This job listing is no longer active.
Please use our Environment Jobs Search to find current vacancies.

Title	Consultant for Integration of the Ecosystem Health Maintenance
Posted	5767 Day/s Ago.

Reference	(Please mention Stopdodo/Environment Jobs in your application)
Sectors
Location	Macedonia - Europe
Town/City	Resen, FYR
Salary Range	Dependent on Experience
Type	Temporary / Contract / Seasonal
Status	Full Time
Level	Board & Executives
Deadline	20/08/2008
Company Name	United Nations Development Program
Contact Name	Human Resources
Website	Further Details / Applications

Directory Entry :	UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. For environmental jobs with UNDP visit their website. Or for more environmental jobs search environmentjobs.com
Also Listing:
JOBS (6)

Description

Location :	Resen, FYR MACEDONIA
Application Deadline :	20-Aug-08
Type of Contract :	SSA
Languages Required :	English
Starting Date : (date when the selected canditate is expected to start)	01-Sep-2008
Expected Duration of Assignment :	Estimated 45 days of expert input over a period of 3.5 months

The GEF-funded “Integrated Ecosystem Management in the Prespa Lakes Basin of Albania, Macedonia and Greece” project seeks to catalyze the adoption of ecosystem management practices by stakeholders in the Prespa basin by mainstreaming ecosystem conservation objectives into relevant productive sector practices. It aims to conserve the biodiversity and to reduce pollution of the transboundary lakes and their contributing waters, through demonstrating proof of the ecosystem management concept by piloting new approaches to mitigate productive sector impacts on the Prespa ecosystem.

In the field of spatial planning the funding provided through the UNDP/GEF project will support the stakeholders to:

integrate the ecosystem health maintenance objectives and practices into the spatial planning process;
strengthen the participatory process within the Municipality of Resen (MoR) to establish such a plan; and
share the lessons learned throughout the process of developing the spatial plan.

The spatial plan in Macedonia establishes the objectives and priorities for land and resource use in a particular geographic and/or administrative entity. Any other strategy, development or plan must be in compliance with it. However, the inappropriate spatial/land-use planning precludes effective local action to determine and enforce priority uses of sensitive habitats. Although it is believed that the recently adopted Law on Spatial Planning (2005) presents a sound basis for development of ecosystem oriented plans, still, there is a limited experience and expertise at a national level for practical integration of the these ecosystem management objectives and practices into the spatial planning process, especially for environmentally sensitive areas such as the Prespa Lake basin.

The existing national legislation foresees development of National Spatial Plan, spatial plans for regions (such as Prespa-Ohrid), spatial plans for municipalities and for national parks. The latest National Spatial Plan was adopted in 2004 and is valid until 2020. The preparation of the regional spatial plans is mandatory and should be in line with the provisions of the National Spatial Plan. The dynamics of their development and adoption is defined in a programme adopted by the Government. According to the Law on Spatial Planning, the only authorized body responsible for development of these plans is the Agency for Spatial Planning.

During the past period, the State Agency for Spatial Planning contracted by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning has been working on development of the plan for the wider Prespa – Ohrid region of which the Prespa basin is an integral part. The draft spatial plan has already been developed by a multidisciplinary team of national experts and in consultation with various relevant stakeholders from all municipalities within the boundaries of the target region.

For the purposes of development of the plan the following 18 relevant studies, elaborates and reports were prepared:

Natural characteristics
Forests and forest land
Agriculture
Mineral raw material and exploitation
Total economy with accent on the development of industry
Tourism
Water Economy and Infrastructure
Energy and infrastructure
Population
Urbanization and system of settlements
Housing
Public functions
Communal infrastructure and suprastructure
Transport and infrastructure
Natural rarities and landscape values
Cultural-historical values
Environment and sustainable development
Military destruction, natural and technical accidents.

The consolidated report/plan totals approximately 400 pages and its current content incorporates the following interrelated areas/chapters:

I Legal grounds for preparation of the Spatial Plan

II Space scope, goals and objectives of the Plan

II Position and relation with the surroundings

IV Natural conditions

Relief characteristics
Geological composition
Seismicity
Climate
Hydrographic characteristics
Pedological characteristics
Vegetation
Fauna

V Analysis and diagnosis of conditions

Borders of the area of the Spatial Plan
Basic use determined with the balance of areas
General economic development
Population
Settlements and urbanization process
Housing
Public functions
Industry
Agriculture
Forests and forest land
Mineral raw material
Tertiary activities
Protection of environment, nature, cultural heritage and ambient entireties
Water economy, energy and communication infrastructure

VI Identification of potentials and limitations

VII Organization, use and protection of the space in the Region

Basic postulates of the Spatial Plan
Economic basis of the Plan
Use and protection of natural resources
Population, settlements and activities
Transport and communications
Water economy infrastructure
Energy infrastructure
Development of tourism and organization of tourist resorts
Conflicts with the surroundings and their solving based on the principles of sustainable development
Management of environment, nature and cultural heritage
Basic use determined with the balance of areas for the projected period.

VIII Guidelines for organization, building and protection of space

Guidelines for selection of priorities

IX Program for implementation with the first phase of realization of the Spatial Plan

The plan has been subject to review by relevant scientific and other national institutions, while currently the responsible Agency is working on incorporation of all relevant comments made by those involved in the review process. As soon as the Agency finalizes the document it will be submitted to the Government and the Parliament for endorsement.

Given that the pertaining national legislation, besides the regional spatial plans, provides possibilities for development of municipal spatial plans, according to the project strategy, the project intends to directly support the preparation of the spatial plan for the Municipality of Resen whose administrative boundaries actually correspond with the boundaries of the Prespa Lake’s basin. While the costs for preparation of the spatial plan for the Prespa – Ohrid region were covered by MoEPP, the UNDP/GEF funds will be used for preparation of the municipal spatial plan for Resen (Prespa), and most importantly for incorporation of the long-term ecosystem protection priorities.

Since one of the key objectives of the GEF funded project is to provide support for strengthening the national and local level capacities for restoring ecosystem health, conserving the biodiversity and protecting the water quality in the Prespa region, it has been recognized that the spatial plan can provide a framework for relevant future actions which will contribute toward these objectives. Therefore the project intends to provide appropriately scaled support to the respective institutions for adequate incorporation of the ecosystem health maintenance objectives into the spatial plan for the Prespa region, and by this to ensure that its implementation over the next period (15 – 20 years) will inevitably result in improvement of the ecosystem health status of the Prespa Lake basin.

The lessons learnt through piloting such ecosystem oriented spatial plan, will serve as a basis for development of a new methodology (manual/handbook) which will be used by the authorities in the process of preparation of all future spatial plans across the country. It is intended the Prespa spatial plan to serve as a model and a good practice for preparation of the other spatial plans in the country, but also for other similar planning documents in the wider Prespa region, throughout the mechanism established by the trans-boundary component of the GEF project.

Scope of Work

The consultant’s main responsibility is to conduct analysis of the current spatial planning practice in the country through assessment of the respective national legislation (Law on Spatial Planning, spatial plans development methodology, Law on Enforcement/Implementation of the Spatial Plans etc.), and the draft spatial plan for the Prespa – Ohrid region. S/he will provide specific recommendations on the practical incorporation of the ecosystem health maintenance objectives into the future spatial plan for the Municipality of Resen (Prespa region). The recommendations provided should be detailed and specific enough so that they can serve as a solid basis for organization of the process for actual incorporation of the ecosystem protection principles into the spatial plan for the Prespa region. Recommendations shall be provided on the interventions in the legislation, so that it will become a suitable framework for incorporation of the ecosystem priorities into the future spatial plans in the country.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities

Lot I – Integration of ecosystem protection priorities into the national legislation for spatial planning

