ABOUT THE COMPANY:

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

JOB SUMMARY

Most of the territory of Turkmenistan, the second largest country of Central Asia stretching over 491,210 km2, is covered by Karakum desert. Turkmenistan is heavily impacted by climate change, the impact of which include: (i) steady increase in average temperature of 1.4⁰C; increasing occurrences of daily temperatures of over 40^oC occasionally surpassing 50⁰C in Karakum desert and accentuation of differences between hottest and coldest temperatures (ii) variability in monthly precipitation has been growing and the amount of precipitation during recent years has slightly increased, particularly in spring months, with the lowest precipitation values being observed in summer (iii) an increase in the average regional evaporation rates of 48% by 2050 (iv) an increase in the frequency and intensity of drought and flood spells; (v) 10-15% reduction in flow rates for the Amu Darya river; and a 30% reduction in other rivers and tributaries’ discharge. Drought represents the biggest threat increasing the pace of desertification. During dry years, the pasture productivity and harvests  are reduced by 50-70 % , significantly affecting food security.

The drying up of the Aral Sea is one of the ecological disasters for the CA region. Most of the water basin has already evaporated, and intense wind erosion is occurring from the drying sea zone to the adjacent irrigated areas, thereby leading huge economic losses in agriculture, public health and environmental stability. The project area (Dashoguz velayat and Darganata etrap in Lebap velayat) is most affected by the negative effects of the Aral Sea, which has been devastated over the past few decades by poor water management and agricultural practices, and is currently one of the most degraded landscapes in the country. Truly addressing  sustainable land and water management, conservation of biodiversity and high-value ecosystems across the Aral Sea basin landscape requires regional cooperation, effective coordination, and the cultivation of synergies among all stakeholders.

Project strategy

The overall objective of the proposed project is to promote land degradation neutrality, restore and improve the use of land and water resources in Turkmenistan’s Amudarya watershed in Lebap and Dashoguz provinces to enhance the sustainability and resilience of livelihoods and globally significant ecosystems. The project will attempt to achieve this objective through a multifocal strategy, that includes the following four interrelated outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Integrated land use planning that will contribute to the land degradation neutrality and improved integration of key biodiversity habitats into surrounding geographies, thus securing critical ecosystem services in Dashoguz and Lebap regions;
• Outcome 2: Addressed direct drivers of biodiversity degradation, to protect globally important biodiversity, habitats, and species, through PAs system expansion and targeted support in strengthening the management effectiveness of some of the key existing PAS in project regions;
• Outcome 3: Strengthened national capacity and better informed engagement of Turkmenistan in implementation of regional cooperation for improved management and restoration of Aral Sea Basin land and water resources; and
• Outcome 4: Project results properly monitored and evaluated

The long-term solution for sustainable development and conservation of high value ecosystems has multiple key goals, but revolves around the concept of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and around leveraging KBAs/IBAs within the wider landscape as the focal points for integrated land use management with biodiversity benefits from mainstreaming. These includes promotion of models of non-depleting farming, but at the same time effective conservation of critical ecosystem services. The experience will be shared and replicated beyond project boundaries through a serious of lesson sharing events.

The Land Management Analyst (LMS) is a key technical professional  to provide technical support,  evaluate, identify of LDN hot spots and assessment of the drivers of land degradation, and develop adaptation options for pasture, forest, agriculture and other inter-connected sectors. LMS in close collaboration with the Project Manager (PM) and other project analysts will contribute to implementation of project outcomes with the higher attention towards providing input and organizing consultancy work under Outcomes 1,2 and 3. The incumbent is responsible for conceptualization and implementation of activities with full consideration of possible climate risks, gender aspects, ecosystem conservations and interests of all stakeholders as well as for identifying the bottle-necks and strategies to overcome them. LMS is also responsible for ensuring implementation of  SES requirements related to envisaged project interventions and for development of Sustainable Land management plans, including their further implementation. More specifically, the LMS will perform the following duties:

• Supervise the technical content of all the knowledge products  under these outputs (guidelines, concepts, manuals, templates, brochures, reports, workshop proceedings, minutes);
• Participate and provide technical inputs, peer-review technical reports and work closely with the International technical Advisor to strategically guide the LDN target setting in Dashoguz and Lebap;
• Work with the representatives of the National Partners and project experts to organize and deliver targeted capacity building for national and regional LDN target setting;
• Facilitate technical round table meetings and consultations with sectoral experts participants in the LDN Working Group, advocate for women participation in the composition of different working groups;
• Work closely with the LDN Working Group and the UNCCD Focal Point in leveraging technical expertise into the National Action Plan on Combating Desertification and other legal and policy inputs into the Land Code, Water Code, Pasture Law etc. as needed, involving all relevant project experts;
• Provide guidance for the setting of LDN regional targets, liaise with regional authorities to ensure sustainability of results, formal approvals of the LDN regional targets, LDN Integrated Land Use Plans, LDN action plans, LDN monitoring  institutional arrangements to deliver the results;
• Provide guidance during  the development of the Integrated Land Use Plans in the pilot districts, ensure sustainability of results and the necessary formal approvals of the plans;
• Guide the work on pastures and forest management in the targeted areas including KBAs and PAs;
• Provide technical inputs into restoration measures and supports the development of pasture management plans;
• Develop Pasture/Forest Monitoring Fiches to observe restoration and reduction of degradation success in the targeted areas under improved management practices,   working together with the key partners and farmers associations;
• Guide and provide technical inputs into the assessments of the existing system of operation of pasture territories under the new Procedure for Using and Leasing Pastures;
• Support legal amendments to the Law on Pastures, Land Code, and supervise the work of national technical experts;
• Support pasture inventory and mapping, guides the organization of filed missions, liaison with local committees and experts, working closely with the field coordinators;
• Participate in the organization of innovation challenge;
• Support the review of innovation proposals;
• Facilitate outreach to local communities, and together with the field coordinators and project committees at local level, set up and develop partnerships with local communities associations, and private entrepreneurs, local authorities and sector experts;
• Provide technical information and presentations for various  awareness and training  events related to scope of work;
• Provide inputs into the preparation of information background documents used in training sessions, education, and awareness seminars and in the process of systematization of project experience and good practices;
• Support development of SESA and ensure implementation of ESMF and ESMP related to risk management measures, concerning risks from the natural resources use planning and demonstration of SLM measures at project sites;
• Prepare relevant sections of Annual Work Plan and regular progress reports (including annual APR/PIRs and quarterly progress reports) on project results and outcomes related to his/her assigned Outputs and thematic area;
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

• Nature, Climate and Energy
  • Climate Change Adaptation: livelihoods
• Nature, Climate and Energy
  • Climate Change Adaptation: Public and private finance for adaptation solutions
• Nature, Climate and Energy
  • Climate Change Adaptation: strategies
• Nature, Climate and Energy
  • Climate Change Adaptation: water management
• Nature, Climate and Energy
  • Climate Change Adaptation: agriculture/food security
• Negotiation and Influence
  • Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates ‘win-win’ situations

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