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The goal of the present project is to achieve ecosystem stability on degraded land in Karakalpakstan and the Kyzylkum desert in Uzbekistan, thus reversing the spread of deserts, increasing carbon sequestration, enhancing habitats for biodiversity and achieving public health and socio-economic benefits, on a sustainable basis. It will contribute to this goal by testing, evaluating and promoting innovative solutions to the problems of land degradation, particularly mobile sand, at a pilot scale in the selected localities of Kyzyl Rovat and Kazakhdarya, and other pilot sites of the project on an area of about 500 ha of degraded lands. This project is a part of the Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management (CACILM).
Detailed information about the project can be found on our web-site:
http: //www.undp.uz/projects/project.php?id=123
The four main components (Outcomes) of the project and their outputs, are:
- Outcome 1: Plant species, having both strong the ecological and economic benefits for succession in desert and semi-desert ecosystems identified and the sustainable land management methods tested;
- Outcome 2: Mobile sands stabilized and degraded land rehabilitated in partnership with local communities;
- Outcome 3: Institutional and policy framework for integrated land use planning with local communities;
- Outcome 4: Monitoring and evaluation, learning and adaptive management, implemented.
The project will involve international, national experts and consultants for the effective and timely manner achieving of the project target. The major objective of the project is to test approaches that will widely involve local population to land rehabilitation activities rather than relying on governmental initiatives. In other words, the key role is put on local communities. The project aims at creating an environment for the people to take responsibility for the land rehabilitation. In tern they must be able to receive substantive livelihood benefits from the land.
The project seeks an International Technical Advisor (TA), who will be able to advise and consult the project team directly in effective and timely project implementation. The TA will provide overall project advisory services and technical assistance to the National Project Manager (PM), the National Technical Coordinator (NTC), the National Project Experts (NPE) and other project consultants. In essence, the responsibility of the TA is to ensure that the overall technical direction of the project is maintained and flexibility adapted to meet the practical challenges faced during the implementation of the project. TA will provide technical guidance notes on the implementation of key components of the project.
The initial critical starts up stages of the project implementation have been completed and technical directions are established and project implementation capacity is in placed. Thus, the main function of the TA will be to provide periodic review and advice at strategic moments in the project implementation through field missions and remote communication (e-mail).
Under direct supervision of the Project Manager and in cooperation with National Technical Coordinator, the TA will take responsibility to fulfill in a timely and efficient manner the following tasks and responsibilities.
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Duties and Responsibilities
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Periodic Review of Project Implementation and Advice on Improvement
- Undertake 4 field missions of not less than 10 days each in order to make systematic review of the progress and results of each Component of the project based on field evidence.
- In-depth discussion with project management in order to identify key technical problems (if any) and means for solving them.
- Prepare two project implementation review reports containing specific recommendations and technical advice on improvement of project implementation in order to achieve the expected project outcomes.
- Provide ad hoc (as required) remote support and advisory services as requested by the PM by e-mail or telephone.
- Participate in, when feasible, Project Board Meetings and other relevant meetings (such as CACILM meetings, etc.)
- Collection of good practices from other regional/international Sustainable Land Management projects' and encourage project staff to establish networking with them.
- Assist in capturing the key lessons and developing a replication plan for other regions and communities in Uzbekistan. As part of the replication strategy, help develop replication materials for wider dissemination and application of project results and lessons learned.
- In cooperation with the PM and the NPE develop a suitable project exit strategy, and present it for approval to the Project Board Meeting.
Assistance in Planning and Technical Staff Recruitment
- Provide, both during missions and via email, relevant support and advice for preparation or revision of key planning documents such as the project technical work plan, the UNDP Annual Work Plan, Component Teams annual work plans, etc.
- Assist the PM and the National Technical Coordinator in the development of relevant Terms of References and mobilization of qualified national experts and organizations needed to provide specific consultancy services;
Monitoring an Evaluation
- Support the PM in the preparation of project progress reports, as well as monitoring and review reports, in accordance with UNDP/GEF monitoring and evaluation rules and procedures.
- Support the monitoring of the key milestones of the project which affect the success of project implementation and the sustainability of project processes and impacts;
- Support the PM in the preparation and implementation of the Mid-term and Terminal Evaluation Missions (TORs, selection of appropriate candidates, accompany field missions and discussion with evaluators, etc.).
- Whenever necessary, accompany UNDP CO staff on their annual monitoring visits to project sites.
Management Arrangements:
Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Head of Environment Unit (HEU), and UNDP CO Uzbekistan, the TA will work closely with the PM, the project NTC, NPE’s and consultants. The TA will support and report to the PM. Decisions regarding payment will be made based on performance assessment, reports, outputs and results achieved by the TA in accordance with the TOR. The period for review and approval shall not exceed 10 days after submission of the relevant report/s by TA to the project and UNDP CO personnel.
