Consultancy to develop TFCA Land-use Plan

Result of ServiceBuilding on existing management plans and working in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife of Zambia and Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe focal points, a land use plan for the LOZAMAP TFCA is produced that supports the development of an Integrated Development Plan which is needed to establish a treaty recognized by the partner countries for the LOZAMAP TFCA. Work LocationHome-based Expected duration3.5 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesA consultant is required to support the CMS-led component of the EU-funded project Cross-Regional Wildlife Conservation in Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, Specific Objective 3: The establishment and sustainable management of Trans-Frontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) promoted and strengthened, namely, Result 3.4 Ecosystem / Landscape management plans and/or protected area management plans prepared for TFCAs and formally approved by the responsible management authorities of all countries. The Lower Zambezi – Mana Pools TFCA (LOZAMAP TFCA) between Zambia and Zimbabwe is one of the TFCAs, which the Project has identified as focus area. Zambia and Zimbabwe signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the LOZAMAP TFCA on 26 May 2023 paving the way for the TFCA’s formal establishment. This means that the TFCA has been categorized as Proposed TFCA (Category B) in the SADC TFCA Programme 2023-2033, a TFCA with signed MoU and with a description of the proposed location. The MoU provides for an interim arrangement that facilitate negotiations towards the signing of a binding Agreement to formally establish the TFCA. The Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe have requested the CMS Secretariat to support the elaboration of a land use plan for the LOZAMAP TFCA. This is also in line with the activities proposed in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) TFCA Programme of Work 2023-2033, namely, Goal 1 Integrated and Effective Management of Transboundary Landscapes and Seascapes - Output 1.1 Integrated transboundary land and seascape planning applied in SADC TFCAs - Activity 1.1.2 Develop and implement participatory joint integrated transboundary land and seascape natural resource management plans in TFCAs to ensure sustainable management of shared resources. These are commonly referred to as Integrated Development Plans (IDP). The IDP establishes co-management arrangements and equitable benefit-sharing schemes where there are overlaps with existing formal land designations, such as protected areas. The land use plan will support the development of the IDP, as it will identify areas suitable for conservation and for other activities as part of the TFCA management with the aim to harmonize broader development and conservation objectives. The land use plan consists of the allocation of land to different uses across a landscape in a way that balances economic, social and environmental values. Its purpose is to identify, for the LOZAMAP TFCA, the combination of land uses that is best able to meet the needs of stakeholders while safeguarding natural resources for the future. The land use plan will provide direction on the land-use activities that should take place and encourages synergies between different uses. It will require the coordination of planning and management across many sectors concerned with land use and land resources in the LOZAMAP TFCA. The consultant will undertake the following tasks, working in close consultation with the Steering Committee: 1) Analyze the current situation within the LOZAMAP TFCA • Screen current policies and laws, financial mechanisms and incentives as well as decision-making processes. • Analyze sectoral plans, land use patterns, trends, evolving needs, and challenges, including conflicts with conservation priorities. • Compile biogeographical information - climate, topography, soil, etc. • Analyze water resources and management, ecosystem services and climate change vulnerability. • Identify the key stakeholders, including socio-economic and gender aspects. • Identify current or future conflicting areas across different land use sectors. Output: Situational analysis. 2) Carry-out stakeholder consultations Conduct a mission to the LOZAMAP TFCA to meet with principal stakeholders so as to: • Consult with governmental and non-governmental stakeholders regarding the detailed objectives of the land use plan. • Consult with communities regarding their current land uses, land use practices, needs and expectations from land use planning in the context of the formal establishment of the TFCA; • Consult with private businesses, operating within the TFCA on their needs; • Prepare substantive report on consultations and document the planning process as well as decisions agreed. The mission will require approximately 6 days and travel should be arranged by the consultant. Output: Report on stakeholder consultations. 3) Draft, verify and finalize the land use plan Ensuring that stakeholder needs and expectations are taken into consideration: • Prepare a draft land use plan, including GIS-based maps, based on national and international best practice, to serve as the basis for decisions on natural resources use, protection and management within the TFCA; • Conduct a risk assessment to identify potential risks associated with the implementation of the plan, such as legal, financial, environmental, or social risks, and propose mitigating strategies. • Design and facilitate a validation workshop of the draft land use plan with stakeholders in order to finalize the Plan (costs of workshop to be covered separately by CMS Secretariat); • Submit the land use plan for approval by relevant authorities and stakeholder representatives. Output: Finalized land use plan. Qualifications/special skillsRequired is a consultant with the following qualifications and experience: • A degree in Land Use Policy and Planning, Land Management or in a field relevant to the above assignment; • Minimum of 7 years professional experience in projects related to land use and planning; • Knowledge and experience of community-based natural resource management, social land management, land management and land-use planning in Eastern and Southern Africa is an advantage; • Extensive knowledge of ecological landscapes, threats to the environment and wildlife conservation, transboundary cooperation and socio-economic development challenges in Eastern and Southern Africa; • Direct experience in planning for the establishment of TFCAs, and in writing Protected Area management plans is an advantage; • Familiarity with land-use mapping systems, particularly GIS; • Experience in community participatory consultations and negotiations; • Excellent communication skills with experience in facilitating stakeholder consultations and preparing high-quality reports; • Strong analytical skills with the ability to transfer analytical results into simple and workable solutions; • Working experience in government projects in Eastern and Southern Africa is an advantage; • Advanced University degree in a field related to natural resource management and/ or regional development planning and; • Demonstrable skills in office computer use word processing, spread sheets, etc. Do you have knowledge of ecological landscapes, threats to the environment and wildlife conservation, transboundary cooperation and socio-economic development challenges in Eastern and Southern Africa? Do you have experience in community participatory consultations and negotiations? Are you familiar with land-use mapping systems, particularly GIS? Do you have direct experience in planning for the establishment of TFCAs, and in writing Protected Area management plans? LanguagesProficiency in written and oral English. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.