CONSULTANT: CONSULTANT FOR BIO TRADE, PEACE SECTION (NATIONAL CONSULTANT)

UNDP Indonesia’s mission is to be an agent for change in the human and social development of Indonesia. We aim to be a bridge between Indonesia and all donors as well as a trusted partner to all stakeholders. We work in four key areas of development: Governance Reforms, Pro-Poor Policy Reforms, Conflict Prevention and Recovery, and Environment Management, with the overarching aim of reducing poverty in Indonesia. Besides the four priority areas, UNDP Indonesia is also engaged in a variety of crosscutting initiatives focused on HIV/AIDS, gender equality, and information and technology for development.

The UNDP through Strengthening Sustainable Peace and Development in Aceh (SSPDA) programme in Aceh works on improving the security and stability of the region through the support to reintegration of ex-combatants and associated groups. The economic reintegration of ex-combatants and associated groups into communities is an essential part of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) process, and UNDP works to constantly improve and expand opportunities for the economic reintegration of these groups within its programmes.

The UNCTAD BioTrade Initiative supports the sustainable use of natural resources and ecosystem services that are derived from biodiversity, in terms of ecological, social, and economic sustainability. BioTrade represents a way to integrate the sustainable use of natural resources to support economic development in areas of high biodiversity, and thus has potential to contribute significantly to the economic reintegration work being supported by UNDP.

Aceh is a province of Indonesia with some 3.97 million inhabitants, and is widely known to be rich in natural resources. The conflict in Aceh lasted for over 30 years, until the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Indonesia (GoI) in 2005, after the devastating tsunami of December 2004 that rendered much of Aceh in desperate need of assistance and rebuilding. DDR programs began disarming combatants in late 2005, and reintegration is still taking place.

UNDP and UNCTAD have agreed to collaborate on a joint initiative to promote BioTrade as an option for the promotion of sustainable economic reintegration of ex-combatants and associated groups. Because Aceh is an ideal region to explore the BioTrade potential due to its high levels of biodiversity, both organizations have agreed to collaborate on undertaking a pilot assessment study in the province which will lead to the use of the UNCTAD BioTrade Methodology to support value chains for BioTrade Products through ex-combatants, associated groups and vulnerable members of the community.

Objectives
The main goal of the proposed collaboration between UNDP/BCPR/DDR and UNCTAD BioTrade will be to build on both programmes’ expertise and comparative advantages to enhance their work on supporting peace, recovery and sustainable development and to providing practical and effective socio-economic alternatives, such as BioTrade, for conflict stricken areas.

Taking into consideration this overall aim and the ongoing activities and commitments established by both programmes for 2009, it was decided that the collaboration between UNDP/BCPR/DDR and UNCTAD BioTrade should be strategically aimed at achieving two very specific objectives.

The first objective refers to identifying the various ways in which BioTrade concepts and methodologies can serve as important entry points and opportunities to support DDR approaches and strategies. Specifically, it will assess the potential contributions of Biotrade to DDR in the following terms:

• Economic reintegration, including through targeted and community-based livelihoods and income generation activities;
• Social reintegration and cohesion, including through life skills and vocational skills training;
• Applicability to special needs groups (women, youth and children); and
• Use for gender-responsive programming.

These findings will then be incorporated into the review of IDDRS module 4.30 on social and economic reintegration which UNDP co-leads with ILO within the framework of the Inter-Agency Working Group on DDR during the first semester of 2009. The specific entry points identified to be used in DDR strategies will be defined and prioritized within this framework. The proposed partnership between UNCTAD and UNDP will allow the DDR team to assess the possibility of integrating BioTrade among the social and economic reintegration opportunities in the review of the IDDRS module 4.30 and for upcoming programming. Biotrade has the potential to be an important option in future DDR work, and UNDP is keen to develop expertise in biotrade as a livelihoods and income generation option.

