| Overview : Since 2015, the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM) has been implementing a three-year Sustainable Land Management Project (SLMP). The SLMP has been designed to implement SLM practices that will address land degradation and mitigate effects of drought and systematically contribute to the enhancement of integrated natural resource management in the country. A dedicated Project Management Office (PMO) has been established for the implementation of the project outcomes namely: 1) Effective cross-sectoral enabling environment at the national and local level in place to promote integrated landscape management; 2) Long term capacities and incentives in place for local communities and LGUs to uptake SLM practices in two (2) targeted municipalities in the Philippines. The project is partnering with mandated government agencies to develop and implement a work plan that includes organizing series of consultations, training-workshops, and meetings with experts in the government and academe, and other key stakeholders. Key outputs include the preparation of (a) Integrated Land Management Framework Plan; (b) Guidelines on SLM mainstreaming into national and local land use plan; (c) Information Management System; (d) Competency Program Development Guide; (e) Composite Land Degradation Index Monitoring System; (f) SLM Training Modules. Given the scope and wide coverage, the SLMP is seeking the services of a Research Specialist to provide technical and administrative support to the Local Consultants (LCs) in implementing project activities. B. Scope of Work The Project Research Associate (RA) will be responsible in providing technical assistance in general project implementation and management and day to day liaison with counterparts. The Consultant will provide comprehensive technical and administrative support to the LCs of the Project on the following: 1) Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP); 2) Soil & Water Conservation and Biodiversity (SWCB); 3) Capacity Development and Training (CDT); and 4) Database Management and Geographic Information System (DM & GIS). C. Tasks and Expected Outputs of the Research Specialist Provide technical and administrative support to the PMO in the implementation and monitoring of activities on SLM mainstreaming in local planning and decision-making; Conduct research and technical support in the scoping and review of relevant planning guidelines, mainstreaming initiatives, and other relevant policies; Facilitate coordination between Local Consultants and the project partners (e.g., DA, DENR, HLURB, local government units) in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of activities; Provide assistance and logistical support to the Local Consultants in the conduct of expert group meetings, inception meetings, and other consultation activities with project partners, LGUs, and other key stakeholders. This includes providing inputs in developing appropriate training strategies, approaches and work plan; Provide inputs in the review of reports prepared by Local Consultants; Monitor progress of consultants’ deliverables and provide regular feedbacks through activity reports, accomplishment/progress reports and other related documents; Perform other duties that fall within the competency and responsibility of the position.
D. Duty Station The Consultant will report directly to the BSWM through the PMO. BSWM will issue a certificate of satisfactory accomplishments as basis for the release of equivalent remuneration. The Consultant will be required to present the outputs at the BSWM main office in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City.The Consultant will be required to report daily at the office. E. Remuneration and Duration of the Work The Consultant must factor in all possible costs in his/her "All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee/Daily Fee" financial proposal including his/her consultancy and professional fee, honorarium, communication cost such as telephone/internet usage, printing cost, return tral from home to office, ad-hoc costs, stationery costs, and any other foreseenable costs in this Consultancy post. No costs other tan what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be pair of reimbursed to the Consultant. Domestic travel may be contingent on engagement requirements. Travel and related costs (i.e. transportation expenses and applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) during travels) for the engagement shall be borne by the Project. The position is Manila-based and the Research Specialist shall initially be engaged for ten (10) months. F. Institutional Arrangement The Contractor will report to the following: BSWM National Focal Person, Project Manager.The PMO may require the Contractor to provide updates as required. The Contractor is expected to collaborate with the PMO as well as the LCs. G. SCHEDULE OF PAYMENT The Consultant will be engaged for around 10 months and shall be paid the fees based upon submission and acceptance of the following outputs and corresponding tranches: First Tranche - 5% - Upon submission and acceptance of the report on the data/information gathered on the mapping of soil taxonomic classes in the project sites for initial identification of natural land degradation as LD benchmark for monitoring LDI; Second Tranche - 10% - Upon submission and acceptance of the report on the data/information gathered for the finalization of the competency development program guide and SLM Training Manual; Third Tranche - 10% - Upon submission and acceptance of the report on the data/information gathered on the development of the basic information needed for the Conduct of FFS for the Competency Assessment for SLM1 as Adaptive Technology SLM Version 2 (SLM2); Fourth Tranche - 10% - Upon submission and acceptance of the report on the data/information gathered for the finalization of the report on the pilot testing of draft supplemental guidelines in the target municipalities; Fifth Tranche - 10% - Upon submission and acceptance of the report on the data/information gathered for the finalization of the supplementary guidelines in mainstreaming SLM in the CLUP and potential investment and incentives for local adoption of SLM; Sixth Tranche - 10% - Upon submission and acceptance of the report on the data/information gathered for the finalization of the report on the conduct of Training of Trainors for LGUs, ATI, DA-BSWM and DENR; Seventh Tranche - 15% - Upon submission and acceptance of the report on the data/information gathered on the revision of the requirements for pilot sites as a result of the redesigning and new CLDI-SLM monitoring sites; Eight Tranche - 10% - Upon submission and acceptance of the report on the data/information gathered for the finalization of the GIS-based LDI-SLM maps for incorporation into CLUP; Ninth Tranche - 10% - Upon submission and acceptance of the report on the data/information gathered for the finalization of the report on the guidelines for implementing LDI; Tenth Tranche - 10% - Upon submission and acceptance of the report on the data/information gathered for the finalization of the report on the conduct of Training on Potential Trainors from DILG and HLURB on Various SLM Management and Physical Technologies for Mainstreaming SLM into the CLUP. Corporate competences - Commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
- Sensitivity to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age differences.
Functional competences - Experience in working in the private sector, or in an outreach position relating with the government and private sector;
- Past experience and effective communication skills for dialoguing with senior level private sector executives;
- Strong initiative and desire to succeed, accountable and willingness to be pro-active in identifying suitable companies for BCtA membership and engaging in appropriate business opportunities;
- Experience and knowledge of the international development sector, e.g. through working at the UN in the private sector engagement and/or development field;
- Existing work experience in the Philippines and with the Philippines-based private sector organizations/companies, donor partners and UN agencies;
- Possess strong intellectual interest in economic development and the role of the private sector in driving poverty reduction; knowledge of private sector – development impact assessment;
- Past international work experience preferred;
- Demonstrated ability to function in a team environment & to deal with complex multi-stakeholder environment.
H. QUALIFICATIONS Education: Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Economics, Environmental Management, Development Communication, Urban and Regional Planning or related field, preferably with Master’s Degree/units in related field
Experience: At least three (3) years of experience working with environment, natural resource management and climate change adaptation related programs and activities Experience in research, project implementation and financial management
Language: - Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
Skills With initiative and can work with minimum supervision Ability to relate well in a diverse range of stakeholders both at the local and national levels Ability to manage multiple tasks
Criteria for selection process: The offer will evaluated based on the Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted a max. of 70%, and combined with the financial offer which will be weighted a max of 30%. Application requirements: - Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
- Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
Application requirements should be emailed to procurement.ph@undp.org and registry.ph@undp.org on or before 17 September 2017. In view of the volume of applications UNDP receives, only shortlisted offerors will be notified. | 
