Consultancy Title

National Consultant (Sustainable Financing/Management Plan Specialist)

Location

Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands.

Application deadline

30 October 2020

Type of Contract

Individual Contractor

Post Level

National Consultant (National of RMI Only)

Languages required:

Marshallese and English

Duration of Initial Contract:

12 months (261 working days) starting 26 October 2020 – 26 October 2021

Project Name

00101900 Reimaanlok – Looking to the Future: Strengthening natural resource   management in atoll communities in the Republic of Marshall Islands employing integrated approaches (RMI Ridge to Reef Project)

The Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) consists of 870 reef systems reaching up from 2.1 million km2 of the vast deep Central Pacific. Upon these reef systems are 29 coral atolls and 5 low-lying islands, respectively 22 and 4 of which are inhabited. These 1,225 sand cays and vegetated islets altogether comprise 182 km2 of land which remain visible above water level during high tide, and although these small islands represent the only potentially habitable land with a mean elevation of less than 2 meters. It also has a vast maritime jurisdiction with more 6,500 km2 of lagoon and more than 2 million km2 of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). RMI has some of the healthiest and robust coral reefs globally with high species diversity with more than 1,000 fishes, 360 corals, 2,500 invertebrates, 5 sea turtles and 27 marine mammals. On land in 4 atolls are home to globally important nesting seabird populations. Most atolls are dominated by agroforest, beach forest, and savanna. Rare natural semi-arid forests can be found in some of the northern atolls.

As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), it has a strong dependence on natural resources and biodiversity not only for food and income. The Marshallese relationship with the islands forms the basis of its culture and way of life which has developed in harmony over thousands of years. In the face of global threats, RMI still has pristine waters and coral reefs that contribute to ecosystem services and livelihoods. In recognition of the importance of its natural assets, RMI together with other SIDS responded to global conservation targets through the Micronesia Challenge and specifically for its part, it prepared Reimaanlok to serve as a clear roadmap of the way forward.

As such, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) committed US$3.9million under the Ridge to Reef Project to support Government of Marshall Islands operationalize the Reimaanlok – the National Conservation Area Plan, adopted in 2008 to effectively conserve at least 30% of the nearshore marine resources and 20% of the terrestrial resources across Micronesia by 2020. The project objective is to sustain atoll biodiversity and livelihoods by building community and ecosystem resilience to threats and degrading influences through integrated management of terrestrial and coastal resources.

With GEF financing, the project is expected to

1. Expand and sustain RMI protected area network, focusing on the implementation of protected area network (PAN) and thus contributing to the Micronesia Challenge and Aichi targets. As natural resource management is very much interlinked with the outer island residents, improved ecosystem management also contributes towards strengthening climate resilience and community-based adaptation. 
2. Improve governance for Integrated atoll management, by, strengthening the enabling conditions, which, amongst other things support development of secondary legislation to support implementation the PAN Act.
3. Support Knowledge Management, in terms of strengthening management information system, Conservation GIS and improving access as a knowledge sharing platform.

This GEF project is executed by UNDP, in close partnership with the Government of Marshall Islands. The project implementation will be led by a team based in RMI and Suva, Fiji, expected to run over a five-year period.

Objective:

The specialist will lead the implementation of activities related to the development/updating the integrated management plans for the five project sites and will work closely with the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), Chief Technical Advisor and line stakeholders in the implementation process.

Scope of Work

The specialist will play a leading role in the implementation of activities specified below. With the technical support of the Chief Technical Adviser (CTA), the specialist would ensure that all these activities are delivered efficiently and with high quality.

In principal, the specialist will lead implementation of activities under Outcome 1: Conservation areas delineated, declared, and efforts sustained in five priority outer islands to meet Reimaanlok targets and contributing to the Micronesia Challenge and Aichi targets. Specific activities include:

