International Consultant for Nature Reserves Technical Advisory Services

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) in collaboration with UNDP has committed US$ 5.1 million over a period of 5 years to support the project on “Enhancing the Forest Nature Reserves Network for Biodiversity Conservation in Tanzania”; through implementing measures that will contribute to expand, financially secure and strengthen the management effectiveness of Tanzania’s forest nature reserves network in response to the threats to their biodiversity. ‘Forest Reserves’ falls under the legal authority of central government (NFRs), District Councils (LAFRs) or village government (VLFRs and CFRs). Most of the Forest Reserves are owned and managed by the central government, through the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS). About 600,000 ha of Forest Reserves are under the ownership and management of local government. Around 1.6 million ha of Forest Reserves are conserved and managed as catchment forests, with the primary objective of regulating water-flow, preventing surface run-off and soil erosion and providing water for drinking, power supply, industries and irrigation schemes.

The Forest Nature Reserve (FNR) category of NFR offers the highest level of protection under the Forest Act and no extraction of woody or animal species is allowed. Activities in FNRs are generally restricted to research, education and low impact nature-based tourism. To-date, five FNRs - Amani (8,380ha); Uluguru (24,115ha); Kilombero (134,511ha); Nilo (6,225ha) and Rungwe (13,652ha) - have been formally proclaimed. A further six sites representing centres of high biodiversity and endemism - Chome (14,283ha), Magamba (9,283ha), Mkingu (23,388ha), Udzungwa Scarp (32,763ha), Rondo Plateau (14,000ha) ad Minziro (25,000ha) - have been  proposed for proclamation as FNRs.

• Finalize and agree on baseline report;
• Field visit and familiarization with remote Nature Reserves  and operational report;
• Developing Monitoring and Evaluation plan;
• UNDP/GEF technical reporting;
• General Technical Assistance;
• Provide comments on Management plans.

• Knowledge of the forest sector in Tanzania and operational modality for the TFS, Nature Reserves and conservation in general;
• Strong research and analysis skills;
• Proven ability to plan, organize and effectively implement activities;
• Ability to coordinate and work in teams, as well as in complex environments;
• Excellent writing and communication skills;
• Understanding of GEF functioning and procedures;
• Knowledge of U.N. implementation procedures and core values.

Education:

• MSc degree or higher in environment and natural resources management, economics or natural sciences with experience in research, project planning, implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in research, project planning, implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation coupled with vast knowledge and experience in Environment and Institution building;
• Proven experience in participatory processes and in facilitating dialogue between Government, Development partners, private sector and civil society;
• Previous experience with GEF funded projects in Tanzania.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential.

How to Submit Proposals:

• Proposals should be submitted to icprocurement.tz@undp.org e-mail address not later than Friday, 04 March 2016 at 11:00 Hours (East Africa Time);
• Applications with no financ;al offer or missing P11 form and CV or the required documents for the technical evaluation will not be considered for evaluation;
• All necessary information for this post (TOR, Deliverables, Target dates, etc. are presented in the ICPN) therefore applicant must download it from the website;
• Do not send CV only to the Email account mentioned above without Cover Letter and Methodology (if requested) as it will be considered as incomplete application;
• The documents are available in PDF and MS Word (the TOR, etc. are presented in the ICPN, IC Conditions and P11) download them from the following link: http://we.tl/oWY3ITy94I this is the only format available and it will not be provided in other formats;
• Each email should be less than 8MB; emails over this size will not be received to the above mentioned account;