Biodiversity and Freshwater Stewardship Strategy Consultant

Want to make a positive difference to the future of people and our one shared home, the Earth? Working at WWF could be your opportunity of a lifetime.

All around the world, people are waking up to the deepening crisis of nature loss. A growing realisation that nature is our life-support system. And that nobody will be spared from the impacts of its loss. Here at WWF, we are helping to tackle this enormous global challenge.

Our people come from hugely diverse backgrounds and with a variety of expertise, ranging from HR and finance to advocacy and conservation science. We welcome applications from anyone who believes they can help us create a better future for people and wildlife.

What we do

We are an independent conservation organisation, striving to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife. From individuals and communities to business and government, we are part of a growing coalition calling on world leaders to set nature on the path to recovery by 2030. Together, we seek to protect and restore natural habitats, stop the mass extinction of wildlife, and make the way we produce and consume sustainable.

The consultancy is for 24 months.

PLEASE NOTE THIS ADVERT IS THE SHORTER VERSION, PLEASE READ THE WHOLE TERMS OF REFERENCE IN THE ATTACHMENT LINK.

Don’t apply through LinkedIn.

Background :

WWF seeks a qualified expert consultant to support the Mekong in BALANCE (MiB) project in reviewing strategic documents from the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and conducting in-depth consultations to ensure biodiversity and water management integration. This will contribute to the regional push for effective biodiversity strategies and achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets in the Lower Mekong Basin.

Mekong in BALANCE Project

The Mekong region is facing urgent challenges that threaten its rich biodiversity and the well-being of millions of people who rely on its ecosystems. The conclusion of the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity saw the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Now that a framework has been adopted, accelerating action across sectors and society toward the realisation of the goals and targets of the GBF is urgent to address the key drivers of biodiversity loss and lift the nature agenda. Mekong in BALANCE includes the five countries in the Lower Mekong region (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam), and will work in partnership with and across key national and regional actors, primarily national governments and civil society organisations.

MRC documents review and strategic analysis report

As part of the Mekong in BALANCE Project the consultancy will focus on identifying specific entry points for integrating biodiversity into the MRC’s strategies, ensuring that community rights and freshwater restoration are prioritised through mechanisms like Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs).

Flowing through Lao PDR, Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam, the Lower Mekong Basin is a biodiversity hotspot and home to the world’s largest inland fishery. It is a provider of multiple other ecosystem services essential to the 60 million people living in the Basin.

Scope of Work

Review of MRC Strategic Documents

• Conduct a detailed review of how the MRC’s development strategies, policies, and procedures are addressing biodiversity.
• Identify opportunities for integrating biodiversity targets, focusing on complementarities with water management and climate objectives.
• Identify data and knowledge gaps to support biodiversity recommendations.

Consultations with MRC and NMCs

• Organise and facilitate consultations with MRC Secretariat, National Mekong Committees (NMCs), and relevant line agencies.
• Explore the role of MRC to support member countries to monitor and manage river related shared biodiversity resources.
• Provide evidence and recommendations of the benefits and opportunity to link biodiversity conservation and water management, underlining the role of the MRC in supporting the achievement of national and regional goals and commitments of member countries to GBF and climate agreements.

Regional Workshop Support

• Support the planning and execution of a regional workshop to present findings and recommendations on how the MRC can support countries in delivering on NBSAPs and GBF inland water targets.
• Deliver recommendations of how MRC can support countries in delivering on NBSAPS, as well as on inland water targets of the GBF.

OECMs and Private Sector Engagement

• Develop a framework for engaging private sector representatives in co-creating OECMs focused on water and biodiversity stewardship.
• Map and engage private sector stakeholders representative of key sectors relevant to Mekong water resources and climate resilience, highlighting their opportunities for engaging and improving their performance in water and biodiversity conservation and human rights.

Required competencies

Qualifications

Hold a master degree or equivalent in water/river planning, water law, river basin management and/or governance

Experience

• Proven experience in reviewing and analyzing regional strategic documents related to biodiversity and water management, river basin management, policy and regulations, economic, social and environment impact assessments, biodiversity, ecology, climate resilience, water stewardship, corporate engagement, participatory development;
• Strong knowledge of the Mekong River Commission (MRC), biodiversity, and climate adaptation strategies.
• Experience working with OECMs, freshwater ecosystems, and engaging with the private sector.
• He or she should have proven engagement with senior policy makers and high level government representatives and in conducting stakeholder consultations and facilitating workshops.

Language

English

Guidelines for submission

Interested applicants are required to submit the following:

Technical proposal comprising the following:

• Personal CV(s) and three professional references and/or evidence of relevant experience and mentioned competencies
• Brief description (Half a page) of why you consider yourself suitable for the assignment
• The proposal that showcases your past experience relevant to this ToR (5 page max)
• Workplan and foreseen timetable
• Team composition, if required
• Information on any representative of your team, or any member of your team, that may give rise to a direct or indirect conflict of interest, including identifying other current contractual works being conducted for WWF and affiliations with WWF Staff.

Financial proposal indicating the all-inclusive contract value in USD, supported by the respective costs breakdown. The candidate is required to indicate in the financial offer any variation of the daily rate based on the service provided. Foreseen Travel, accommodation and subsistence costs are to be listed separately. These will be reimbursed upon presentation of the respective invoices and proof of payment.

Complete proposal (including all the above documents) should be submitted to the following email addresses marc.goichot@wwfgreatermekong.org and prachi.jadhav@wwfgreatermekong.org with the subject “MRC and biodiversity target review consultancy”.

For any question with regard to this assignment you can write to Marc Goichot and Prachi Jadhav, at marc.goichot@wwfgreatermekong.org and prachi.jadhav@wwfgreatermekong.org

Deadline for submission is 15 days after publication. Any late submission shall not be honoured

IMPORTANT

1. WWF reserves the right to accept any proposal or reject all proposals.
2. Technical evaluation will precede financial considerations.
3. Any forms of canvassing will lead to automatic cancellation of the bid in question.
4. This is a call for proposals. WWF may cancel the process without notice and shall accept no liability whatsoever arising out of such action.
5. WWF is also under no obligation whatsoever to award the contract to the lowest or any bidder; the decision of the Procurement Committee shall be final.

Work permit restrictions may apply.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

WWF is an equal opportunity employer and committed to having a diverse workforce.