In the course of the assignment the TA will be expected to undertake 2 stages of work, as follows: 25 days in 2010, 25 days in 2011. The dates for mission to Uzbekistan in the 1st stage of the work will be provisionally agreed between the TA and UNDP-Uzbekistan at the commencement of the contract, and in January / February 2011 for the 2nd stage of the work. Exact mission dates will be agreed not less than 1 month prior to each individual mission.
Though not permanently available in-country, the role of the TA will nonetheless remain critical throughout the project as he/she will continue to have inputs on key technical decisions at strategic moments in the project implementation through field missions and remote communication – phone, email etc.
Missions tentative schedule:
Quarter 1 Quarter 2
2010 Mission 1 Mission 2
2011 Mission 3 Mission 4
Expected Key Outputs:
Output 1 submission - deadline: 30 June 2010
- Identify key national and International Project personnel needs and provide relevant support to the recruitment process (formulation of TORs, including for Mid-term Evaluation Mission, screening and interview where feasible and necessary);
- Technical guidance notes on the implementation of key components of the project (awareness assessment and campaign, participatory natural resource use planning, demonstration activities and capacity development activities, best practices and dissemination of lessons learned);
- In consultation with the PM, help to approach other donor organizations and UNDP projects with regard to possible joint activities, and resource mobilization;
- Review and be aware of relevant international experience and best practices on Integrated Land Use Management and Planning. Where relevant, propose mechanisms for application such of international / regional experience in project territories.
- Support to the process of undertaking institutional and legal framework analysis, identification of existing gaps and finding potential mechanisms together with national specialist, local communities and government partners.
- Individual Mission Report (including concrete reviews of ongoing project activities and guidance on improving effectiveness, technical guidance notes on the implementation of key components of the Project).
Output 2 submission - deadline: 30 December 2010
- Meetings with representatives of organizations and stakeholder groups involved in implementation of the project activities, especially on local level;
- Contribution to the GEF Mid-term evaluation mission. Consultations/meetings, Joint field missions with International Evaluator;
- Provide technical support and contribution for the preparation of Annual Project Work Plans, Annual Project Review Reports (APR/PIRs), Annual Review Report (ARR), Annual Project Action Plan (APA), as necessary;
- Consultations with different stakeholders at different stages to present progress, findings and agree on way forward;
- Conclusions and recommendations. Proposals for future directions underlining main project objectives;
- Individual Mission Report (including concrete reviews of ongoing project activities and guidance on improving effectiveness, technical guidance notes on the implementation of key components of the Project).
Output 3 submission – deadline 30 June 2011:
- Analysis of the outcomes 2 and 3, outputs and exit strategy (as per the scope of work described above). Exit Strategy for Outcomes 2 and 3 agreed with project team and local authorities;
- Technical Reports for Project Board Meetings;
- Provide technical support and contribution for the preparation of Project Implementation Reports (PIR);
- Assist in capturing the key lessons and developing a replication plan for other regions and communities in Uzbekistan;
- Submit individual mission report with further recommendations.
Output 4 submission- deadline 30 December 2011:
- Reviews and finalization of demonstration project reports;
- Overall project good practices and lessons learned report;
- Good practice and lessons learned dissemination plan;
- Prepare an action plan for project exit strategy to ensure sustainability of the project processes;
- Submit individual mission report.
Conditions of payment:
Payment will be made in 4 installments according to the present ToR after completion of Outputs and acceptance / assessment of them by Project Manager:
- 1st installment will be made upon achievement of the Output 1 – 20% from the Lump sum
- 2nd installment will be made upon achievement of the Output 2 – 30% from the Lump Sum
- 3rd installment will be made upon completion of SSA and achievement of Output 3 – 25% from the Lump Sum
- 4th installment will be made upon completion of SSA and achievement of Output 4 – 25% from the Lump Sum
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Competencies
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- Prior knowledge and experience of the political, social and environmental factors and issues related to arid natural resource use and agricultural systems in Central Asia, preferably in Uzbekistan;
- Prior experience in the use of local level participatory approaches to natural resource management;
- Practical experience addressed to rural energy needs (demand reduction and mitigation/alternatives) and social forestry approaches is an advantage.
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Required Skills and Experience
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Education:
- Postgraduate or other advanced university degree in sustainable land management, natural resource management, agriculture, environmental management, or related fields.
Experience:
- At least 6 years of demonstrated working experience in areas relevant to Sustainable Land Use Management within arid environments of which is at least 5 years of practical field experience in similar professional role (i.e. CTA, manager or equivalent in natural resource management project implementing practical activities in the field).
- Prior knowledge and experience of the political, social and environmental factors and issues related to arid natural resource use and agricultural systems in Central Asia, preferably in Uzbekistan;
- Prior experience in the use of local level participatory approaches to natural resource management;
- Practical experience addressed to rural energy needs (demand reduction and mitigation/alternatives) and social forestry approaches is an advantage.
Language Requirements:
- Proficiency in English, knowledge of Russian and/or Uzbek is an advantage.
Others:
- Familiarity with the goals and procedures of international organizations, in particular those of the GEF and UNDP;
Good interpersonal, facilitation and training skills
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