Location : Sana'a & Home-Based, YEMEN
Application Deadline : 27-Nov-13
Additional Category Environment and Energy
Type of Contract : Individual Contract
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages Required : English
Duration of Initial Contract : 4 weeks
Background
This project is part of the second generation of Biodiversity Enabling Activities (BD EA) under the GEF. Yemen has been Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) since 1996. The project addresses the country's need to continue to fulfill its obligations under the CBD, with particular focus on the Convention's Article 6 and the CBD COP Decision X/2. Above all, the project is a significant contribution to Yemen's efforts towards implementing the CBD Strategic Plan 2011-2020 at the national level. The project builds on the current status and achievements of Yemen with respect to biodiversity planning and reporting. It aims to integrate Yemen's obligations under the CBD into its national development and sectoral planning frameworks through a renewed and participative ‘biodiversity planning' and strategizing process. This process is expected to produce measurable targets for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. It will equally ensure that the value of ecosystems' goods and services, as well as the challenges and opportunities for ecosystem-based adaptation and resilience are taken into consideration in the process. The project will achieve its objective through the implementation of three components, whose activities are thoroughly described in the GEF approved proposal for BD EA. They are:
- A participative stocktaking exercise on biodiversity planning takes place and national biodiversity targets are developed in response to the global Aichi Targets;
- The NBSAP is revised/ updated and it fully integrates new aspects of the CBD strategic plan, such as mainstreaming and anchoring the implementation of the plan into national development frameworks, valuing ecosystem services and promoting ecosystem-based adaptation and resilience;
- National frameworks for resource mobilization, Convention reporting and exchange mechanisms are strengthened.
As a part of updating Yemen's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), it is planned to conduct Study on Ecosystem Valuation in Yemen with aim to integrate ecosystem services into National planning & Accounting. The study on the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity is further to demonstrate the benefits and values of ecosystems and biodiversity at a national level, and better mainstream ecosystem services in sectorial and national planning. The assessment will be completed through an international specialist supported by national peer specialist consultant. Hard economic data will be collected and processed at the country level with aim to demonstrate the costs and benefits of investing in biodiversity management. The availability of essential data and the analysis will allow us to 'make the case' for biodiversity and will and hence facilitate the process of mainstreaming biodiversity into sectoral planning. Information to be gathered from the biodiversity economics assessment, together with other technical assessments will provide background information which in turn will form the basis for outlining potential measures and series of programmes, projects and activities for biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and equitable benefit-sharing. The aim also is to identify source of NBSAP funding.
Duties & responsibilities:
- The consultant will be responsible for carrying out his tasks in two parts respectively dealing with:
- Assessing and integrating ecosystem services through economic valuation; and
- Incorporating climate change issues into NBSAPs so as to include plans addressing ecosystem resilience; adaptation to climate change; and mitigation of climate change;
The tasks foreseen will be carried in close collaboration with two national counterparts. Key tasks of the international consultant are to:
- Propose data needs for national consultant related to spatial and temporal data biodiversity and economic information to be collected for the assessment;
- Identify and assess the full range of values of key ecosystem services within Yemen, based on existing local, national, regional and global studies on the value of ecosystems and biodiversity, including: the national TEEB valuation results (if any), the valuation of protected areas, any other national ecosystem services studies that have been conducted (e.g. water, carbon), and existing global and regional maps and overlays of key ecosystem services;
- Assess the structure and composition of the economy, including major economic activities, macroeconomic and sectoral strategies and policies in relation to biodiversity and ecosystem impacts;
- Investigate the impact of economic activities and policies on national biodiversity;
- Identify the implications of these services for different stakeholder groups within the country, including those who benefit from, and pay for, the maintenance of these ecosystem services, and those that degrade ecosystems through unsustainable use;
- Estimate and demonstrate the value of key ecosystem services (using methods appropriate to each service), including the value of the ecosystem service in contributing to climate resilience, adaptation and mitigation; reducing poverty, and sustaining livelihoods;
- Where appropriate, this activity will also identify potential means of capturing the value of targeted ecosystem services including through policies such as payments for ecosystem services and other positive incentives;
- Identifying key beneficiaries stakeholders' interests, and desired outcomes and hence identify potential conflicts and trade-offs, and work towards mutually acceptable solutions, including strategies that serve mutually beneficial interests and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes;
- Propose measure for embedding and institutionalizing these strategies in the institutions, policies, agreements, programs and mechanisms of each sector;
- Identify priority Biodiversity investment needs and opportunities based on the NBSAP;
- Identify and value the costs associated with biodiversity loss for major sectors and analyse their distribution
- Assessing the impact of climate change on the functioning of ecosystem services, and hence the delivery of its services such as water; forest and woodland products, fishery and crop products, among others, including the delivery of Natural services;
- Identify areas important for improving nature's ability to adapt to climate change, such as altitudinal gradients and conservation corridors;
- identify, protect and appropriately manage areas important for carbon sequestration;
- Identify future needs for economic data, analysis and assessment of biodiversity;
- Prepare NBSAP Integrated Financing Action Plan summarising concrete activities required to mobilise BD finance for the 10-year period of the implementation of the NBSAP.
