Location : Belgrade, SERBIA
Application Deadline : 21-Oct-10
Type of Contract : SSA
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required : English
Starting Date :(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 10-Nov-2010
Duration of Initial Contract : 10 November 2010 - 30 September 2012 (output based consultancy)
Purpose
The purpose of this Terms of Reference is to recruit a qualified expert consultant in the field of protected areas financing and business planning who will contribute substantively to the UNDP GEF project “Ensuring financial sustainability of the protected area system of Serbia”.
Objective
The objective of the consultancy is to assess regulations and by-laws to support increased cost effectiveness of PA management and financing and to prepare the Protected Areas Financing Plan for Serbia and other reports as listed in the Description of Responsibilities section.
Background Information
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), acting as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is providing assistance to the Republic of Serbia Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP) in implementation of the GEF Medium Size Project (MSP).
Serbia has recently started to reinforce its biodiversity conservation framework and is seeking to develop better ecological representation and a sustainably funded PA system. In total, there are 464 protected areas covering 5,86% of Serbia’s area. In order to improve the financial sustainability of protected area system, UNDP Serbia and the MESP developed a project – “Ensuring financial sustainability of the protected area system of Serbia”. The project will address problems through the following three components: Component 1. Enabling legal and policy environment for improved PA financial sustainability; Component 2. Increasing revenue-streams for the PA system; and Component 3. Institutional and individual capacity of PA institutions to raise PA management cost-effectiveness. The first component will provide the legal and policy groundwork for long-term gains in the sustainability of the PA system as well as produce a Protected Areas Financing Plan (PAFP) that will integrate the results of the entire project in a key guidance document. The second component is focused on expanding potential revenue streams from activities compatible with the conservation goals of the protected areas network to provide clear pilot projects that show financial sustainability is feasible without commercial logging activities. The third component builds on the various pilots and policy work to increase institutional capacity for cost-effective management and financial sustainability. The key activity of the third component is the development of a business planning process for the PAs of Serbia with 21 pilot sites[1] included and the capacity to extend the process to all PAs of Serbia that require strategic planning. Together these activities and outcomes will greatly increase the financial sustainability and cost-effectiveness of Serbia’s protected areas. included and the capacity to extend the process to all PAs of Serbia that require strategic planning. Together these activities and outcomes will greatly increase the financial sustainability and cost-effectiveness of Serbia’s protected areas.
[1] Five National Parks, four Nature Parks (including one that is also aBiosphere Reserve), eight Special Nature Reserves (including one that is also aRamsar site), one Monument of Nature and three Landscapes of Extraordinary Characteristics
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of work
Under the supervision and guidance of UNDP Portfolio Manager the expert will oversee and lead the following outputs, closely working with the national project team:
* Guide the analysis and elaboration and initial implementation of the Protected Areas Financing Plan for Serbia;
* Provide direction and oversight to improvements in PA legal and policy issues as they relate to sustainable financing;
* Lead the development of functional review for one pilot area/national park;
* Design overall strategy for external fundraising and provide ongoing support to the Environment Fund as they develop improved methods for fundraising and investing in PAs;
* Lead the design and implementation of the business planning process for 21 protected areas;
* Design and oversee training programs on PA cost effectiveness and improvements to financial and results based reporting.
Specific responsibilities include:
* Develop a work plan and detailed list of data needed from national consultants
* Provide guidance and inputs to the work of national experts to be hired under this project in order to: achieve the specific objectives of the consultancy, participate in policy dialogue and consultations with key stakeholders during the in-country missions, propose legal and institutional measures to reach the objectives of the project, develop international relationships and exchange ideas on these topics;
* Review legal and policy issues of PA system in Serbia, current and historical financing of PAs, projected financing needs and investment priorities, financing gaps, strategies and new financing opportunities, cost cutting mechanisms;
* Review, together with the national team, the current structure of forestry organizations managing PA and suggest legal and policy changes in order to increase the focus of protected areas management on clearly stated conservation objectives; develop functional review with proposed changes in one pilot PA;
* Suggest new management approaches – such as private sector management, to be expanded through adaptation of existing legislation and the creation of specific bylaws that will increase the financial viability of non-consumptive uses of the protected areas (especially nature based tourism) as a means of improved financial sustainability;
* Work together with the national team on development of accounting system that will complement the business planning process and the cost effectiveness analyses to determine specific financing needs for the 21 pilot PAs and provide guidelines for the remaining key PAs in the country; develop and establish a shared analytical accounting system that is capable of tracking expenditures relative to specific PA management activities and impacts;
* Assess potential funding sources including various multilateral and unilateral donors, innovative financing mechanisms, Foundations, EU pre-accession funding options as well as options for site-level revenue generation;
* Develop macro-level fund raising strategy and prepare training for fund-raising;
* Guide a business planning process for 21 PAs in Serbia following the best practices that are currently being used internationally. The plans will include different financing scenarios: 1) historical financing levels 2) adequately funding to achieve the protected areas’ basic objectives, and 3) the ideal financing scenario that includes all of the investments identified as well as concrete steps towards long term sustainable financing of the PA.
