Social & Environmental Safeguards Expert for the Project on Strengthening the conservation of globally threatened species in Mozambique through improving biodiversity enforcement and expanding community conservancies around protected areas

Background

Mozambique ranks amongst the bottom of least developed nations, with very low well-being indicators and the Human Development Index (HDI) rating it at 180 out of 188 countries (UNDP 2015). The population growth rate is 2.5% and about 70% of the country’s 22.9 million people live and work in rural areas. About 60% of the population is living under the international poverty line of USD1.25 a day (2007-2011 data, UNICEF 2013).  

Mozambique is a major repository of biodiversity with profound international importance. The country contains three areas designated by Conservation International as Biodiversity Hotpots and is also rich in marine biodiversity. Twentytwo broad vegetation communities are currently recognized in the country, supporting more than 5500 species of plants including 250 known endemic species, 222 mammal species including several endemic sub-species, and more than 600 species of birds. The national Protected Areas (PA) estate includes 47 areas designated for the conservation of flora and fauna, with seven National Parks, including the flagship Gorongosa National Park and buffer zone (10,000 km2) in the Zambezi Valley, and six National Reserves, including the Niassa Reserve (42,000 km2) on the northern border with Tanzania. As in most protected areas in Mozambique, both Gorongosa National Park and especially Niassa Reserve have communities living within the PA boundaries.  

While conservation efforts have been significantly up-scaled since the end of the civil war in 1992, there are several threats affecting biodiversity in Mozambique. Significant increase in wildlife crime has taken place, adding to the pressures caused by uncontrolled subsistence hunting by poor communities. In Niassa Reserve alone, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) reports that 2,600 elephants were poached between in 2010 and 2011. In 2013, after significant on-the-ground anti-poaching efforts, the poaching rate had been reduced to approximately 300-500 animals a year. However, since 2014 the poaching has increased again, now also intensely targeting additional threatened species, such as lions, pangolins and others. Similar threats are reported for the Gorongosa area, indicating that there is a real risk that the wave of illegal poaching may be descending from Niassa to the recovering elephant population of Gorongosa endangering the abundance of other species. 

The international market for wildlife products is still of low risk and highly profitable. Organized criminals and syndicates with international outreach are connecting a complex supply chain that often links poor Mozambicans in remote rural areas to traders of varied nationalities, illegal transporting services, and ultimately to consumers, mainly in China, Thailand, USA, and Europe. With significant gaps in Mozambique’s enforcement chain the country is being used as a roaming ground for criminals who are set to completely decimate the Mozambique’s wildlife, forest, fisheries and marine resources. Subsistence poaching (including in PAs) also threatens a wide variety of globally endangered species. With local communities expanding further into conservation areas and growing populations in need of food and income, the threats to wildlife and forest resources accelerate at alarming rates, nullifying conservation gains of recent years.

The livelihoods of most rural communities in Mozambique are highly dependent on the direct use of natural resources, which is often unsustainable and leads to overexploitation. For example, FAO reports that Mozambique lost some 4.3 million hectares of forests between 1990 and 2010 (22% of total forest cover). Unproductive agricultural practices including extensive slash and burn agriculture coupled with shifting cultivation lead to habitat conversion to croplands and degradation of land and water resources affecting progress to national development and conservation goals.   

Duties and Responsibilities

The project

At the request of the Mozambican government, UNDP developed a proposal for a full-size GEF project with 4 components that address three key barriers for effective reduction of poaching, IWT and unsustainable natural resource management:

Component 1: National strategy to promote the value of wildlife and combat illegal wildlife trafficking will establish new levels of coordination between a range of governmental sectors to deal with Wildlife and Forest Crime. 

Component 2: Strengthening enforcement capacity in key protected areas to combat wildlife crime on the ground will improve joint management efforts between ANAC and GRP in Gorongosa NP and ANAC and WCS in Niassa Special Reserve. 

Component 3: Establishing conservancies to expand the Gorongosa PA complex and more sustainably manage the Mecula – Marrupa Corridor within the Niassa Reserve

Component 4: Gender Mainstreaming, Knowledge Management, and M&E.  

The project was approved by the GEF in 2017 and implementation started in 2018. With the support of UNDP as the

Implementing Agency, the project is being implemented by the Mozambican Protected Areas Agency (ANAC), the Gorongosa Restoration Project/Carr Foundation (GRP), and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The total grant amount is USD 15.75 million over 6 years. 

