Consultant to Carry out a Survey of Lions in the Mid to Lower Region of Zimbabwe

UNDP

Location : Harare, ZIMBABWE

Application Deadline : 19-Jul-21 (Midnight New York, USA)

Time left : 2d 20h 36m

Additional Category : Climate & Disaster Resilience

Type of Contract : Individual Contract

Post Level : National Consultant

Languages Required : English

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 30-Jul-2021

Duration of Initial Contract : 60 working days

Expected Duration of Assignment : 60 working days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry (MECTHI), in partnership with the UNDP, is implementing a 6-year GEF funded project entitled “Strengthening Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management and Climate-Smart Landscapes in the Mid to Lower Zambezi Region of Zimbabwe,” known locally as the Zambezi Valley Biodiversity Project (ZVBP). The project is implemented under a National Implementation Modality (NIM) where MECTHI is the Implementing Partner. This is a child project being implemented under a global parent programme entitled “Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development.” The project seeks to address multiple threats to biodiversity and sustainable community development in the Lower Zambezi which include poaching and associated wildlife trade, retaliatory killing of wildlife, deforestation, and associated land degradation due to unsustainable agriculture and firewood consumption, and uncontrolled veld fires. The project is being implemented in Hurungwe, Mbire and Muzarabani Districts as well as Mana Pools National Park, and Chewore, Sapi, Hurungwe, Dande, Charara and Doma Safari Areas.

The Zimbabwe project is therefore a multifocal area project whose objective is to promote an integrated landscape approach to managing wildlife resources, carbon and ecosystem services in the face of climate change in the protected areas and communal lands of the Mid to Lower Zambezi Regions of Zimbabwe. The project has 4 components namely: Component 1. Strengthening capacity and governance frameworks for integrated wildlife and woodland management and wildlife/forest crime enforcement in Zimbabwe; Component 2. Strengthening Zimbabwe's PA estate and CAMPFIRE Wildlife Conservancies in areas of global BD significance; Component 3. Mainstreaming BD and ES management, and climate change mitigation, into the wider landscape; and Component 4. Knowledge Management, M&E and Gender Mainstreaming

The keys species in the project include the lion, buffalo and elephant. Particularly to measure long-term project impact, the project will support aerial survey for elephants and other large herbivores, as well as surveys for lions, among other activities. The total lion population in Zimbabwe is estimated to be 1,740 individuals, including 267 lions in the mid to lower Zambezi region covering Mana Pools NP, Chewore SA, Sapi SA, Hurungwe SA, Charara SA, Doma SA, Dande communal land, and Mukwichi. Habitat loss and prey depletion are some of the factors that are thought to influence the population of lions in the country. This information is however outdated and there is need to establish the population status of the species in the Zambezi Valley.

UNDP, in partnership with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA), is therefore seeking the services of a competent individual or firm/organisation to conduct lion surveys in the Mid to Lower Zambezi region of Zimbabwe.

The purpose of this assignment is to establish the population of lions in the mid to lower Zambezi Valley, including protected areas and community wildlife conservancies.

Duties and Responsibilities

UNDP seeks the services of a consultant to conduct surveys of lions in the mid to lower Zambezi region covering Mana Pools NP, Chewore SA, Sapi SA, Hurungwe SA, Charara SA, Doma SA, Dande Communal Land, and Mukwichi. This will involve the following:

Conduct desk study and produce detailed methodology for carrying out lion surveys

The consultant is expected to carry out a desk study and come up with current methodologies for carrying out surveys of lions. The methodology will include camera traps or any other methodologies that are acceptable or comparable to those used in other lion range states. The survey plan and methodology will be discussed and approved by the Scientific Services Unit in ZPWMA in consultation with UNDP.

Conduct surveys of lions in Mid Zambezi Valley.

Based on the agreed methodology, the consultant will carry out surveys of lions in the Mid to lower Zambezi region of Zimbabwe.

Review relevant data from past surveys; and ZPWMA Headquarters and stations in the Zambezi Valley on lion populations;

Conduct surveys using the agreed methodology which will include camera-trap surveys and/or any other methodology;

Produce an analysis which should inform the number and spatial distribution of lions in the Mid to Lower Zambezi Valley and changes over the past 5 years;

Provide recommendations for conservation of lions with reference to the implementation of the Zimbabwe National Lion Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2020-2025);

Submit raw data, report of the lion survey and annexes as required by UNDP. All raw data, reports and annexes should be submitted to UNDP. These should include the technical report (that includes methodology, survey design, animal population estimates and confidence limits), distribution maps, and a georeferenced photography database.

Deliverables

Presentation and approval of an Inception Report with detailed Methodology;

Draft report with in-depth quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data collected, no later than three weeks following the conclusion of the lion survey. Comments on the draft will be provided within two weeks of submission of the draft report;

Final report with in-depth quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data collected, no later than two weeks after the receipt of comments. All copies of raw data are to be submitted to UNDP.

The consultant will work under the guidance of the Project Manager and the designated officer from ZPWMA, in close consultation with the Head of PRECC Unit. All reports, including raw data, must be submitted in electronic form (MS Word and PDF) to the Project Manager of the GEF 6 Project. The Project Manager in consultation with the Chief Ecologist Terrestrial, ZPWMA, is responsible for recommending approval of reports. Following acceptance of the final report by UNDP and ZPWMA, the Consultant will submit five (5) hard copies of the final reports referred to above to the UNDP Resident Representative or Designate.

The duration of the assignment is 60 days, and the work must be completed within 4 calendar months.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Judgement/Decision-making

Strong technical skills and analytical capacities, sound judgment;

Strong technical problem-solving skills;

Ability to understand and establish priorities and work by objectives.

Teamwork

Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relationships with people from different nationalities and cultural backgrounds;

Ability to work under stress and work overtime when required;

Self-Management and Emotional intelligence;

Conflict Management/Negotiating and resolving Disagreements;

Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making, builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;

Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;

Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum qualification of a B.Sc. degree in either Zoology, Wildlife Ecology, Wildlife Conservation, or related qualification.

Experience:

At least 5 years demonstrated experience in wildlife surveys with particular emphasis on lion/cats surveys;

Demonstrated experience working with high-level institutional decision-maker;

Knowledge of environmental or conservation issues in Zimbabwe;

Extensive experience in working in the conservation and wildlife sectors;

Language Requirements:

Excellent writing and report drafting skills;

Fluency in English is required.

Applicants are requested to upload copies of:

Latest CV highlighting the relevant experience. Prospective candidates could apply either as a team or as individuals. When applying as a team, the CVs of all experts in the team should be provided, along with the application;

Updated P11 Form template of which can be downloaded from this website - http://www.sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_Personal_history_form.doc;

A detailed technical proposal on undertaking the tasks and evidence of previous work;

Please group all your documents (CV, P11, Technical Proposal and certificates) into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document. Incomplete applications will not be given consideration.

Applicants must reply to the mandatory questions asked by the system when submitting the application

Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.

Evaluation criteria:

The Consultant will be evaluated based on qualifications and the years of experience, as outlined in the qualifications/requirements section of the ToR. In addition, the Consultant will also be evaluated on the following methodology:

Technical Criteria weight: 70%;

Financial Criteria weight: 30%;

The award of the contract shall be made to the Consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as: Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the Terms of Reference.

“UNDP is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff, and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Well qualified candidates, particularly women and people with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply”

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