Call for Short-term Consultants: UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative

CALL FOR CV’S: ROSTER OF EXPERTS The UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative (PEI) is updating its database of experts. From this roster, we will be hiring consultants to carry out individual short-term assignments related to mainstreaming poverty-environment linkages into development planning in selected countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), as needed. ABOUT THE UNDP-UNEP POVERTY-ENVIRONMENT INITIATIVE Experience continues to show the vital contribution more environmentally sustainable natural resource management can make to improving health, well-being and livelihood opportunities, especially for the poor. To fight poverty and achieve other development goals, we must place pro-poor economic growth and environmental sustainability at the heart of our development policies,systems and institutions. One way to do this is through the process that has come to be known as poverty-environment mainstreaming. This essentially aims to integrate the linkages between environmental sustainability and poverty reduction into government development processes and institutions, in order to maintain or enhance the stream of economic and social benefits generated from environmental natural resources such as soil and water. To achieve this, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) joined hands and launched the Poverty-Environment Initiative. The Initiative is a global UN programme that supports country-led efforts to mainstream poverty-environment linkages into national development planning, from policymaking to budgeting, implementation and monitoring. The Initiative provides financial and technical assistance to government partners to set up institutional and capacity strengthening programmes and carry out activities to better integrate environmentally sustainable natural resource use into development planning processes and budgets. The Initiative works in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Latin America-Caribbean. More information is available at www.unpei.org ABOUT POVERTY-ENVIRONMENT MAINSTREAMING The programmatic approach the Poverty-Environment Initiative recommends for mainstreaming poverty-environment linkages into national development planning comprises three components: Finding the entry points and making the case, which sets the stage for mainstreaming; Mainstreaming poverty-environment linkages into policy processes, which is focused on integrating poverty-environment linkages into an ongoing policy process, such as a PRSP or sector strategy, based on country-specific evidence; Meeting the implementation challenge, which is aimed at ensuring integration of poverty- environment linkages into budgeting, implementation and monitoring processes. This programmatic approach should be considered a flexible model to help guide the choice of activities, tactics, methodologies and tools in a particular country situation.

Duties and Responsibilities

In order to support countries who take on the challenge of poverty-environment mainstreaming, the PEI is looking for consultants with expertise and experience in one or more of the following areas: Institutional and capacity strengthening (including needs assessments, and administrative reforms); Assessments (including: integrated ecosystem assessments; strategic environmental and social assessments; and environmental and social impact assessments); Economics – development, natural resources (e.g. agriculture, fisheries, forestry, water), environmental - including experience with valuation, cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, environmental fiscal reform, public expenditure reviews); Mainstreaming of poverty and environment concerns into policymaking and budgets at national, sector or sub-national levels; National monitoring of poverty and environment related issues (including indicators development, data collection, management and analysis); Environmental and natural resource management law, (Including law that incorporates economic efficiency and equity elements); Public budgeting and financing, in particular related to supporting Ministry of Finance, undertaking sector expenditure reviews, and mainstreaming cross-cutting issues (e.g. HIV/AIDS, Gender and Environment) in budget and financial processes; Conducting monitoring and evaluation of projects and programmes in accordance with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and UN standards, with particular emphasis on drawing out lessons learned and best practice to inform strengthening of current initiative and design of subsequent phases; Stakeholder engagement, awareness raising, advocacy and communications (including media communication, and training, development of multimedia products, and development of communication materials); Editing and graphic design of knowledge sharing products (e.g. Annual Reports, technical working papers, posters, etc.). Facilitation of multi-stakeholder processes and report writing with a focus on synthesis of lessons learned and policy recommendation.

Competencies

Strong interpersonal skills with ability to multi-task and establish and maintain effective work relationships with people of broad cultural backgrounds. Ability to work as part of a team as well as take initiative to work independently where necessary. Excellent communication skills with ability to express ideas clearly, concisely and effectively, both orally and in writing.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in fields relevant to the area(s) of expertise. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Work Experience: A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in the environment and development fields, and/or in the area(s) of expertise as outlined above; Experience of mainstreaming cross-cutting issues (e.g. gender and equity, environment, HIV/AIDS) in development planning processes would be an added advantage; Extensive work experience in sub-Saharan Africa and/or Asia-Pacific and/or Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States and/or the Latin America and the Caribbean is required; Experience in national level planning and development processes including sector and sub-national planning, budgeting, monitoring systems is desirable. Languages: Working knowledge of French, Spanish, Russian and Portuguese is desirable.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Call for Short-term Consultants: UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative