NATIONAL CONSULTANCY - TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FORMULATE A RANGELANDS MANAGEMENT AND USE POLICY

Uganda’s rangelands are found mainly in the “Cattle Corridor” that stretches from the North-East through Central to the South-West of the country. In addition, there are other scattered drylands areas throughout the country, especially in the North. These areas cover over 84,000 km2 (approximately 1/3 of the country’s total land area) and are most affected by land degradation, loss of biological diversity and adverse climate conditions. Pastoralists and agro-pastoralists occupy and derive their livelihoods mostly from rangelands, which hold 80% of the national livestock herd. Frequent and severe drought conditions in these areas increase scarcity and competition for water and pasture leading to pastoralists’ mobility, increasing their exposure and vulnerability to disease and conflict, not only with the people but also with managers of Protected Areas (Wildlife Conservation Areas, Forest Reserves and wetlands). Little attention has been accorded to ensuring effective and optimal utilization of rangelands resources or improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the people deriving their livelihoods directly from these areas. Despite the high vulnerability of these areas and their occupants to natural disasters, poverty and in security, there is considerable potential for stimulating economic growth and improving the socio-economic welfare of the population living there. The Government of Uganda thus recognizes the need to provide a new policy approach for the sustainable management and use of the country's rangelands and to ensure a sound basis for investment and monitoring of rangeland resources. Accordingly in 2006, Government with funding from the Global Mechanism (GM), initiated a process to formulate a Rangelands management and use policy to provide an enabling environment through which rangeland resources can be sustainably utilized. The Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) constituted a 14 member multi-sectoral Technical Task Force (TTF) to guide the process and a report about what was done was developed. The policy development process stalled due to financial constraints. Objective of the Consultancy: To finalize development of a rangelands management policy as a tool to guide sustainable management and utilization of rangelands resources to stimulate economic growth, reduce vulnerability and improve socio-economic welfare and ensure a sound basis for investment in management of rangeland resources. Expected Outputs: An Inception report. A draft rangelands Management policy document.

Duties and Responsibilities

Review the format for the draft policy produced during the first phase. Review literature taking into account existing policies, strategies, programs and recent developments, trends, current status, extent and factors responsible for degradation of rangelands in Uganda. Identify gaps and inconsistencies in institutional arrangements and international protocols relating to sustainable rangelands management and poverty eradication for rangeland users in Uganda. Consult with all key stakeholders and ensure their effective participation in identifying issues and generating proposals regarding trans-boundary linkages, early warning systems, disaster preparedness against droughts, incentives and disincentives to proper rangeland management and the appropriate legal and institutional frameworks required to implement the policy. Facilitate TTF and national review workshops of the draft policy. Consolidate findings from the processes into a draft policy document ready for submission to Permanent Secretary MAAIF.

Competencies

Familiarity with issues of Uganda’s rangelands and the agriculture development processes in the country Excellent communication and writing skills Substantive knowledge of Trans-boundary natural resource management issues in the IGAD Sub-region would be an added advantage.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Minimum of a Masters Degree in Range management or relevant field in natural resource management Experience: Minimum 8 years experience working with resource utilization in rangeland A solid track record in institutional development and policy formulation. Language Requirement: Fluency and excellent command of written and spoken English is a necessity. Application Procedure Applicants are required to submit an application and proposals, which include the following: I. Job Proposal: Letter of Interest. Explanation as to why you consider yourself suitable for the assignment A brief methodology on the approach and implementation of the assignment. II. Personal CV Highlighting past experience in similar projects. Work references - contact details (e-mail addresses) of referees. III. Financial proposal indicating consultancy fee, lump sum fee or unit price together with any other expenses related to the assignment (e.g. travel costs, translation interpretation, holding of workshops/focus group discussion etc). Please note that the system will only allow you to upload one document, therefore all the job and financial proposals are to be attached to the CVs and uploaded together at once.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

NATIONAL CONSULTANCY - TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FORMULATE A RANGELANDS MANAGEMENT AND USE POLICY