Environmental Peacebuilding Association

Mali: Consultant, National Expert Specializing in Soil Degradation

Mar 7, 2021 | UNDP
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The Mopti region has attracted considerable attention in recent years from government and international actors engaged in the development and stability of the country. Since 2015, this region has become a hotbed of insecurity where the jihadist threat, military operations, inter-community violence and conflicts between herders and farmers converge. As the State does not demonstrate effective authority and does not exercise a monopoly of force in this region, chronic insecurity reigns there and compromises the prospects for peace, socio-economic development and respect for the Rule of law. Violence between pastoralist and farming communities in the Mopti region is mainly due to competition for land and water resources. Land is needed to maintain economic livelihoods amid climate change, changing demographics, outside ideological influences, an ongoing jihadist insurgency, and political manipulation by local elites. Rising tensions between farmers and pastoralists exacerbate a fragile security environment in central Mali.

It is urgent to articulate immediate recovery interventions and long-term sustainable development in accordance with the Strategic Framework for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Development (CREDD 2019-2023) of the Government of Mali for the sustainable management of natural resources, the strengthening of the resilience of communities and vulnerable groups, the consolidation of peace and social cohesion to cope with external shocks.

Faced with land degradation and the negative impacts of climate change on the ecosystem, conflicts in the Mopti region are aggravated by competition for natural resources between farmers and pastoralists, weak governance, the fragility of the State, inequality and widespread insecurity with the emergence of militias.

Historically, in the Mopti region, conflicts between farmers and pastoralists are traditionally resolved by local customary mechanisms and traditional agreements (Djowro) for the management of pastures (bourgouttières) and agricultural land. Increasingly, however, the system for regulating access to pasture has collapsed or traditional authorities are restricting access. There is currently an acute competition between groups of pastoralists and between pastoralists, rice farmers and fishermen. As pastoralism conditions have deteriorated in the surrounding areas (on the plateaus and in the dry areas of the Seeno, Gurma and Mema rivers), pastoralists are now more numerous to move to the interior delta during the dry season which cannot no longer bear it.

In order to reverse the degradation of natural resources, the deterioration of traditional management mechanisms and to mitigate the effects of climate change, inter-community conflicts and violent extremism, the government of Mali, with the help of its partners, the UNDP and the GEF, propose to develop a project on the sustainable management of natural resources (land, water, fish, pastures), reconstruction and strengthening of livelihoods for the consolidation of peace and social cohesion.

It is within this framework (PPG), the UNDP is looking for a national consultant (NC) to assist an international consultant (IC) in supporting the Government of Mali to prepare a project document (ProDoc) in order to access funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), through UNDP.

Main objectives of the mission:

The objective for the specialist is to support the team of international and national consultants to integrate an analysis of land uses and their impacts on crops, agroforestry, pastures and resources. water in areas targeted in the preparation of the project document “Climate security and sustainable management of natural resources in central regions of Mali for the consolidation of peace”.

Duties and Responsibilities

Description of responsibilities / Scope of work:

The national expert on land degradation and sustainable development will provide expert advice on establishing the baseline and designing project activities to promote sustainable land planning and management in the Mopti region. while generating benefits for the local population, in particular through access to pasture and water. He / she will be responsible for establishing a framework for monitoring and evaluating the impacts of the project in terms of land restoration (including improving production capacity) and will make a major contribution to the technical components of the project. project design. He / she will have a good knowledge of land use and their interactions with natural environment and local communities in the target area and will have a thorough understanding of the biodiversity and ecosystem processes affected by land use. The consultant will be an ecosystem and biodiversity specialist with an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of land uses and their impacts on crops, agroforestry, pastures and water resources in Mali. He / she will work under the direction of the PPG team leader and in collaboration with national consultants. The consultant will be an ecosystem and biodiversity specialist with an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of land uses and their impacts on crops, agroforestry, pastures and water resources in Mali. He / she will work under the direction of the PPG team leader and in collaboration with national consultants. The consultant will be an ecosystem and biodiversity specialist with an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of land uses and their impacts on crops, agroforestry, pastures and water resources in Mali. He / she will work under the direction of the PPG team leader and in collaboration with national consultants.

Deliverables:

Inception report with methodology and updated timeline 30% 5 days
Report of preparatory studies and technical examinations 50% 40 days
Report on relevant contributions to the project document and annexes 20% 10 days
Total: 100% 55 days

The following list enumerates the general responsibilities and the services which will be expected of the consultant.

Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews: Prepare inputs and support required analyzes / studies as agreed with the GEF PPG Team Leader, including

Prepare inputs for the baseline / situation analysis on the current situation and dynamics of land degradation and productivity in the project target area, including its biodiversity and ecosystem processes and services, and how it is influenced by current land use dynamics, natural resource laws, land policies, gender equality and conflict;
Identify and engage with key partners involved in Land Degradation Neutrality (Land Degradation Neutrality). Publicize the project and their participation in activities, including capacity building;
Analyze results and lessons learned from previous GEF and other donor projects in the country and the Central African region with respect to land restoration and governance, planning and management of use land and convert it into project design inputs;
Identify and evaluate initiatives, plans and practices (including informal) at the community level in terms of grazing and farmland, access to pasture and water, timing and regulated migration, resource management natural resources, assisted natural regeneration, sustainable land and water management, also taking into account gender equality and the context of conflict. This will include the assessment of existing community committees that support natural resource management and other community groups (i.e. farmer groups).
Identify the appropriate indicators and targets of the results framework related to land restoration for the respective outputs and outcomes; collect baseline data for relevant indicators; choose the means of measurement; and define the objectives, the main risks and the assumptions linked to these indicators;
Assess opportunities and priorities to strengthen governance, planning and land use management for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development goals in the target area and help deliver innovations in the private sector.
Assess institutional capacities and weaknesses with respect to the implementation of proposed activities and policies to improve land use planning and management. This will include the assessment of capacities in a conflict context and the potential for coordination and partnership between central, regional and local institutions.

Contributions to the formulation of the ProDoc, the “CEO Endorsement” document and the mandatory and specific appendices to the project:

Provide quality text sections relevant to the ProDoc on the above mentioned aspects.
Provide technical inputs from a land management perspective and support the development of final documents, as agreed with the PPG team leader.

Validation workshop:

Participate and technically contribute to the validation workshop;
Support any necessary post-workshop revisions, if applicable.

Monitoring / reporting requirements

The national consultant:

will work with a team of international and national consultants and under the guidance of the international consultant - PPG team leader
Engage regularly with Supervisor, other team members and UNDP Country Office via email and Zoom / Teams / Skype as needed
is bound by the duties of neutrality, confidentiality and reserve implied by his position as a consultant to UNDP.
The deliverables will be approved by UNDP Mali.

Travel cost:

All contemplated travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to the duty station / repatriation trips. In general, UNDP should not accept higher travel costs than an economy class ticket. If the IC wishes to travel in a higher class, it must do so using its own resources.

In the event of unforeseen travel, payment of travel costs, including tickets, accommodation and terminal fees, must be agreed between the relevant business unit and the individual consultant prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Planned travel locations (if applicable): Bamako, Mopti and Ségou
Assignment Start Date: March 15, 2020
Duration of the assignment / or end date (if applicable): 55 days until October 2021

Competencies

The national consultant must demonstrate proven capacities in terms of facilitation, teamwork and great adaptability. He will also have to:

Demonstrates integrity by shaping the values and ethical standards of the United Nations;
Promote the vision, mission and strategic objectives of UNDP;
Demonstrates sensitivity and adaptability in matters of culture, gender, religion, race, nationality and age;
Treat all people fairly without favoritism;
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision as well as to work collaboratively with a team;
Ability to respond to customer requests constructively;
Excellent proposal writing skills;
Have a spirit of initiative;
Be open and have a great listening capacity;
Have the ability to work in a team and in a multicultural environment;
Development and operational efficiency;
Ability to support the identification, formulation, implementation of development programs and projects;
Ability to communicate with government departments and civil society, local authorities and other actors in the field;
Excellent writing, synthesis and communication skills;

Required Skills and Experience

Training:

Masters or higher degree in a relevant field, such as agronomy, agriculture and animal husbandry, natural resource management, water and forest management and the like

Languages:

Fluency in fluent French is essential as well as excellent writing, synthesis and communication skills

Professional experience :

At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in the fields of land degradation and restoration, community management of natural resources, water and forest management, agriculture and animal husbandry and the like
Experience in developing, monitoring and evaluating projects in targeted areas
In-depth knowledge and past experience in Mali and the Mopti region or conflict zones are required;
Experience working with local authorities, civil society, and other actors is required.

Mali: Consultant, National Expert Specializing in Soil Degradation

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