Name of Project/Unit: Mainstreaming Biodiversity Principles into Uzbekistan’s Oil and Gas Sector Policies and Operations/Environment and Energy Unit
Expected trips to: Ustyurt Plateau, Republic of Karakalpakstan
Uzbekistan’s steppes are one of the last remaining samples of the globally threatened dry temperate grassland biomes. Oil-and-gas exploration that is increasingly being targeted in these regions represents a primary threat for Uzbekistan’s steppes. In spite of the established network of protected areas, it cannot provide security to the vast swathes of steppes that lie outside the network. The long-term goal to which the Project means to contribute is that all ongoing and future oil-and-gas operations in Uzbekistan minimize their adverse impacts on biodiversity so that the conservation prospects of the affected ecosystems are greatly improved. The objective of the present project is to mainstream biodiversity conservation considerations into Uzbekistan’s oil-and-gas policies and operations by implementing a demonstration/pilot project in the Ustyurt Plateau. To fulfill the stated objective the Project will eliminate systemic, regulatory, and cognitive barriers through achieving two outcomes: a) enabling policy, legislative, and institutional environment for mainstreaming biodiversity conservation considerations into oil-and-gas sector, and b) demonstrating biodiversity mainstreaming technologies in oil-and-gas operations in the Ustyurt Plateau.
The following work was conducted during the previous project stage: regional and global experience in mainstreaming biodiversity conservation considerations into oil and gas sector studied; a study tour to Australia aimed to learn how to offset irreplaceable biodiversity losses conducted; an Ustyurt plateau map with three zones of different accessibility level for oil and gas companies prepared; number of indicator species determined; and biodiversity monitoring plan prepared. The Consultant to be hired will contribute to development of biodiversity conservation handbook and study materials, preparation of biodiversity conservations actions plans, and implementation process of these plans.
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The International Consultant on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, Mapping, and Offsets will work under general supervision of the Project Manager and responsible UNDP Officer and direct supervision of the Project Technical Coordinator. He/she will bear responsibility for the technical implementation of the project activities related to monitoring, mapping and biodiversity offsets and will execute the following targets:
In relation to additions to training materials:
- to analyze the training materials prepared by the Project and aimed at improving capacity of staff from State Committee for Nature Protection, Uzbek National Oil and Gas Holding Company, and oil and gas companies. The materials will be then forwarded to oil and gas universities;
- to conduct meetings with the employees of Uzbek National Oil and Gas Holding Company and oil and gas companies to determine the biodiversity conservation specialists’ capacity level in oil and gas sector operations;
- to prepare additional information based on analysis and meetings materials to be included in the training materials dedicated to ‘avoid-minimize-restore-compensate’ principle, biodiversity monitoring at oil and gas exploration sites, and application of biodiversity offsets. The information shall include modern global experience, including Business and Biodiversity Offset Programme (BBOP); Energy and Biodiversity Initiative (EIB), and other necessary materials;
- together with International Consultant on Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation Principles into Energy Sector to assist the Project’s national consultants indevelopment of training modules;
- to prepare proposals on organizing and conducting the workshops;
- based on the workshop outcomes to assist in improving of the training materials.
In relation to biodiversity and ecosystem management:
- to analyze the prepared by the Project terrestrial monitoring plan and results of the satellite images processing for the monitoring purposes;
- to analyze successful international experience of monitoring the condition of biodiversity affected by adverse impact of the extractive and other industries by terrestrial, aerial, and space-based methods, preferably in the natural conditions similar to those of Uzbekistan;
- to analyze the option of supplementing terrestrial monitoring with aerospace monitoring. To analyze the technical specifications of the high resolution spacecrafts needed to conduct biodiversity and ecosystem monitoring at the Project territory in the Ustyurt Plateau. To propose the most informative in terms of biodiversity and ecosystems condition indicators obtained by means of satellite images; images processing methods to obtain these indicators; and methods of these indicators application when assessing the biodiversity and ecosystems condition;
- to analyze international experience of aerial biodiversity monitoring, in particular, of vegetation communities and large animals. To propose the best ways to conduct monitoring and mathematically process the received data;
- based on the analysis results to prepare proposals on development of biodiversity and ecosystems monitoring plan that includes methods of terrestrial, aerial and space-based monitoring and sets up the objects, terms, composition and scope of work for the Project’s national consultants.
In relation to mapping:
- to analyze international experience (BBOP, EIB and other necessary materials, especially Australia’s experience) on highlighting and mapping the degraded ecosystems parts with the decreased biodiversity due to adverse impact of extractive and other industries, preferably in the natural conditions similar to those of Uzbekistan;
- to analyze international experience (BBOP, EIB and other necessary materials, especially Australia’s experience) on highlighting and mapping the ecosystems parts to compensate the irreplaceable biodiversity losses, preferably in the natural conditions similar to those of Uzbekistan, and taking into account the mandatory no net loss result and/or net gain to the biodiversity at the offset site in comparison with the biodiversity at the affected site.