Conduct thorough analysis of the existing Law on Spatial Planning (adopted in 2005) on the legal requirements, possibilities and constraints for incorporation of the ecosystem protection priorities in the spatial planning process in the country.
Provide specific recommendations on the required interventions in the legislation based on the analysis of its current status and the analysis of suitable internationally recognized successful models and best practices for ‘ecosystem oriented’ spatial planning. In case of a need for more considerable interventions, develop Terms of Reference (TOR) for the required international/national expert input.
Based on the analysis of the current national spatial planning practices/methodologies, and their comparison with the internationally recognized best practices, lead the process of development of a new ‘ecosystem oriented’ methodology for spatial planning through close cooperation with the relevant authorities (MoEPP, State Agency for Spatial Planning, other relevant ministries suggested by MoEPP). Prepare the draft methodology, and incorporate all relevant comments made by the respective institutions and/or national experts.
Since MoEPP is planning to revise the old law and to develop a new law for enforcement/implementation of the spatial plans, the consultant shall provide recommendations on the key elements whose incorporation in the planned legislation will provide mechanisms for enforcement / implementation of the ‘ecosystem oriented’ spatial plans. Based on the analysis of the scope of the required work for the development of the legislation for enforcement / implementation of the ‘ecosystem oriented’ spatial plans, given the newly developed methodology, s/he will prepare specific and comprehensive TOR for development of such legislation.

Lot II – Integration of the ecosystem protection principles into the spatial plan for the Prespa region

Conduct thorough review of the draft spatial plan for the Prespa – Ohrid region and assess the current level of incorporation of the ecosystem protection principles into the plan, especially for the parts relevant for the Prespa region.
Analyze the possibilities and constraints the regional plan may impose to the process of integration of the ecosystem protection priorities into the future spatial plan for the Municipality of Resen (MoR).
Based on the analysis of the spatial plan for the Prespa – Ohrid region, the requirements of the relevant legislation, and the newly developed methodology for spatial planning, prepare Terms of Reference (TOR) for preparation of an ‘ecosystem oriented’ spatial plan for MoR.
Given the size and comprehensiveness of the various reports/elaborates/studies prepared for the needs of the regional Prespa – Ohrid spatial plan, as well as the provisions of the newly developed methodology for spatial planning, identify the additional reports/studies required for the development of the future spatial plan for MoR.
Develop specific Terms of Reference (TOR) for additional international/national consultancy services/expert inputs required for development of the spatial plan for MoR. Emphasis should be given to the need for practical incorporation of the integrated ecosystem approach in the management of the land, water, and other resources being subject to the spatial planning process. Provide analysis of how can the current and planned efforts (studies, elaborates etc.) by the GEF project and other relevant projects within the Prespa Lake basin be best utilized for the purposes of development of the spatial plan for the MoR.
Provide costs estimates for the development of the new spatial plan for MoR given the adequacy and comprehensiveness of the existing supporting documentation prepared for the purposes of development of the existing draft plan for Prespa – Ohrid region, the existing and planned relevant studies within the GEF Prespa project, and the additional consulting and other input required.

Lot III – Capacity strengthening for development and enforcement/implementation of ‘ecosystem oriented’ spatial plans

Organize presentation for the stakeholders on the key principles of the ‘ecosystem oriented’ spatial/land-use planning, provide information on successful models or best practices in similar regions in the developing/developed countries preferably in Europe, along with analysis of the short-, mid- and long term costs and benefits of their implementation.
Organize presentation on the required level of intervention in the existing national legislation (the Law on Spatial Planning, the current spatial planning methodology, and the planned new law for spatial plans enforcement/implementation) in order to provide adequate mechanism for future development and efficient implementation of ‘ecosystem oriented’ spatial plans.
Organize presentation on the most appropriate organizational/institutional setup required for adequate implementation of the ‘ecosystem oriented’ spatial plans by using the Prespa region as a model (given the specific context of Prespa and the planned activities within the GEF project).
Maintain close cooperation with all relevant authorities during performing the assignment (MoEPP, Agency for Spatial Planning, Municipality of Resen, and other stakeholders), discuss the details on the environmental, economic and social costs/benefits of the proposed changes in the spatial plan for the Prespa region, as well as the benefits of acceptance of the newly proposed national methodology for spatial planning.
Identify future training needs related to the capacity building for development and enforcement of future ‘ecosystem oriented’ spatial plans.

