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Title

International Consultant: Trans-boundary Water Management Specialist
Posted
Reference   (Please mention Stopdodo/Environment Jobs in your application)
Sectors
Location Macedonia - Europe
Type Temporary / Contract / Seasonal
Status Full Time
Level Senior Level
Deadline 11/11/2009
Company Name United Nations Development Program
Contact Name Human Resources
Website Further Details / Applications
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Directory Entry : UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. For environmental jobs with UNDP visit their website. Or for more environmental jobs search environmentjobs.com
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Description
The Prespa region is situated in the Balkan Peninsula and is shared among the three neighbouring countries Albania, FYR Macedonia and Greece. It is considered to be an ecosystem of global significance and has been identified as one of Europe’s major trans-boundary “ecological bricks”. The entire Prespa Region hosts unique habitats that are important from both European and global conservation perspective.
However, unsustainable agricultural, fisheries, water and forest management practices as well as use of non-timber forest products is causing stresses on the ecosystem health of the Prespa Basin. The awareness of local communities and beneficiaries on the values of the natural resources and the importance of sustainable use of the resources is very low. Also there is limited knowledge on environmental protection/conservation issues among the decision makers and the general population, and lack of streamlined information available for the interested parties.
The aim of the GEF Prespa Regional Project is to mainstream ecosystem management objectives and priorities into productive sector practices and policies. The project is designed to strengthen capacity for restoring ecosystem health and conserving biodiversity at the local, national and trans-boundary level in the three littoral States in the Prespa region by piloting ecosystem-oriented approaches to spatial planning, water use management, agriculture, forest and fishery management, and conservation and protected area management.
Within the framework of this transboundary GEF project, the three States have committed to jointly addressing the critical water management issues in the Prespa Lakes basin.
In line with the principles of Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) the consultant will advise the newly established Prespa Water Management Working Group (PWMWG) on international best practice in respect of the management of shared international water resources. The PWMWG will operate as a technical body under the auspices and authority of the Prespa Park Coordination Committee (PPCC), the existing institutional structure for facilitating trilateral cooperation for environmental protection and sustainable development of the Prespa Lakes Basin. 
As part of the efforts for promoting the integrated approach to transboundary water management, the UNDP/GEF project is supporting the national authorities in FYR Macedonia to develop the first integrated watershed management plan in accordance to the requirements of the recently adopted Law on Waters which rests on the principles of the IRBM. Given that three of the Prespa watershed’s four perennial streams are located in MK-Prespa and three quarters of the Prespa watershed’s population lives in this part of the Basin, and more than 75% of the agricultural land is located in the Municipality of Resen, it is clear that an effective, ecosystem-friendly water management in MK-Prespa is central to maintaining the ecosystem health of the entire transboundary Prespa Basin. Therefore, the preparation of an ecosystem oriented watershed management plan for the MK-Prespa watershed is recognized to be an excellent opportunity for establishing integrated land and water management basis for maintaining and restoring the ecosystem health of the entire transboundary Prespa ecosystem.
The preparation of the plan will be conducted in parallel to the efforts for developing watershed management capacity by establishing and operationalizing the Prespa Watershed Management Council (WMC). The WMC will be designed to be an innovative mechanism facilitating the integration of the ecosystem management priorities into emerging watershed management practice. The WMC will play the role of a stakeholder forum during the preparation of the watershed management plan and in later stages as a cross-sectoral body responsible for overseeing the plan implementation.
In order to establish viable communication and coordination mechanisms between the national and transboundary level of watershed management planning, the consultant will also provide input and guidance on the most appropriate modalities and best practices which will be taken into consideration during the preparation of the MK-Prespa Watershed Management Plan and in the course of developing the capacities of the WMC.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work, Duties and Responsibilities
The consultant will perform the following tasks:
  • Advise the Prespa Water Management Working Group (PWMWG) on international best practice in respect of the administration of intergovernmental basin institutions and their technical subordinate bodies;
  • Advise the PWMWG on the requirements for integrated river basin management  (IRBM) policies and practices incorporated in the international, regional and national  treaties, conventions, agreements, and other multilateral instruments, especially in the context of the specific local needs, conditions, and environmental objectives of the Prespa Basin;
  • Advise the PWMWG on international best practice in respect of the dissemination of environmental information, public participation and consultation on environmental issues related to integrated river basin management
  • Advise the PWMWG on international best practice in respect of environmental standard-setting related to integrated river basin management.
  • Advise the PWMWG on international best practice in respect of environmental and shared water resources information sharing and exchange procedures.
  • Advise the PWMWG on international best practice in respect of implementation and evaluation of environmental impact assessments relating to transboundary waters, in accordance with appropriate international standards;
  • Advise the PWMWG on international best practice in respect of identification of environmental / ecosystems flow requirements for shared international water resources;
  • Advise the PWMWG on the law and policy context for water management activities, including analysis of relevant E.C. legislation, national law, international law and standards on transboundary waters and protected areas;
  • Advise the PWMWG on international best practice in respect of transboundary fact-finding in order to assess issues or activities that may pose a threat to the Prespa Basin ecosystem;
  • Advise the PWMWG on options for the sustainability and institutional maturation of the PWMWG beyond the lifetime of the project.
  • Advise the PWMWG and MK-Prespa Watershed Management Committee on the most adequate communication and cooperation modalities in the course of plan preparation and plan implementation process
  • Advise the project partners (WMC, PWMWG, UNDP/GEF, MoEPP) on best approaches to ensuring that regional/transboundary water management consideration are adequately incorporated into the MK-Prespa Watershed Management Plan.
Deliverables
The work on the assignment is estimated at approximately 3-5 days per month and shall be implemented from December 2009. The main deliverables will include:
  • Briefings requested by the PWMWG related to the tasks above
  • Presentations for the PWMWG meetings
  • Discussion papers related to the tasks above
  • Situation analyses related to the tasks above
  • Comments on the draft reports related to the tasks above

Terms and Conditions

  • The consultant will prepare advisory briefings as requested by PWMWG from his/her home base and, where necessary, will make a short trip to present the briefing report to a meeting of the PWMWG or to ascertain further facts before returning to his/her home base to complete the report.
  • All reports shall be prepared in the English language.
  • The consultant will submit deliverables to the UNDP Designated Officer in accordance with the timelines agreed.
  • The consultant will communicate with the UNDP Designated Officer via e-mail and/or phone and liaise with the Chair and relevant members of the PWMWG and with national project managers of the UNDP-GEF Prespa Project for additional support and information as required. 
  • The Consultant will be compensated for the services provided based on the days of his/her engagement each month. The consultant will be obliged to submit monthly time sheets that will reflect number of days of his/her engagement and which be certified by the UNDP Designated Officer.
  • The DSA and the travel costs will be reimbursed on an actual basis in accordance to the UNDP rules and procedures and upon approval of the UNDP Designated Officer. The visit to the project site should be approved by the UNDP Designated Officer prior to the travel.
Submission Requirements and Deadline for Application
The applicant shall provide the following information:
  • An expression of interest demonstrating the relevant experience identified as necessary above and indicating consultancy fee per day.
  • A completed United Nations P11 form        ( http://www.undp.org.mk/default.asp?where=job )
Evaluation method:
Cumulative Analyzes: 70% Technical + 30% Financial

 

Competencies

  • At least ten years of professional experience in the relevant areas.
  • Extensive experience in integrated river basin management and sound understanding of the requirements of international instruments related to IRBM.
  • Proven practical experience in facilitating transboundary water management processes and water governance, preferably in the area of integrated ecosystems management and integrated water resources management.
  • Experience of playing a supporting role to the work of technical and/or policy-making committees.
  • Excellent and demonstrated communication, consultation and drafting skills.
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