In relation to biodiversity offsets:
- to analyze international experience (BBOP, EIB and other necessary materials, especially Australia’s experience, to be used as a biodiversity offset basis: EIA of the extractive and other industries facilities, such facilities audit materials, and materials of monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystems located in such facilities vicinity, preferably in the natural conditions similar to those of Uzbekistan. To assess advantages and weaknesses of applying EIA, audit and monitoring and provide recommendations;
- to analyze the prepared by the Project additions to EIA and Regulation on ecological audit. Upon necessity to provide additional materials on international experience (BBOP, EIB and other necessary materials) allowing to assess direct and indirect impact on biodiversity;
- to conduct meetings with Uzbek National Oil and Gas Holding Company and oil and gas companies staff to identify their capacity level in designing and implementing biodiversity offsets in oil and gas sector operations;
- based on the analysis and meetings materials to prepare proposals on development of the general approach to designing a biodiversity offset for irreplaceable biodiversity losses, both direct and indirect, for extractive and other industries facilities in conditions of Uzbekistan, and especially for the Project territory of the Ustyurt Plateau;
- to prepare for the Project’s national consultants proposals on designing a biodiversity offset for irreplaceable biodiversity losses, both direct and indirect, for Surgil Project executed by UzKorGasChemical / new oil and gas facility in the Ustyurt Plateau, as well as on stakeholders participation in design and implementation of the offset;
- to prepare for the Project’s national consultants proposals on designing a biodiversity offset for irreplaceable biodiversity losses, both direct and indirect, for Shakhpahty site in the Ustyurt Plateau, as well as on stakeholders participation in design and implementation of the offset.
In relation to additions to the Handbook on biodiversity conservation approaches in oil and gas sector:
- together with International Consultant on Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation Principles into Energy Sector to prepare for the Project’s national consultants the proposals on inclusion in the Handbook of the developed materials on biodiversity monitoring, mapping and offsets.
The Consultant shall submit the results of his/her work in accordance with the established stages and time schedule. The beginning and end dates of the stages, as well as the work scope under each stage may be adjusted by the Project Manager subject to Consultant’s sound reasoning. The Project reserves the right, in case of necessity, to make changes to the Consultant’s Terms of Reference based on the written agreement between parties. All reports shall be submitted by the expert in Russian language.
Expected Outcomes:
Stage 1:
- The training materials prepared by the Project analyzed.
- Uzbek National Oil and Gas Holding Company and oil and gas companies’ staff’s capacity assessed.
- Additional information to be included in the training materials prepared. Development of training modules received assistance.
- International experience of terrestrial and aerospace monitoring analyzed.
- Proposal on biodiversity and ecosystems monitoring plan preparation provided.
Report on Stage 1 prepared and submitted (35%): Deadline: May 20, 2013
Stage 2
- International experience on highlighting and mapping the degraded ecosystem parts analyzed.
- International experience on highlighting and mapping the ecosystem parts to compensate the irreplaceable biodiversity losses analyzed.
Report on Stage 2 prepared and submitted (30%) Deadline: August 10, 2013
Stage 3
- International experience on using the EIA, audit, and monitoring materials as the basis for the biodiversity offsets analyzed.
- Proposals on development of general approach to design of a biodiversity offset to compensate the irreplaceable biodiversity losses prepared for the extractive and other industries’ facilities in the conditions of Uzbekistan.
- Proposals on design of the biodiversity offsets to compensate the irreplaceable biodiversity losses prepared for Surgil Project and Shakhpahty site.
Report on Stage 3 prepared and submitted (35%). Deadline: December 25, 2013
Payment Terms:
This is a lump sum contract that should include all costs of consultancy, including costs of international and local travel, accommodation and meal (DSA or per diems) and visa costs required to produce the abovementioned deliverables. Payments will be released in 3 instalments to be made upon timely submission of respective deliverables in English and their acceptance by the Supervisor and UNDP CO.
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Education:
- Higher education in the corresponding field (ecology, conservation research, natural resources management) or adjacent field.
Experience:
- At least 5 years of the corresponding work experience in projects related to natural resources management, biodiversity conservation in extractive sector operations, designing of biodiversity offsets, preferably in the natural conditions similar to those of Uzbekistan.
Languages:
- Perfect command of English language. Knowledge of Russian languages is an advantage.
Other:
- Practical experience of application of BBOP and EBI approaches for biodiversity conservation in extractive sector operations and, in particular, of oil and gas sector, preferably in the natural conditions similar to those of Uzbekistan.
- Practical experience in designing, approval, and implementation of irreplaceable biodiversity losses offsets with participation of government and private partners, preferably in the natural conditions similar to those of Uzbekistan.
- Practical experience in biodiversity condition monitoring with application of space photography, preferably in the natural conditions similar to those of Uzbekistan. Experience in selecting spacecraft in accordance with the required characteristics and processing the satellite images for the purpose of biodiversity monitoring.
- Practical experience in preparation of workshops and trainings on monitoring methods and ‘avoid-minimize-restore-compensate’ principle in oil and gas sector operations.
- Experience of work in collaboration with government bodies and private companies.
- Ability to work in close cooperation with local partners.
- Awareness of UNDP procedures is an advantage. Responsibility in work, ability to provide quality work results within the established tight schedules.
- Adequate knowledge and user skills of application of ICT as means of work process organization in the most efficient and cost-saving way.
DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
P-11 form
Applicants are encouraged to fill and sign a P11 Form and submit it on the online application.
Application process: To submit your application online, please follow the steps below:
- Download and complete the UN Personal History Form (P11).
- Merge your P11, Proposals and other relevant documents into a single file.
- Click on the Job Title.
- Click “Apply Now” button, fill in necessary information on the first page, and click “Submit Application”.
- Upload your application.
You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system.
Only Shortlisted candidates will be requested to provide financial offer.
EVALUATION
Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:
Cumulative analysis
The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Technical Criteria weight; [70%]
- At least 5 years of the corresponding work experience in projects related to natural resources management, biodiversity conservation in extraction sector operations, designing of biodiversity offsets, preferably in the natural conditions similar to those of Uzbekistan. Score - 30%
- Higher education in the corresponding field (ecology, conservation research, natural resources management) or adjacent field. Score - 25%
- Perfect command of English language. Score - 15%
Financial Criteria weight; [30%]
FC: 62000
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