Post Title: International UNV Wetland Biodiversity Conservation Specialist
Duty Station: Heilongjiang Province/Sanjiang Plains, China
Focal Point: John.floretta@undp.org
Duration: 12 Months with a possibility of extension
Advertised on: 13 March 2006
Closing Date: 23 March 2006
Application to: unv.china@undp.org
Preamble
This post is a United Nations Volunteers Programme Assignment and based on the values of free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity, which are the foundations of volunteerism. Volunteering brings benefit to the individual volunteer. It makes important contributions, economically, as well as socially. It contributes to creating social cohesion and capital, through helping to build trust and reciprocity among citizens.
The United Nations Volunteers is the UN Organisation that supports sustainable human development globally through the promotion of volunteerism and mobilization of volunteers. It serves the causes of peace and development through enhancing opportunities for participation by all peoples. It is universal, inclusive and embraces volunteer actions in all its diversity.
Volunteerism is diverse and is embedded in all cultures and traditions. In this context, as a United Nations Volunteer you are encouraged and expected to relate to local volunteerism and to be identified with the concept. You are expected to regard your national colleagues as peers and together uphold trust as volunteer among yourselves and within the communities and the organization you are assigned to.
Background
Wetland Biodiversity Conservation And Sustainable Use In China Project (CPR/98/G32)
This UNDP project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and the Government of China requires a full time specialist to provide advice and training in the field of wetland biodiversity conservation and to support a range of activities that will incorporate considerations of wetland biodiversity conservation into local government decision making and action in the Sanjiang Plains area of north east Heilongjiang Province.
The objective of the project is to establish wetland biodiversity conservation as a routine consideration in national, provincial and local government decision making and action.
At one demonstration province (Heilongjiang) the project will work with almost the same range of agencies as at the national level. Technical advice and assistance, extensive on-the-job training, together with persistent attention to involvement of a wide range of partners will lead to recommendations for changes in policy and legislation and the routine consideration of wetland biodiversity in decision making. Heilongjiang shares a long riverine border (Heilong/Amur) with Russia, and actions on either side of the international boundary have impacts on the shared wetland ecosystem as a whole, so the project will support consideration of transboundary aspects of decisions and action on wetland biodiversity conservation. Data management and sharing for decision making will be strengthened, and the public will be better informed about wetland biodiversity conservation and better able to make their opinions known to government. The results of the Harbin component are termed "Outcome B"
At four demonstration wetland sites (Sanjiang Plain in Heilongjiang Province, Yancheng Coastal Marshes of Jiangsu Province, Dongting Lake in Hunan Province and Ruoergai Marshes spanning the borders of Sichuan and Gansu Provinces) landscape level management practices and guidelines with respect to wetland biodiversity conservation will be established through working with county, municipality and prefectural planning departments and the range of sectoral agencies that affect wetlands. This component will put into practice the principles of the national policy framework and provide feedback to the development of policy and legislation at the centre. At each demonstration site a particular aspect of wetland biodiversity conservation will be stressed: at Yancheng there will be an emphasis on public information and involvement; at Ruoergai the emphasis will be on public involvement and grazing management; at Dongting the development of a resource monitoring programme and sharing of the data for decision making will be emphasized: and at Sanjiang the relationships between water for agriculture and water for conservation will be a major focus. The results of the site level components are termed "Outcome C"
Job Summary
The Specialist will work on Outcomes C and B. There are additional United Nations Volunteers based at the field sites under Outcome C. There will be a Provincial Project Coordinator and an Outcome Coordinator for Outcome B based in Harbin and an Outcome Coordinator for the Sanjiang Component of Outcome C in Fuyuan, on the Sanjiang Plains. In Harbin the Specialist will provide continuity, together with the Provincial and Outcome B Coordinators, for project consultant teams working on recommendations for policy changes and strengthening of information management and sharing for wetland biodiversity conservation. At the Sanjiang Plains site landscape level management practices and guidelines with respect to wetland biodiversity conservation will be established through working with local government, including the State Farms and the whole range of agencies that affect wetlands. Project activities will include data management and sharing of data, sectoral analyses of the policies and practices affecting wetlands, economic analyses, training and material support to relevant government agencies, including nature reserves, increasing access of the general public to information on wetland biodiversity and decision making that affects wetlands, and the facilitation of transboundary conservation initiatives. There will be National UNV Field Worker based at the Sanjiang Plains site, who will work closely with the Specialist.
Specific Duties
The Wetland Biodiversity Conservation Specialist (Heilongjiang Province/Sanjiang Plains) will provide technical support to the project's coordinators and consultant teams in Harbin and at the Sanjiang Plains site, and help to establish the project as a focal point for links with relevant government. In particular, he will:
1. Provide advice and on-the-job training in information management for wetland biodiversity conservation in the Conservation Division of the Heilongjiang Provincial Forestry Department
2. Provide advice and on-the-job training in wetland management through work-planning and day to day operations in relevant local government departments and nature reserve bureaux
3. Provide, with the project staff a focal point for cross-fertilisation and linkage between staff of government and non-government agencies that could influence wetland biodiversity.
4. Establish contacts and links with relevant organizations, networks and individuals outside the project and encourage project staff and partners to follow up where required
5. Support project staff and partners in the preparation of annual and quarterly project work plans
6. Assist with the coordination of project activities in general, and take a leading role in his areas of particular expertise.
7. Provide recommendations relating to project implementation
8. Maintain, with the other Sanjiang Plains based project staff, dialogue with local people on biodiversity conservation, wetland management, fisheries, irrigation and drainage, agricultural non-point pollution, natural resource conservation and rural development.
9. Work closely throughout with the National UNV assigned to the Sanjiang Plains site
Note: Duties will be adjusted so that responsibilities for particular project components are assigned according the specialist skills of the volunteer (see under Qualifications above).
Essential Knowledge and experience:
， Work experience (preferably over three years) of relevance to conservation and rural development projects
，Specialized knowledge of Chinese environmental policy and its implementation an advantage
，Specialist technical skills in one or more of the following fields:-
Information management systems, including GIS (preferably for biodiversity and environmental data)
Wetland hydrology
Biodiversity research and monitoring programmes
Protected area management
Environmental law and policy in relation to wetlands and water
，Keen interest in conservation of biodiversity
，Specific experience in wetland management an advantage
Qualifications:
，Advanced university degree in a field relevant to biodiversity conservation and environmental management
，Good knowledge of written and spoken English and some knowledge of Chinese preferred
，Previous experience of working in remote locations, and working in China an advantage
，The ability and the initiative to make contacts and build a network
，Good coordination and organization skills
，Ability to work well in a team
，Must be prepared to undertake extensive field trips within the Sanjiang Plains area
，Ability to set and keep to deadlines
Qualified candidates may send applications, including updated Personal History Statement form, available at http://www.unvolunteers.org/php/webroster/main/step_one.php?cat=G&Lang=en and achievement-oriented CV. Given the large numbers of applications received, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
