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In the aftermath of the conflict in Georgia in August 2008, several forest ecosystems (approximately 1,200 hectares) in the around the Borjomi-Karaguali National Park as well as in Ateni Gorge were severely damages by uncontrolled forest fires.
The immediate damages of the fires on forest resources were assessed through the UN and the World Bank Joint Needs Assessment (JNA). The assessment has been conducted based on the request of the Government of Georgia with a purpose to prepare financial proposals for the October 2008 Donors Conference on Georgia. According to the JNA, the fire damage on the affected sites varied considerably. It ranged from severely damaged sites with completely burned tree stands, to sites where trees were partially damaged.
JNA environmental impact assessments have been verified and studied in more detail by a team of international experts under the joint OSCE/UNEP assessment sponsored by the ENVSEC Initiative, following the request of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Georgia (MoE).
In 2009 MoE prepared a project idea for restoration of damaged forest ecosystems in the Borjomi region on the basis of the recommendations by the JNA and OSCE/UNEP assessment. The project concept was submitted to the ENVSEC Board for approval in June 2009.The Government of Finland was ready to finance the project as a part of the Finnish pledge for the support of the Georgian postconflict recovery and reconstruction. Finland?s support was earmarked for the environmental sector.
UNDP Country Office in Georgia developed a project document “Restoration of Forest Ecosystems Damaged in Armed Conflict in Georgia” in October 2009. It has been accepted by the Government of Finland in December 2009.
The Project will focus initially on the rehabilitation of forest cover and functions in a pilot project (Daba) area of about 400 Ha within some 1,000 ha of recently burned forest at Borjomi (Daba and Tsagveri) that to some extent will ameliorate the threat to the villages from floods landslides and mud slips. The silt load of the rivers will be reduced for downstream users.
A base line ecological study and monitoring of the recovery process will be undertaken, training and capacity building accompanies this. Stakeholders emphasized the scale of the problem, the extent of the area damaged and the need for continuity of post project management and sustainability. From the lessons learned the techniques tried and proven on site should be replicated elsewhere to counteract land degradation. Landslides and mudflows may pose threats to human and environment security in the region, especially in its most vulnerable areas again the threat is under active consideration by several competent organizations. Gabions and bioengineering are proposed to protect part of Daba village as well as being a focus for livelihood improvement.
Secondary objectives are to:
- Train local implementers in land rehabilitation techniques including tree nursery, reforestation and erosion control;
- Strengthen the capacity of national and sub national stakeholders in prevention and amelioration of land degradation;
- Raise public awareness on causes and implications of land degradation and livelihood self development;
- Recommendations for replication of rehabilitation techniques in the Region.
The overall objective of the assignment is to develop an Ecosystem recovery monitoring demonstration and train local scientists and forest staff in implementing and recording the methodology for replication elsewhere. This will be based on remote sensing data and terrestrial sampling plots in the Borjomi Project Area. A sampling plot grid of 100 x 100 meters is recommended but in designing the monitoring system account will have to be taken of the very steep slopes and numerous inaccessible forested or burned areas. The methodology will be based on a sampling design density that will be decided by the consultant but at least some 20% of the plots will be permanent (see example below). The sampling intensity will permit an accurate description of the condition of the forests and which will be required to formulate decisions regarding the restoration process and the return of biodiversity. The basic system will be of added value for replication and monitoring elsewhere in the region. Satellite images/aerial photos and base maps which will be procured by the project and will be available to other national and regional development projects afterwards.
The following activities have to be instigated for the preparation of the ecosystem monitoring design and layout, organization and allocation of resources: Synergy with other projects having similar objectives should be considered.
- Basic map preparation;
- Satellite remote sensing;
- Aerial photo interpretation;
- Deciding sampling intensity;
- Periodic terrestrial monitoring inventory;
- Data analysis and reporting.
Preparation and delivery of a short awareness training course to local senior official there after a more intensive course for participating scientists and forest rangers that will include field practical work to initiate the methodology.
It is advisable to integrate these techniques and make them compatible with the existing systems in Georgia.
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Duties and Responsibilities
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An international consultant will work under the general guidance and supervision of UNDP CO in Georgia through the Project Manager in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources. His /her primary duties and responsibilities will include:
- Advice to the project prior to arrival on the procurement of essential inventory equipment and satellite imagery;
- Familiarization/ assessments on the impacts of 2008 August conflict on forest resources as well as existing or suggested recommendations on restoration of the damaged ecosystems;
- Assessment and consultations with key stakeholders including, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, scientists, GTZ and key NGO’s, concerning existing GIS systems, resources and capacity in Georgia for Natural Resource Management and Monitoring and their compatibility;
- Development of an ecosystem monitoring methodology that is agreeable to key stakeholders covering biodiversity, pest potential/damage, soil sampling, erosion evidence, forest regeneration that fits with existing GIS systems or make recommendation for the upgrading/improving them to do so;
- Training of scientists and range officers in implementation of the monitoring methodology, recording, accuracy/quality testing, recording and analysis of data and reporting;
- Preparation of field recording format to cover the various scientific disciplines involved and an instruction manual on the overall methodology;
- Preparation of silvicutural model/models for target area;
- Development of recommendations on the ToR, scope of work and evaluation criteria for the tender for provision of professional services in damaged ecosystems monitoring
- Development of monitoring and quality assurance mechanism (monitoring plan, quality criteria, quality assessment methods, etc.) for project staff to assure the timely delivery of quality products by the contracted company;
- Yearly monitoring of progress of ecosystem monitoring works to evaluate the progress and suggest improvements.
