Location: Bonn, Germany
Deadline: Monday, 30 September 2013
Description
A. Background
Article 11 of the Convention stipulates that the affected country parties (hereafter referred to asACP) shall consult and cooperate to prepare, as appropriate in accordance with the relevantregional implementation annexes, subregional and/or regional action programmes (RAP) toharmonize, complement and increase efficiency of national programmes. Such cooperation mayinclude agreed joint programmes 1 for the sustainable management of transboundary resources,scientific and technical cooperation, and strengthening or relevant institutions.
The issue of the development of the RAP for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has been raised byits members shortly after the regional implementation Annex V entered into force in 2001, and hasbeen discussed through series of the subsequent regional meetings (Prague 2001, Rome 2002,Geneva 2003, Minsk 2003, Nairobi 2005). In accordance with decision 6/COP 9 the country Partiesidentified the regional priorities to be reflected in the detailed work programme 2012-2013. Theinitiation of the regional discussion on the objectives of the RAP and the preparation of its firstdraft of RAP have been included into the regional work programme of CEE for 2012-2013.
The decision 3/COP.8, ACP are urged '...to align their action programmes and other relevantimplementation activities relating to the Convention with The Strategy by, inter alia,addressing the outcomes under the five operational objectives'.I
n Decision 3/COP. 10, the COP further calls on the Executive Secretary and the ManagingDirector of the Global Mechanism to strengthen their cooperation at regional level throughensuring the effective implementation of region-specific issues of the joint work programme.
At the meeting of the Regional Chairs of Annex V which took place in 13-14 December 2012 theparticipants further agreed on the creation of the Task Force Group on the RAP development(RAP TFG) and discussed its membership, scope of work and preliminary schedule.
The TFG wasset up by decision of the country Parties of CEE at the regional meeting preparatory to CRIC 11 inBonn, 13-14 April 2013.The RAP TFG is composed of one representative of each identified subregions (Eastern Europe,Southern Caucasus, Balkan region, EU affected and non-affected country Parties, and therepresentative of the scientific community).1Two or more affected country Parties of the region may similarly agree to prepare a joint action programmebetween or among them (Article 5 Annex V of the Convention)Page 2The regional implementation Annex V consists of fifteen ACP. The decision has been taken by theAnnex that the RAP should include not only the ACP but also non-affected country Parties in theway the region will be represented by both developed countries and ACP.
B. Framework of the consultancy
The scope of required consultancy is to assist the RAP TFG and the Secretariat in preparation ofthe document of the RAP CEE based on the agreed methodology through desk top analysis andregional consultation and taking into account the guiding principles of action programmealignment.
C. Tasks of the consultant
Building on the above, the process of preparation of the CEE RAP will be divided into twoconsecutive phases: (i) desk review, stocktaking and the preparation of the first draft CEERegional Action Programme and (ii) regional consultations, development and validation of theRAP2.The present ToR covers the first phase of the preparation process and assigns the followingtasks for the consultant:
(a) Review and analyze the available background documentation on the regional discussion onRAP priorities3 with the view to systematize information, use appropriate data informationand to identify gaps for further consultation and research;
(b) Review and analyze available national action programmes, national reports of the countryParties of the Central and Eastern Europe, and other relevant national policies and sourcesof information in order to identify:
a. common problems of DLDD (land degradation, deforestation, etc.),
b. the main causes and triggers of DLDD in the respective countries, includingidentification of economic sectors and the key users of land and maincontributors to DLDD;
c. barriers to mobilising political support and investment priorities for tacklingDLDD (e.g. weak policies and regulations and/or implementation of these, lackof focus on the problems by public and private decision makers, etc);
d. current and potential sources of funding for sustainable land management andother activities that can tackle DLDD;
e. investment priorities already identified at national and regional level in order tofind commonalities and synergies.
2Implementation of the second phase is planned for 2014. The separate ToR and recruitment process will be doneto accomplish the second phase.3Workshop on Land degradation /Desertification in CEE, Belgium, 2000; Consultative meeting, Czech Republic,2001; Regional meeting in Italy, 2002; Regional meeting in Belarus, 2003; Regional initiative on financialresource mobilization, Czech Republic, 2008
(c) Analyze strengths and weaknesses in the preparation, approval and implementationprocesses of SRAP/RAPs in other regions so that relevant lessons learnt may be used in theCEE RAP process. This will include organising consultations with the RegionalCommittees of Africa, LAC as well as with RCUs of Annex I, II and III and other relevantstakeholders;
(d) Identify and prepare a map of relevant regional agencies active in DLDD issues as well asexisting regional or bilateral agreements related to DLDD issues in order to identifypotential partnerships and resource mobilization possibilities for the RAP implementationand its mainstreaming into relevant agreements already in existence;
(e) Conductpreliminary consultations through appropriate ways and meansquestionnaires, electronic means) in order to obtain necessary information;(e.g.
(f) On the basis of the desk reviews and regional consultations, prepare the first draft of theCEE RAP which will include an initial identification of regional priorities, operationalmodalities, coordination mechanism, required financial resources as well as therecommended procedures to be applied to ensure the RAP's adoption.
D. Deliverables
(a) Stocktaking document presenting the information and analysis requested in section 3, pt.(a-d). This document will be the basis for the CEE RAP;
(b) Draft CEE RAP.E.
Timetable and organization of work
The desk review and the preparation of the first draft of the RAP should start as soon aspossible and the assignment should be completed by the end of December 2013.The consultants will normally work at a home under the supervision of the CEE Programmeofficer and RCF/RCUs coordinator at the UNCCD secretariat. The consultant shall come to theUNCCD Secretariat at the beginning of the assignment for detailed briefing. The consultantwill present and discuss the interim and final results of the analysis to the members of the TFG.
F. Qualification/profile of required expertise
In order to carry out the activities described in these ToR, consultants will need to possess thefollowing set of skills:
- Advanced university degree in environmental sciences, preferably related to landresources management/climate change, or other relevant disciplines such asenvironmental economics and policy;
- Strong analytical and drafting skills;
- Practical experience in the formulation of policy documents in the field of naturalresources management, resources mobilization and partnership building;
- Knowledge of the UNCCD processes and/or DLDD issues;
- At least 5 years of relevant working experience preferably in an internationalorganization dealing with development and environmental issues, and with experiencewith policy and financial issues;
- Fluency in English (knowledge of Russian is an asset).
H.Reference documentation
The consultant should use, among others, the following reference documentations that will be madeavailable by the UNCCD Secretariat:
(a) National reports of the countries of CEE region;
(b) The available national action programme of the countries of CEE region;
(c) The 10-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention(2008–2018);
(d) The minutes of the regional workshops and regional preparatory meetings to COPs andCRICs;
(e) The RAP and TPNs of Africa, Asia and LAC;
(f) Report of Inter-sessional Working Group on implementation of the 10 Years Strategy;
(g) UNCCD Guiding principles of action programme alignment.I.
I. Submission of applications
Applications should be submitted by e-mail to staffing@unccd.int, together with a UNPersonal History Form or CV, specifying the position: Consultancy to assist the countries ofCentral and Eastern Europe in the preparation of Regional Action Programme.
The deadline of applications is 30 September 2013. Only applications submitted by thedeadline will be considered.No telephone calls will be returned. Please address your application as indicated above andplease do not address or copy your application to an individual at the Secretariat.Page 5The Secretariat reserves itself the right to recruit more than one consultant to discharge thepresent terms of reference, according to the speci
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