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2584 Consultant on Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR)

India

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: India
  • Grade: Consultancy - National Consultant - Locally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Agriculture and Forestry
    • Natural Resource Management
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

Purpose

 

To identify at least 3 priority areas for forest landscape restoration, including ecosystem, biodiversity, socio-economic, climate, and cost-benefit analyses development of three pilot Forest Landscape Restoration plans

 

Objective

 

To support UNDP in developing and publishing three Forest Landscape Restoration plans as part of the Pillar 4: Forests and green infrastructure for improving natural capital and resilience to climate change, under the project “EU for Green Agenda in Serbia”.  

 

Background Information

 

UNDP Serbia supports the Government of Serbia to comply with international conventions and European Union regulations on climate change, adaptation and mitigation, emission-reduction, and promotion of the transition to low-emission and climate-resilient development.

 

The European Green Deal and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans offer a blueprint for joint action to tackle the challenges of the green transition. The Green Agenda was shaped into regional action through the Sofia Declaration and the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans 2021 – 2030.

 

The green transition requires a cross-sectoral approach and broad societal participation to trigger transformative change. In line with this ambition, the “Green Agenda for Serbia” project funded by the EU, was designed to build broader engagement and participation. The project objective is to contribute to the efficient, inclusive, and sustainable implementation of the Green Agenda by improving the strategic and legislative framework, co-financing the implementation of innovative pilot projects, and mobilizing additional financing for scale-up investments. In this way, the project will contribute to the green transformation of the economy and society in Serbia. The project will also contribute to the decarbonization of the economy and achievement of the Paris Agreement goals, reducing environmental pollution (air, soil, and water) and support the alignment of Serbia’s regulatory framework with the EU acquis in following five pillars of the Green Agenda:

  1. Climate action, decarbonisation, energy efficiency, and green industries;
  2. Circular economy for resource efficiency and industrial symbiosis;
  3. Depollution of the environment with a strong focus on air quality;
  4. Protecting and investing in biodiversity and ecosystems;
  5. Sustainable food systems for sustainable rural livelihood.

Under Pillar 4 of the Green Agenda, the implemented actions shall contribute to restoring forest ecosystems and afforestation and contribute to achieving Serbia’s Land Degradation Neutrality Targets by 2030. The Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) approach aims to regain ecological integrity and enhance human well-being in deforested and degraded forest landscapes through a variety of place-based interventions, involving trees and other woody plants, including for example tree planting, managed natural regeneration, erosion control, riparian restoration, or improved land management. FLR relies on active stakeholder engagement and can accommodate a mosaic of different land uses, including agriculture, agroforestry, regenerated forests, managed plantations, riverside plantings to protect waterways, etc.

 

UNDP is seeking a Consultant on FLR within the "EU for Green Agenda in Serbia: Get Started, Take Action, Scale-up" project to UNDP is seeking a Consultant on FLR within the "EU for Green Agenda in Serbia: Get Started, Take Action, Scale-up" project in order to identify at least 3 priority areas for forest landscape restoration and prepare at least 3 Forest Landscape Restoration Plans. The consultant shall be required to comply with standard UNDP rules and regulations and previously agreed deadlines per individual services/deliverables provided in the area of the requested services.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of work:

 

The activities shall mainly focus on identifying and assessing restoration opportunities for the pilot areas that shall be identified. The Consultant shall provide key inputs for the identified areas, seeking to accelerate and implement restoration as part of the FLR and to scale up climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, while facilitating the achievement of local objectives and goals, such as water security, diversifying livelihood options, preserving key biodiversity, inclusive planning, etc.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

 

Under the direct supervision of Portfolio Manager, the consultants will be required to perform the following duties:

