| Overview : Project description Papua New Guinea (PNG) has one of the most significant areas of largely-intact tropical forest in the world, although these forests appear to be facing acute and imminent threats. Forests are also a vital resource for the local population particularly in the remote rural areas of PNG, providing food, fibre, building materials, and support a variety of wildlife and ecosystem services. A mechanism for Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) being developed through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provides an opportunity to support PNG’s efforts to reduce levels of deforestation and help to maintain and protect its natural forest. PNG has been a leading proponent of REDD+ at the international level, and has made significant progress towards developing the capacity to engage in an international mechanism on REDD+. This progress has initially been supported by the UN-REDD Programme and is now being aided by the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) through a project that will run until the end of 2018. Increases in land clearance for agriculture are likely to increase in a country with population growth of over 2%, increasing global demand for agricultural commodities and only 4% of land area currently dedicated to agriculture when an estimated 30% is considered suitable for agriculture. Agriculture is a mainstay of the PNG economy and thus represents an important area for economic growth and stability. The sector accounted for 19% of total exports and 25% of GDP in 2010, as well as forming a major part of rural economy on which 80% of the population directly depend. As such there is a need to ensure that continued agricultural development not only supports economic growth and poverty alleviation, but is also socially and environmentally sustainable. A report on sustainable commodity production in PNG, commissioned by FCPF in 2016, found that sustainable agricultural commodities production can provide strong benefits for PNG's people, economy and the environment by increasing employment, protecting the environment and associated livelihoods and health benefits, helping to secure and diversify the exports market, and securing foreign exchange. Palm oil is the primary source of agricultural export revenue in the country and is likely to have the most impact on forest cover change in the short to medium term due to its currently unregulated expansion. It is therefore proposed that PNG’s national REDD+ strategy will focus its efforts on abating the impacts of this sector. The FCPF sustainable commodities report set out two recommendations: 1) development of a national policy for sustainable palm oil, and 2) establishing a multi-stakeholder palm oil platform (PNGPoP). Scope of works The objective of the assignment is to take forward the recommendations of the FCPF sustainable commodities report and in so doing help advance and secure PNG’s global status as a leading producer of sustainable palm oil. In undertaking this assignment the international consultant (working closely with a national consultant, the FCPF team, government counterparts, private sector stakeholders and NGOs) will: - Prepare a detailed list of policy options to be considered through rigorous multi-stakeholder consultation processes and
- Draft terms of reference for, and support the establishment of, PNGPOP.
The consultant will help develop communications materials and facilitate stakeholder consultations to ensure a broad base of understanding is reached and all relevant stakeholders have input to the process of developing the policy and platform. The international expert will take conceptual leadership of the tasks under this assignment, while also working in close coordination and consultation with the national consultant, government, UNDP and FCPF staff and the UNDP regional technical advisor as well as ongoing assignments to map areas of existing oil palm plantations and potential areas for expansion. Key elements of the assessment will include: - Develop policy options for a national policy for sustainable palm oil
Among the options to consider are: - All palm oil operators should follow existing sustainability standards (e.g. RSPO, Rainforest alliance/SAN).
- PNG defines its own sustainability standard (as done by Malaysia (MSPO) and Indonesia (ISPO)).
- Pilot RSPO's jurisdictional approach under which arrangement entire provinces would have to comply with RSPO standards.
Based on additional data and results from other supporting studies, these options should be expanded and refined. Other policy options should also be considered through rigorous stakeholder consultations including: - Development of an improved regulatory framework and enforcement mechanisms;
- Identification of the best strategies to resolve land concession issues;
- Identification and establishment of new public-private partnerships;
- Identification and implementation of necessary capacity building programs;
- Development of economic and policy incentives;
- Any other activities deemed necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of the palm oil sector in PNG.
2. Support the establishment of PNG's first multi-stakeholder palm oil platform (PNGPoP) The platform is expected to directly address some of the key challenges faced by the sector in PNG by increasing dialogue, transparency, ownership and coordination of the sector. The objectives of the platform would be to: - Create a multi-stakeholder national action plan for the long-term sustainability of palm oil;
- Monitor and adapt actions that address the root causes limiting the sustainability of the
PNG palm oil sector;
- Influence and harmonise government policy that ensures a strong and coherent legal
framework for the sustainability of PNG palm oil;
- Establish partnerships and coordinate existing actions that advance the sustainability of palm oil produced in PNG.
Platform participants should include government leadership at ministerial level; representatives of the office of the Prime Minister, CEPA, DAL, DNPM, PNGFA, DLPP, CCDA, OPIC, provincial departments, smallholders/customary landowners, private sector (existing and new operators), civil society, global partners, UN agencies (as appropriate), donors and financial institutions.
This platform will provide the government of PNG with an important opportunity to translate the STaRS long term strategy into practice, build a new image for the sector, and position the country as a global leader for sustainable palm oil production. Ultimately, it will enable collective agreement on sustainable and systemic solutions for the production of palm oil that is respectful for the environment, expands social benefits and improves PNG's market competitiveness for its first agricultural export revenue. The consultant will lead the development of terms of reference for the platform, support stakeholder consultations including sharing of best practices from commodities platforms in other countries and incorporation of feedback, and work with stakeholders to develop and implement a roadmap towards establishment of the platform. Critical to this process will be identifying a lead agency to support the platform in terms of political leadership as well as identifying potential funding sources for the sustainability of the platform. The consultation will be for 30 days over 5 months from September 2016 – January 2017. Application procedure Qualified candidates are requested to apply by September 28, 2016 by sending their application packages to registry.pg@undp.org with the subject line “FCPF REDD+ International Consultant on the development of a Palm Oil policy and platform”. The application should contain: - Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (if applicable). Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
- Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees, please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
- Financial Proposal* - specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (number of anticipated working days – in home office and on mission, travel – international and local, per diems and any other possible costs). For more details, please see Section 8. “Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments”.
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