Major Delivarables:
- Specifications and bill of quantity for procurement of inventory equipment and satellite imagery;
- Recommendations on responsiveness of bids submitted for provision of inventory equipment and satellite imagery;
- Ecosystem monitoring methodology that is agreeable to the main stakeholders covering biodiversity, pest potential/damage, soil sampling, erosion evidence, forest regeneration and that fits with existing GIS systems or recommendation for the upgrading/improving them
- Short training courses at the commencement of the project for participating officials and scientists;
- Field recording format to cover the various scientific disciplines involved and an instruction manual on the overall methodology;
- Silvicutural model/models for target area;
- Recommendations to the project on the ToR, scope of work and evaluation criteria for the tender to provide professional services for damaged ecosystems monitoring;
- Monitoring and quality assurance mechanism (monitoring plan, quality criteria, quality assessment methods, etc.) for project staff to assure timely delivery of quality products by the contractor company;
- End of mission monitoring reports
Payment Modality
The payment will be made as a lump sum upon submission to and clearance by UNDP major deliverables in following installments:
- 20% of total contract value upon submission to and acceptance by UNDP Georgia of the first mission report, with enclosed specifications and bill of quantity for procurement of inventory equipment and satellite imagery, ecosystem monitoring methodology, training module for short training courses and short training report, field recording and reporting format;
- 15% of total contract value upon submission to and acceptance by UNDP Georgia of recommendations on responsiveness of bids for procurement of inventory equipment and satellite imagery, recommendations on the ToR, scope of work and evaluation criteria for the tender to provide professional services for damaged ecosystems monitoring, monitoring and quality assurance mechanism (monitoring plan, quality criteria, quality assessment methods, etc.) for project staff to assure the timely delivery of quality products by the contractor company;
- 15% of total contract value upon submission to and acceptance by UNDP Georgia of the second mission report with enclosed silviculture model for targeted area;
- 10% of total contract value upon submission to and acceptance by UNDP Georgia of third mission report;
- 10% of total contract value upon submission to and acceptance by UNDP Georgia of the fourth mission report;
- 10% of total contract value upon submission to and acceptance by UNDP Georgia of the fifth mission report;
- 20% of total contract value upon submission to and acceptance by UNDP Georgia of the final report
Evaluation Criteria
Candidate will be evaluated against combination of technical and financial criteria. Maximum obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria equals to 70% and for financial criteria – to 30%. Only the candidates who will obtain 70% out of maximum obtainable scores of the technical criteria will be considered as qualified. Qualified candidates will be requested to submit financial proposals
More specifically, following evaluation scores will be used for evaluating the proposals:
- Minimum qualification requirement*: Master’s or higher degree in environmental science, natural resource management, forestry, land management preferably with a specialization in inventory techniques – 15 points;
- Minimum qualification requirement*: 7 years of experience in designing, implementing and/or providing technical advisory services to the forestry projects that include, but not limited to forest restoration monitoring and multidisciplinary inventory of natural resources, wildlife management and forest protection – 15 points;
- Minimum qualification requirement*: Experience in designing or implementing capacity development activities for public institutions, non-governmental organizations, and local communities in forest restoration, sustainable land management, and wild fire management – 10 points;
- Minimum qualification requirement*: Working experience in GIS-based forest inventory with thorough applied knowledge of inventory techniques in steep difficult terrain preferably in similar countries/forest to Georgia – 10 points;
- Knowledge of the CIS region and particularly the Georgian context – 5 points;
- Work experience in/for UN or other international organizations – 5 points;
- Minimum qualification requirement*: English knowledge – 5 points;
- Proposed Price – 30 points
* Candidates not meeting any of minimum qualification requirements will be automatically disqualified from the list of eligible candidates
Interested experts are requested to upload their applications to UNDP corporate web-site at http://jobs.undp.org/ and send maximum 1-page cover letter, CV, filled in P11 form (P11 form is available at www.undp.org.ge), and 1-2-page technical writing sample on forestry or disaster reduction methodology to UNDP Georgia through the following e-mail: vacancy.ge@undp.org by 18:00 p.m. (local time), 11 May 2010.
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Competencies
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- Proven ability to work in a complex environment under severe field working conditions with different stakeholders within a specific political context;
- Ability to interact with and relate to people at any level and train/ transfer his knowledge to them;
- A pro-active approach to problem-solving;
- Strong leadership talent and patience.
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Required Skills and Experience
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- Master's or higher degree in environmental science, natural resource management, forestry, land and management preferably with a specialization in invent
- 7 years of experience in designing, implementing and/or providing technical advisory services to the forestry projects that include, but not limited to forest restoration monitoring and multidisciplinary inventory of natural resources, wildlife management and forest protection etc.;
- Experience in designing or implementing capacity development activities for public institutions, non-governmental organizations, and local communities in forest restoration, sustainable land management, and wild fire management;
- Working experience in GIS-based forest inventory with thorough applied knowledge of inventory techniques in steep difficult terrain preferably in simila countries/forest to Georgia;
- Knowledge of the CIS region and particularly the Georgian context is an asst;
- Work experience in/for UN or other international organizations is an asset;
- Strong analytical skills;
- Excellent spoken and written English skills
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