Social and Environmental Safeguards

UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES) underpin our commitment to mainstream social and environmental sustainability in our Programmes and Projects to support sustainable development. The objectives of the standards are to: 

• Strengthen the social and environmental outcomes of Programmes and Projects
• Avoid adverse impacts to people and the environment 
• Minimize, mitigate, and manage adverse impacts where avoidance is not possible 
• Strengthen UNDP and partner capacities for managing social and environmental risks
• Ensure full and effective stakeholder engagement, including through a mechanism to respond to complaints from project-affected people 

A key mechanism to ensure these standards are applied is through UNDP’s project-level Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) which is a requirement for all proposed projects. The objectives of the SESP are to: (a) Integrate the SES Overarching Principles (human rights, gender equality and environmental sustainability); (b) Identify potential social and environmental risks and their significance; (c) Determine the Project's risk category (Low, Moderate, High); and (d) Determine the level of social and environmental assessment and management required to address potential risks and impacts. 

UNDP’s SES and SESP came into effect January 1, 2015. All guidance on UNDPs Social and Environmental Safeguards can be found in the SES Toolkit. 

Scope of the assignment:

UNDP is seeking the service of an expert consultant to 1) develop SESP of a full size project under implementation, ensuring compliance with UNDP social and environmental risk reduction measures;  2) undertake an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and 3) prepare an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for this project. 

The consultant will support the GEF 6 Project Management Unit  to conduct the necessary assessments to identify and assess social and environmental risks that are potentially associated with project implementation, and to develop mitigation or management strategies as required, in line with the UNDP Social and Environmental Standards. The consultant will collaborate closely with the PMU in updating the SESP and designing the ESIA-ESMP.

Deliverables and Responsibilities 

The following lists key responsibilities and deliverables that will be expected from the consultant. Prior to commencing the consultancy, a detailed workplan and mission schedule should be agreed upon with the PMU, UNDP RTA and Country Office.

• Review the available documentation on the project; prepare inputs and support the required analyses/studies, including a review of the pre-screening (SESP) template that was prepared during the project design;

• Based on the pre-SESP process, initiated during the formulation of the project and on the basis of risk categorizations, specify the steps that will be implemented by the project in Mozambique for the additional assessment of potential impacts and identification and development of appropriate risk management measures, in line with UNDP's Social and Environmental Standards (SES);

Working under the guidance of the RTA and UNDP CO, draft the SESP and ESIA-ESMP for the project, including the Livelihoods Action Plan: 

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA): In accordance with UNDP’s SES, an ESIA will be developed and carried out by an independent expert in a participatory manner with stakeholders, following the principles of FPIC. The ESIA will further identify and assess social and environmental impacts of the project and its area of influence; evaluate alternatives; and consider appropriate avoidance, mitigation, management, and monitoring measures. It will address all relevant issues related to the SES Principles and Standards, with particular focus on Standard 6 on Indigenous Peoples. A key output of the ESIA is an ESMP, as described next.

ESIA report and Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP): An ESIA report and ESMP will provide a set of avoidance, mitigation, monitoring and institutional measures – as well as actions needed to implement these measures – to achieve the desired social and environmental sustainability outcomes. The measures will be adopted and integrated into the project activities, monitoring and reporting framework and budget. At a minimum, the ESMP will include a Livelihoods Action Plan, a project-level grievance redress mechanism and a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Plan. Other management plans should be included as determined necessary in the course of the ESIA. such ESIA-ESMP will identify the steps that will be taken by the project during its implementation  for: i) detailed assessment of potential social and environmental impacts of project activities, with the completion of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA); and ii) based on those assessments, preparing and approving response/management plans for avoiding, and where avoidance is not possible, mitigating, and managing adverse impacts, with the preparation of an Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP) based on stakeholder consultations and in line with UNDP’s Guidance Note on Assessment and Management; 

• Training on FPIC and other safeguards topics: The consultant will train relevant stakeholders and members of the project team on SESP, FPIC and other safeguards topics as determined necessary in the course of the ESIA, and as described in the “Capacity Development and Training” section of the ESMP. 
• In implementing this work, conduct relevant consultations with stakeholders, public, private and nonGovernmental organizations and collect the stakeholders' feedback. Incorporate the comments, if appropriate, into the project's SESP/ ESIA-ESMP documentation and Results Framework;
• Coordinate work with National Gender Specialist in completing the SESP/ ESIA-ESMP documentation;
• Update the screening process in an iterative fashion and inform project design as appropriate, ensuring that all relevant safeguards are integrated in project strategies, in accordance with UNDP and GEF policies.
• Conduct a validation documents workshop and support all necessary revisions that arise during the workshop, as appropriate.

Final Deliverables

• SESP Report.
• ESIA-ESMP.
• Report on capacity building activities performed.  

All deliverables shall be submitted in draft for comments, prior to submission as a final version. Approval by UNDP

Country Office is required prior to any payment being affected. All documents will be reviewed by the UNDP GEF RTA and the Implementing Partners as well, and therefore comments should be adequately addressed prior to any document being considered fit for payment as per the above list.