Duties and Responsibilities
Specific deliverables is:
Report on Ecosystem Services Valuation in Yemen, which also includes options for incorporation of climate change issues into new NBSAP with specific focus on ecosystem-Based Adaptation, mitigation and resilience. The report should cover the following topics:
- Economic structure and composition Supported by adequate biodiversity economics base data;
- Clear picture on Direct and underlying economic causes of biodiversity loss;
- Economic and policy impacts on biodiversity;
- Overview of biodiversity economic benefits, including direct & indirect;
- The economic cost of biodiversity;
- Impact Assessment of Biodiversity loss, highlighting the impact on ecosystems vitality and delivery of ecosystem services combined with the subsequent impact on human well-being . The assessment should identify needs to address total impact of biodiversity loss.
Recommendations on economic measures for inclusion into NBSAP. This minimally should covers the following:
- Tools and measures for integrating the value of biodiversity into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies, sectoral plans and national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems;
- Policy options and measures for incorporating incentives and removing harmful subsidies;
- Measures for developing landscapes that have sustainable production and consumption and ensure the use of natural resources falls well within safe ecological limits;
- Measures for fully implementing the Programme of Work on Protected Areas, including increased protection and landscape/seascape connectivity ;
- Proposed policy measures for restoring and safeguarding Yemen ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being;
- Measures for strengthening ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks, including the restoration of at least 15 per cent of degraded ecosystems;
- Measures for the mobilization of financial resources for effectively implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 from all sources.
Lessons learned from the previous NBSAP.
Contribution to the following deliverables:
- Second National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Yemen;
- Set of ‘straight-forward' and feasible NBSAP implementation plans, which ensure the effective implementation of the Action Plan, contained in the NBSAP – in particular, the one on finance.
Deliverables for 4 weeks task:
- Data collections and meeting with stakeholders;
- Study on Ecosystem Services Valuation in Yemen, which also includes options for incorporation of climate change issues into new NBSAP with specific focus on ecosystem-Based Adaptation, mitigation and resilience.
Competencies
Functional Competencies:
- Adequate knowledge in international conventions;
- Adequate knowledge in of the relevant UN Convention, the existing NBSAP and environmental issues in Yemen are essential;
- Be a strong team player, able to work independently and possessing excellent interpersonal skills;
- Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills.
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;
- Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- MSc. degree or higher in environmental economy, agricultural economy or related field.
Experience:
- Minimum 5 years experience in economic valuation, particularly in ecosystems, and biodiversity evaluation;
- Demonstrated experience working in international projects.
Language Requirements:
- Fluent in spoken and written English.
Evaluation Criteria:
- The award will be based on the Combined Scoring method (highest ranked candidate).
Ranking will be based on the combined results of the conducted desk review on requested qualifications, interview and financial offer. Only financial offers of candidates who are invited on an interview will be taken into consideration for evaluation. The technical proposal will account for the 70% of the final score, while financial offer will account for 30% of the final score.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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