TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, VALUATION & PES SPECIALIST

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1 TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, VALUATION & PES SPECIALIST Brief Description: The project will conserve biodiversity in key landscapes within the Caspian broadleaf deciduous forest ecoregion. The ecoregion is recognised for its high levels of endemism; it is also an important storehouse of threatened species. It will do this by strengthening the national and local policy framework governing land use in the Caspian forests (which cover an area of approximately 1.8 million hectares), enhancing the rights and roles of the local communities in their management and demonstrating ways and means of improving management (including land use planning, zoning, compliance monitoring and enforcement). The project will trigger a paradigm shift from sector-focused management to multiple use management, to reduce the conjunction pressures arising from different land uses. It will put in place the necessary policy and regulatory mechanisms needed to mainstream biodiversity conservation considerations into land use plans and build the capacities of key institutions to implement the reformed planning and management approach. The project is thus consistent with GEF Strategic Objective 2 of GEF 5: Mainstream biodiversity conservation and sustainable use into production landscapes, seascapes and sectors and in particular Outcome 2.1: Increase in sustainably managed landscapes and seascapes that integrate biodiversity conservation. The successful implementation of this project will set the foundations for replication of the approach in other important forest ecosystems across the country. The project will be responsible for achieving the following project objective: To put in place a collaborative governance system and know-how for managing a mosaic of land uses in the Caspian Hyrcanian forest that provides habitat integrity and helps maintain landscape level ecosystem functions and resilience. The proposed project is designed to lift the barriers to establishment of a landscape approach to the management of biodiversity. The project comprises three complementary Outcomes, which will be cost-shared by the GEF and co-financing: Outcome 1. An enabling policy and regulatory framework Outcome 2. Institutional and staff capacity strengthening for multiple-use forest management Outcome 3. Community piloting of integrated forest management Scope of Work The Ecosystem Services, Valuation and PES (Payments for Ecosystem Services) (ESVPES) Specialist will lead the delivery of the project s Output 1.1 Systematic assessment of values of forests and related ecosystem services for pilot landscapes (detailed) and Hyrcanian Forest landscape (high level), and externalities of deforestation and forest degradation incorporated into policies, plans and sector decisions, and finance options identified to offset opportunity costs. This will be achieved with support of a national consultancy team / company, by means of 3 visits during consultancy period (till July 2015) to the Caspian region and Tehran, plus periodic homebased support. The ESVPES specialist will work closely with the National Project Manager (NPM), the International Project Advisor (IPA) and the Senior National Advisor (SNA). The ESVPES specialist will be contracted by, and will report to, UNDP Tehran. 1

2 The ESVPES specialist will ensure that the work on Ecosystem Services, Valuation and PES is well designed and maintains strategic direction during implementation with a sharp focus on quality outputs. He/she will support this Output of the project through monitoring and supervising implementation by the national consultants, and finalizing reports to a high quality, on time. The ESVPES specialist will also support the project by transferring up-to-date technical knowledge especially in the area of Ecosystem Services, Valuation and PES and support the development of linkages between the project and relevant (UNDP/GEF) case studies in other parts of the world. He/she will also contribute to the project s learning and adaptive approach and to intra-project communications. Expected outputs and deliverables The ESVPES specialist is the primary source of international technical support for implementation of project Output 1.1 Systematic assessment of values of forests and related ecosystem services for pilot landscapes (detailed) and Hyrcanian Forest landscape (high level), and externalities of deforestation and forest degradation incorporated into policies, plans and sector decisions, and finance options identified to offset opportunity costs. The ESVPES specialist will undertake the following specific tasks: 1. Design the Ecosystem Services, Valuation and PES assessment, including scope, roadmap, detailed methodologies (based on participatory approaches where appropriate), lists of required information (and standards for data management and analysis), work plan, schedule and risk log. The assessment will cover the full range of ecosystem services provided by the Caspian forests which are critical to the economy and social wellbeing of the region. It will assess, demonstrate and (where possible) value these in detail for the project s four pilot landscapes, and in general for the entire Caspian forests. It will identify the costs associated with loss of these services, and the opportunities associated with their realization. 2. Develop and finalise the TOR for national consultant company that is hired to undertake the ESVPES assessment. 3. Provide technical back-up through close cooperation and communication to the national consultant company that is hired to undertake this work, to ensure that they clearly understand the work to be done and adhere to the agreed work plan. 4. Support the project team in networking with other GEF projects addressing similar issues, and with regional and international knowledge centres on ESVPES. 5. Oversee and monitor implementation of the ESVPES work plan and ensure effective adaptive management to ensure the work is completed on time and to a high quality; 6. Provide technical comments on draft reports prepared by national consultants, and be responsible for the quality of the final products; 7. Provide the project with international best practices related Ecosystem Services, Valuation and PES assessments and financing options to ensure transfer of international knowledge and regional/national capacity building 8. Based on the ESVPES assessment, identify sustainable financing options from PES that could support more sustainable management of the Caspian forests. 2