1. Prepare Landscape Assessment and Analysis

  • Conduct assessment and analysis of potential FLR pilot areas in cooperation with other three FLR consultants. The analysis shall contain information about each of the pilot areas, potential for developing FLR and evaluation of this potential, constraints and risk for implementation of FLR plans on each pilot area;
  • The analysis shall include existing information on the history, status and current trends in the landscape, and develop a series of landscape maps including physical geography, infrastructure, agro-economic classifications, land use & vegetation cover, biodiversity (including potentially the ranges and landscape requirements of key species), climate vulnerability (particularly mapping of flooding and landslide risk), land degradation (including erosion risk mapping, if not already available), and major ecosystem services;
  • The analysis shall also include priorities for FLR interventions including analysis of the economic viability of a range of options for forestry, improved land management & other sustainable livelihoods (including tourism) and determination of land management, structural and community-preparedness measures required to enhance climate resilience (particularly in terms of reduction of flooding and landslide risks);
  • Present analysis of potential FLR pilot areas to UNDP project management and relevant governmental institutions (Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management);
  • In cooperation with governmental institutions, UNDP project team will select at least three pilot areas for FLR;

2. Development of FLR plans

  • The Consultant shall prepare a timeline for the development of FLR plans for the preparation of at least three FLR plans;
  • Organize at least three workshops with key stakeholders in each of at least three selected pilot areas. Meetings can be organized live or via zoom platform;
  • Coordinate inputs provided by other three FLR consultants and compile the analysis provided by the socio-economic expert, biodiversity expert and landscape planning expert;
  • Organize online team meetings on a bi-weekly basis with FLR consultants and work closely with UNDP project management team;
  • Identifying clear goals and measurable objectives of FLR plans;
  • Tailor FLR plans to a local context, that is, adapt approaches to local social, cultural, economic and ecological values and needs;
  • Suggest a potential zoning system based on economic potentials, and biological and watershed needs.
  • Develop indicators (social, economic, environmental) for tracking implementation of FLR plans.
  • Perform additional desk-based research in cooperation with other three FLR consultants, to complement and develop at least three final FLR plans.
  • Collate inputs and produce three final FLR plans in close coordination with FLR team, in a form accessible to key stakeholders.
  • Present FLR plans to UNDP project management and relevant governmental institutions (Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and other relevant institutions).

Deliverables and timelines

The Contractor shall be responsible for the following deliverables (separate table of deliverables for each LOT)

No.

Deliverables

Deadline

1

Landscape Assessment and Analysis Report with proposed pilot areas for FLR, submitted and approved by UNDP, with conducted presentation to relevant governmental institutions.

25 May 2023

2

At least three draft FLR plans, for 3 pilot areas, submitted and approved by UNDP

23 June 2023

3

At least three final FLR plans, for 3 pilot areas, in, submitted and approved by UNDP

3 August 2023

 

All deliverables shall be submitted in English. All deliverables shall be quality reviewed and accepted by the UNDP Portfolio Manager.

Competencies

  • Ability to summarize and systematize complex information and present findings clearly;
  • Ability to produce reports;
  • Excellent analytical, organizational and interpersonal skills;
  • Consistently ensures timeliness and quality of project work;
  • Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling ethical standards;
  • Ability to work independently and in a team;
  • Strong ability to demonstrate high-quality performance/products working under pressure and short deadlines;
  • Cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • University Degree in Forestry, Environmental Sciences and Policies, Engineering, Geography, Agriculture, or other related field;
  • Advanced university degree shall be considered as an asset.

Work Experience:

  • At least 8 years of working experience in the area of forestry, nature protection, biodiversity, environmental protection, climate change, and/or soil protection;
  • At least 5 years of experience in land management and monitoring;
  • Experience in development and/or implementation of FLR plans;
  • Excellent understanding of national and EU forest-related policies and legislation;
  • Experience in working with a wide variety of stakeholders (national and local governments, private sector, CSOs, academia, etc.);
  • Experience in working with international organizations shall be considered as an asset;
  • Demonstrate excellent team leadership, communication/networking, writing and organizational, presentation and training skills.

