Field Coordinator

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Natural Sciences Sector (SC)

Type of contract : Individual Consultant

Duration of contract : 6 months

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 08-Jun-2023

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Background

In Lebanon, site's conservation dates back to 1930's with three national competent authorities leading protection and management actions depending on the nature of the site. Nature Reserves are declared to protect natural habitats, endemic and endangered species through legislative instruments and an Appointed Protected Areas Committees (APAC) to be in charge of these reserves.  At present, the national network of Nature Reserves (NRs) embracing 18 sites brings together internationally and regionally designated sites.

The sub-programme Lebanese PAs – Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services (LPAs-EVES) is part of the project “STEPping up Nature Reserves Capacity – STEP4Nature”.  The STEP4Nature project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in coordination with the Ministry of Environment of Lebanon. The Project aims to strengthen MOE legal and institutional NR framework and improve NR management and monitoring and evaluation plans. STEP4Nature entails also the assessment of NRs vulnerability to climate change and natural hazards risks and the establishment of a knowledge platform on Lebanese NRs. The project will carry out needed natural capital valuation including ecosystem services to better guide NRs managers in their plans and management and conservation practices on the ground.

The LPAs-EVES executed by UNDP Lebanon and UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States in Cairo, entails mapping ecosystem services and perform an economic valuation of Ecosystem Services for all types of Protected Areas in Lebanon; revisiting and re-thinking the economic values of ecosystem services as part of a set of key performance indicators on the effective management of fifteen (15) Nature Reserves that have an assigned APAC; assessing and evaluating stakeholder's understanding and perception of Ecosystem Services in 15 PAs; and developing guidelines for evidence-based decisions on Ecosystem Services economic value in Protected Areas.

Assignment

Within the framework of the Ecology and Earth Sciences Programme of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States in Cairo (UCO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) -Lebanon, under the general guidance of the STEP4Nature Project, the overall supervision of the Director of UCO, and the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist for Ecology and Earth Sciences at UCO, the consultant who will be playing the role of Field Coordinator shall undertake the following tasks:

1- Attend all mandatory inception phase meetings and working groups sessions to ensure adequate capacities and guidance on the coordination of the field data collectors and the smooth operations of the work in the 5 targeted clusters of Nature Reserves [NRs].

The targeted clusters are: Cluster 1 [6 NRs]: South— Tyre Coast, Aabassiye Coast, Wadi Al-Houjeir, Beit Leef, Kafra, Ramya; Cluster 2 [3 NRs]: North—Tannourine Cedars, Horsh Ehden, Palm Islands; Cluster 3 [3 NRs]: Jbeil/Kesrouan—Bentael, Mashaa Chnaniir, Jaj Cedars; Cluster 4 [1 NR]: Mount Lebanon/Bekaa— Al Shouf Cedars, Mount Hermon, Yammouneh.

2- Observe and coordinate the review of the existing stakeholders’ maps to ensure gender balance and follow up closely on the update of the stakeholders maps to include the ones found in the areas of each nature reserve.

3- Observe and coordinate the performance/implementation of the pilot tests of the designed template of the survey form executed by the field data collectors in the 5 targeted clusters. The field data collector work entails in each cluster the following:

- Interview a sample of 5 persons representing all stakeholders categories in each NR and observe gender balance accounted for in the sampling found in the areas and relevant to each nature reserve with 1 person from each category.

- Attendance of all online meetings after the performance of the pilot survey test and provide feedback as deemed necessary to finalize and fine-tune the template of the survey form.

4- Observe and coordinate the data collection exercises to ensure the adequate collection of data in alignment with the final template of the survey by the field data collectors in the 5 targeted nature reserves clusters.

5- Observe and coordinate the data entry in the designed spreadsheet by the field data collectors and ensure that the field data collectors comply with the following:

Attend to request(s) and task(s) in relation to the recollection of missing data as deemed necessary by the project advisory committee, further to the review of the spreadsheets filled in;

Address any inquiry raised during the performance of the data analysis by the international expert.

6- Attend all online meetings arranged for field data collectors, which involve local stakeholders and the project advisory committee as requested

7- Establish and monitor the schedules for all necessary meetings with local community representatives and identified stakeholders, closely coordinating with field data collectors to guarantee accurate and timely implementation of participatory-based mapping exercises as needed.

8- Ensure that the field data collectors' work schedule aligns with the initial project work plan and timetable, set at the beginning of the project and as agreed upon with them.

9- Ensure that the schedules of all field data collectors are harmonized, enabling him/her to coordinate and oversee their activities without exception.

10- Oversee and coordinate the arrangement of meetings according to the established schedules (refer to point 7) and attend all meetings with local community representatives and identified stakeholders.

11- Participate in the online Project Advisory Committee sessions for guidance on fieldwork work and participatory meetings.

12- Provide twice-monthly reports on the work completed by the field data collectors, as needed.

Deliverables

Notebook[1] including the coordination meeting and follow up with the field collector TORs. Review of the data collected with the field collector and ensuring that the following activities are implemented in accordance with the schedule:

• Pilot testing of the survey                                                            July 7, 2023
• Completed Survey                                                                           July 27, 2023
• Filling in missing data from the survey                                    August 12, 2023
• Complete Data sheet and dashboard filled in                       August 31, 2023

[1] Format of the notebook will be provided by UNESCO-UNDP-Lebanon

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial) Accountability (C) Communication (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) Professionalism (C) - For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

 MSc in biology, ecology, environmental sciences, or natural sciences, environmental management, natural resources or closely related fields.

 

Work Experience

• Minimum 4  years of relevant professional experience focused on one or more of the areas cited below:

1. Biodiversity conservation
2. Ecology  and conservation biology
3. Protected Areas
4. Data collection, surveys and data mining and management

 

Languages: Good knowledge of English and Arabic

 

MOBILITY

A valid driving license and the ability to travel between study sites in Lebanon

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Professional knowledge about, and direct experience in environmental management, ecosystem conservation and management of natural resources, and ecosystem valuation.
• Previous experience working with UN agencies

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

 

Please send your CV and state your interest and keenness on working on this project to " cairo-rfp@unesco.org" with the subject " SC/EES Field Coordinator 18994".

 

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

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