Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Terms of Reference National Expert Design of Demonstration Project in the Baltic Region for Russia’s Marine and Coastal Protected Areas System UNDP/GEF Project: Strengthening the Marine and Coastal Protected Areas of Russia Background: UNDP Russia is developing a new full fledged GEF project in the biodiversity focal area addressing conservation of globally significant marine and coastal biological diversity by strengthening and expanding Russia’s marine and coastal protected areas (MCPA) system. The project’s objective is to facilitate expansion of the national system of marine and coastal protected areas and improve its management effectiveness. This will be achieved through the following outcomes: (i) Improved MPA system-level capacity enables the expansion of marine and coastal protected areas; (ii) MPA management know-how is demonstrated, expanded and reinforced; and (iii) Strengthened MPA system effectively captures knowledge and enables replication of best practice. The full project concept (PIF) has been endorsed by the GEF Secretariat. The Project Preparation Grant has been released to develop full project document and supporting materials. The objective of the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) is to develop a full project document for a UNDP/GEF project in Biodiversity focal area addressing barriers to improved management effectiveness and expansion of the marine and coastal protected areas system of the Russian Federation. The PPG will cover the following preparatory activities: 1. Baseline data collection and information gap analysis 2. Russia’s MCPAs system institutional capacity assessment and stakeholder involvement plan 3. Demonstration projects and replication strategy 4. Project scoping and project strategy The project development process will utilize results of previous analysis conducted under the UNDP/GEF PDF A project “Conservation and Sustainable-use of Coastal Biodiversity in Russia’s Commander (Komandorsky) Islands”. The draft MSP project document “Increasing the effectiveness of Russia’s national marine protected area network by demonstrating good conservation management practices at Commander Islands MPA” will be utilized as much as feasible. Up-to three demonstration sites will be identified for this project including Commander Islands and the Baltic Sea region (a planned Ingermalandsky Reserve). National Expert for MCPA demonstration projects design in the Baltic sea (The Expert) will be contracted by UNDP Russia to carry out specific tasks specified below and will report to UNDP Moscow (Head of Environment Unit). The Expert will work closely with the national PPG team leader and International Project Design Consultant recruited for the PPG. General Responsibilities: The Expert will be responsible for the following activities during the PPG process: 1. Conduct consultations and provide recommendations on the type and scope of demonstration project in the Baltic Sea. 2. Collect preliminary baseline information on the demonstration site (planned Ingermalandsky Reserve in the Baltic Sea) to establish a measurable monitoring and evaluation framework for the project. The following information for the specific demo site will be collected: - information on the current state marine and coastal biodiversity in the demo site including justification of the global importance of biodiversity; - information on existing or planned protected areas in the demo site including assessment of the management effectiveness of the existing PAs in the demo site (through METT); - socio-economic and political context specific to the demo site; - threats to the marine and coastal biodiversity and their root causes. - analysis of barriers hampering improvements in management effectiveness and expansion of the MCPAs system specific to the demo site. - Assessment of representativity of the demo site in terms of biodiversity, threats and root causes, barriers and opportunities; - information on baseline activities towards the expansion of the Russian MCPAs system, planned government funding and parallel projects targeting improvement of MCPAs management effectiveness and system expansion. - Provide recommendations on the full project activities. - stakeholder analysis including national and provincial government agencies, private sector, civil society and academic institutions specific to the demo site. 3. Propose replication strategy and plan for the full project including identification of potential lessons and knowledge products; stocktaking of existing MCPAs networks and partnerships; institutional systems and means for replication and up-scaling of demonstrated models. 4. Communicate with the national PPG team leader and an International Project Design Consultant recruited for the PPG and address their requests for additional information and inputs into the project. Deliverables: The following deliverables are expected from the consultancy contract. a. Compiled baseline information including up-dated threats and barriers to MCPA expansion and management effectiveness in the selected demonstration site; b. Management effectiveness tracking tool (METT) sheets for existing MCPAs in the demo site; c. Recommendation for the demo activities of the full project. Reporting and information inputs shall be provided in English language. Timeframe: June – September 2008 Qualifications: - Extensive and proven knowledge of the Russian marine and coastal biodiversity and PAs system; - Extensive experience in the development and/or management of projects addressing expansion and effectiveness of the Russian MCPA system; - Fluency in English.