Language:

  • Fluency in both Serbian and English.

Intellectual Property:

All information and production of materials pertaining to the assignments as well as outputs produced under this contract shall remain the property of the UNDP who shall have exclusive rights over their use. The products shall not be disclosed to the public nor used in whatever format without written permission of UNDP in line with the national and International Copyright Laws applicable.

 

Application procedure:

 

Qualified and interested candidates are asked to submit their applications via UNDP Web site: UNDP in Serbia under section “Jobs” no later than 6 April, 2023.

 

Application should include: 

  • CV in English language containing date of birth, contact information (home address, phone number, e-mail) and timeline of work experience (including description of duties).
  • Offeror’s Letter confirming Interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment. Can be downloaded from the following link https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-07/confirmation.docx.The Offeror’s Letter shall include financial proposal specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement with a breakdown of costs (Offeror’s Letter, including Annex 2, Table A: Breakdown of costs & Table B: Breakdown of costs by deliverables).
  • Cover letter explaining applicant’s motivation for applying for the subject position.

In order to apply please merge above listed documents into a single PDF file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded.

 

Any request for clarification must be sent by standard electronic communication to the e-mail: vacancy.rs@undp.org .

 

The UNDP will respond by standard electronic mail and will send a response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.

 

The shortlisted candidates may be asked to provide copies of diplomas and any other certificates providing evidence of their education and experience in relevant fields.

 

Financial Proposal

  • Lump sum contracts

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount in USD currency, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon approval of each deliverable. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, financial proposal shall specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement with a breakdown of costs (including Annex 2, Table A: Breakdown of costs & Table B: Breakdown of costs by deliverables).

 

Travel

 

Home-based with mission to at least 3 pilot sites in Serbia envisaged. All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. It will be the responsibility of a consultant to logistically and financially arrange travel to and from relevant pilot sites and all other travel related costs (transportation, accommodation). In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

 

Evaluation

 

1. 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:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and     

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight; 70%

* Financial Criteria weight; 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Criteria

Weight

Max. Point

Technical -desk review

70%

70 points

Criteria A

Review of CVs based on the experience in forestry/landscape planning activities

30

Criteria B

Review of CVs based on experience in environment, climate change, natural resources, or restoration

20

Criteria C

Review of CVs based on experience in land management and/or monitoring

20

Financial

30%

30 points

 

 

Additional Information:

 

In the case of engagement of Civil servants under IC contract modality a no-objection letter should be provided by the Government entity. The ‘no-objection’ letter must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on “leave-without-pay” status (if applicable), and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any. If the previous is not applicable ‘leave-without-pay’ confirmation should be submitted.

Engagement of Government Officials and Employees

 

  • Government Officials or Employees are civil servants of UN Member States.  As such, if they will be engaged by UNDP under an IC which they will be signing in their individual capacity (i.e., engagement is not done through RLA signed by their government employer), the following conditions must be met prior to the award of contract:

(i)       A “No-objection” letter in respect of the individual is received from the Government employing him/her, and;

(ii)     The individual must provide an official documentation from his/her employer formally certifying his or her status as being on “official leave without pay” for the duration of the IC.

  • The above requirements are also applicable to Government-owned and controlled enterprises and well as other semi/partially or fully owned Government entities, whether or not the Government ownership is of majority or minority status.   
  • UNDP recognizes the possibility that there are situations when the Government entity employing the individual that UNDP wishes to engage is one that allows its employees to receive external short-term consultancy assignments (including but not limited to research institutions, state-owned colleges/universities, etc.), whereby a status of “on-leave-without-pay” is not required.  Under such circumstance, the individual entering into an IC with UNDP must still provide a “No-objection” letter from the Government employing him/her.  The “no objection” letter required under (i) above must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on “leave-without-pay” status and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any.  The said document may be obtained by, and put on record of, UNDP, in lieu of the document (ii) listed above.
This vacancy is now closed.
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