Ecuador: Project Associate in Negotiation and Conflict Management

Apr 17, 2022 | UNDP
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The United Nations Development Programme is a United Nations organization tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development.

Ecuador is one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world, it houses between 5% and 10% of the biodiversity of the entire planet, a third of its territory constitutes protected areas, while 51% is covered by native forest. These ecosystems provide food, medicine and raw materials; They regulate the water cycle, the climate and prevent disasters such as floods, landslides and the proliferation of various pests, among other multiple benefits. Forests are also home to indigenous communities, peoples and nationalities that have ancestrally fulfilled a role of care and conservation of forest remnants in the territories they inhabit. Additionally, in Ecuador there are 8% of the species of mammals, 10% of amphibians, 18% of birds and 18% of orchids worldwide, besides being the country with the greatest biodiversity per square meter in Latin America. Regarding the Amazonian lowlands, it is worth mentioning that the Amazonian Special Territorial Circumscription (CTEA) houses the largest number of herpetofauna species in the country, 4,857 (28%) of which 235 are endemic, the CTEA has more than 5,000 species of vascular plants.



The Ministry of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE) is the National Environmental Authority, the governing body for the management of climate change and biodiversity in the country. It is responsible for the design and implementation of policies for mitigation and adaptation to climate change, as well as the sustainable management of forests and the reduction of the rate of deforestation in the country.


For its part, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) is the governing institution that regulates, regulates, facilitates, controls, and evaluates the management of agricultural and livestock production in the country; promoting actions that allow rural development and foster the sustainable growth of production and productivity in the sector, promoting the development of producers, particularly represented by peasant family agriculture, maintaining the incentive for productive activities in general. The Ecuadorian Agricultural Policy – ​​Towards sustainable rural territorial development 2015-2025, focuses on poverty reduction and the repositioning of small and medium producers, cultural diversity, gender differences, environmental sustainability, the organization of producers, the quality of their products and the articulation of actors in the territory. This Policy proposes a change in the agricultural model guided by a sustainable use of land, water.

It is in this context, and in accordance with the national priorities established in the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador; the National Development Plan 2017-2021; REDD+ Action Plan: Forests for Good Living 2016-2025; the Ecuadorian Agricultural Policy – ​​Towards sustainable rural territorial development 2015 -2025; the National Biodiversity Strategy (ENB) of Ecuador and its Action Plan 2016 – 2030; The National Restoration Plan; the National Program of Incentives for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Natural Heritage; and, the National Action Plan for Green Exports; MAATE and MAG receive financial assistance from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the Project “ Integrated management of multiple-use landscapes of high conservation value for the sustainable development of the Ecuadorian Amazon Region ” (A) , and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for the projects “ Promotion of Financial Instruments and land use planning to reduce emissions from deforestation ” (B) and Payment for Results (C) which together -and potentially other additional programs- constitute the “Comprehensive Amazon Forest Conservation and Sustainable Production Program” (PROAmazonía) that addresses the relationship between forests and sustainable agricultural production, according to the Implementation Units mentioned below:

  1. Policies and institutions;
  2. Transition to sustainable production systems;
  3. Sustainable Forest Management, Conservation and Restoration; and,
  4. Operation of REDD+ and Financing.

The Program seeks to link national efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the priority agendas of the country and the policies of the productive sectors to reduce the causes and agents of deforestation, as well as promote sustainable and integrated management of resources . natural. that promotes poverty reduction and sustainable human development. 



This national work will be framed in the REDD+ Action Plan of Ecuador; Forests for Good Living 2016-2025, which seeks to achieve the following objectives:

  • Support the articulation of intersectoral and governmental policies and mainstream climate change and REDD+ in national public policies, and in the main territorial planning instruments at the level of the Decentralized Autonomous Governments (GAD) and of communities, peoples and nationalities;
  • Support the transition towards sustainable and deforestation-free production systems;
  • Improve sustainable forest management (MFS), as well as the use of non-timber forest products (NTFP), within the framework of bio-enterprises prioritized by the Ministry of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE);
  • Contribute to the sustainability of initiatives that seek the conservation and regeneration of forest cover within the framework of the goals established in the National Development Plan and other relevant national policies and programs, including those related to forest restoration.

This approach recognizes that deforestation and forest degradation are intrinsically related to the development model adopted by the country. In this sense, the transformation of the productive matrix and the change in the energy matrix, together with reforestation and biodiversity conservation, are central elements for achieving the objectives of the REDD+ Action Plan in the country.



