Sudan: International Consultant for the “Strengthened Protected Areas System and Integrated Ecosystem Management in Sudan” Project

Dec 26, 2021 | United Nations Development Program
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UNDP country programme in Sudan aims to strengthen community resilience and promote inclusive sustainable development aligned with UNDP’s corporate Strategic Plan, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Sudan and the global Sustainable Development Goals. To achieve this, in full accord with Sudan’s national priorities, UNDP has dedicated itself in supporting community stabilization and governance building for peace, promoting environmentally sustainable livelihoods, a peaceful transition from recovery to development while building the nexus between humanitarian and development. UNDP Sudan pays particular attention to the inclusion of vulnerable groups, youth, women and grass roots citizens, with programmes that build multi-stakeholder partnerships; apply innovative development approaches; and fosters creation of new value areas to attain maximum development impact.  Environment and Energy team in UNDP Country Office is focusing on adaptation to climate change, green job creation and equitable access to natural resources in rural areas as well as promoting inclusive, gender-sensitive policies for clean energy and increase access to renewable energy across the country.

Recently, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) approved a Protected Area Project for Sudan with the aim “to strengthen the national protected area (PA) system and promote integrated ecosystem management in adjacent areas so as to reduce threats to biodiversity, mitigate land degradation, sustain ecosystem services, and improve people’s livelihoods”. The project comprises four components and these are Component 1: An enabling environment established at the national level for expanded PA management; Component 2: Improved management effectiveness at selected terrestrial and marine PA; Component 3 Integrated Natural Resource Management in multi-use landscapes in and around targeted PAs; and Component 4: Knowledge Management, Gender Mainstreaming, and M&E.

The approved project will take a comprehensive landscape approach to address the multi-faceted nature of land degradation and impacts on natural resources by attempting to secure Sudan’s protected area system and ecosystems, focusing in particular on key sites of ecological and economic importance and investing in supporting effective community-level engagement in and around protected areas and buffer zones, across key ecological systems.

Context of the Assignment

The international consultant will be responsible for providing technical backstopping to the project and focus on supporting Wildlife Conservation General Administration (WCGA) in leading the implementation of Components 1 and 2 (see above) as well as the international consultant will render technical support to the Project Manager (PM), staff and other government counterparts. The international consultant will coordinate the provision of the required technical inputs, reviewing and preparing Terms of Reference and reviewing the outputs of consultants and other sub-contractors. In addition, the consultant will report to the Project Board Chairperson (in conjunction with the PM) in consultation with the Director General of HCENR and to the UNDP.

To fulfill this objective, UNDP is seeking the services of highly experienced consultant for the Protected Area Management Project under a long-term service agreement for a period of four years.

Duties and Responsibilities

The international consultant will be responsible for completing the assigned tasks over an agreed period in consultation with Quality Assurance Officer and the Team Leader of Environment and Energy. Generally, the following tasks will comprise for the assignment:

  • Provide technical assistance on project planning and preparation stage focusing on year 1;
  • Provide technical assistance on project implementation stage focusing on year 2 and 3;
  • Provide technical assistance before termination of the project stage focusing on year 4.

Expected Activities:

The nature of activities is complex and specifically, focusing on quality control of the project activities and to provide technical assistance on Project Management Unit and concern stakeholders, including Wildlife Conservation and General Administration Department. Three key activities are as follow:

  • Year 1: Technical assistance on the project planning and preparation stage (prepare technical and management documents; Terms of reference for consultants,  prepare and finalize Memoranda of Understanding with stakeholders, provide technical support and guidance to the two NGOs, peer review of the documents/technical assessment reports i.e. Social and Environmental Standard reports prepared by national and international consultants; ensure strong coordination among stakeholders; quality control on Project activities and budget implementation and Reporting. 
  • Year 2 and 3: Technical assistance on the project implementation stage (prepare technical documents; prepared ToRs for national, international consultants and sub-contractors; peer review of the documents/technical assessment reports; chair in technical committee meetings; develop training programme  for the concern stakeholders; ensure strong coordination and effective synergy among stakeholders;  support timely and satisfactorily delivery of expected outputs;  technical guidance for the effective biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management;  technical support for the  Project Management Unit; technical assistance on site activities and monitoring;  initiate and manage Mid Term Review and ensure implementation of its recommendation.; play leading role in ensuring gender mainstreaming and attaining gender markers for all outputs as well as on  Project Reporting. Support the project on communication and documentation of best practices.
  • Year 4: Technical assistance before termination of the project stage (prepare a communication plan; assist impact assessment report; document lesson learnt report; take lead on the initiation and quality assurance of the Terminal Evaluation (TOR, Section of consultants, review of the report); quality control on Project Reporting, including preparation of the Project’s Final Report).

The deliverable should be submitted in soft copy via e-mail to the Quality Assurance Officer and Team Leader of the Sudan UNDP Energy and Environment Unit.

Competencies

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;
  • Ability to work with a multi-cultural and diverse team.

Functional Competencies:

  • Demonstrated experience in technical issues related to biodiversity conservation and land management
  • Ability to analyze large amounts of complex and diversified data related to biodiversity conservation and land management in least developed countries.
  • Demonstrated strong coordination and facilitation skills;
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to initiate discussions about biodiversity conservation and land management

Required Skills and Experience

Qualification

  • University education (at least M.Sc.) with expertise in the area of Natural Resources Management, Conservation of Biology, Conservation or Protected Areas Management, Environmental Sciences, or related fields of expertise or alternatively a relevant law enforcement background.

Experience

  • At least 12 years of professional experience, of which at least eight are at international level;
  • Previous experience relating to work on biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management is essential, with a strong track record of on the ground practical work in law enforcement;
  • Strong skills in monitoring and evaluation and experience in implementing environmental projects;
  • Previous experience with GEF projects is an added plus;
  • Ability to effectively coordinate a large, multidisciplinary team of experts and consultants;
  • Be an effective negotiator with excellent oral and presentation skills;
  • Excellent communication and writing skills in English.