Sustainable Land Management and Monitoring Expert

We are seeking to retain the services of an Individual Consultant who will be responsible for developing monitoring and tracking programmes for data collection systems for long-term use in key national agencies in SVG

Description: 

UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean (for St Vincent and the Grenadines) is seeking to retain the services of an Individual Consultant who will be responsible for developing monitoring and tracking programmes for data collection systems for long-term use in key national agencies in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The Individual Consultant will also be responsible for the provision of training and technical support to the national agencies to facilitate the implementation of the monitoring programmes.

Background: 

The main objective of the project is to enhance biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services conservation through an expanded and strengthened Protected Areas (PA) system and with Sustainable Land Management (SLM) measures integrated in a Ridge to Reef (R2R) approach. This will be achieved by using a multi-focal strategy that includes the development of a national enabling environment (i.e., policy/legal framework, availability and access to information, capacities, technologies, and finance mechanisms) for delivering multiple global environmental benefits in four interrelated outcomes:  

1. Strengthened institutional framework for PAs, biodiversity conservation and SLM/climate-smart agriculture (CSA) 
2. Effective management of new and existing PAs 
3. Integrated watershed management measures in a R2R setting incorporating sustainable livelihood opportunities; and 

4. Knowledge management for SLM, CSA and biodiversity conservation.  

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) investment will address the drivers of biodiversity loss (habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation due primarily to unsustainable land use practices and human encroachment, threats that are further compounded by the impacts of climate change and invasive alien species) that will reduce biodiversity loss and land degradation both within PAs and within the mixed-use landscape. The project will deliver global environmental benefits using a participatory approach and ensuring the equal distribution of benefits among men and women, and resulting in the consolidation and strengthened protection of a 13,214ha terrestrial PA covering the entire upper watersheds of St Vincent and 7 key biodiversity areas (KBAs), providing landscape connectivity to a 2,183ha marine park through a ridge to reef approach and improving protection of at minimum 63ha of the sole remaining habitat of a critically endangered (CR ) single island endemic. This encompasses the Buccament, Yambou, and Kingstown watersheds. 

Against this background, the Project Management Unit seeks the support of an Individual Consultant to carry out services in the role of a SLM/Monitoring Expert. Under Project Output 2, monitoring programmes for data collection systems will be established so that data could be integrated into a Centralised Information Management System (CIMS) for shared access across national agencies. Data and information included in the CIMS will cover SLM, CSA, PAs, biodiversity and ecosystem health, species data, and hydrological and meteorological data. 

Responsibilities:

Specific responsibilities of the SLM/Monitoring Expert will include: 

• Assist the Project Manager in the preparation, implementation, coordination and monitoring of an Operational Work Plan and corresponding Annual Work Plans for SLM and climate smart / climate resilient agricultural practices. 

• Assist the Project Manager in CSA/SLM technical reporting activities to the GEF, UNDP, and Executing Agencies, ensuring adherence to the Agencies’ technical reporting requirements. 
• Promote the Project and seek opportunities to leverage additional co-funding at the local level. 
• Represent the Project at meetings and other project-related fora at the local and national levels, as required.  

Task 1: Conduct a data review and carry out preliminary work 

• Review and analyse relevant documents and data resources. 
• Liaise and work closely with the Data Systems Design & Management Expert who is responsible for designing and developing the inter-departmental CIMS. 
• Review all data outputs gathered through the various project components. Obtain soil conservation information, and freshwater and saltwater quality baseline for the R2R Project site in the Buccament Watershed and nearshore coastal area. 

• Identify data gaps, inconsistencies, and other frequently observed errors. 
• Develop an outline of the intended structure, data, and indicators for the various monitoring programmes. 

