National Consultant/reforestation Program Technical Adviser

Job Title National Consultant/Reforestation Program Technical Adviser  Division/Department FAO Representation  in Lebanon Programme/Project Number TCP/LEB/3503 “Strengthening the Coordination of the National Afforestation and Reforestation Programme in Lebanon” Location Beirutand the whole country as needed Expected Start Date of Assignment ASAP Duration: Six months over one year Reports to                            Mr. Abdel Hamied Hamid                                Dr. Maurice Saadé Title: Senior Regional Forestry Officer/RNE   FAO Representative in Lebanon   General Description of task(s)andobjectives to be achieved   The Reforestation Program technical advisers will act as a team members and advisers to the project. S/he will assist in the supervision and facilitate the work for the project team, and coordinate directly with the Project Director at MoA. They will also supply specific tasks, namely:   Assist in organization of all the workshops during the project period, and supervise the project team in workshop preparations. Facilitate the missions of the two ICs, and assist them in the following activities: Develop with national partners and project team leader a reforestation modality with well-defined cost norm and implementation procedure. Elaborate a production plan for MoA nurseries. Provide a stock distribution system for DRDNR. Support organization of the training programme to engineers and other MoA technical staff. Supervise reforestation data stocktaking Conduct the necessary bilateral meetings, conferences, visits to potential donors and stakeholders to evaluate the enabling environment for the involvement of the private sector in funding reforestation activities, including the organizational, institutional, legal and financial frameworks. Explore options with key stakeholders including NGOs and private sectors to agree on a fund-raising and managing mechanism. Once an agreement is made, this activity will finance preparation of a business plan to develop a fund as well as provide advisory services to establish the fund managing entity Develop a fund raising mechanism, based on previous market mapping and exploration, to be discussed in a participatory way during the related workshop, and finalized afterwards. Prepare a business plan to develop a fund as well as provide advisory services to establish the fund managing entity, in close collaboration with the Project team, namely the IC and the NC for community mobilization. The business plan will include: selection of reforestation projects to be funded; reforestation plan preparation and appraisal mechanism; fund disbursement mechanism; monitoring of reforestation projects supported by the fund; decision making process; fund raising mechanism; communication strategy including receiving promotional packages such as free advertisement, campaigns (canvassing, working with universities and schools), events (walk, run, etc.) and working with Lebanese artists (concerts). Follow up and supervise the implementation of the business plan Lead site selection procedure of the pilot sites for demonstration activities, in close collaboration with the NC for Information Management and GIS and NC for Community Mobilization. Oversee and participate directly in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the various stages of field work, in close collaboration with the IC for Reforestation and Forest Management. Organise workshops and events, and monitor the media coverage. keyperformance indicators Expected Outputs: Production plan for MoA nurseries. Fund raising and disbursement mechanism and business plan Reforestation plan preparation and appraisal mechanism Communication strategy Workshops proceedings and media coverage Monthly brief report on the progress of the activities Required Completion Date: 31st of December 2016, noting that the completion date for each output indicator will be set in consultation with the MoA and the Consultant, with clear prioritization of each during the whole assignment period, during the inception workshop of the project. Required Competencies Academic Qualifications The consultant must have a MSc. degree in Forestry, Agriculture, Environment, Nature Resources Management or relevant technical fields; an extensive knowledge with at least 8 years experience in reforestation and forest management in Lebanon or in the Mediterranean Region.   Technical Competencies and Experience Requirements Good knowledge of relevant issues such as biodiversity conservation, land use policies, ecosystem restoration, forest ecology, climate change, etc.; Working experience with an international organization is desirable; experience with FAO is a plus; Good communication skills (coordination, facilitation, extension); Good computer skill; Excellent English and Arabic writing and speaking skill; Flexibility and ability to lead a working team, and to travel in country and work onsite.