* Design series of trainings covering specific topics aimed at improving the technical and financial management of the protected areas. Topics identified for training programs include: (1) PA management and business plan preparation and reporting; (2) biodiversity conservation techniques; and (3) revenue generation opportunities and mechanisms.
The consultant will work in close cooperation with the National Protected Areas Coordinator and the responsible authorities from the MESP, PA Mangers, Institute of Nature Conservation (both Republic and Provincial), Environmental Protection Fund and other relevant stakeholders, as required, and will strive to create conditions conducive to strengthening the national ownership of the project.
Deliverables and timelines
The consultant is responsible for the following deliverables:
Output 1: Detailed Workplan, deadline for delivery: 2 weeks after signing the contract;
Output 2: Protected Areas Financing Plan for Serbia, deadline for delivery: first draft 3 months after signing the contract, final report 1 month upon receiving comments from national countreparts;
Output 3: Report describing improvements in PA legal and policy issues, deadline for delivery: first draft 4 months after signing the contract, final report 1 month upon receiving comments from national countreparts;
Output 4: National Park Functional Review, deadline for delivery: first draft 2 months after signing the contract, final report 1 month upon receiving comments from national countreparts;
Output 5: Macro-level Fundraising Strategy, deadline for delivery: first draft 6 months after signing the contract, final report 1 month upon receiving comments from national countreparts;
Output 6: Business plans for pilot sites, deadline for delivery: first draft 9 months after signing the contract, final drafts 3 months upon receiving comments from national counterparts;
Output 7: Workshops on PA management and business plan preparation and reporting, deadline for delivery: between 12-24 months after signing the contract.
The reports provided by the consultant will be reviewed and approved by UNDP Portfolio Manager in consultation with the Government counterparts for quality and validity.
Three in-country missions are also envisaged under this consultancy and the dates will be set at a later stage together with UNDP country office and the project team.The consultant will provide mission and final project reports in English.
Competencies
* The consultant must have a strong background in financing of conservation work, especially in the protected areas;
* The consultant must have experience with GEF environmental programme design and implementation;
* Fluency in English with excellent writing, presentation and communication skills;
* Excellent analytical and inter-personal skills;
* It is desirable that the consultant would have had some previous experience or be familiar with the Serbian protected areas legislative and administrative framework.
Required Skills and Experience
* An advanced university degree in the field of environmental economics, biodiversity conservation and environmental protection, natural resource management or other relevant education;
* At least 10 years of experience in protected area management planning and 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 with GEF Projects under Biodiversity Focal Area.
Application Procedure:
The following are steps for on-line application:
* Submit the application through the UNDP Serbia Jobs website: http://www.undp.org.rs/?event=public.jobs
* Upload completed and signed P11 formin the required resume field. The P11 form can be downloaded from: http://www.undp.org.rs/download/P11_SC_SSA.doc) ) in the required resume field.
* The short-listed candidates only would be requested to submit a letter of interest including a price quotation indicating the lump sum (in USD[1]) requested for the work and travel envisaged in the section "Duties and Responsibilities". ) requested for the work and travel envisaged in the section "Duties and Responsibilities".
Additional Information:
* Special Service Agreement (SSA) will be applicable for individual consultants applying in their own capacity. If the applicant is employed by any legal entity, SSA would be issued upon submission of Consent letter from the employer acknowledging the engagement with UNDP. Template of SSA with General Terms and Conditions could be found on: http://www.undp.org.rs/download/SSA_Contract%20with%20General%20Terms%20and%20Conditions.doc
* Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) will be applicable for applicants employed by any legal entity that cannot provide Consent letter from employer for engagement with UNDP. Template of RLA with General Terms and Conditions could be found on: http://www.undp.org.rs/download/RLA%20with%20General%20Terms%20and%20Conditions.doc..
* In the case of engagement of Civil servants under SSA contract modality a Letter of release and unpaid leave by the Government entity is required.
Apply at https://jobs.undp.org/cj_apply.cfm?job_id=19436