Consultant: Short Term National Consultant Ecosystems Specialist

Lao PDR has been granted funds under the Least Development Countries Fund (LDCF) administered by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to prepare a project linked to the provision of small scale rural infrastructure, with specific focus on water resources, benefitting rural communities vulnerable to drought and flooding in the South of the country. The southern provinces are particularly vulnerable to drought and are facing longer and deeper dry seasons, as well as frequent delays in the onset of the rainy season. Local authorities need additional investment and technical support in ensuring that critical ecosystem functions, which underpin service provision with respect to small scale infrastructure provision, are not undermined by the changing climate.

This grant money will be utilized to conduct preparatory assessments and consultations for the formulation of a full-size, UNDP/GEF compliant project document.The main project components to be designed include: (i) strengthening planning, budgeting and budget implementation to reduce climate and disaster related risks; (ii) providing small scale rural infrastructure investments to address and minimize climate risks; (iii) and ensuring that infrastructure investment is linked to and underpinned by natural systems by securing critical ecosystem services and assets. 

In this connection, the project is seeking a qualified short-term Lao national expert to fill the position of an Ecosystems Specialist, working alongside an international project development specialist and national infrastructure specialist. 

For detailed information, please refer to Annex 1- Terms of Reference (TOR)

TOR and General Terms and Conditions for Individual Consultants can be also downloaded at http://www.undplao.org/vacancies/procurementnotice.php

• Data collection on existing natural resources and protected area policies and plans with a specific focus on Southern Provinces and classified wetland sites.
• Summarize the current state of relevant climate risk and vulnerability analysis available in the country, with a focus on ecosystem functions and management.
• Identify and review existing vulnerability studies and assessments of climate change on landscapes and ecosystem services.
• Identify existing land management approaches being used to address emerging climate risks, such as drought and flood management measures.
• Identify menu of suitable sub-catchment level land management measures in support of climate resilient infrastructure investments with a focus on water resources, such as measures to increase water retention capacity and/or aquifer recharge within natural systems.
• Assess existing capacities at sector, province and district levels to apply climate science information in planning and implementing sustainable land management and ecosystem based measures linked to local development planning – both in terms of functional and technical capacities for organizations and individuals.
• Assess existing awareness of target communities of climate hazards, risk, and adaptation strategies and methods.
• Identify possible sites for the introduction of suitable land management measures on the ground, which support the long term resilience of small scale rural infrastructure investment in a complementary manner.

• Assist in the design of a Strategic Results Framework and the delineation of indicative project activities, with a specific focus on Component 3 – ecosystem based approaches;
• Define key project roles, responsibilities and project management arrangements for the project, specifically with respect to Component 3;
• Develop a replication and sustainability strategy for the project;

• Analyze the existing stakeholder baseline of the project by inventorizing relevant stakeholders and developing a stakeholder involvement plan for the project;
• Coordinate negotiations and consultations with relevant government agencies, project stakeholders and potential project partners to collect input and define a basic project strategy,
• Ensure that project design is aligned specifically with respect to the WB/ADB/Govt of Lao river basin management programme and structures in the South of Lao PDR;
• Carry out selected community based consultations to assess existing vulnerabilities to help support project design including selection of sample districts and proposed ecosystem and land based adaptation interventions on the ground.
• Undertake baseline survey as basis for elaboration of the GEF specific Adaptation Monitoring framework and indicators (AMAT).

• Support the International Project Development Specialist in financial management planning and identifying and finalizing project co-financing requirements, with respect to ecosystem services and assets.
• Preparation of project document

• Liaise with the International Project Development Specialist and provide him/her with local assessment information needed to formulate a complete, UNDP/GEF compliant full-size project document.
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• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages, and  
• Excellent analytical skills;

• Postgraduate degree or equivalent education in ecosystems and biodiversity, natural resources and/or environment related discipline;
• Experience and skills in facilitation or multi-stakeholder workshops and broad-based consultative processes; 
• Previous experience of working with International Organisations and ideally on the development of GEF 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; 

• At least 7 years experience in project design in developing countries