NRM Specialist Consultant – Siargao (Filipino Nationals Only) At Acción contra el Hambre España

1. Background

The project, “Resilient Island LGUs Actions for Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change (Resilient IsLA)” is funded by the USAID and is being implemented by Action Against Hunger, in partnership with ACCORD, in Siargao, Surigao del Norte and Limasawa, Southern Leyte. The project aims to improve the policies, plans, and practices of municipalities, barangays, and island communities on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA).

The project components seek to improve the capacities of island communities –that are vulnerable to and at high risk to natural hazards— by adopting water protection, preservation, & conservation practices, and implementing nature-based solutions (NBS) as part of their disaster and climate change risk mitigation and adaptation strategies.

1. objective and job description

A Natural Resource Management Specialist (NRMS) will be engaged to assist in the Water Resource Management Component and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Component of the Resilient IsLA Project and provide support to the Field Officers and the Project Engineer, particularly the focal for WASH and the focal for Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) in the day-to-day implementation of the Water Conservation projects, Nature-based Solutions and other mitigation and adaptation measures, and the conduct of Climate-Resiliency Fisherfolks Field Schools towards effective and efficient delivery of the necessary capacity building support to the Resilient IsLA Project covered MLGUs and communities.

1. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Project in Siargao Base, with technical guidance from the DRR, WASH, and FSL Coordinators in the Capital Office, the NRMS is mainly responsible for serving as Technical Support Staff to the Resilient IsLA project team and assisting in the quality delivery of services and inputs, and other related activities.

Among the project activities are the following:

1. Improving the water conservation, water supply regulation and water quality regulations, policies, plans, and protocols of barangay LGUs to ensure the long-term and sustainable use of natural freshwater sources on the island barangays. The project will be supporting the rehabilitation, repair, and construction of water supply facilities including community and household rainwater harvesting systems.
2. Improve sustainable production of fisherfolks through implementation of nature- based solution (NBS) projects focused on resilient natural resource management.
3. Improve capacities and production of fisherfolks through implementation of Climate-Resiliency Fisherfolks Field School.

To ensure that the intended outputs of these activities are achieved, a consultant is needed to conduct the following activities:

NRM & WASH

1. Assessment of community-based natural resource management practices, gaps, cross-cutting issues (gender, conflict, climate, environment, socio-economic situation, actors and stakeholders’ engagement), and enabling policy environment with special attention to water management.
2. Review the assessment and validation of the status of water sources access & delivery mechanisms in the target island barangays and correlate with the lens of NBS.
3. Assessment of water protection, preservation, & conservation management practices, gaps, and recommended solutions for barangay communities (both LGUs and fisherfolk communities). This will identify opportunities, including viable sites and innovative technologies (e.g., projects implementable by community groups) for improving or establishing climate resilient water conservation plans to protect the natural freshwater sources and sustainably extract the water for household and livelihood use e.g., in agriculture: fishery or aquaculture.
4. Assessment and analysis of climate resilient action’s impacts and natural resources management practices, gaps, and recommended nature-based solutions that can be implemented by island barangay communities.
5. Assessment of climate risk and impacts on water and natural resources and recommendations for community-level actions for climate risk mitigation and adaptation. This includes assessing the gaps in the capacity of the island barangay LGU and that communities implement these actions.
6. Determine existing measures on water supply and water quality regulations and develop measures in ensuring integrated water resource management.
7. Provide analysis and recommendation on sustainability mechanisms of the proposed initiatives for the WASH sector.