Proposed Time Schedule for Deliverables and Payments:

The timeframe for activities and deliverables will be coordinated closely between the UNDP CO and RTA, government partners and UNDP.

Working Arrangements:

• The consultant will work from home with mission travel to Mozambique (Maputo, Sofala, Niassa). 
• The consultant will report to, and be directly supervised by the UNDP Regional Technical Advisor (based in Addis Ababa) and UNDP Mozambican CO.
• The consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment by the UNDP RTA and UNDP Country Office. 
• The consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own work station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to reliable internet connection.
• Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the consultant is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones. 
• Payments will be made upon approval of deliverables by UNDP RTA (as per above schedule) and submission of a detailed time sheet and certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the RTA on outputs delivered. If the quality does not meet standards or requirements, the consultant will be asked to rewrite or revise (as necessary) the deliverable before proceeding to payment.  

Travel:

• Missions to Mozambique (Maputo, Sofala and Niassa provinces) will be required. The initial inception and stakeholder engagement mission is expected to include an estimated 4 days in Maputo, and 15 days in Sofala and Niassa). The final stakeholder validation mission is expected to include 2 days in Maputo and 10 days in Sofala and Niassa.
• Any necessary mission travel must be approved in advance and writing by the UNDP RTA and UNDP CO. 
• The consultant must complete the online UN BSAFE[1] course before commencement of travel (proof of completion will be required).
• The consultant will be responsible for obtaining all appropriate medical documents vaccinations/inoculations, and ensure to bring a valid vaccination booklet or COVID19 test on mission. 
• Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb   
• The consultant will be responsible for making his/her mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies. This will include visa arrangements (however, in some cases UNDP Country Offices may be able to assists in obtaining a landing visa for consultants). 
• Travel expenses related to mission travels will be supported by the project travel fund and will be reimbursed as per UNDP rules and regulations for consultants. NB: Costs for mission airfares, terminal expenses, or living allowances should NOT be included in financial proposal.  

[1] https://training.dss.un.org/course/category/6 

Documentation to be submitted:

• A duly completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P11) and CV including education and evidence of qualifications for the assignment. 
• A duly completed and signed Annex II Offeror´s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) assignment to be downloaded from the UNDP procurement site and confirmation you have read, understood and hereby accept UNDP’s General Conditions of Contract for the Services of the Individual Contractors
• Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided by UNDP.

Links:

UNDP Personal History form (P11) required of all applicants:

www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc    Reporting

All deliverables shall be submitted in English and in appropriate format, in editable MS Word and in PDF as per requirement of the Client. 

The deliverables should be of high quality in form and substance and with appropriate professional presentation. The

Consultant should fully comply with the requirements of UNDP in terms of content and 

Scope of Price Proposal 

The financial offer should be quoted as a lump sum amount, all-inclusive (professional fee, insurance, all travel costs, per diem, etc.). In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the consultant wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

The contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components. In the case of unforeseeable travel (additional mission for example), payment of travel costs including tickets, accommodation and terminal expenses should be agreed upon prior to travel between UNDP and Individual Consultant and will be reimbursed.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/technically compliant/acceptable, and
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical evaluation:

Candidates scoring 70 or above will be selected for the analysis of their respective financial offers. The financial offers will be evaluated giving the lowest price proposal 30 marks and marking the other more expensive proposals reverse proportionally to the cheapest offer.

The final scoring of short-listed candidates will consider the technical score and the financial score:

The candidate ranking highest shall be selected.

Competencies

Functional

• Demonstrated ability to successfully engage with a diversity of stakeholders.
• Able to communicate effectively to a varied audience in a simple and concise manner.
• Capable of working in a high- pressure environment and managing multiple tasks while meeting strict deadlines with focus on quality results.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills.
• Exercises the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.

Corporate

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability, treating all people fairly without favoritism.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Professional degree or higher in social or environmental sciences or natural resource/environmental management; a relevant university degree in combination with qualifying experience in areas related to the project objectives will be accepted in lieu of the post-graduate degree. 

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of demonstrable experience in a technical area relevant to the proposed project (e.g. biodiversity conservation, protected area management), and in preparing high-quality GEF and other donor-funded projects.
• A minimum of 3-5 years of experience relevant to social and environmental risk reduction and safeguards. 
• Demonstrated experience working in developing country contexts, including in Africa (working experience in Mozambique would be an advantage). 
• Previous working experience with GEF agencies (e.g. UNDP, WB), and familiarity with GEF and UNDP policies, procedures and practices would be an advantage.

Languages:

• Full proficiency in quality written and spoken English; 
• Proficiency in spoken Portuguese;