Senior Advisor for Biodiversity and Ecological Science

Organization: UNDP Saudi Arabia, through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development (SOC).

VA No. VA24-62

Position Title: Senior Advisor for Biodiversity and Ecological Science

Duty Station: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Duration: 1 Year

Vacancy Date of Issue: 24 April 2024

Vacancy Closure Date: 1 May 2024

Expected Starting Date: 15 May 2024

This vacancy is announced by UNDP Saudi Arabia through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development (SOC). SOC is a sub-contractor for UNDP Saudi Arabia, assisting the programme in implementing their activities through HR and contract management of consultants working in their support.

Project Title

Strengthening institutional and technical capacities of National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification.

Project Description

In support of the realization of the ambitious Saudi Arabia and Middle East Green initiative under the Saudi Vision 2030, the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification (NCVC) has been tasked with combating desertification, rehabilitating forest vegetation cover, protecting local endangered plant species and managing national parks. This project is designed to support NCVC in increasing necessary institutional, technical, and technological capacities to realize its mandate more effectively and efficiently. The enhanced NCVC capacity will be achieved through transforming information technology and digital capabilities, establishing cooperation and strengthening its network internationally; and promoting forest conservation practices, and increasing environmental awareness to ensure the long-term sustainability of NCVC activities at the policy level and on the ground. The project will support the achievement of the ambitious Saudi Green Initiative by designing a model of a tree nursery and seed bank with a road map for establishing a large-scale nursery facility to meet the Kingdom’s afforestation goals, along with aligning policy and standards of tree planting and creating a mechanism to coordinate the afforestation work among different actors. These objectives will be achieved through a whole- of-society approach, in close partnership with the private sector, academia, youth, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the long-term sustainability of the activities across the project lifecycle and beyond. This project will build upon the long-standing Standard Basic Framework Agreement (SBBA) which was agreed upon between the Kingdom and the UNDP in 1975.

The project expected outputs are:

Output 1: Strengthening international biodiversity cooperation and network.

Output 2: Promoting conservation practices and strengthening environmental awareness via advocacy and outreach

Output 3: Model tree nursery design and biodiversity conservation.

Output 4: Transformation of information technology and digital infrastructure.

Output 5: Strengthening institutional and technical capacity.

Scope of Work

The Senior Advisor for Biodiversity and Ecological Science will play a key role in developing the capacity of the NCVC to provide and manage biodiversity on NCVC lands and waters. This will include providing strategic guidance, biodiversity policy development, planning, management, governance, research, monitoring and standards and communication relevant to the role of the NCVC. The scope of work will include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Strategic Planning and Partnership Development:

   • Develop a strategic plan for the development of sustainable biodiversity across NCVC lands and waters

   • Identify key stakeholders, potential partners, and international entities with expertise and best practices relevant to the NCVC’s mandates.

   • Develop a strategic plan for international cooperation and partnerships related to biodiversity and ecological science aligned with the NCVC’s vision and goals.

   • Establish and maintain relationships with global and regional conservation, biodiversity entities, organizations, and experts working in the field of biodiversity associated with ecosystems conservation, forest planning and monitoring, and national park management (eg UNESCO, IUCN)

   • Represent the NCVC in national and international biodiversity and ecological science conferences, workshops, and forums to showcase its work and build partnerships.

     Policy Development and Knowledge Sharing:

     • Provide strategic advice and support in the development and implementation of policies, legislation, and regulatory frameworks related to sustainable biodiversity and ecological science.
     • Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration through conferences, workshops, field visits, study tours, and exchange programs with national and international entities and partners.
     • Facilitate knowledge-sharing and capacity-building activities on international best practices, standards, and innovative approaches in the field of biodiversity and ecological science.
     • Adopt or develop internationally recognized standards for biodiversity and ecological science services including visitor facilities, communications, and education.
     • Initiate relevant capacity-building programs for NCVC staff and relevant stakeholders across, biodiversity and ecological science.
     • Contribute to the production of knowledge products, policy briefs, and research papers to enhance the NCVC’s visibility and thought leadership in the national and international arena.

biodiversity and ecological science Planning, Development and Management

• Develop or modify existing planning tools for the selection of priority areas for biodiversity and on NCVC lands and waters.
• Develop or modify planning tools suitable for the natural and cultural settings of the Kingdom, biodiversity and ecological science on NCVC lands and waters.
• Develop or modify tools to assist in the development and management of biodiversity on NCVC lands and waters.
• Collaborate with responsible Divisions within NCVC to ensure the integration of biodiversity. Within overarching management plans.

Research, Monitoring Evaluation and Standards

• Develop a monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the progress and impact of the biodiversity initiatives.
• Commission biodiversity research that has an applied focus to guide NCVC and biodiversity businesses operating within and adjacent to NCVS lands and waters.

