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Title
Consultant: International Ecological Economist :UNDP/GEF Project of Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Headwaters of the Huaihe River Basin
Posted
Reference
(Please mention Stopdodo/Environment Jobs in your application)
UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. For environmental jobs with UNDP visit their website. Or for more environmental jobs search environmentjobs.com
The UNDP/GEF project “Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in the Headwaters of the Huaihe River Basin (GEF-HHRB)” forms a key element of the China Biodiversity Partnership Framework (CBPF) for Action. It aims to ensure that global biodiversity conservation values are integrated into the management of Important Ecological Function Areas (IEFAs). Baseline efforts to develop specialized management regimes for such areas provide an opportunity to mainstream biodiversity conservation into the management of significant numbers of important landscapes across China by building on the complementarities and synergies between ecosystem function conservation and biodiversity conservation. Such a solution would offer an essential complementary element to China’s protected area strategy. The project will work with relevant stakeholders at national, provincial and local levels to address barriers to launching this important management approach and to ensure biodiversity conservation is an integral component. The project will demonstrate mainstreaming in the national-level IEFA to be established in the Headwaters of the Huaihe River Basin, a biodiversity rich area considered a high priority by the Ministry of Environment Protection. Based on the HHRB pilot experience, the project will seek encourage replication at IEFAs throughout China. Mainstreaming work here will include both at a landscape level and at selected sectoral levels such as in medicinal plants, mining and tourism. The project consists of four mutually supportive outcomes:
Biodiversity and ecological function conservation mainstreamed into HHRB planning and monitoring;
Biodiversity and ecological function conservation mainstreamed into key productive sectors;
Biodiversity and ecosystem function considerations are regularly mainstreamed into poverty alleviation strategies and programmes;
Lessons learned at HHRB inform and strengthen ongoing efforts to manage IEFAs throughout China.
The project will be implemented conforming to UNDP National Execution (NEX) procedures. The executing agency is Xinyang Municipal Government with cooperation partners of Foreign Economic Cooperation Office, Ministry of Environmental Protection of China and Henan Provincial Finance Bureau. According to the implementation arrangement of the project, 2 international consultants (Biodiversity, Ecological Economist) will be recruited by the Project Management Office of Xinyang Municipal Government.
Provide capacity building support for ecosystem function and biodiversity friendly production methods.
Provide technical support and recommendations for development and implementation of pilot incentive programs.
Working with national consultants, develop environmental economic valuation analyses of total economic value of biodiversity and ecological functions in HHRB.
Working with national consultants, prepare a trigger price analysis of cost effectiveness of mainstreaming.
Raise awareness and build capacities of LG and TAG members regarding environmental economic values and complementarity of ecosystem functions and biodiversity.
Provide technical support and recommendations for designing guidelines and preparing six sectoral assessments for a biodiversity-friendly poverty lending programme.
Provide technical support and recommendations for loan identification, monitoring and evaluation of a biodiversity-friendly poverty lending programme.
Provide technical support and recommendations for development and pilot implementation of IEFA-specific policies, regulations, standards and enforcement strategies.
Competencies
Have current and international experiences and be recognized as experts in their respective areas
Cross-cultural sense and demonstrated ability to deal with a multi-cultural working environment with government counterparts and various international/ national organizations.
Experiences and knowledge on the natural and/or social situation in China and in Huaihe River Headwaters area will be preferable.
Familiarization with GEF policy and UNDP procedures highly desirable
Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing are essential. Fluency in English required.
Good team work spirit.
Required Skills and Experience
Advanced degree in their respective areas or related disciplines
Have documented adequate technical/social expertise and skill to conduct the work in their respective areas
At least ten years of demonstrated experiences in their field of expertise related to sustainable development, ecosystem management, and biodiversity conservation