1. Work with existing partners of the project, such as Marshall Islands Conservation Society (MICS), IOM, Historic Preservation Office who are currently conducting surveys in the five project sites, and Marshall Islands Marine Authority (MIMRA) to consolidate findings of the surveys. Where survey data already exists (secondary data), the specialist is expected to work with agencies responsible to gather and consolidate these data.
2. Lead community consultation prepare documents for declaring protected areas (PAs) for designation and facilitating the legislative procedures for designating the PAs.
3. Prepare/formulate new integrated natural resource management plans for Likiep, Aur and Ebon. For Wotho and Mejit the specialist will update existing management plans.
4. Work with the CTA to train Site Coordinators.
5. The specialist will work with the CTA, Local Resource Committees, Mayor, MIMRA and PIU to implement the enforcement arrangement developed under the Land use Study on all the five demonstration sites. In principle, the specialist will use the recommendations and structure in the Land-use Study report as guide in the implementation but importantly should be tailored to sync with the community/traditional governance structure for each atoll.
6. With the support of the CTA, the specialist will develop a training program for the monitoring of protected areas. Subsequently, the specialist and the CTA will conduct training for Women and Youth recruited from the five sites responsible for monitoring the protected areas.
7. Under Output 1.4 the specialist will support the CTA to assess emerging opportunities for sustainable financing in the RMI that will support national conservation efforts. They will conduct a feasibility study, which assess viable financing mechanisms, taking into account international and regional best practice and also the particular challenges facing the management of PAN in RMI. The feasibility study will address link with conservation finance, climate finance consistent with integrated approach promoted through the Reimaanlok.
8. Support the CTA in the implementation of the sustainable financing mechanisms identified in the feasibility study, to be piloted for 1-2years during the 5 year project lifespan, enabling sufficient time to assess the viability of the mechanism of the mechanism and also allowing time to distill the results and lessons learned into a case study, to be shared with local and national stakeholders, as well as interested parties in the region and beyond.
9. Any other activities required by the national project manager and PIU.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

1. Integrated Management Plan and ordinance in place for the five demonstration sites.
2. Protected areas (marine and terrestrial) identified and demarcated.
3. Women and Youth trained to monitor protected areas.
4. Report prepared on sustainable financing mechanism to support conservation in RMI.

Institutional Arrangement

• The Specialist will report to the National Project Manager. He/ She will work with the Chief Technical Advisor in the execution of the activities specified under the Scope of Work.

Duration of the Work

• Period of Assignment: 12 months (261 working days) starting October 2020 to October 2021. The specialist will be working with the project team in RMI and will be expected to travel to the project sites.
• The deliverables shall be first submitted to the line government agency for review and clearance. All deliverables are subject to technical clearance and approval from the UNDP-GEF RTA covering Fiji in collaboration with the PIU from the UNDP Pacific Office in RMI and Fiji for processing payments of the services rendered.

Duty Station

• The specialist will provide his/her own laptop. Workspace will be provided at the PIU office on Level 5, Mako Building, Majuro. He/ She is expected to work closely with the project implementation unit and CTA during the period of this assignment.
• He/ She is required to report to work on daily basis during the contract period.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Comprehensiveness knowledge of Marshallese social, cultural, political and economic landscape
• Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and internet in conducting research;
• Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Educational Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in environmental, marine or natural science or related field is essential.

Experience

• Minimum 5-10 years of relevant experience in similar fields;
• Knowledge of environment conservation and administered of locally marine protected areas is essential;
• Experience in formulation/development of management plans, conducting community consultation is beneficial;
• Understanding of setting up of funding mechanisms to sustain protected areas and environment conservation.
• Knowledge of the Reimaanlok (RMI National Conservation Plan) and other regional and global targets on environment conservation;
• Ability to lead, conduct, facilitate and document discussions with stakeholders;
• Experience working in institutional development, project development and management, budgeting;
• Project management experience in environment conservation projects would be an advantage;
• Experience in utilizing ecosystem-based adaptation approaches is desirable
• Ability to work in a team environment.

Language requirements

• Fluency of Marshallese and English language is required;

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:

In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology.

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Proposal Submission

Offerors must send the following documents:
 

• CV including names/contacts of at least 3 referees;
• A cover letter indicating why the candidate considers himself/herself suitable for the required consultancy.
• Completed template for confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal.

Note: Successful individual will be required to provide proof of medical insurance coverage before commencement of contract for the duration of the assignment.

Incomplete and joint proposals may not be considered. Consultants with whom there is further interest will be contacted.

Individuals applying for this consultancy will be reviewed based on their own individual capacity. The successful individual may sign an Individual Contract with UNDP or request his/her employer to sign a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) on their behalf by indicating this in the Offerors letter to Confirming Interest and Availability.

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on a Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee(Daily fees to include IC’s medical insurance costs), travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs.

In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

For any clarification regarding this assignment please write to procurement.fj@undp.org.

Women candidates are encouraged to apply.

The Fiji Office covers Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu