UNDP OFFICE IN UZBEKISTAN seeks multilingual, motivated candidates with appropriate experience for the position of International Specialist on Manstreaming Biodiversity into Oil-and-Gas Development in Ustyurt, Uzbekistan. Projects: UNDP Uzbekistan PIMS 3950 BD PPG: Mainstreaming biodiversity into Uzbekistan’s oil-and-gas sector policies and operations
Location : Uzbekistan and Work from Home Base
Type of Contract : SSA (Lump sum)
Expected Duration of Assignment: 30 days over 12 months (2009-2010) 2 missions to Uzbekistan
BACKGROUND The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), acting as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is providing assistance to Uzbekistan in the preparation of the GEF Medium-Size Project “Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into Uzbekistan’s energy sector policies and operations”.
The objective of the proposed project is to mainstream conservation priorities into Uzbekistan’s energy sector development policies and energy production sectors. The project will do so through 2 components: Component I will deal with enabling legislative and policy environment, and will put in place policies and regulations to ensure incorporation of biodiversity principles in the development and practices of the oil-and-gas sector. Component 2 will deal with industry specific demonstrations and capacity building, including a biodiversity offset scheme in the Ustyurt plateau. |
SCOPE OF ASSIGNMENT In close coordination with Head of Environment and Energy Unit, the principal responsibility of the international consultant is to coordinate the preparation of the UNDP/GEF Tracking Tool for Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Landscapes, and coordinate the preparation of the CEO Endorsement request document and Project Document for the Medium-Sized Project proposal (MSP) using the standard GEF templates. The template for the Tracking Tool is included at the end of this ToR. The templates of the CEO Endorsement request and UNDP Project Document are provided additionally. Further, the responsibility of the international consultant is to propose country-tailored solutions, techniques and technologies for mainstreaming biodiversity into oil-and-gas sector.
The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan, in coordination with the State Committee for Nature Protection, informed by guidance from the UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor/Specialist in Bratislava. While working on his/her assignment, the international consultant is expected to lead a team of national consultants composed of protected area experts. The international consultant will work in close cooperation with the relevant local agencies (ministries, research institutions, NGOs) and other stakeholders relevant for the subject-matter of the project, and will strive to create conditions conducive to strengthening the national ownership of the project.
SCOPE OF WORK PREPARATION OF THE TRACKING TOOL AND INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC EXPERTISE - Coordinate the completion of the Tracking Tool. Guide local experts in gathering the necessary information. Collate the information and present it in the final scorecard.
- Provide contribution to the development of the draft of Guidebook of biodiversity solutions in the Uzbek oil-and-gas sector.
- Develop, with contribution from national experts, a feasibility study for the Ustyurt Plateau biodiversity offset in line with the details outlined in the approved PIF.
- Propose a country-tailored approach to implement the “avoid-reduce-remedy” hierarchy in Uzbekistan, including the principle for setting up / mapping the “no-go” areas for energy development.
- Present international experience of how biodiversity conservation is reflected in corporate reports of oil-and-gas and coal developers and discuss with the national team the strategy to introduce biodiversity reporting in corporate reporting in Uzbekistan.
ANALYSIS RELEVANT FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT - Based on the information in PIF and information prepared by national consultants – complete the description of risks to biodiversity outside protected areas, with indication of concrete biological impacts (e.g. shrinking area of concrete habitats, decline in population of IUCN Red List species).
- Take as a basis the barrier analysis from PIF and, without changing the number and essence of barriers, clarify in more detail and depth the nature, type and extent of the barriers, give examples of their impacts on biodiversity. The barriers should not be more than 4, and should correspond, in number and nature, to project components proposed.
- Develop the logical framework of the project as per Annex A of the CEO Endorsement template, with quantifiable indicators on changes in the status of indicator species/flagship species/vulnerable/endemic/IUCN Red List species, and under-presented habitats. Develop the Project Framework (Part A) of the CEO Endorsement request, which should be reconciled with the Logical Framework.
- Develop the cost-effectiveness analysis of the proposed interventions. The cost-effectiveness analysis is a comparison of scenarios to achieve the desired objective. At least 2 scenarios should be presented and their cost-effectiveness analyzed. One of the scenarios should be the project scenario. The analysis should clearly state why the proposed project strategy is more cost-effective (as investment per hectare or per site or per year) than the other scenarios.
