Location : Rodrigues, MAURITIUS
Application Deadline : 01-Nov-10
Type of Contract : SSA
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required : English French
Starting Date :(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 01-Nov-2010
Duration of Initial Contract : 45 days spread in 4 months
The island of Rodrigues (Republic of Mauritius) lies at 650 kilometres northeast of Mauritius Island in the western Indian Ocean. The 90 km fringing reef surrounding the island encloses a lagoon of over 240 km2. An estimated 40% of the lagoon coral and associated ecosystem is severely impacted by destructive fishing practices, siltation from up stream erosion, and pollution from agricultural and sewage run off. Many communities in Rodrigues are dependent on the lagoon, with some 2000 registered fishers attempting to glean a living from the lagoon. More than 900 fishers are estimated to be working in the southern region of the island, where a Marine Protected Area (MPA) has been designated to protect and conserve marine resources, under the project ‘Partnerships for Marine Protected Areas in Mauritius and Rodrigues’ supported by UNDP, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Mauritius and the Rodrigues Regional Assembly.
This project aims at developing collaborative and participatory approaches to manage MPAs in Mauritius and Rodrigues. As demonstration site, the South East Marine Protected Area (SEMPA) of Rodrigues attempts to develop a sense of ownership of the lagoon and the fishery resources within the fisher communities, through involving them in the management of the marine park. As part of this process, there is a need to reduce the human pressure (number of fishers) on the lagoon, while safeguarding and improving the socio-economic conditions in the area.
A socio-economic study has been conducted in 2008 in order to identify baseline data of the SEMPA stakeholders’ attitudes and perceptions towards the project. A Livelihoods Expert is now required to develop a new comprehensive assessment to analyse the socio-economic changes after gazettement of the marine park, identify feasible and sustainable alternative livelihoods as well as measures and to facilitate a participatory action plan. This will smoothen the transition to these new sectors for the community of the SEMPA and find most appropriate ways of protect those fishers and/or workers in other sectors, who will not have access to alternative employment (unemployment-type of benefits, health insurance for them and their families, education for children, etc).
The Livelihood Expert will work together with the Livelihoods Coordinator and will refer to the Project Manager, the National Project Director and work under the guidance of the UNDP Project Officer and the Chief Technical Advisor.
Duties and Responsibilities
Objective of the study
The objective of the study is to provide guidelines to identify and implement income generating activities for the community of the SEMPA. This will contribute to the development of more appropriate and effective SEMPA management strategies based on a better understanding of the conditions of the communities and the possible employment opportunities to reduce the pressure in the lagoon. The assessment and action plan will adopt a gender prospective in order to identify the position of women and men within the SEMPA and the best tools for ensuring the achievement of gender equality. Furthermore, the work will be done under the just transition approach: maximizing green employment and income opportunities and minimizing job losses, by setting and strengthening a social protection framework to cover affected workers. Special attention should be paid to those working in the informal economy.
The Livelihoods Expert together with the Livelihoods Coordinator will undertake a comprehensive Livelihoods assessment of the nine villages involved in the SEMPA, through participatory approach and engagement of all the social actors. The analysiswill be focused on three main aspects:
* Community Livelihoods Assessment in order to better understand women and men socio-economic pressures, economic dependency on the lagoon fishery, skills, livelihoods assets, aspirations, vulnerabilities, incentives and disincentives to comply with the SEMPA regulation and external influences that can affect the community. The assessment will include a mapping of existing private and public institutions relevant to the community and specifically to the fishers. The study will focus as well on micro, small and medium enterprises, paying attentions to those developing their business in the informal economy, in order to assess their relation to the lagoon.
* Livelihoods Implementation Framework in order to identify an enabling environment to encourage communities to sustainably use the natural resources of SEMPA. The Consultants will facilitate stakeholders to identify business options/green jobs opportunities adequate to their needs. The Consultants should involve the Commissions of Rodrigues and identify any other relevant stakeholders from public and private sector (including microfinance institutions, unions, workers’ and employer’s organizations, labour institutions) that can ensure a wide scale impact on the livelihood of the communities and their financial sustainability.