Main outputs

The main outputs of this assignment are:

Comprehensive report on the existence of suitable legal/regulatory mechanisms for applying the ecosystem health maintenance objectives into the current spatial planning processes. Special attention to be paid on the recommendation for future interventions in the legislation for establishment of such mechanisms.
Draft methodology for development of ‘ecosystem oriented’ spatial plans which will serve as a planning tool for the authorities for preparation of future spatial plans
Report with recommendations on the incorporation of the key elements in the newly planned law on enforcement/implementation of the spatial plans which will ensure adequate mechanisms for enforcement/implementation of the ‘ecosystem oriented’ spatial plans
Report on the status of the spatial plan for the Prespa-Ohrid region (particularly the section relevant to Prespa), with respect to the current level of incorporation of the ecosystem approach, along with analysis of the possibilities and constraints for preparation of ecosystem oriented spatial plan for MoR.
Terms of Reference for preparation of an ‘ecosystem oriented’ municipal spatial plan for MoR (type and number additional reports/studies and TOR for their preparation along with cost estimates).
Series of presentations at various stages of the assignment

Terms and conditions for provision of services

Timeframe

A total of 45 man-days over a period of 3.5 months are considered sufficient for the delivery of the planned products/outputs of the assignment. Of these, the consultant shall spend 15 days on mission in the country (12 days in Skopje and 3 days in the project region – Municipality of Resen).

Schedule of the assignment

The mission in the country is expected to commence after the consultant reviews/analyzes the relevant documentation (laws, existing spatial planning methodology, spatial plan for Prespa – Ohrid region etc), and prepares the draft outputs (TORs, methodology, report etc.). During the mission in the country the consultant is expected to have meetings with the relevant stakeholders (UNDP, MoEPP, Agency for Spatial Planning, MoR etc.), to organize the presentations (as described under Lot III), to collect the comments/suggestions made by the stakeholders on the TOR, methodology, and the other planned outputs. Upon the return from the mission the consultant shall finalize the products by incorporating the relevant comments made by the stakeholders, and UNDP.

Financial proposal

The financial proposal shall be submitted in USD per man-day. All travel related costs (fare and DSA) for this assignment will be reimbursed as per pertaining UNDP regulations.

Methodology

In her/his expression of interest (EoI), the candidate shall submit a brief methodology describing her/his approach and steps which will lead toward successful completion of the assignment. A detailed timetable of the planned activities, along with description of the key deliverables and milestones shall also be provided

Reporting plan and payment schedule

The consultant shall prepare 3-4 short progress reports upon the completion of certain stages of the work in accordance with the proposed methodology and approach. The progress reports written in English will be submitted to the Project Manager. The payment of the installments agreed in the contract will be effectuated upon submission and approval of each report by UNDP/MoEPP based on the milestones/deliverables proposed in the methodology.

Competencies

She/He shall have minimum 10 years of professional experience in the field of development/review of spatial/land-use plans and a sound track record of at least 10 successfully completed relevant assignments, such as development/review of ‘ecosystem oriented’ spatial/land-use plans, out of which in minimum 4 s/he shall have a leading role (to be clearly stated in the CV).
Previous experience/knowledge in incorporation of ecosystem protection principles in the spatial planning processes in the countries of the wider region shall be considered an advantage.

Required Skills and Experience

A minimum university degree (BSc) in the field of environment, ecology, land-use, or similar.
The consultant shall have excellent analytical and communication skills, and excellent knowledge of English.

Add to My Account

<< Back

Consultant for Integration of the Ecosystem Health Maintenance

Duties and Responsibilities

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience