Consultant for Supporting the Effective Involvement of Forest Dependent Communities into REDD+

The project involves a Community Forestry area in Siam Reap and will analyse how community forestry can be integrated as an important part of REDD+ (Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks). The project analyses and identifies the challenges, constraints, and opportunities for communities to be involved in REDD+, the current needs for increasing awareness of the target stakeholders, and the effective means to strengthen the institutional arrangements of community forestry groups. In achieving these goals, consultation meetings and forums to promote awareness on the benefits and local costs of REDD+ will be conducted and findings and recommendations useful for the broader implementation of REDD+ in community forestry areas in Cambodia will be developed. A baseline survey on the level of awareness among community forestry groups has been conducted by the Project Team from Institute of Forest and Wildlife Research and Development at the Forestry Administration.

The project is a part of United Nations (UN)-REDD National Programme workplan named as activity 2.1c and aims to achieve the following outcomes:

• Increase awareness about REDD+ among stakeholders and incorporation of REDD+ options in the community forestry Management Plans;
• Identify some of the challenges, constraints and opportunities in implementing REDD+;
• Motivate wider participation of some stakeholders on REDD+; and
• Improve/strengthen the implementation of REDD+ in Cambodia among the community forestry groups.

Scope of Work:

The consultant is expected to deliver the following deliverables:

• A preliminary report that summarises results of baseline surveys on REDD+ awareness in community forestry areas;
• A synthesis report of lessons learned from existing experiences of REDD implementation involving community forestry;
• An information brief  on REDD+ implementation in the community forestry.

The Consultant will work closely with another Consultant, and he/she will:

Prepare a preliminary report based on the survey results: for this activity, the consultant will: 

• Analyse data and compile findings from the baseline survey;
• Identify relevant activities that can lead to reducing and halting the loss of forest carbon stocks or increasing forest carbon stocks in community forestry management;
• Identify and analyse  the constraints, challenges and opportunities of implementing REDD+ in the community forestry areas including the issues related to local costs and benefits of implementing REDD+; and
• Compile the above in a report.

Write a synthesis report: for this activity, the consultant will: 

• Write a synthesis report of lessons learned from existing experiences of REDD implementation involving community forestry, based on a desk review of existing literature as well as a review of survey results and reports on meetings and workshops held on these issues produced by the project team. Among others the report includes findings on 1) current level of awareness of REDD+, 2) opportunities and challenges in implementing REDD+, and 3) recommendations for appropriate and effective methods to involve community forestry members in REDD+ implementation which will address costs and benefits and with  suggestions for the appropriate incentive based systems for involving the community forestry groups, including possible alternatives to REDD+ ex-post result-based payments for emissions reductions.

Write an information brief: for this activity, the consultant will: 

• Prepare an information brief with recommendations of implementing REDD+ in community forestry areas by summarizing the three points written in the synthesis report. The draft information brief will be presented in a forum for review and finalization.

The consultant is expected to work in coordination with national partners including NGOs involved in community forestry and REDD+ and is expected to visit some provinces, as necessary. 

Institutional Arrangement:

The Consultant will report to the UN-REDD National Programme Director and to Team Leader of the UNDP Environment and Energy Unit and will be supervised by Director of the Institute of Forest and Wildlife Research and Development (IRD) at the Forestry Administration and the REDD+ Taskforce Secretariat.

The consultant is expected to work in close coordination with the project team of IRD, that was assigned to carry out the task to assess the current level of REDD+ awareness.

The consultant will be accountable for the timely and quality output and report weekly to the REDD+ Taskforce Secretariat on progress compared to the workplan on monthly basis.

Duration of the Work:

The proposed duration of this assignment is a total of 25 working days from 1 December 2013 to 31 October 2014.

Duty Station:

The duty station for this assignment is home country and Phnom Penh. During the assignment the consultants are expected to be in Cambodia for at least 15 days over two visits, for undertaking assignments.

Any visits to the province will be facilitated by the Project Team and transportation will be provided by the team.

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent analytical, writing and communication skills in English, including the ability to articulate ideas in a clear and concise manner; 
• Good interpersonal skills with ability to work well in a team whilst also having the capacity to work independently; previous exposure to diverse cultural environments is an advantage;

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Education:   

• A minimum of a Master’s or equivalent degree in natural resource management, environmental economics or a related field.

Experience: 

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in natural resource management and policy;
• Prior experience with conducting surveys and interviews at a local level;
• Sound knowledge of disciplines relevant to international development work and climate change, with special consideration given to those with experience in REDD+ policy-related;
• Prior working experience in Cambodia is a significant asset.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English

Important note:

Interested offeror is strongly advised to read the Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice, wich can be viewed at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=13225 for more detail about term of references, instructions to offeror, and documents to be included when submitting offer.

Documents to be included when submitting the application:

Interested offeror/individual must submit the following documents/information:

• Cover letter: Explaining why the candidate the most suitable for the work;
• Offeror’s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) assignment and Final all-inclusive price proposal with breakdown of costs as per UNDP template, which can be downloaded athttp://www.un.org.kh/undp/media/files/procurement/IC/Form%20and%20Template/Annex%202_Template%20for%20Confirmation%20of%20Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal.docx;
• UNDP Personal History Form (P11), which can be downloaded athttp://www.un.org.kh/undp/media/files/procurement/IC/Form%20and%20Template/Annex%203_P11%20modified%20for%20SCs%20and%20ICs.doc;
• Note for Interested Candidates above the age of 62: UNDP regulations require, at their own cost, to undergo a full medical examination including x-rays. Medical evaluation documentation does not need to be submitted with the other requested documents listed above, but will be requested should the candidate be chosen.

Please be informed that we don’t accept application submitted via email.

Interested candidate is required to submit application via UNDP jobsite system, because the application screening and evaluation will be done through UNDP jobsite system. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file. Your on-line applications submission will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary.

Any request for clarification/additional information on this procurement notice shall be communicated in writing to UNDP office or send to email vannara.chea@undp.org and/or procurement.kh@undp.org. While the Procurement Unit would endeavor to provide information expeditiously, only requests receiving at least 5 working days prior to the submission deadline will be entertained. Any delay in providing such information will not be considered as a reason for extending the submission deadline. The UNDP's response (including an explanation of the query but without identifying the source of inquiry) will be posted in Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice page as provided above. Therefore, all prospective Offerors are advised to visit the page regularly to make obtain update related to this Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice.