CONSULTANCY ADVERT ! :: Science And Technology Policy Research Institute (CSIR)

CONSULTANCY ADVERT !

 

CONSULTANCY ON BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION LANDSCAPE

 

BACKGROUND:

Biodiversity is crucial for human survival and well-being. It is at the foundation of ecosystem goods and services, which have significant economic value for livelihoods and poverty reduction  Unfortunately biodiversity information, which is a key element in planning, is not adequately used in national planning and development processes to enhance livelihoods.

The Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework: - Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda II, 2014-2017)  of the National Development Planning Commission has identified weak integration of biodiversity issues in development decision-making especially at the local level as an important development challenge which has to be addressed. In this regard, the   National Biosafety Authority (NBA), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the UNEP-WCMC are collaborating to implement the Connect Project (2016-2020) – Connect: Mainstreaming Biodiversity into the Heart of Government Decision Making.

The overarching project objective is to ensure that biodiversity is taken into account in decision making across government sectors by improving development decision makers’ access to and use of biodiversity information and embedding biodiversity information within national development decision making processes.

The specific national level project objectives are:

  1. To clearly understand the in-country demands for, and the barriers to using, biodiversity information within government decision making including clarifying the format, timing, and packaging required.
  2. To mobilise and repackage existing biodiversity data and information from a range of sources (national and international) to meet a number of the above demands; and,
  3. To strengthen the connection between government decision makers and biodiversity and ecosystem services data providers in order to sustainably provide policy-relevant, spatially explicit information to meet ongoing national needs.

 To successfully mainstream biodiversity into government decision processes, it is important to have information on the type of data, its accessibility, and the institutions where these are located.

 OBJECTIVE

The objective of the consultancy is to know the types of national biodiversity data and information available and their associated meta-data, their location, and accessibility. This study together with the Global Biodiversity Information Landscape are required to inform the Political Economy Analysis on the selection of thematic area of focus for mainstreaming biodiversity information into government decisions.

 TASKS

  1. Identify and describe the type of biodiversity information held, including ecosystems. For example, data on endangered species, status and trends of biodiversity, spatial distribution of biodiversity, economic valuation and accounting of biodiversity, conservation and management status of biodiversity, impacts of different management options on biodiversity.
  2. Describe how the information is collected, curated and managed, and indicate its accessibility and availability.
  3. Describe the current capacity level of biodiversity information providers to respond to decision-makers’ demands for biodiversity information (e.g. through survey questions and/or workshop exercise).
  4. Describe the current capacity of decision-makers to use biodiversity information (e.g. through survey questions and/or workshop exercise)
  5. Describe the salience, credibility and legitimacy requirements of decision –makers regarding biodiversity information (e.g. through survey questions and/or workshop exercise)
  6. Identify and describe any links of this information to other information at both local and international levels.
  7. Any other information relevant to this study. 

DELIVERABLES

  1. A 15-20 page report on the current national biodiversity information landscape in Ghana
  2. A set of factsheets describing available biodiversity information products and/or databases in Ghana
  3. A PowerPoint presentation on the report and factsheets at the 2nd National Workshop.

DURATION OF CONSULTANCY

The duration of this contract is 152 days starting from 15th January 2018 to 15th June   2018.

 REPORTING

A report shall conform to the Connect Project report outline (Copy attached) submitted to the Chief Executive Officer, National Biosafety Authority. Three (3) hard copies of the report and a DVD soft copy will be required. 

 REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

  1. Strong country knowledge of biodiversity and  of biodiversity-related issues; 
  2. Good network of key informants in country and  a well-respected by a wide range of key stakeholders
  • Excellent writing and communication skills

 A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience of working on biodiversity and biodiversity related issues.

 

 REMUNERATION 

 Very attractive will be made known to successful candidate. 

Send Curricula Vitae for consideration to:

The Director,  Council for Scientific and Industrial Research .Science ,Technology Policy Research Institute (CSIR-STEPRI) P.O Box CT519, Cantonments, Accra,  by  August 2017.