| Description |
The GEF has approved a Project Preparation Grant (PPG) for Seychelles in order to produce a UNDP Project Document (PRODOC) and a GEF CEO Approval Request (both using the appropriate templates) for the above-mentioned project. The project to be prepared is a Full-sized Project (FP). The approved Project Information Form (PIF) summarizes the project concept and was produced in close collaboration with key government officials, NGOs, donors and the private sector, under the guidance of UNDP-GEF. The PIF was approved by the GEF CEO in April 2009 and received comments that need to be addressed during project preparation, in particular from the GEF Secretariat. The above means that the PRODOC for the Full Project has until June 2010 to be finalised or it will risk forfeiture of its funding. The project, which is budgeted for US$2.10 million in GEF funding and US$3.53 million in co-financing to be mobilized, will conserve globally important biodiversity by demonstrating effective models for protected area management by non-governmental organizations in the Seychelles, and enable their inclusion into a strengthened national protected areas system. This will be achieved through the following three components: 1. Strengthened Management Framework for Protected Areas in Seychelles 2. Expanded and Strengthened Protected Areas Management in Seychelles’ Inner Islands 3. Expanded and Strengthened Protected Areas Management in Seychelles’ Outer Islands The PPG process is to be implemented between September 2009 and June 2010 and will focus on the activities necessary for approving and finalizing the proposed project. The focal point for the project in the government, and the PPG team of consultants, will work in collaboration with existing related initiatives to carry out the following activities (additional details are in the approved Project Preparation Grant document): 1. Baseline data collection and information gap analysis - Baseline ecological and socio-economic data on protected areas targeted by the project;
- Detailed analysis of the threats and their root causes relevant to key target ecosystems and species;
- System-wide Protected Areas Planning, including review of the existing PA classification system for Seychelles, and assessment of existing plans and priorities for PA expansion in Seychelles;
- Analysis of options for sustainable financing strategies with potential for widespread and effective replication for other existing or planned protected areas in the Seychelles;
2. Capacity assessment for management of Protected Areas - Analysis of existing and potential legal and policy frameworks and institutional capacities to support PA management
- Analysis of the existing capacity of government agencies, NGOs, the private sector, local resource users’ associations, and other stakeholders in the Seychelles to carry out effective PA management
- Completed Capacity Assessment Questionnaire for Non-Governmental Organizations
- Completed UNDP-GEF Capacity Development Scorecard for PA Management institutions
3. Stakeholder consultation and engagement - Two national stakeholder workshops: 1) a project inception meeting to clarify priorities and coordination and to confirm overall workplan; and 2) presentation of draft logical framework for PA project, designed to update stakeholders on the proposed project strategy and to seek stakeholder input
- Outreach to stakeholders at targeted PA sites
- Partnerships negotiations aiming at the signature of agreements and co-financing letters
- Report on stakeholder involvement and capacity building plan, including a stakeholder matrix
4. Project Costing, Risk Assessment and M&E Planning - Incremental Cost Analysis
- Logical Framework
- Project Budgets (in required formats)
- Protected Area Tracking Tools
- Institutional arrangements negotiated
- Project Brief finalisation and submission
- Full Project PRODOC finalisation and submission
| Duties and Responsibilities | The assignment encompasses approximately 10 weeks of work during the project preparation phase from December 2009 until July 2010, including one 3-week mission to Seychelles complemented by support from home base. The Protected Areas Specialist will play a pivotal role in the task of scoping and preparing the GEF project for submission in collaboration with the project partners, the UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor, the Programme Coordinator of the UNDP-GEF Programme Coordination Unit in the Seychelles, and the National PA Specialist/PPG Coordinator and the PPG Legal/Policy expert. This will include structuring and planning PPG implementation, coordinating the work of the project partners and of the other consultants, and taking lead responsibility for the drafting of the required documents, namely the UNDP PRODOC and the GEF CEO Approval Request, for review by the UNDP Country Office and the Regional Technical Advisor responsible for the project at the UNDP Environment and Energy Group (EEG). Tasks Specific Tasks from the Protected Areas Specialist will include: - Guide other PPG consultants and NGO partners in collecting baseline data and engaging stakeholders around the project proposal, participating in relevant consultation processes and commenting on reports and other products (including the structuring of their reports);
- Provide support to, and consolidate results of, project partners activities during the PPG phase (ensuring that they include specific indicators and recommendations for activities during the Full Project), in the areas of:
- Site Selection and Mapping, METT reports, M&E plans, and threats and barriers studies, at the level of specific protected areas;
- Collection of baseline data on PA revenues / costs for targeted PAs;
- Analysis of expected project outcomes and outputs, co-financing sources and co-financing commitments, in compliance with the GEF incrementality principle;
- Together with the National PA Specialist/PPG Coordinator, conduct a Logical Framework Workshop to review and validate proposed project strategy with relevant stakeholders;
- Provide expert advice on strategies and approaches for long-term PA system management in the Seychelles, including revisions to the PA classification system, and proposals for various models of PA ownership, management, and inter-institutional cooperation
- Assist project partners (those managing PA units) in completing the UNDP-GEF Capacity Development Scorecard for PA Management Institutions
- Consult with all relevant stakeholders and develop stakeholder involvement plan for the FSP;
- Together with the National PA Specialist/PPG Coordinator, develop a strategic plan for facilitating cooperation among project partners during Full Project, as well as overall implementation arrangements for Full Project
Deliverables Specific Deliverables from the Protected Areas Specialist, for which he/she will have lead responsibility, will be a UNDP Project Document and a GEF CEO Endorsement Template, approved by the relevant agencies, and including (but not limited to) the following components: - Detailed descriptions of project outcomes, outputs and activities, with deliverables, timing, costs, and responsibilities
- Overall project budget(s), in required formats and with detailed budget notes
- Detailed analysis on the barriers to achieving effective management of protected areas in Seychelles, and the root causes for threats to biodiversity, both without and within protected areas
- Summary of local, national and global biodiversity benefits of project
- Adaptive Management plan, including potential lessons and knowledge products
- Replication plan to sustain interventions post-project
- Analysis of project risks and corresponding mitigation measures
- Cost effectiveness analysis to identify the most effective project alternatives
- Analysis of social, institutional, economic and financial sustainability of proposed project
- Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
- Incremental Cost Analysis
- Recommendations (including costs and proposed timing) for capacity building activities during the Full Project
- Implementation arrangements for Full Project
The contract will include 50 working days. Any number of days worked beyond this amount will not be remunerated without previous written agreement from the UNDP Country Office. | Competencies | - Ability to communicate effectively in order to communicate complex, technical information to technical and general audiences
- Skills in negotiating effectively in sensitive situations
- Skills in achieving results through persuading, influencing and working with others
- Skills in facilitating meetings effectively and efficiently and to resolve conflicts as they arise
| Required Skills and Experience | - Advanced degree in a relevant field of conservation work (either with ecological, socio-economic background), with professional specialization in issues of Protected Areas;
- At least 7 years of proven experience in the mentioned field;
- Extensive knowledge of protected area issues, including legal and policy frameworks, Protected Areas planning and management effectiveness, and ecological monitoring systems for Protected Areas;
- Demonstrated track record in protected areas programs/projects (publications, proposals, reports);
- Knowledge of environmental issues, policies and programs in the Seychelles (preferred)
- Experience with GEF project development;
- Mastery of oral and written English
|
|
