNDP Technical Specialist and the SAFE Ecosystems Project National Project Director supported by the Project Manager and Assistant Project Manager, the National Independent Consultant/Expert will be required to undertake the following duties:
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Competencies
- Expert knowledge and experience with High Conservation Value Forests, natural resources and biodiversity.
- Proven ability to analyze complex issues, draw relevant conclusions and produce high-quality, comprehensive technical reports.
- Experience working with Lao PDR government counterparts and local communities
- Excellent communication and consultation skills to liaise with a range of stakeholders including district and provincial authorities, local communities, etc. and ability and experience to conduct training
- Ability to lead and work with teams and to achieve quality outputs under tight timelines
- Excellent report writing skills (in English); excellent command of Lao language.
- Ability and willingness to travel remote areas within Lao PDR.
- Knowledge of UNDP and the UN system is an advantage.
Required Skills and Experience
- Holds at least a Masters’ Degree from a recognized University in the subject conservation biology, environmental governance, protected areas management, natural resource management or relevant fields. A Bachelor’s Degree in combination with a minimum of 10 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
- At least 5 years working experience working with High Conservation Value Forests, conservation biology, environmental governance, protected areas management, natural resource management or relevant fields.
Interested persons are requested to submit the following documents as part of their application:
- Brief description/ cover letter of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment. Please paste the letter into the ‘Resume and Motivation’ section of the electronic application
- Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP
- P11 Form indicating all relevant experience as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional references. Please use the P11 form provided by UNDP
- Financial Proposal (Offeror Letter) that indicates the daily fees as per the template provided by UNDP
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