3 9. Lead the baseline and feasibility study for financing options. Specific recommendations should be made prioritizing the opportunities for pursuing each option based on potential impact and feasibility. 10. Support the project by providing training in ESVPES, plus training and communication materials. 11. Carry out site visits and meetings with project stakeholders according to mission plans to be prepared in consultation with the project NPM, IPA, SNA and UNDP; 12. Support project team to plan related technical events such as workshops and training courses 13. Other technical support as requested by the National Project Manager (NPM) and/or UNDP, within the constraints imposed by the availability of working days. Deliverables: 3 comprehensive mission reports Inception report (including detailed TOR) for the ESVPES assessment (after mission #1), including detailed methodology, lists of required information (and standards for data management and analysis), work plan, risk log, and schedule Report on Ecosystem Services and Values provided by the Caspian Hyrcanian Forests Report on Sustainable Financing Options (and their feasibility) for management of the Caspian Hyrcanian Forests, based on PES Training course and training materials on Ecosystem Services, Values and PES options of the Caspian Hyrcanian forests Communications materials (Powerpoint presentation and brochure for decision-makers) on Ecosystem Services, values and PES options provided by the Caspian Hyrcanian forests The deliverables would be developed, presented and adopted based on the following table: Deliverables/ Outputs Comprehensive mission reports Estimated Duration to Complete Max two weeks after each mission Target Due Dates Review and Approvals Required (Indicate designation of person who will review output and confirm acceptance) Mission in June NPM/NPD and UNDP 2014 Inception report for ESVPES work Report on Ecosystem Services and Values provided by the Caspian Hyrcanian Forests Max two weeks after first mission Max 2 weeks after 2 nd mission (October 2014) Mission in June 2014 October 2014 (Draft) November 2014 (Final) UNDP/ NPM/IPA Report on sustainable financing options and their feasibilities based on PES Max 2 weeks after 3 rd mission (February 2015) Mission February 2015 in 3

4 Training course and training materials on ESVPES Communications materials on ESVPES During 2nd mission (October 2014) After 2 nd mission mission (October 2014) Mission in October 2014 By end November 2015 Institutional Arrangements ESVPES specialist contract will be issued by UNDP as per request of the Implementing partner The authority to directly supervise the ESVPES specialist lies with the Implementing partner (NPM/NPD) ESVPES specialist will directly report to, seeking approval/acceptance of outputs from the Implementing partner (NPM/NPD) with a copy to UNDP however he/she would be able to report directly to UNDP in any specific condition All reports provided by the ESVPES specialist should be in compliance with international/undp formats and guidelines ESVPES specialist should liaise and collaborate initially with the Implementing partner (I.R. Iran Forest Ranges and Watershed Management Organization-FROW, UNDP Iran country office as well as other stakeholders.) Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments The payment modality of the contract would be Daily fee based on the planned working days included in this TOR. Any payment to the contractor would be subject to submission of a payment claim and signed timesheet as well as respective report which should be approved by the Individual Contractor s supervisor (NPM/NPD). The payment claims could be submitted by the Individual Contractor based on performed missions or delivering planned reports up to 3 times per year. Duration of work: This TOR covers about 18 months in 2014 and 2015 containing 65 days inputs (Home based and missions and travel) of the ESVPES specialist as reflected in the below table: year days Total Home based Mission to Iran (2 missions) (1 mission) 20 TOTAL (3 missions) 55 Duty station: ESVPES specialist would provide a part of his/her inputs to the project from the home based office as indicated in this TOR. 4

5 ESVPES specialist would attend Mission to the project country Iran, project central office in Chalus and would also visit project sites in the Caspian Hyrcanian Forest area. Qualifications PhD or Masters degree in the area of Natural Resources Management or Economics or equivalent 10 years demonstrated international experience and knowledge in Ecosystem Services, Valuation and PES assessments and financing options, including relevant reports and publications Good networks with international PES related networks and institutes Previous experience of supporting international projects on ESVPES, including work planning, implementation, monitoring and building capacity for project teams; Excellent communication and networking skills and ability to work with a diverse range of stakeholders; Knowledge of Iran and/or the project region would be an asset; Excellent written and spoken English. Financial Proposal: Shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit a financial proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fix daily price, supported by a breakdown of costs. EVALUATION PROCESS: The contract will be awarded to the candidate who received the highest score out of a predetermined set of weighted technical and financial criteria: Technical Criteria weight: 70% + Financial Criteria weight: 30%. Individual consultants will be evaluated based on Cumulative analysis. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract shall be made to the individual Consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. Technical Criteria weight: 70%. Financial Criteria weight: 30%. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (70 points out of 100) of the total obtainable technical points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation. The pre-determined questions to be asked during the interview would be considered as the technical criteria in line with the below breakdown. Background - educational and experience : 40 5

6 Technical approach to the subject position : 30 Interview discussions: 30 All interested applicants should submit the following requirements. The following documents must be merged in one standalone file including all them, since the online application submission does only permit to upload one file per application. Incomplete submission can be a ground for disqualification. Brief expression of interest: a brief narrative on why you think you are qualified to undertake the consultancy including your approach and methodology to achieve the deliverables under the assignment; Personal CV indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as current and telephone contacts and at least three (3) professional references. Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Please note that only applicants who are shorted-listed will be contacted. 6