RFP - Individual Consultant for Documentation of Best Practices on Sustainable Land Management in Forestry, Agriculture, Grassland and Wetlands Ecosystems

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About the Organization

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all. With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

• Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs
• Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized
• Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability,

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

About the Proposal

Position	Individual Consultant for Documentation of Best Practices on Sustainable Land Management in Forestry, Agriculture, Grassland and Wetlands Ecosystems.
Project	Sustainable management and restoration of degraded landscapes for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in India
Duty Station	New Delhi
Supervisor	Programme Manager
Contract Duration	04 months

Project Background and Description:

The Action for Climate and Environment (ACE) Unit at UNDP is organized around the thematic areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem & land restoration, disaster management and resilience, and access to clean and efficient energy.

The Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity pillar of ACE is supporting the Government of India in meeting national development objectives along with commitments under important multilateral environment agreements especially the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The programme/projects under the pillar have been supporting the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), National and State level planning for land restoration and biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration, carbon sequestration through enhanced restoration, promotion of nature-based livelihoods and One Health approach.

UNDP is supporting the Ministry in the implementation of a GEF -7 project “Sustainable management and restoration of degraded landscapes for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in India”. The project aims to achieve land degradation neutrality by creating additional carbon sinks through an ecosystem-based approach for restoring degraded agricultural, forest, pastoral lands, and surface water bodies. It involves enabling institutional frameworks and policies for integrated sustainable land management practices and up-scaling landscape-wide practices in 3 states Gujarat (Banas Katha and Bhuj), Maharashtra (Nandurbar and Aurangabad) and Madhya Pradesh (Chhindwara) contributing to the national target of restoring 26 Mha of degraded lands by 2030.

The project being implemented over a period of five years will lead to the following outcomes: (1) Enhanced national, state and district-level enabling frameworks incentivizing SLM practices and supporting participatory multi-sector platforms to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate mitigation; (2) Integrated participatory landscape design and financing models established in support of avoidance, reduction and reversal of land degradation, desertification, biodiversity loss and negative impacts of climate change to generates multiple sustained environmental and economic benefits; (3) Improved capacity for LDN monitoring, assessment and reporting to UNCCD in support of LDN target setting and evaluation of capacities of partners; allowing government institutions and other agencies to better document, analyse and disseminate effective intervention strategies for restoring productive landscapes and replication of best practices at national and state level, and at international level through improved South-South cooperation, knowledge and adaptive management.

United Nations Development Programme on behalf of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is seeking to engage a seasoned expert for documentation of best practices on sustainable land management in Forestry, Agriculture, Grassland and Wetlands Ecosystems. Working closely with the Program Manager, NRM & Biodiversity, UNDP, and Landscape project management units, the consultant will undertake review of secondary literatures, project documents, articles, sectoral annual reports, conduct meetings, with line departments to identify best practices in agriculture, forestry, wetland and grassland ecosystems on sustainable land management, natural farming methods, improving water use efficiency, women led conservation actions.

Scope of Work:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of existing land restoration initiatives, procedures and successful sustainable land management practices in agriculture, wetlands, forest and grasslands ecosystems.
• Gather data from past projects, case studies, performance reports , interviews or focus groups discussions with key stakeholders to gather insights and identify patterns
• Document relevant technologies (GIS, remote sensing, agroforestry techniques, soil conservation tools, bioengineering techniques etc.) that support SLM.
• Document case studies where gender-inclusive strategies have led to improved land restoration outcomes.
• Identify successful models and best practices implemented at national and state level.
• Identify traditional and indigenous land management practices that align with LDN principles.
• Compare best practices across different land-use sectors, highlighting interlinkages and synergies.
• Identify potential risks or pitfalls that should be avoided when applying these best practices
• Develop compendium of best practices related to gender inclusive sustainable land management and land degradation neutrality.

Eligibility

Education requirements: A Masters or higher degree in Forestry / Wildlife/ Agriculture / Social or Environmental Science or related field is essential.

Work Experience:

• 10 years of relevant experience working on programmes and projects related to forestry, wildlife, agriculture, natural resources management and landscape restoration.
• Working experience on the conservation aspects in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
• Must have atleast 5 publications or technical reports on conservation.

Languages: Excellent command in written and spoken English and Hindi.

Competencies:

Functional Competencies:

• Knowledge of landscape restoration, natural resource management and sustainable land management programmes of India.
• Proven record on similar documentation work at the national level and in project states (Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh)
• Outstanding communication and organizational skills.
• Excellent drafting, documentation and science communication skills in English
• A good understanding of writing reports for UN agencies, GEF, World Bank or multilateral bodies and international NGOs

Corporate Competencies:

• Promote the highest standards of ethics and integrity
• Support creativity and innovation
• Help create an enabling environment for open communication
• Share knowledge and support a culture of learning
• Demonstrate fairness and transparency

How to Apply

Deadline: 12-May-25 @ 08:00 AM (New York time)

For more information please check the Link

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Tags Environment and Sustainability Rural Development Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Others