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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.