Conservation Finance Consultant

Malaysia is one of 17 mega-diverse countries in the world, with a wealth of biological diversity in its terrestrial and marine zones. The flora and fauna of Malaysia is exceedingly rich and is conservatively estimated to contain about 12,500 species of flowering plants, approximately 307 species of mammals, more than 742 species of birds, and 547 species of repltiles, including a large number of endemics. In order to safeguard the globally significant biodiversity, Malaysia has established networks of protected areas (PAs).  In Peninsular Malaysia alone, there are at least four PA networks covering a total area of 2.98 million hectares managed by different agencies including the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), Johor National Parks Corporation (JNPC), Perak State Parks Corporation (PSPC) and state forestry departments. PAs under different networks are governed by different laws with varying degree of protection status, and gazetting and de-gazetting procedures.

What is common between the different PA networks is that these PAs are largely characterised as sub-optimally managed and severely underfinanced. There are four main reasons for this:

• Non-existent of uniform system of national PAs under a common umbrella for achievement of biodiversity conservation goals; 
• Insufficient understanding of the economic value of PAs abd essential contribution they make to national develoepmnt; (iii) insufficient incentives on the part of the state government to invest in PA management due to the perception that they are foregoing revenue generation opportunities through other forms of land use; and 
• Sub-optimal capacity at the PA management agencies for site management and PA system management.

The GEF in 2012 has approved a project titled “Enhancing Effectiveness and Financial Sustainability of Protected Areas in Malaysia” , which is implemented by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and supported by United Nations Development Programme. The Project aims to establish a performance-based financing structure to support effective PA system management in Malaysia.

One of the key outputs under Project Component 1 is to undertake the necessary process to  establish and operationalise a Conservation Trust Fund (CTF). The CTF is one of the financing mechanisms identified in the Government’s efforts to ensure sustainable financing for effective protected areas conservation and management in the country.

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a strategy paper on the establishment of CTF with strong rationalisation and concrete actions/way forward for key stakeholders and decision makers.

In developing the paper, the consultancy work shall consider the following:

• Take stock and review the previous studies and work on CTF, and existing experience with relevant trust funds in Malaysia;
• Take stock and review relevant international experience on environment and conservation trust funds;
• Highlight best practices and lessons learned that can be applied in Malaysia’s context to design the CTF in the most effective and efficient manner;
• Provide inputs into the analysis of policy, regulatory, financial and human resource issues that need to be addressed in the process of designing CTF; 
• Recommend the implementation modality of  CFT including institution, human and financial resources, and timeline.

Methodology

The Consultant will work closely with the PA Financing Project Management Unit based in DWNP. The methodology includes data collection, desk research, interviews, meetings and workshops with relevant stakeholders and discussions with Economic Planning Unit, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, State Governments and UNDP Malaysia.

Expected Outputs:

The consultant is expected to produce:

Discussion & presentation materials and reports for meetings and workshops;

Strategy paper on CTF covering the following aspects:

• Synthesis of existing information related to CTF (past and existing studies and work on CTF, overview of international experience on CTF & best practices and lessons learned);
• Analysis of policy, regulatory, financial and human resource requirements for CTF;
• Recommendations on the implementation modality and action plan; 
• A detailed record of consultations with stakeholders will need to be kept and provided, as an annex to the paper.

A Power Point presentation (circa 20-25 slides) covering the key points of the strategy paper.

Duration:

The consultancy will take place from 2 December 2013 to 31 August 2014 and working duration is 3 man-months.

Deliverables and Timeline:

The consultant will be responsible for the delivery, content, technical quality and accuracy of the report. All deliverables shall be submitted to UNDP Malaysia and Project Management Unit at DWNP in accordance to the following schedule.

• Detailed work plan: within 7 working days from the date of contract signing;
• First draft strategy paper on CTF and workshop reports by 1 February 2014;
• Final draft strategy paper and power point presentation on CTF by 30 April 2014.

Functional Competencies:

• Extensive knowledge in Economics and Finance relating protected areas management and conservation;
• Familiar with Malaysia’s enabling environment in terms of legislation, policy and operational issues for the establishment  of CTF;
• Sound analytical and organisational skills;
• Excellent communication and writing skills.

Corporate Competencies:

• 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;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment. 

Education:

• Post-graduate degree in economics, environmental/natural resource economics, finance and banking, natural resource management and public finance, preferably with specialisation in conservation or protected area management.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of working experience in public/conservation finance,  economics, environmental/natural resource economics;
• Demonstrated working experience in conservation/environment trust funds, and/or sustainable financing mechanisms for biodiversity or protected area conservation and management;
• A good understanding of financing issues relating to conservation and management of protected areas;
• A demonstrated understanding of the policy, legislations and institutions in Malaysia.

Language:

• Excellent command of English and Malay. 

Terms of Payment:

The fee is payable upon satisfactory completion and acceptance of the deliverables by Project Management Unit and UNDP Malaysia. For payment in installments, certification of satisfactory performance at each phase is required.

• Submission and acceptance of the detailed work plan 20%;
• Submission and acceptance of the first draft strategy paper on CFF and workshop reports: 40%;
• Submission and acceptance of the final draft strategy paper and power point presentation on CFT: 40%.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

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

• Proposal on how your qualifications and experience can lead towards the successful deliverable of this assignment within the required timeframe, and provide a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the assignment;
• Financial Proposal should specify a total lump sum amount including a breakdown of man-days, travel and related costs using the financial proposal template in Annex I;
• Personal CV including areas of expertise and past experience in similar projects and at least three (3) references in the format of UN Personal History Form (P11 form). The UN Personal History Form (P11) is available at http://www.undp.org.my/uploads/p11%20personal%20history%20form.doc.

Note

Please scan and save all the documents (proposals and P11 Form) into one PDF file and upload.