- Develop a detailed financing plan for the proposed interventions, including the GEF and co-financing part in UNDP ATLAS format (provided by the country office);
- Prepare an incremental cost analysis summary for the project. The cost-analysis summary is subdivided into (a) Business-as-usual: several paragraphs that present a snap-shot of the protected area state-of-affairs (from ecological, institutional, and management perspective) 5 years from now if the GEF project is not undertaken; (b) Desired alternative scenario: the summary of the ecological, management, and institutional condition of the protected areas system of the country 5 years from now if the GEF project is undertaken; (c) incremental value: summary of the global ecological benefits (with mentioning of increase in the area of under-represented habitats and improved population trends of threatened species) derived as a difference between the business-as-usual and desired alternative scenario.
- Prepare a sustainability plan. The plan should be sub-divided into (a) financial, (b) ecological and (c) institutional sustainability. Reference can be made recently approved projects as examples.
Prepare a replication plan for the project. Reference can be made to recently approved projects as examples.
Assess global environmental benefits sought from the project. List names and species of benefiting habitats and species. Present the percentage of increase in PA extension, increase (in ha and percentage) of under-represented habitats covered by the extended PA system; condition concrete IUCN Red List species, reduction in concrete risks to PAs. - Prepare a risk table with ratings and risk mitigation strategy.
- On the basis of all inputs per bullet points above, lead the development of the CEO Endorsement Request and Project Document - including the detailed implementation and financial arrangements; and
- Finalize the documents addressing all the comments received, including the ones from the local counterparts, as well as the UNDP/GEF Regional and Senior Technical Advisors.
SEQUENCE OF WORK, TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR PROVISION OF SERVICES The assignment will be a combination of in-country and out-of-country work. The consultant will be hired by UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan through a competitive process. Once hired, the consultant will get in touch with the UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan to establish email communication, as well as with the key local consultants. For approximately one week after that, the international consultant should be in communication with local team to discuss with the local team which basic information is to be gathered by the local team, and in what format, by when, translation needs, and when it will be finally made available to the international consultant.
In this initial period also, the international consultant should discuss with the UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan and project team the best timing for the mission, which should ideally be about 2 weeks after the start of the assignment. The consultant should thus undertake one mission visit to the country in August 2009 with an estimated duration of 6-9 days. The dates for the second mission will depend on the work-plan developed by the consultant in coordination with the UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan.
At the end of the second mission the international consultant should clearly agree with the local team, the UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan and the UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor/Specialist the date when the scorecards, the CEO Endorsement request and UNDP Project Document will be finalized. From that period on, the international consultant works from a distance, no further missions in the country are envisaged. DELIVERABLES The international consultant is responsible for the following deliverables: - Tracking Tool;
- The full-fledged CEO Endorsement Document (template and examples of recently approved documents are provided separately);
- UNDP Project Document (template and examples of recently approved documents are provided separately);
PAYMENT - 1st payment: upon delivery to UNDP CO and the UNDP/GEF RTA of the first draft of the Tracking Tool and draft CEO Endorsement Request Document. Estimated date: September, 2009;
- 2nd payment: upon delivery of a more advanced version of the CEO Endorsement Request Document and MSP Project Document addressing the comments received from the RTA; Estimated date: December, 2009;
- 3rd payment: upon finalization of the submission package, addressing the comments from the UNDP CO, UNDP/GEF RTA, UNDP/GEF STA. Estimated date: March, 2010.
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- University degree in the fields of biodiversity conservation and environmental protection, natural resource management. Advanced degree is an advantage;
- At least 10 years of experience in protected area management, planning and/or financing, environmental protection and natural resources management, related scientific research, or environmental program design and implementation. Prior experience with UNDP is an advantage;
- Recent and proven experience in developing GEF Projects under Biodiversity Focal Area (BD 1 or BD2);
How to apply Applications (UN Personnel History Form and CV in English only) quoting VA # 170/2009 should be sent (preferably via e-mail) to jobs.uz@undp.org, or submitted in sealed envelopes indicating VA #170/2009 to UNDP Office in Uzbekistan located at 4, T. Shevchenko St., 700029, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Blank UN Personal History Forms are available at the reception of the UNDP Office on the above address (paper copies) or on http://www.undp.uz (Job Opportunities Section). The deadline for submission of applications is July 19 2009. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants will be contacted only if under serious consideration. The position is open for international candidates only. |
