International Consultant - Uzbekistan Protected Areas Financing Expert

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assists the host Government to implement a Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Medium-Sized Projects:

1. «Strengthening Sustainability of the National Protected Area System by Focusing on Strictly Protected Areas».
2. «Conservation of Tugai Forest and Strengthening Protected Areas System in the Amu Darya Delta of Karakalpakstan»

Within the framework of the above mentioned projects implementation it is planned to: 

• Develop a Master Plan for expansion of the system of protected areas in Uzbekistan to conserve biodiversity. Master Plan for Protected Areas (PAs) is a document, which contains the comprehensive strategy and action plan to guarantee fully representative and operational network of PAs with adequate management and sustainable financing;
• Establish multifunctional PAs – biosphere reserve, providing biodiversity conservation of Tugai forests and their sustainable usage.
  To this end, UNDP seeks a highly qualified and capable International Consultant on financing of PAs, who on the basis of his/her knowledge and experience will prepare detailed, practical and realistic recommendations for sustainable financing of PA system in Uzbekistan and for financing of projects sites: (Surkhan state reserve and its buffer zone; Lower Amudarya state biosphere reserve).
  For conducting detailed review and assessment of existing system of PAs and drafting recommendations for improving and sustainability, «Strengthening Sustainability of the National Protected Area System by Focusing on Strictly Protected Areas» Project and «Conservation of Tugai Forest and Strengthening Protected Areas System in the Amu Darya Delta of Karakalpakstan» Project will recruit international consultant on protected areas financing. The main tasks of the international consultant will be:
• Preparing the financial component of Master plan which will be developed by the project and recommendations on sustainable financing of Surkhan state reserve, including to-be-established buffer zone;
• Preparing recommendation for sustainable financing to-be-established biosphere reserve.
  International consultant on financing of PAs will perform his/her duties on base of detailed plan of activities agreed with both project managers in close coordination with Head of Environment and Energy Unit.
  During the contract period International consultant on financing of PA will be perform his/her duties:
• In «Strengthening Sustainability of the National Protected Area System by Focusing on Strictly Protected Areas» Project under overall supervision of the Project manager, direct supervision of National technical expert, and close cooperation with international consultant on Protected Area Planning and Management of PAs. National consultant on financing of PAs will be responsible for the specific technical issues for supporting of international consultant on financing of PA;
• In «Conservation of Tugai Forest and Strengthening Protected Areas System in the Amu Darya Delta of Karakalpakstan» Project under overall supervision of the Project manager, direct supervision of National technical expert.

 The task of the consult will be divided into two parts. First part will cover financial mechanisms on the PA system level. The International Consultant (IC) will be responsible for preparation of a comprehensive analysis and provision of recommendations on strengthening financial sustainability of the Uzbek PA system as a whole that will ensure both efficient operations of the system as a whole and of each individual PA.

The second part of the assignment will be complementing or even serve as a basis for its first part. The IC will have to conduct analysis and come up with the concrete recommendations for financial mechanisms of two types of the PAs: a strict nature reserve (wildlife refugee) and a to-be-established biosphere reserve.

The IC will become an integral part of the concerned projects’ team and feed from and in the results of these projects work. All respective materials will be provided to the IC from both projects. The recommendations of the IC should be based on the best world practices and experiences but incorporate the specifics of Uzbekistan. The specifics of the country will have to be seriously taken into account and be reflected in realism of the proposed recommendations.  

The consultancy will take place in two phases: Financial Assessment and Business Planning

The first phase – 25 days (17 days mission in Uzbekistan plus 8 days preparation and follow up) and will be focused on questions of a financial Assessment. Including, 15 days for «Strengthening Sustainability of the National Protected Area System by Focusing on Strictly Protected Areas» Project (10 days mission plus 5 days preparation and follow up) and 10 days for “Conservation of Tugai Forest and Strengthening Protected Areas System in the Amu Darya Delta of Karakalpakstan” Project (7days mission plus 3 days preparation and follow up).