The partnership is logical in that Aceh is an ideal region to explore the possibilities of Biotrade, due to its high levels of biodiversity. Aceh is also an area where market developments are threatened by the potential of conflict, and thus sustainable the reintegration of ex-combatants and associated members of armed forces can contribute to stability and security in the region. UNDP’s programs on DDR are designed to enhance the security situation in the area by giving ex-combatants and community members the chance to reintegrate into society and to foster sustainable and peaceful livelihoods and income generation.

Objective of the Assignment
The general objective of this assignment is to prepare an assessment study of the BioTrade potential in Indonesia, Aceh. This practical document will guide the activities carried out in Aceh by UNDP/ SSPDA programme, in particular the economic reintegration component for women formerly associated with armed forces and groups and UNCTAD’s BioTrade Initiative. The results obtained will determine the strategy behind the development of the programme and its action plan as well as a mechanism that will allow the implementation of BioTrade activities to be used in the reintegration of ex-combatants and associated groups in the Aceh region.

Scope of work and Expected Results/Deliverables/Final Products
The National Consultant will work under direct supervision of UNDP SSPDA’s Team Leader based in Indonesia, Aceh and UNCTAD BioTrade Experts based in Geneva, Switzerland and in close consultation/collaboration with the Director of Terres des Hommes Italy (TdH) as the implementing agency of UNDP/SSPDA. Under the direction of SSPDA Team Leader and Head of Peace Section, specific outputs/deliverables expected during this period are:

• An assessment document that identifies and analyzes the needs, conditions and potential development opportunities of Aceh regarding trade and investment in products and services derived from Aceh’s biodiversity. The study should not be longer than 30 pages and should serve as a basis for the implementation of a joint UNDP-UNCTAD pilot initiative in Indonesia, Aceh. The study will be written in Indonesian and will be translated into English to allow a broader dissemination of the document to number of key stakeholders.
• Provide a practical overview of existing biodiversity products, the available capacities and needs of the initiatives involved in their production and promotion, as well as assess their existing market opportunities. In addition, provide practical recommendations on how to tackle the needs and to capture the opportunities of the biodiversity products that are being identified in the consultancy. List of products and services derived from biodiversity available and with potential for participation in BioTrade related activities, as well as the identification of elements that ease their market analysis and promotion.
• Identify and prioritize local and/or national actors relevant to the sustainable use of biodiversity that should be involved in the development and implementation of the joint UNDP-UNCTAD Programme and propose a strategy for collaboration between these actors. List of potential pilot projects (mainly existing projects that require small additional financial resources), as well as the activities required to develop these projects.
• Propose a structure of the programme, defining the role of potential actors and their collaboration strategy:

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Professionalism

• Demonstrated ability to complete studies and to formulate conclusions/ recommendations.
• Ability to relate key issues including gender, environment, governance, to political, economic, social and human rights programmes in affected country/region.
• Commitment to Continuous Learning – Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the field.
• Communications – Very good communication (spoken and written) skills, including the ability to convey concepts and recommendations, both orally and in writing, in a clear, concise style.
• Technology Awareness – Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, internal databases, Internet, etc.
• Teamwork – Very good interpersonal skills, including ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in economics, natural resource management, development studies or relevant fields. Advanced university degree (Masters or above) in law or relevant social science fields.
• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience working on trade, business development and/or sustainable development and ecosystem services that are derived from biodiversity, in terms of ecological, social, and economic sustainability.
• A minimum of 7 years relevant professional experience, in economics and knowledge in natural resources and sustainable ecosystem services. Preferably in developing countries including Indonesia is an advance and post-crisis contexts.
• Solid field research experience required.
• Understanding of bio-trade concepts and principles, and environmental issues including sustainable agriculture, and conservation.
• Experience in conducting assessments within the framework of recovery and/or development programmes, as well as in working with communities and companies.
• Familiarity with data collection and validation methods (key informants interviews, focus group discussions, workshops, peer review groups, etc).
• Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills would be an asset.
• Fluency in English with excellent written communication skills and extensive experience in writing reports.
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written).
• Team worker able to work cooperatively with colleagues in a multi-cultural context.

Apply Now

Application Deadline: 21 May 2009