| Description |
Background | The GEF has approved a Project Preparation Grant (PPG) for Mali in order to produce a UNDP Project Document (PRODOC) and a GEF CEO Endorsement Request (both using the appropriate templates) for the above mentioned project. Its Project Information Form (PIF) summarises the project concept and was produced in close collaboration with key government officials, donors, NGOs, CBOs and the private sector, under the guidance of UNDP-GEF. The PIF was approved by the GEF Council in November 2008 but received critical comments that need to be addressed during project preparation. The project counts on a budget of $2,000,000 in GEF funding and $4,000,000 million in co-financing to be mobilized. It aims at conserving globally important biodiversity in Mali by expanding and strengthening Mali’s Protected Area system. This will be achieved through the following three components: - Governance framework for Protected Area consolidation, expansion and sustainable development of initiatives in three targeted Protected Areas Baoulé and Bafing-Femelé Biosphere Reserves and the BTZs of the two reserves.
- Strengthen management’s effectiveness at two pilot Protected Areas by improving institutional capacity at both a national and regional level.
- Wider-landscape conservation of buffer and transition zones (BTZ) of the biosphere reserves in SW Mali through the creation of BTZs for two biosphere reserves at Boucles de Baoulé and Bafing-Femelé. These reserves will be gazetted and effectively managed as IUCN Protected Area category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area).
The PPG process is to be implemented between March 2009 and September 2009 and will focus on the activities necessary for approving and finalizing the proposed project. The focal points for the project in government and the PPG team of consultants will work in collaboration with existing related initiatives to carry out the following activities:
Baseline data collection and information gap analysis: - Outcomes of other past and current conservation projects will be reviewed to identify areas where replication of procedures may be effective including new National Protected Area Strategy being prepared through the PoWProtected Area project;
- Baseline studies will be conducted to identify current state of ecosystems and status of biological resources in the Protected Areas and BTZs. Threatened species will be identified for population studies. Areas where immediate intervention is recommended will also be listed
- A set of unmanaged Protected Areas will be recommended to support comparative studies of selected taxa during the project;
- Initial geo-referencing studies of Protected Areas and BTZs, illustrating state of land clearance (as determined by remote monitoring), water resources, land usage, migration routes, types of vegetation and rainfall;
- Baseline studies on resource use, ownership, socio-economic, conditions and trends in and around Protected Area reserves and their BTZs. Attention will be paid to unsustainable resource use and the potential alternate livelihood options for various communities;
- Baseline information for determining the ecological carrying capacities of the Protected Areas for tourism, hunting, and harvesting of forest resources;
- Management Effectiveness Tracking Tools initiated for Protected Areas; and
- Ecological Threats and Barriers study.
Capacity assessment for management of Protected Areas - Identify successful institutional models and best practices for replication;
- Analyze existing and potential legal and policy frameworks, gaps in legislation and define the institutional capacities required to support Protected Area management;
- Assess existing Protected Areas and BTZs management capacities and capacity gaps including motivational requirements for government departments as well as local communities, resource users’ associations, tourism operators, local government agencies and NGOs;
- Carry out initial studies of Protected Area financing issues including identifying gaps in required funding;
- Finalize negotiations on institution and co-financing arrangements; and
- Application of the UNDP-GEF Capacity Development and Protected Area Financial Scorecards.
Stakeholder consultation and engagement - PPG inception workshop
- Outreach to stakeholders within and adjacent to the targeted Protected Areas and BTZs;
- Coordinate national and regional administration around Protected Area management;
- Initiate negotiations on institutional arrangements and co-financing requirements;
- Preparation of a typical sub-contract for management of selected areas by NGOs or other interested parties (e.g. tourism operators, local councils, etc.); and
- Report on stakeholder involvement, current capacities and preparation of a stakeholder matrix.
Project costing and M&E planning - Contracting of the consulting team;
- Mission by the International consultants;
- Define Incremental Cost Analysis;
- Outline project schedule;
- Assess and define project budget requirements;
- Apply SO1 or SO2 Tracking Tools;
- Project Development Summary Workshop; and
- FSP finalization and submission.
| Duties and Responsibilities | Encompassing approximately 5 weeks of work throughout the duration of the PPG the Protected Area Specialist will complete two missions to Mali complemented by support from home base. The Specialist will play a pivotal role in the task of scoping and preparing the GEF project for submission in collaboration with the UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor, the UNDP Country Office Environment Focal Point and the team of national and international consultants (acting as team leader for the latter). More specifically, the specialist will be responsible for the following tasks: | 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 | - Extensive knowledge of protected area issues, including legal and policy frameworks, Protected Areas management effectiveness (including community involvement and capacity issues), Protected Areas planning (including business planning) and ecological monitoring systems for Protected Areas
- Hold an advanced degree in a relevant field for conservation work (either with ecological, socio-economic background) with consistent professional specialization in issues of Protected Areas
- Have at least 5 years of proven experience in the mentioned field
- Demonstrated track record of relevant production in the mentioned area (publications, project proposals, reports).
- Experience with GEF project development is a requirement
- Mastery of oral and written English is a requirement
- A working knowledge of French is a plus
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