Governance and Activation

• Contribute to the development of regulations, by-laws, leases and permitting systems that will apply to biodiversity.
• Establish a multi-disciplinary team to provide specialist biodiversity and ecological science input into the various divisions of NCVC and within protected areas.
• Contribute to the development of consumer-focused information, promotion and marketing of biodiversity and ecological science options on NCVC lands and waters.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Strategic Planning and Partnership Development:

• Develop a strategic plan for the development of biodiversity and ecological science across NCVC lands and waters
• Prepare a report identifying key stakeholders, potential partners, and international entities with expertise and best practices relevant to the NCVC’s mandates, including a strategic plan for international cooperation and partnerships related to biodiversity and ecological science aligned with the NCVC’s vision and goals.
• Develop a plan and schedule to engage with global and regional conservation of biodiversity and ecological science, organizations, and experts based around building relationships, contributing to their initiatives, and attending strategic meetings.

Policy Development and Knowledge Sharing:

• Reports on strategic advice and support provided in the development and implementation of policies, legislation, and regulatory frameworks
• Report on technical inputs and collaboration efforts through conferences, workshops, field visits, study tours, and exchange programs with national and international entities and partners.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity-building activities on international best practices, standards, and innovative approaches in the field of biodiversity.
• Document internationally recognized standards for biodiversity and ecological science services including visitor facilities, communications, and education/interpretation.
• Report on capacity building programmes undertaken for NCVC staff and relevant stakeholders.
• Report on the production of knowledge products, policy briefs, and research papers to enhance the NCVC’s visibility and thought leadership in the national and international arena.

Biodiversity and ecological science Planning, Development and Management

• Develop and document planning tools for the selection of priority areas for biodiversity on NCVC lands and waters.
• Develop and document planning tools suitable for the natural and cultural settings of the Kingdom, for biodiversity on NCVC lands and waters.
• Development and document tools to assist in the development and management of biodiversity on NCVC lands and waters.
• Report on collaboration with responsible Divisions within NCVC to ensure the integration of biodiversity within overarching management plans.

Research, Monitoring Evaluation and Standards

• Develop and document a monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the progress and impact of the biodiversity initiatives.
• Report on biodiversity and ecological science research that has been undertaken to guide NCVC and biodiversity businesses operating within and adjacent to NCVC’s lands and waters.
• Prepare a report on the recommended approach to certification/codes of conduct for biodiversity operations.

Governance and Activation

• Prepare a report on policy recommendations in relation to the development of regulations, by-laws, leases, permitting and charging regimes that may apply to biodiversity.
• Prepare recommendations for the establishment of a multi-disciplinary team to provide specialist biodiversity and ecological science input into the various divisions of NCVC and within protected areas.
• Strategic plan on the development of consumer-focused information, promotion and marketing of biodiversity and ecological science on NCVC lands and waters.

Note: The specific deliverables and timelines will be determined in consultation with the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) and may be subject to adjustment and refinement during the project based on evolving needs and priorities.

Institutional Arrangement

The Senior Advisor for Biodiversity and Ecological Science will work under the direct supervision of National Project Coordinator at NCVC and indirectly to the National Project Officer at UNDP.

Duration of the Work

• The expected duration of the work is 12 months.
• The project is anticipated to start on [15 May 2024] and end on [15 May 2025].
• The completion of deliverables and milestones will be spread out throughout the duration of the project, with specific timelines provided in the deliverables table.
• The timeline for review and feedback on deliverables will be communicated by the Project Manager at the NCVC.
• Any adjustments or extensions to the duration of the work will be mutually agreed upon by the Senior Advisor for Biodiversity and Ecological Science and the NCVC, considering the project’s progress and requirements.

Duty Station

• This assignment will be part-time in both Riyadh NCVC and the advisor’s home country.
• UNDP will cover the return tickets to/from the duty station
• If unforeseen travel outside the consultant’s duty station city is requested by UNDP and not required by the Terms of References (ToR), such travel shall be covered by UNDP in line with applicable rules and regulations and upon prior written agreement. In such cases, the consultant shall receive living allowances not exceeding the United Nations (UN) Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rate for such other location(s).

Note: A written approval from UNDP and relevant authorities will be required to facilitate the consultant’s travel to any locations than stated on this TOR on official missions where necessary.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

An advanced university degree (Ph.D.) in a field closely related to environmental sciences,

Experiences:

Minimum of 20 years of progressive experience in international cooperation and partnerships, preferably in the field of environmental conservation and sustainable development.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in the creation and operation of biodiversity operational units within government sectors.
• Experience in protected area management and the management of biodiversity on protected areas.
• Experience in the creation and management of multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of international biodiversity and ecological science and conservation cooperation frameworks and mechanisms.
• Proven experience in establishing and managing partnerships with national and international organizations and government agencies.
• Strategic planning and negotiation skills.
• Analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Communication and interpersonal skills.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Familiarity with the environmental challenges of the Middle East region.
• Experience with national and international stakeholders on biodiversity and ecological science projects.
• Knowledge of sustainable development goals and their implementation in the context of environmental tourism initiatives.
• Project management skills and experience in overseeing complex projects.
• Experience organizing and convening national and international biodiversity and ecological science conference events.

Language:

Excellent proficiency in English (both written and spoken) is required.