WWF

The Unexplored Heart of Europe: support to the creation and promotion
of sustainable environment-based tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Position: Consultant, Economic evaluation of two protected areas in Bosnia and
                Herzegovina

Expected start date: December 2009

Expected end date: October 2010

Approximate days of work: 110 (of which at least 8 in Bosnia and Herzegovina for
                                                workshops)

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION
WWF the conservation organization and its Mediterranean Programme Office are seeking a consultant for the economic evaluation of two protected areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The WWF Mediterranean Programme Office (MedPO) is a conservation organization member of the WWF network, aiming to the protection of nature in the Mediterranean Basin. It works in many different countries from both the northern and the southern shores of the Mediterranean, developing and implementing projects of nature conservation funded by several donors including the European Commission, Government Aid Agencies, Foundations and the Private Sector.

The project for which we are seeking a consultant is funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will run from May 2009 to April 2012. It focuses on three valleys in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH): Neretva, Drina and Una-Sana. The objective is to create and promote environmental and sustainable tourism in the three valleys by supporting activities aimed at providing supplementary income for local communities. Local communities will be supported in identifying opportunities for conservation, tourism and income generation, while information on sustainable tourism in BiH will be provided to foreign tourists and tour operators. This position refers to the project component “Pilot initiatives to promote local economies based on the sustainable development of the natural resources of two protected areas” and it focuses on two areas: Sutjeska National Park (Drina Valley) and Hutovo Blato Nature Park (Neretva Valley).

POSITION DESCRIPTION

I. Major Functions:
The consultant will undertake the economic evaluation of the Sutjeska National Park and the Hutovo Blato Nature Park. In particular, the consultant will:
-    evaluate the economic benefits to local communities of the two protected areas
-    raise consciousness on the opportunities offered by protected areas in terms of local sustainable development
-    provide indications as to the best opportunities for investment and economic activities aimed at sustainable development.

The position is home-based with a minimum of 8 working days in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

II. Major Duties and Responsibilities:
-    Work in close cooperation with the local WWF project coordinator, who will provide guidance and orientation
-    Organize the collection of information from the local communities and stakeholders of the protected areas (also through questionnaires and interviews)
-    Organize and participate in training at the local level (1 training workshop planned for representatives of local institutions, park authorities and communities) in cooperation with an interpreter and an international trainer
-    Organize and participate in consultations at the local level (2 consultation workshops planned with representatives of institutions, park authorities and communities) in cooperation with an interpreter and an international trainer
-    Participate in other local meetings as needed (local committees, for example)
-    Undertake the economic evaluation
-    Produce a final report in English
-    Liaise with other international consultants working on related activities of the project, as needed
-    Provide regular activity reports to project coordinators (the local WWF coordinator and the MedPO project coordinator)
-    Contribute to the overall project evaluation as needed
-    Provide to project coordinators final feedback on project activities.

III. Minimum Qualifications:
1. Knowledge:
-    Advanced degree in a relevant field
-    Fluency in English; working knowledge of the local language of Bosnia and Herzegovina an asset (interpreter’s time related to this position is limited)
 
2. Experience:
-    Working experience in different geographic contexts
-    Experience with protected areas, payment for ecosystem services and related topics

3. Skills and Abilities:
-    Excellent organizational and communication skills
-    Ability to analyze, synthesize and write reports
-    Ability to meet deadlines
-    Ability to coordinate with others and provide guidance
-    This position requires a flexible, friendly and cooperative personality.

Terms of Reference for this position are attached in a separate file.

Interested candidates should email by 1 December 2009 their CV, a list of publications/reports with links (if available) and a cover letter (not more than 2 paragraphs explaining how they would approach the task) to hrforest@wwfmedpo.org specifying “Consultant 3.2” in the subject line.