Consultant: International Advisor, Conservation of Biodiversity in Central Zagros Landscape Conservation Zone

The Zagros Mountains play an important role in the development psyche of Iran. In addition to their biodiversity value, the mountains are recognised for having been the birthplace of important civilisations and are also greatly valued as the source for approximately 40% of the nation’s water supply. Finally, the mountains provide a home and a livelihood for approximately 10% of the population. Hence, sustainable development of the Zagros mountains is a priority for the Government.

The ‘Conservation of Biodiversity in Central Zagros Landscape Conservation Zone project’ corresponds to Biodiversity Strategic Priority 2, ‘Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Production Landscapes and Sectors’. The Zagros Mountains are a complex production landscape with important nature protection areas. The primary economic sectors in the mountains are related to natural resources: agriculture, forestry, rangelands and water. The mountains also have a great potential for tourism. The project, at the landscape and village levels, aims to maintain biodiversity by effectively mainstreaming biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilisation into the natural resources and tourism sectors.

The proposed project is both dependent on and supportive of a more bottom-up, private enterprise driven approach to the sustainable utilisation of resources and to sustainable development.

The proposed Central Zagros Landscape Conservation Zone (the Conservation Zone) lies in the middle part of the central Zagros Mountains and  is representative of the overall Zagros Mountains in ecological and social terms.

There are two main direct threats to biodiversity in the Conservation Zone: unsustainable agriculture and over-harvesting of biodiversity products. These are acting alone and in combination to lead to a drastic degradation of biodiversity. The resulting fragmentation of habitats makes it increasingly difficult for large mammals to find a sufficiently large contiguous habitat. In addition, there are many smaller and localised direct threats.
The Project will contribute to the overall goal of the Government of Iran, which is to ensure that the socio-economy in the Zagros mountains develops and is mutually supportive of biodiversity conservation and restoration. The Government aims to develop the Central Zagros Landscape Conservation Zone as an area integrating biodiversity conservation with sustainable development. GEF will support at three levels, specifically by: (i) developing the required national level capacity to support biodiversity conservation in the central Zagros mountains; (ii) helping remove the barriers to mainstreaming the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity into the development processes and the economic sectoral processes throughout the Conservation Zone; and (iii) developing capacity for participatory, village-driven development that assures sustainable use, biodiversity conservation, natural resource exploitation and socio-economic development in a mutually-respective manner at the village level.

Building on existing knowledge and skills at 8 pilot sites, UNDP/GEF support will address harvesting practices and micro-level planners. It will also build local know-how and capacity and generate experiences in the development of improved livelihoods. The project will also facilitate dissemination and replication of success.

The International Advisor (IA) is the primary source of international technical support for project implementation. The IA will support the implementation of all project components. The IA will visit the project on average 3 times per year. In addition to these missions, the IA will provide periodic home-based support. The IA will be a member of the Project Core Team and will participate in Project Coordination Committee meetings, when possible.

The IA will:

• Ensure that the project maintains strategic direction during implementation;
• Ensure the project has a sharp focus on quality outputs;
• Help ensure a learning and adaptive approach to project management and implementation, in part by providing training on issues such as TOR, contract management, and intra-project communications; 
• Introduce international and UNDP/GEF best practices. In addition to direct technical support, this will include the identification of international experts, the scoping of international study tours and international training opportunities, and the development of linkages between the project and other UNDP/GEF projects implemented in the region and in other parts of the world.

The IA will have the following specific responsibilities:

• Contribute to and review project work plans and provide substantive technical advice on the quality and format;
• Prepare TOR for project staff, consultant, Technical Advisory Team (TAT members, Contractors and Centers (Biodiversity Enterprise Center, Mountain Biodiversity Resource Center, etc…) ;
• Prepare TOR for international consultants and international training opportunities; and assist in the selection of those consultants;
• Provide training to project staff, stakeholders and facilitators as required;
• Support project staff on key strategic tasks;
• Carry out site visits and meetings with project stakeholders according to mission plans to be prepared by the IA in consultation with the project office and UNDP;
• Participate in all project related meetings and workshops, such as Project Coordination Committee (PCC),
• Technical Advisory Team (TAT), PPCs and thematic working groups whenever possible
• Help plan project workshops and Steering Committee meetings;
• Design study tours and  training events and facilitate their organization;
• Support the M&E Officer in the design of the monitoring and evaluation plan and ensure their contribution to an effective adaptive management in the project;
• Support the Communications Officer in the design and implementation of the project communications strategy, and a strategy for documenting and disseminating lessons learned and best practices;
• Support the National Project Manager (NPM) in the coordination of inputs, notably the inputs of international experts;
• Provide technical comments on draft reports prepared by consultants and project offices;
• Respond to technical queries;
• Advise NPM on planning the project midterm evaluation, including review and comment on the TOR developed by UNDP and cooperation with the evaluation team;
• Other support as requested by the National Project Manager (NPM), within the constraints imposed by the availability of working days.

Deliverables:

Comprehensive mission reports and standalone reports as necessary

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Excellent leadership and management skills
• Builds strong relationship with government counterparts and responds positively to feedback
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Excellent communication and networking skills

Education:

• Minimum a Master degree in Environment, Social Sciences or related fields

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in related fields
• Knowledge of biodiversity conservation, rural development or natural resources management;
• Knowledge of Iran and/or the project region would be an asset;
• Long standing demonstrated experience in managing international projects;
• Demonstrated experience on building capacity for individuals and project teams, and of passing management skills to partners.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English required;
• Fluency and knowledge of Farsi would be an asset.