In particular, duties and responsibilities of the International Consultant will include:

1.    Financial Assessment for «Strengthening Sustainability of the National Protected Area System by Focusing on Strictly Protected Areas» Project:

• Conduct a detailed assessment of the current budgets, financing mechanisms, income sources and sustainability of representative protected areas in Uzbekistan;
• Review the range of financing mechanisms used for protected areas in other countries in regard to their potential applicability to Uzbekistan conditions;
• Provide an initial estimate of the overall costs for maintaining and managing protected areas in Uzbekistan;
• Conduct meetings, consultations and other activities to analyse the opportunities, constraints and feasibility of each financing mechanism with specific reference to the context of Uzbekistan, with explicit recommendations of what needs to be done to facilitate and optimize its implementation;
• Plan and facilitate a national workshop on protected area financing mechanisms;
• Analyse and spell out/report on all existing opportunities, constraints and feasibility of each financing mechanism with specific reference to the context of Uzbekistan PAs, with explicit recommendations of what needs to be done to facilitate and optimize their implementation;
• Plan and facilitate a national workshop on protected area financing mechanisms with participation of the national managing authorities and governmental financial agencies (Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Economy);
• Present the results of the work in a report entitled ‘Protected Areas in Uzbekistan: options for financing’.
  for “Conservation of Tugai Forest and Strengthening Protected Areas System in the Amu Darya Delta of Karakalpakstan” Project
• Use analytical materials, received within the framework of assessment and analysis of financing on national level and materials provided by the project “Conservation of Tugai Forest and Strengthening Protected Areas System in the Amu Darya Delta of Karakalpakstan”;
• Assess recreation potential of area, biodiversity resources potential;
• Assess options and restrictions in usage of this potential by the biosphere reserve and population in 2 and 3 zones of biosphere reserve – technical and legal;
• Assess other financing sources, including grants and investments, and possibilities of usage;
• Present the results of the work in an analytical report entitled “Opportunities and restrictions in sustainable financing of biosphere reserve in Karakalpakstan and increasing of local population incomes”.

2.    Business Planning for «Strengthening Sustainability of the National Protected Area System by Focusing on Strictly Protected Areas» Project:

• Conduct a detailed assessment of the current budgets, financing mechanisms, income sources and financial sustainability of the Surkhan strict nature reserve;
• Based on the proposed management arrangements (management plans) for the Surkhan strict nature reserve, extract needed information and produce justified generic estimate of the overall costs for maintaining and management needs of individual protected areas in Uzbekistan. Insights ian regard to management costs for the PA system as a whole or for managing agencies in this respective part would also be needed;
• Develop a detailed financial plan for the Surkhan Zapovednik and buffer zone. These should include detailed budgets, projections of costs and income and likely sources of finance;
• Advise on and participate in negotiations for securing recommended sources of funding (A legal consultant will be engaged to develop required contracts and agreements).
  for “Conservation of Tugai Forest and Strengthening Protected Areas System in the Amu Darya Delta of Karakalpakstan” Project:
• Develop financial business plan for to-be-established biosphere reserve;
• Develop proposals of income generation for local community;
• Conduct concrete recommendations for developing legal base for providing sustainable financing of biosphere reserve and using of biodiversity resources.

3.    Capacity Development
for «Strengthening Sustainability of the National Protected Area System by Focusing on Strictly Protected Areas» Project:
Conduct a training workshop for the specialists from PAs of Uzbekistan to transfer of knowledge, skills, materials and documentation.
Outputs of the assignment:
for “Conservation of Tugai Forest and Strengthening Protected Areas System in the Amu Darya Delta of Karakalpakstan” Project:

1. Pre-agreed report on “Possibilities and restrictions in sustainable financing of biosphere reserve in Karakalpakstan and increasing of local community incomes”;
2. Financial business plan for to-be-established biosphere reserve;
3. Recommendation on income generation for local communities in the biosphere reserve’s buffer and transition zones;
4. Conduct concrete recommendations for developing legal base for providing sustainable financing of biosphere reserve and sustainable using of biodiversity resources;
   for «Strengthening Sustainability of the National Protected Area System by Focusing on Strictly Protected Areas» Project:
5. Stipulated report: «Protected Areas in Uzbekistan: options for financing»;
6. Conducted workshop on PA financial mechanisms;
7. Financial business plan for Surkhan strict nature reserve;
8. Conducted workshop on financial management aspects to PA management personnel.

• Proven understanding of economics as they apply to natural resources and protected areas;
• Proven ability and practical experience in complex budgeting and business planning in the context of natural resources, protected areas and the environment;
• Proven ability to advocate and negotiate innovative approaches to protected area financing policy with decision makers and budget holders;
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, strong cultural sensitivity and ability to work in multi-cultural environments.
  

• Excellent spoken and written English. Knowledge of Russian and/or Uzbek would be an advantage.
• Either post graduate qualification or equivalent professional track record (reports and publications) in Environmental Management, Business and Environmental Economics;
• Knowledge of financial system in countries with transaction economy.
  

•  At least 5 years relevant experience in environmental and protected area economics, finance and business planning. Working experience in CIS and Central Asian countries is an asset;

• Proven applied experience with implementation of recommendations in countries with similar political system and socio-economic conditions.