* LivelihoodsAction Plan. Short term and medium/long term interventions will be focused on improving returns from the existing local opportunities and financial schemes, and improving the sustainable use of natural resources in relation to the market structure and to the SEMPA.The analysis should explain clearly the potential as well as any accompanying measures that must be in place to facilitate such integration of the SEMPA fishers affected by the MPA. The study should identify what type of support (human, technical as well as financial) need to be provided and stakeholders that can support such processes.
The assessment and action plan should be holistic and should lead to a local and national consultative process involving all the Commissions of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly concerned. The Consultants should be the facilitators of the national consultative process as well. In full agreement with the local stakeholders, the final output ought to be a road map which should be integrated to the Management Plan of the SEMPA with the aim of enhancing the ability of the Project Management Unit to respond to changes in the marine environment identified through socio economic trends The road map will identify short term and medium/long term sustainable actions (economically, environmentally, socially and culturally) linked to the activities of the SEMPA Management Unit and to the national institutional framework, as identified in the Sustainable Integrated Development Plan for Rodrigues.
Duties
The following list is indicative of the tasks required, not an exhaustive list. The Livelihoods Experts will undertake a number of duties and responsibilities, inter alia
* Undertake a sustainable livelihoods assessment. Conduct interviews and field research to analyse the socio-economic profile of the SEMPA community through a gender based approach.
* Review and identify all the available schemes ongoing with the national and international institutions that can support the implementation of alternative livelihoods programmes for the SEMPA fishing community.
* Outline potential income generating activities within the SEMPA, specifically focused on the fishers.
* Identify livelihood programmes of the various Commissions of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly, e.g. Commission for Agriculture and analyse how the SEMPA residents can be redeployed under such schemes.
* Design and develop a strategy for promoting economically viable and socially and environmentally sustainable livelihoods within the SEMPA. The strategy should seek to ensure the involvement of the Commissions of Rodrigues and establishment of public/private sector partnerships aimed at supporting the income generating activities for the economic development of the SEMPA.
* Elaborate a Sustainable Livelihoods Strategic Plan and identify short-term and long plan of actions.
* Develop solidarity based savings schemes for the community of the SEMPA
* Develop and document a program aimed at promoting the development of small businesses. The program should outline potential partnerships between governmental and private institutions.
* Develop a monitoring scheme to assess the successful implementation of the Livelihoods Action Plan.
* Any other duties that may be assigned.
Deliverables
As indicated above, the Consultant is required to undertake a comprehensive Sustainable Livelihood Study outlining actions that will ensure the development of sustainable employment opportunities within the South East Marine Protected Area. A gender-based approach is required. The study will include:
* Community Livelihoods Assessment
* Livelihoods Implementation Framework
* Livelihoods Action Plan
The structure and content of the report should be agreed with the Project Manager and the UNDP Project Officer. A mid-term draft report and missions report should be provided to the Project Manager and the UNDO Project Officer.
Competencies
Personal Qualities and Attitudes
* Excellent organisation and communications skills
* Positive, enthusiastic and flexible attitude towards work.
* Self-motivated and able to manage personal time.
* Willing to learn and willing to teach others.
* Willing to work as part of a team and with people with diverse backgrounds.
* Willing to collaborate and to build linkages with other groups as needed
Corporate Competencies
* Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
* Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
* Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
* Treats all people fairly without favoritism
* Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
Confidentiality and Ownership
The contractors shall treat as confidential all information which comes into his/her possession as a result of, or in the performance of this contract. Any report, research materials, data or intellectual property produced or obtained by the contractor in the course of this contract shall become and remain the joint property of the Government and UNDP.
Required Skills and Experience
* An Advanced Degree from an accredited institution in: Development Economics, Economics, Management, Socio-Economic Studies, Environmental studies
* At least 5 years of experience on sustainable livelihoods in coastal areas, business, micro-credit schemes, community-based activities, participatory processes for decision taking and implementation at the community level, and gender analysis in Small Islands Developing States (SIDS). Knowledge on social protection measures and employment policies.
* Excellent communication skills in English.
* Knowledge of spoken French and Creole would be an advantage.
* Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity
* Good knowledge of Indian Ocean countries, specifically Mauritius and Rodrigues
* Computer literate (Microsoft: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher) with specific knowledge of databases
Apply Now at https://jobs.undp.org/cj_apply.cfm?job_id=19077