Consultant: International Protected Areas Valuation and Financing Consultant

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assists the host Government to The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assists the host Government to implement a Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Medium-Sized Project, which aims to create an enabling environment for protected area establishment and management in terms of policy, governance, institutional capacity and management know-how. The objective of the project is to conserve the country’s biological diversity by strengthening the management effectiveness of country’s protected area system as prescribed by its recent Law on Nature Protection. The project strategy is specifically directed toward supporting the country in meeting the rigorous protected area system planning and proclamation requirements of the Law on Nature Protection. The proposed project will develop the institutional and systemic capacity of the country’s protected area agencies to: (i) strengthen the national knowledge systems, and apply appropriate technologies, to support the design and development of a more representative and viable protected areas network; (ii) strengthen the decision-support tools needed to secure the legal tenure of, and expand, the protected areas in the network; and (iii) locally test these decision-support tools and mechanisms in the formal re-proclamation processes of two pilot protected areas. The project will seek to ensure that the protected area estate in the country graduates in status from poorly managed toward well managed. The project will work to develop detailed management plans for the two pilot protected areas. Once these are completed detailed budgets and business plans are required for both sites, setting out the costs of implementing the management plans, identifying how these costs will be covered and setting out specific mechanisms by which income can be collected, handled and disbursed. This will require not only financial planning therefore, but also negotiation of financial mechanisms with concerned parties. At present main sources of income for the protected areas are likely to be from (very limited) government support and payments for visitor entrance and services; less attention is paid to the wider values to the economy that the sites have, particularly in maintaining ecosystem services (e.g. Water quantity and quality), reducing environmental risk and mitigating environmental threats (e.g. flooding). These values are of particular interest as for example both pilot protected areas include large dams constructed for the purpose of hydropower generation and/or irrigation of farmland. UNDP seeks a well qualified and highly experienced specialist to conduct detailed economic valuation studies, and develop detailed budgets and business plans for two pilot protected areas. Also, the International Protected Areas Valuation and Financing Consultant will be expected to identify and quantify these values and to develop mechanisms by which these values can be realized through arrangements for Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES). Scope of Work The consultant`s main responsibility is to conduct economic valuation of country`s protected area system and develop models for payment for ecosystem services. She/he will identify a range of appropriate financing mechanisms for the protected area network and individual protected areas through assessment of respective national legislation (Law on Nature protection and Law on Environment). The Consultant will analyse the opportunities constraints and feasibility of each financing mechanism with reference to the country, with explicit recommendations of what needs to be done to facilitate and optimize its implementation. Recommendations shell be provided on the interventions in the legislation, so that it will become a suitable framework for implementation of the key financing mechanisms. The consultant will also conduct Total Economic Valuation studies and develop detailed budgets and business plans for the two pilot protected areas (Tikves and Canyon Matka) that will be integral part of their management Duties and Responsibilities Under the supervision of the Project Manager and in collaboration with the project team from the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning MoEPP (Administration for Environment-Sector of Nature), the Consultant will be responsible for the following activities: Through desk review, the Consultant will: Review the country`s legal, regulatory and administrative context for ecosystem services Review the range of financing mechanisms used for protected areas in other countries with an aim to determine their applicability in the MK context Review the reports produced by the PA Planning and Management Consultant Review the other relevant material (legislation, national studies and reports on biodiversity, forest, waters, tourism, development and other strategic documents). During the 1st mission, the Consultant will perform: Ecosystem Service Review Work with local specialists and the project team and recommend the most appropriate methods for information gathering, surveys, etc. regarding economic value and Payment of Ecosystem Services (PES) questions. Identify and meet information holders and stakeholders with the purpose of discussing the Total Economic Valuations (TEV) process and soliciting required information and data. Meet with senior officials from the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy and the Ministry of Finance to discuss the Total Economic Valuations (TEV) process and the principles for Payment of Ecosystem Services (PES) and explore options for its implementation. Lead a workshop on the principle and practice of TEV and PES Financial Assessment Conduct a detailed assessment of the current budgets, financing mechanisms, income sources and sustainability of the pilot sites and other protected areas. Produce a draft report entitled ‘Economic Valuation of Protected Areas and Payment for Environmental Services, options for the country’ During the 2nd mission, the Consultant will perform: Site studies Conduct detailed TEV studies for the two pilot protected areas (Tikvesh and Matka). Lead workshop for two pilot protected areas Business Planning Provide an initial estimate of the unit costs for maintaining and managing protected areas in the country Develop and propose detailed schemes for supporting protected area budgets on the basis of the results of the TEVs. Present the results of the work in a draft report ‘Protected Areas in FYR Macedonia: options for financing’ During the 3rd mission, the Consultant will: Develop detailed business plans for the two pilot protected areas, based on results of the management plans developed for the sites during implementation of the project. These should include detailed budgets, projections of costs and income and agreed sources of finance. Lead workshop on the business plans for the two pilot protected areas Advise on and participate in negotiations for securing recommended sources of funding (A legal consultant is engaged to develop required contracts and agreements) Deliverables and payment schedule The consultant is expected to complete his/her work within the period of 1 year (March 2009 – March 2010). During this period the Consultant is expected to perform 3 missions in the country, the first one in April 2009 (15 working days), the second one in September 2009 (15 days) and the third one in February 2010 (10 days). The costs for the missions should be reflected as lump sum in the financial offer. Deliverables will address the tasks specified in the section “duties and responsibilities” above. Deliverables: April 2009 First Mission Report Draft report ”Economic Valuation of Protected Areas and Payment for Environmental Services, options for the country” June 2009 Draft Report ”Protected Areas in FYR Macedonia: options for financing” October 2009 Second Mission report Final Report ”Economic Valuation of Protected Areas and Payment for Environmental Services, options for the country” Draft business plans for two pilot PAs. March 2010 Third Mission Report Detailed business plans for two pilot Pas Final Report ”Protected Areas in FYR Macedonia: options for financing” Tentative schedule and payment conditions for the above-mentioned deliverable are given as follows: April 2009 – First instalment June 2009 – Second instalment October 2009 – Third instalment March 2010 – Final instalment Competencies Competencies Proven understanding of economics and total economic valuation in the context of natural resources, protected areas and the environment Proven extensive experience with the principles and practice of payment for ecosystem services. Proven ability to advocate and negotiate TEV and PES and innovative approaches to protected area financing policy with policy and decision makers and budget holders. Proven ability and practical experience in complex budgeting and business planning in the context of natural resources, protected areas and the environment Excellent analytical and report writing skills Strong interpersonal and communication skills, strong cultural sensitivity and ability to work in multi-cultural environments; Excellent computer literacy Required Skills and Experience Qualifications MA in Business or Economics, including modules in Environmental Economics and protected areas Professional Experience: At least 10 years relevant experience in environmental and protected area economics, finance and business planning. Language: Excellent spoken and written English. Terms and Conditions The consultant is expected to perform the expected tasks mainly during his/her missions in Macedonia and from home base. All costs for the missions (consultancy fee, travel costs-air ticket, daily subsistence allowance) should be reflected as lump sum in the financial offer. The consultant will submit deliverables in electronic format to the Project Manager in accordance with the agreed timelines. The consultant is expected to lease closely and collaborate with the staff of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning (Administration for Environment-Sector of Nature), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy, and the recruited National and International consultants. Selection Criteria: Technical merit 70% and Financial offer 30%.