Republic of Moldova

Local Consultant - Protected areas assessment and information gap analysis

Vacancy Number: 121 /Pr-2009

Background:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), acting as an implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is providing assistance to the Moldovan Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in the implementation of the GEF Medium Size Project (MSP) “Improving coverage and management effectiveness of the Protected Area System in Moldova”. The project aim to enhance the coverage and management effectiveness of the protected area system of Moldova by piloting - within the broader framework of the National Environmental Network - the establishment of the first National Park in Moldova, and by strengthening the capacities at the systemic, institutional and individual levels to establish and manage a representative protected area system.

Tasks and responsibilities:

The consultant will be responsible for desk based assessment and information gap analysis of the biodiversity of protected areas in Moldova: Identification, collation and consolidation of national biodiversity and protected area data:

• Identify extent and location of all existing information, incl. all ongoing and completed projects in the domain, on national biodiversity, species distribution, habitats, plant communities, ecosystems, land cover, protected areas and other classifications.
• Collate existing biodiversity information – incl. species lists, maps, ecosystem types and other available information - for the following categories of protected areas: Scientific reserves, Natural monuments, Habitat/Species Management Areas, Protected Landscapes, Managed Resource Protected Areas, Areas of multifunctional management and Monuments of landscape architecture.
• Identify major information gaps for each protected area and propose priorities for further site investigations.
• Identify major gaps in the PA system and suggest priorities for the designation of new sites.

Collate the results into a preliminary report entitled: ‘Biodiversity of protected areas in Moldova: current knowledge and information gaps’.

Qualifications and skills required:

• University or Advanced Degree (MA and Ph.D.) in botany, biology, forestry, biodiversity conservation, or other relevant fields.
• At least 5 years of professional experience in botany, biology, forestry, biodiversity conservation, or other relevant fields.;
• Work experience on projects financed by international organizations is an asset;
• Ability to analyze and generalize;
• Ability to work in a team;
• Excellent communications and writing skills in domain;
• Excellent PC skills, ability to use Internet;
• Fluency in Romanian and Russian. Knowledge of English is a strong asset;
• Responsibility, creativity, promptness and punctuality.

Terms of Reference

Personal History Form (P11)

Interested persons should submit their application letters, consisting of a duly completed Personal History Form (P11), and a Financial Proposal (number of working days and fee per day) for carrying out the tasks, with the mark: “National consultant for PAS” by 08 December  2009, 17:30 (local time) to the following address: UNDP Office, 131, 31 August 1989 Street, MD-2012, Chisinau, Moldova, alternatively by email to vacancies-moldova@undp.org.

Only those short listed will be contacted.

Failure of candidates to submit a duly completed P11 form, as well as false representations on this form, shall constitute sufficient grounds for withdrawal of further consideration of the application. All information provided in the P11 form will be treated as strictly confidential.