International Medicinal and Aromatic plants MAPs Technical Advisor - Extended

Lebanon lies within an important centre of flowering plant biodiversity, with approximately 2,600 species and an endemism rate of 12%. Around 365 medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are found and utilised in Lebanon. The MAP and herb domestic markets are worth approximately US$35 million per year and wild stocks supply approximately 98% of the MAP markets. The collection of wild stocks now threatens the conservation of globally significant MAP biodiversity. The project idea is that non-destructive harvests, together with income generated by MAP business opportunities for local people, will maintain the wild stocks of at least 7 globally significant MAP species that are commercially traded and threatened by current harvesting practices (Origanum syriacum, Origanum ehrenbergii,Viola sp., Alcea damascene, Micromeria sp, Cyclotrichium origanifolium, and Salvia fruticosa). The project will create incentives for local communities to sustainably manage the wild stocks by ensuring the increased financial returns flow to the guardians of wild MAP stocks and are directly linked to sustainable harvest and management practices through implementation of a proper certification system. The project will introduce a sustainable management regime for 800 tons annually of the target species. For this purpose, the project will support both the establishment of 7-10 community-based MAP Small Enterprises (SEs), and value-added production systems. At the end of the project, over 8 value-added products made from sustainably harvested MAPs will be available, using at least 300 tons of raw materials.

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the International MAPs Technical Advisor will provide part-time home-based and field-level technical support for the implementation of the project activities and will fulfill the following tasks.

• Provide support to the Project Manager, project staff, and government counterparts in the areas of conservation and sustainable use of MAPs
• Lead the process of developing guidelines on MAP sustainable harvesting practices and training modules for MAP collectors
• Lead the process of developing national standards for certification based on international standards and guidelines and in consultation with internationally recognized certification bodies
• Work with the Project Manager and the Project Board, and/ or other resource
  people as appropriate to trouble shoot problems with project implementation
• Provide guidance to the short-term local and international consultants and sub-contractors recruited under the project
• Review reports of short-term consultants and sub-contractors. (S)he will provide an additional layer of comments to ensure that the reports contain all information and analysis needed
• Provide other technical assistance for project activities when needed.

Based on the progress and results, the expert will prepare the following reports (in English):

• First Progress Report: Detailing progress to-date for the above tasks, to be received after 2 months from the beginning of the assignment.
• Second Progress Report: Detailing progress to-date for the above tasks, to be received after 4 months from the beginning of the assignment.
• Third progress Report: Detailing progress to-date for the above tasks, to be received after 7 months from the beginning of the assignment.
• Final Report: A comprehensive report to be received after 11 months from the beginning of the assignment detailing the outcome of the above tasks

• Excellent research, analytical, communication, and presentation skills are required.

Education:

• Post graduate degree in plant science, ecology, natural resources management, or related field; PhD degree is highly desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years international experience in areas related to economically important plant species conservation, sustainable harvesting, and value-chain analysis.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent writing and reading skills in English