With this background, MAG and MAATE, as Implementing Partners of the PROAmazonía Program in Ecuador, with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as implementing agency of the GEF and accredited agency before the GCF, require the hiring of a Project Associate in Negotiation and Conflict Management for the execution of the activities described in the three approved Project Documents (ProDoc). For reference see ProDocs on the UNDP website:

Functions and responsibilities

Technical activities

  • Develop and identify an intervention strategy (which includes identifying the scope and solution alternatives and other sub-activities) for conflict management within the framework of the Program, and ensure its validation with MAATE - MAG and other key actors, said strategy must be linked as a cross-cutting and permanent issue throughout the land tenure adjudication and regularization process, as well as in land use and management processes;
  • Carry out social, environmental, legal analyses, socio-historical studies and conflict analysis, based on the self-determination of ancestry and interculturality ;
  • Prepare technical reports of the inspections carried out and agreements with possible affected by restrictions on land use and application of PUGS; as well as analyze reports of social participation and formal instruments for management, prevention and resolution of conflicts for files ;
  • Support the development of a baseline and information system on land use within six protected areas and eight protective forests, including land rights, supports the regularization of land tenure in at least one of those areas;
  • Prepare a roadmap and work schedule with the actors involved in the areas of intervention of the project;
  • Support the development of Comprehensive Management Plans in accordance with current land allocation regulations, taking into account the project's approaches (sustainable development, gender, interculturality and participation);

Assistance activities

  • Support the preparation and development of training workshops aimed at indigenous communities and/or nationalities, in the areas of intervention of the project.
  • Collaborate with the implementation of the gender action plan and the social and environmental management plan, its monitoring and the preparation of annual progress reports.
  • Carry out all the additional activities required by PROAmazonía, MAG, MAATE, and that are related to the position and object of the contract.

Coordination and supervision

  • The Project Associate in Negotiation and Conflict Management will be under the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the Policies and Institutions Unit of the Comprehensive Amazon Program.

Skills
 

Organizational competencies


LEVEL 1:

  • achieve results
    • Plans and monitors their work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work within the established deadline.
  • think outside the box
    • Open to creative ideas. Solves problems pragmatically and with continuous improvement.
  • learn continuously
    • Open-minded and curious, share knowledge, learn from mistakes, ask for feedback.
  • Adapt with agility
    • Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity and uncertainty, shows flexibility.
  • act with determination
    • Shows interest and motivation, is able to perform calmly in situations under pressure, shows self-confidence.
  • behave and associate
    • Shows compassion and understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
  • Facilitate diversity and inclusion
    • Values ​​and respects differences, is aware of unconscious prejudices and confronts discrimination.

Cross-functional and technical skills

  • LEGAL — LEGAL ANALYSIS SKILLS :  The ability to digest a large amount of information and facts to structure and understand a situation, apply the legal framework to the specific facts and present them in a coherent and complete analysis of the situation presented, thus facilitating legal advice practical and relevant. This skill includes the ability to provide an objective assessment of the case, the organization's best arguments for proceeding, and a recommended course of action. It also includes the ability to think creatively and flexibly, within the applicable legal framework.
  • LEGAL — LEGAL RESEARCH : The ability to identify and extract information to support legal positions and corporate decision-making of all relevant actors.


Required skills and experience

Academic titles

  • Bachelor's degree and/or third-level degree such as Bachelor's degree, Engineering (or equivalent) in Legal Sciences, Politics, Sociology, Social Management, Anthropology or related.
  • Desirable Postgraduate studies as a first year of Master's Degree, Higher Specialization or equivalent, in Conflict Management, Environmental Management, Social Sciences, Local Development and Management, or related.

Years of work experience for the position

Six (6) years of experience with a Bachelor's Degree or three (3) years of experience with a Third Level Degree are required in the following:

  • Proven work experience in resolution of socio-environmental and/or land tenure conflicts
  • Work experience in natural resource management, climate change and/or sustainable development.
  • Desirable 1 year of experience working with indigenous peoples and nationalities.

Required languages

  • Excellent command of the written and spoken Spanish language.

Additional Desired Skills

  • Knowledge of environmental regulatory instruments and land use and management will be valued.

Availability to travel

In the event that PROAmazonía requires it, the official must be willing to travel nationally.