Task 2: Facilitate an inception meeting with key stakeholders 

• Conduct an inception meeting with the Project Manager, Chief Technical Advisor/Biodiversity Expert, and key national agencies to accomplish the following:  

• Identify existing work programmes and databases of key agencies 
• Identify training and equipment needs 
• Receive feedback on the findings from the document and data review and present an outline of the intended structure for the various monitoring programmes 
• Establish which agencies will be contributing to and seeking to establish monitoring programmes 
• Request all outstanding data that would assist in completing project tasks. 

• A work programme agreed upon by all key stakeholders. 
• Organise the work and collaboration with these key entities for the successful execution of this project component 
• Prepare an inception report that provides particulars of the discussion and results of the inception meeting, a detailed methodology, and an agreed upon work programme for this project component.  

Task 4: Develop monitoring programmes for data collection 

• Develop monitoring programmes that will track and support sustainable long-term monitoring efforts for key indicators and changes in land coverage, forest conversions, climate change impacts (e.g., floods and landslides), and species distributions. Monitoring programmes will be institutionalised within key national agencies. Reports for each monitoring programme will include but are not limited to: 
• Data gathering protocols 
• SMART data indicators 
• Guidelines for handling and linking different data types  
• Guidelines for data formats and units 

• Mechanisms to monitor changes and trends in species and/or resources 
• Mechanisms to track progress the data collection process and metadata 
• Templates (e.g., data collection sheets, attribute tables, etc.) 
• In collaboration with MARFFIL, develop the following monitoring programmes (along with any programmes identified during the inception meeting) will be established: 
• A Freshwater and Saltwater Quality Testing Programme. This programme will also include riverbank setback criteria and guidelines. 

• A Soil Conservation Monitoring Programme. 
• A Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Monitoring Programme. Protocols for monitoring and evaluating SLM practices will be established. Protocols will align with indicators for Land Degradation Neutrality – Target Setting Process (LDN-TSP), particularly landcover and soil micronutrient content. Guidance will be given on establishing baseline data. 

Task 5: Provide training for agencies establishing monitoring programmes 

• Arrange and facilitate training sessions with the various agencies using the monitoring programmes that were developed. 

• Ensure that any data outputs developed during training will be integrated into the CIMS. 

Task 6: Provide technical support 

• Provide technical support to assist the agencies in implementing the monitoring programmes. 
• Support CSA demonstration and propagation activities (field and propagation station  
• Provide direction and technical assistance for the implementation and monitoring of SLM practices in the Project target watersheds, working with the Project Gender Specialist ensuring women’s participation and access to benefits. 

• Assist the Project Communications Expert in collecting and analysing lessons learned and best practices that empowers women and their participation in project activities. 

Criteria: 

1. Years of experience: 

• At least 10 years of working experience in SLM or a directly related field with CSA experience integrated. 
• At least one (1) year experience working with UN agencies or other international organizations (e.g. World Bank and others)  
• At least one (1) year facilitating consultative processes, planning and monitoring at the local level (preferably in CSA and SLM). 
• Experience working in the Caribbean 

II. Competencies: 

• Good organizational skills, proven experience in coordinating with national and local stakeholders, organising groups, and gathering documentation of results.  
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders.  
• Proven ability and experience in conducting survey, meeting, and workshop facilitation.  
• High flexibility and adaptation capacities.  

• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines without compromising the quality of the work.  
• Excellent writing and reporting skills in English.  
• Proficiency in the use of computer software applications, particularly Microsoft Office.  
• Availability to conduct field visits.   
• Have strong team building and mentoring capabilities; 

Core  

Innovation - Ability to make new and useful ideas work  

Leadership - Ability to persuade others to follow  

People Management – Ability to improve performance and satisfaction ; Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of professionals towards common goals  

Communication - Ability to listen, adapt, persuade, and transform  

Delivery - Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement  

Academic Qualifications: 

Master’s degree in areas relevant to Sustainable Land Management and Climate-Smart Agriculture (including Soil Conservation, Food Security, Protected Area Planning, Natural resources, Land, Water, Biodiversity, and Environmental Management).