Job Opportunities UNDP for National Training Consultant

All applications should be directly sent to the Human Resources Unit of UNDP through
email ID: vacancy.ir@undp.org  no later than 26 April 2014.  Please take note that the vacancy notice number must be referred to in your application and/or cover letter.  The TORs are attached to this message. 

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR NATIONAL TRAINING CONSULTANT


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 National Training Consultant will contribute in delivery of the project’s Output 2.1 “Central and district staff of FRWO and other key stakeholders trained and able to apply / oversee multiple-use landscape level forest management, and training materials and best practices incorporated into FRWO staff induction courses”. This will be achieved through development and implementation of a training plan based on a gap analysis and training needs assessment. This process will be conducted with supervision and support of the National Project Manager (NPM), International Project Advisor (IPA) and the Senior National Advisor (SNA).

Expected outputs and deliverables

The National Training Consultant will contribute to the successful delivery of project Output 2.1 “Central and district staff of FRWO and other key stakeholders trained and able to apply / oversee multiple-use landscape level forest management, and training materials and best practices incorporated into FRWO staff induction courses”.
   
    The National Training Consultant will undertake the following specific tasks:

1.    Develop the roadmap, methodology and proposal for gap analysis and training needs assessment in close consultation with NPM, IPA and SNA;
2.    Conduct gap analysis and training needs assessment, including a detailed analysis of the Capacity Development Scorecard, identifying how the projects target scores will be met;
3.    Set the baseline of capacities in different stakeholder groups;
4.    Develop a training plan based on the gap analysis, scorecard analysis and the needs assessment to build the capacity of central and district staff of FRWO and other key stakeholders;
5.    Take the lead in development of the training materials supported by thematic technical consultants and project staff;
6.    Take the lead in implementation and monitoring of the training plan throughout implementation of the project, supported by appropriate specialists;
7.    Take the lead in preparing updates of the Capacity Development Scorecard both for project mid-term and terminal evaluations.
8.    Conduct a feasibility study for incorporation of training materials on multipurpose forest management and best practices into induction courses of FRWO and other line entities as well as into formal education system of the country, and promote implementation;
9.    Support the project in development of informal education and awareness raising plans as and when required;
10.    Develop project’s training lessons learned and best practices booklet;
11.    Other technical support as requested by the National Project Manager (NPM) and/or project consultants, within the constraints imposed by the availability of working days.


Deliverables:

•    Roadmap, methodology and proposal for the gap analysis and training needs assessment
•    Report on gap analysis and training needs assessment
•    Project training plan
•    Project training materials, brochures, etc.
•    Contribute to holding training courses
•    Booklet on training lessons learned and best practices
•    Annual reports and a final report

All reports and other deliverables will first be prepared in English, and following approval will be translated into Farsi by the consultant. Printing and distribution costs will be handled separately by the project.

Institutional Arrangements

•    The contract for the National Training Consultant will be issued by FRWO (NPD) as the Implementing Agency. The contract will be subject to annual extension upon satisfactory assessment of the Consultant’s performance;
•    The authority to directly supervise the National Training Consultant lies with the Implementing Agency (NPM/NPD);
•    The National Training Consultant will directly report to, seeking approval/acceptance of outputs from the Implementing Agency (NPM/NPD) with a copy to IPA and SNA;
•    All reports provided by the National Training Consultant should be in compliance with requirements of UNDP/GEF formats and standards;


Duration of work and payment modality
The National Training Consultant will support the project throughout the project implementation, with annual contract extensions subject to satisfactory performance. The total number of days required and distribution of services of the Consultant is reflected in the table below.
The national consultant will be paid quarterly according to the timesheet submitted by the National Training Consultant and approved by NPM. The daily fee will be agreed upon and reflected in the contract. Any payment to the contractor would be subject to formal submission of a payment claim and progress report.





Qualifications

•    Advance university degree (PhD or Masters’ degree) in education, formal training or any other relevant filed.
•    At least 5 years of progressive experience in working in the related filed;
•    Proven experience on strategic training planning and implementation;
•    Proven ability in working with international teams;
•    Experience of working in environmental and natural resources fields;
•    Experience of working in the Caspian Area is an asset;
•    Excellent command of written and spoken English is a must.

Financial Proposal:
 
All interested applicants should suggest a daily fee for his/her consultancy services when applying for the post. The financial proposal will weight 30% of the total rating.