Biodiversity Forum Support Consultant

Cambodian natural resources such as land, forestry, fishery, water and protected areas are believed to play an important role in contributing to sustainable economic growth and rural poverty reduction, if they are managed sustainably and productively. While the RGC is leading ongoing reform agenda in key natural resources sectors such as forestry, fishery and land, Cambodia still faces challenges in managing its resources effectively because of limited  governance capacity, a lack of effective institutional coordination, and weak institutional and policy framework.

The UNDP Cambodia Energy and Environment portfolio has been supporting biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resources management since 2003, in partnership with GEF.  UNDP Cambodia has been supporting three main projects that focus on promoting biodiversity conservation in key critical geographical areas: Tonle Sap, the Cardamom Mountain Range and the Northern Plains (Preah Vihear and Stung Treng provinces). UNDP Cambodia is also partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on sustainable land management by working on mainstreaming and capacity development of national institutions through the development of the National Action Programme (NAP) to combat land degradation in Cambodia. Currently, the UNDP is also formulating a new initiative on sustainable forest management, which focuses on capacity building of forestry communities, promoting small business development to improve the livelihoods of the forestry communities and promoting wood energy efficiency.

The projects which support biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management have generated multiple examples of capacity development, integrated rural livelihood improvement and biodiversity conservation. These deserve to be fully documented for the purpose of documenting best practice and lessons learnt that will feed into future programmes.  The lessons learned and best practices will be shared and used to support new policy development. Under the overall guidance of the Assistant Country Director, UNDP-Cambodia, the incumbent’s tasks will include:

Objectives of the Assignment:

To provide support to the UNDP CO Cambodia in the integrated Biodiversity Conservation and Community Livelihood Development initiative to support the General Department of Administration for Nature Conservation and Protection (GDANCP), Ministry of Environment to ensure the smooth preparation of the National Biodiversity Forum in coordination with key development partners and relevant stakeholders

Scope of Work:

• Design a methodology and work plan on how to carry out the two case studies including the development of management effectiveness criteria to measure management capacity and livelihoods development in relation to conservation that are also relevant to sustainability in the context of the three projects;
• Conduct a desk review and interview an adequate range of project stakeholders and project team including field assessment
• Draft a case study report for the review of a MOE/GDANCP panel, or if no panel exists, by UNDP’s Environment and Energy Cluster;
• Make presentations into various meetings with MOE/GDANCP to share the findings insofar as UNDP is able to organize them;
• Finalize the case study report by addressing comments from the panel and/or UNDP’s Environment and Energy Cluster;
• Support preparation of National Biodiversity Forum and make presentations the two case studies report

These two case studies will look at:

• Similarity in terms of approach of management capacity and community livelihoods development at site conservation levels from the three projects;
• Difference in terms of approach of management capacity and community livelihoods development at site conservation levels of the three projects;
• Assessing the level of management effectiveness capacity and community livelihoods development that cause impacts on site management effectiveness;
• Assessing the level of sustainability resulting from the management capacity and community livelihood development;
• Generate lessons learned on site management capacity and livelihoods improvement for biodiversity conservation;
• Document and validate lessons learned and good practice that could be scaled up and feed into national policy recommendations and guidelines

Final Products or Deliverables/Outputs:

1. Inception Report with work plan, approach to complete assignment in line with the TORs as well as defining the clear roles/responsibilities and extent of participation of stakeholders, especially from GDANCP and UNDP’s E&E Cluster. The expected date to be delivered this output by end of 30 September 2011
2. Two case studies report assessing, documenting and validating lessons learns and best practices on the management capacity and community livelihoods development at site conservation level which have been promoted by Cardamom, Tonle Sap and Northern Plains projects. The expected date to be delivered this output by 30 November 2011
3. Provision of technical support to the UNDP and GDANCP to support the process of the development National Biodiversity Forum including design of concept note, mobilization of technical experts and development of proceedings. The expected date to be delivered this output by end of 2011.

Institutional Arrangement:

The Biodiversity Forum Support Consultant shall work in close collaboration with the GDANCP and UNDP CO, E&E Cluster.

UNDP CO, E&E Cluster is expected to provide the overall supervision and monitoring the performance of the consultant, coordination for the participation from relevant stakeholders to ensure the quality control of the consultant’s outputs. 
GDANCP is expected to nominate the representative(s) to coordinate the consultant’s inputs and to conduct the technical and quality reviews of consultant’s reports. These include the concept notes, outlines, stakeholder consultation plans, and other inputs for the development of case studies and the preparation of the national biodiversity forum.