NRM & NBS and CRFFS

1. Review all Resilient IsLA sites coastal and marine habitats/ecosystems assessment reports of Action Against Hunger and other stakeholders, and analyse the results vis-a-vis Siargao Islands Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS) Management Plan and other existing local coastal and fisheries ordinances, as basis for selection of water conservation projects, NBS and other mitigation and adaptation projects, and training topics for the CRFFS; support the team in the action planning, assist in the development and conduct of Information Education Campaign (IEC) and advocacy activities.
2. Assist in the preparation of the needed training modules/designs for the relevant Resilient IsLA interventions and in the conduct of such trainings and planning workshops.
3. Provide technical support to the Resilient IsLA Project team, M/BLGUs, and partner Community-based Organizations (CBOs) in the formulation and implementation of the identified water conservation projects, BNS and other mitigation and adaptation projects, and CRFFS.
4. Provide technical support to M/BLGUs and CBOs in the development/improvement of their respective Environment/NRM/Coastal and Fisheries Ordinances and water conservation measures.
5. Assist the Resilient IsLA Project team and M/BLGUs in mobilizing CBOs and communities in protecting key biodiversity areas and relevant coastal ecosystems through community monitoring and enforcement activities.
6. Provide technical support to the M/BLGUs and M/BTWGs for the active participation of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMCs), Bantay Dagat, CBOs, community volunteers in the monitoring, management, sustainability of the Resilient IsLA NRM initiatives, surveillance, and law enforcement and related activities.
7. Assist in the provision of technical support to M/BLGUs and partner Community-based Organizations (CBOs) in institutionalizing NRM local policy frameworks for improving local conservation of vital resources; and generating knowledge and promoting experience sharing among stakeholders.

Monitoring & reporting

1. Assist in the conduct of technical project site monitoring and supervision activities.
2. Assist in the preparation of relevant Resilient IsLA project intervention reports and documentation activities.

   SCOPE OF WORK

The coverage of this consultancy includes Siargao in Surigao del Norte and Limasawa in Southern Leyte. The following are the municipalities and barangays covered by the Resilient IsLA Project and the consultancy components to be implemented.

The Consultant will lead/assist in the conduct of the component activities stipulated in section “III Duties and Responsibilities”. The consultancy will be for the duration of approximately 4 months – from August to December 2024 (depending on the actual start of the contract).

As this is a retainer, the consultant is preferably be based in Siargao with the necessary travels (covered by the project) to Limasawa for the conduct of component activities for NRM & WASH, and Monitoring & reporting. Flexible and activity-based presence in the field can be an option but will be based on pre-determined field travel arrangements (any cost beyond the pre-arranged field works will be shouldered by the consultant).

1. REQUIRED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES

The following are the specific deliverables of this consultancy:

Output 1: Water Conservation and/or Natural Resources Management (NRM)

Output 2: Climate-Resilient Fisherfolks Field School (CRFFS)

Output 3: Monitoring, reporting, and documentation

1. COMPETENCIES OF THE CONSULTANT

Qualifications

1. Experience in project and program management involving government, NGOs, POs/communities, private sector and industry associations.
2. Facilitating skills in networking with government agencies, LGUs, private sector, donor institutions as well as industry and natural resource management associations.
3. Knowledge on the sustainable environment and natural resource management.
4. Extensive knowledge and skills in Coastal and Marine Habitats assessments and management planning.
5. Basic knowledge and actual conduct of capacity building activities with LGUs and POs/communities.
6. Experience in actual conduct of water and natural resource management research, projects, and IEC activities in rural development.
7. Computer literate.
8. Possess leadership and good communication skills.

Education Requirements

1. Undergraduate degree preferably in Marine Biology, Fisheries, Natural Sciences, or an equivalent.
2. At least 2 years’ experience in the field of livelihood/ enterprise and coastal and fisheries and water resource management projects and programs; and
3. Familiarity with Fisheries/ Environmental and Water Resource Management Laws, LGU Code, and environmental regulations is an advantage.
4. APPLICATION

Interested individuals or teams are required to provide the following:

a) Letter of Intent / Application Letter detailing the competencies stated in this ToR

b) Curriculum Vitae of the person(s) which will be assigned in this consultancy

c) Overview of the strategy implementation, which contains below, as minimum:

• Detailed price/quotations

d) Portfolio of previous similar work