Monitoring and Progress Controls:

The following reports shall be submitted to GDANCP and E&E Cluster for review and comment: 

• Inception Report with workplan and approach – after 2 weeks of work and consultation with GDANCP and E&E Cluster
• Progress reports against deliverables/outputs and milestones indicated in the inception report

Day-to-day supervision and monitoring performance of the consultants shall be done by E&E Team Leader. The E&E Programme Analyst shall provide overall quality assurance on the draft reports.

Payment Milestones:

• First payment: 15% of the total amount will be made after submission and acceptance of the consultancy’s inception report with work-plan, key milestones and approach of conducting the assignment consistent with the Terms of Reference as well as defining clear roles/responsibilities and extent of participation of stakeholders, especially from GDANCP and UNDP’s E&E Cluster .
• Second payment: 30% of the total amount will be paid within 15 days after satisfactory acceptance of the first draft two case studies report assessing, documenting and validating lessons learns and best practices on the management capacity and community livelihoods development at site conservation level which have been promoted by Cardamom, Tonle Sap and Northern Plains projects
• Third payment:  25% of the total amount will be paid within 15 days after satisfactory acceptance of the final draft two case studies report assessing, documenting and validating lessons learns and best practices on the management capacity and community livelihoods development at site conservation level which have been promoted by Cardamom, Tonle Sap and Northern Plains projects
• Final payment: 30% of the total amount will be paid within 15 days after satisfactory acceptance of the provision of technical support to complete the process of the development National Biodiversity Forum including design of concept note, mobilization of technical experts, presentations and development of proceedings.

• Demonstrated track record in case study writing, the design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
• Working experience with UNDP, other UN agencies or international organization in the relevant field is an advantage.
• Work experience in and familiarity with Cambodia will be an advantage.
• Willingness to undertake extensive field visits.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages, and in the handling of web based management systems.

Education:

• University degree in either environmental science or Social Science or equivalent in environment management, agriculture, forestry, climatology, land use planning, sustainable development, or related field.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in environment management, biodiversity conservation, wetland management, community-based natural resource management, sustainable development or a related field at the national or international level would be desirable.

Language Requirements: 

• English

Application Submission Process:

Interested candidates must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Explaining why the candidate the most suitable for the work

2. UNDP Personal History Form and Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references

Interested individual consultants must submit their applications online through UNDP Online Recruitment System. Correspondence (either in hard or soft format) will not be considered until the advance stage of the selection process. Applicants are required to fill and sign a P11 Form and submit it together with Curriculum Vitae on the online application. The P11 Form can be obtained at http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc

How to Submit Application

To submit your application online, please follow the steps below:

• Download and complete the UN Personal History Form (P11).
• Merge your P11, Personal CV, Proposals and other relevant documents into a single file.
• Click on the Job Title.
• Click “Apply Now” button, fill in necessary information on the first page, and click “Submit Application”.
• Upload your application.
• You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system.

Application Evaluation Process:

The candidates will be evaluated based on the Cumulative Analysis methodology [weighted scoring method], where the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) Responsive/acceptable application, 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%]

The following criteria and allocated points will be used in Technical Evaluation.

• Experience and technical knowledge on Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Land Management, CBNRM, Sustainable Forest Management, and Community Livelihood Development - (25 points)
• Experience in project design, case study writing and M&E - (25 points)
• Experience in advocate, interpersonal skill, communication and coordination - (20 points)
• Familiarity with the Cambodia context or the region - (15 points)
• Working experience with, UN agencies or international organization in the relevant field - (15 points)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of the obtainable points of 100 points in technical evaluation will be invited to submit the financial proposal and considered for the Financial Evaluation. The total number of points allocated for the price component is 100. The maximum number of points will be allotted to the lowest price proposal that is opened and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% score in the technical evaluation. All other price proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

UNDP is applying fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of candidates as well as their price proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores.

UNDP retains the right to contact references directly.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

Other Information:

This is a non-staff contract under the Individual Contract (IC) modality of hiring of the UNDP. Individuals engaged under an IC serve in their individual capacity and not as representative of a government institutions, corporate body or other authority external to UNDP. The incumbent shall not be considered as staff of UNDP, the UN common system or the government and are therefore not entitled to any diplomatic privileges or any other special status or conditions.