Sustainable Development Programme Planner Imarisha Naivasha (Arise Naivasha)

Imarisha Naivasha is a unique initiative to tackle the degradation of the Naivasha catchment in Kenya, and put the environment and the local economy onto a sustainable footing. The Imarisha Management Board, an independent body, is looking for a highly experienced person to turn the existing research and planning into a 5 year plan, with a concise Strategic Response Plan, that the Management Board will then action.

2 month contract to take existing material and create a 5 year development plan with a concise Strategic Response Plan. Competitive salary.

Terms of Reference

Background

‘Imarisha Naivasha’ is a recently launched programme to tackle the degradation of Lake Naivasha and its catchment and put future development on a sustainable footing.

Centred on a large freshwater lake, the Naivasha catchment supports hundreds of thousands of livelihoods, principally through commercial flower and vegetable growing, smallholder farming and tourism. Pastoralism and fishing are also important parts of the social and economic make-up of the area. The local horticulture and tourism activities are substantial foreign exchange earners, with Naivasha being the hub of flower production for export from Kenya. Naivasha Town has grown in an ad hoc manner to support a population of over 300,000, and several informal settlements have developed around the lake, mainly to house workers from flower farms. There is also a rapidly developing geo-thermal industry nearby.

The past 20 years has witnessed extensive deforestation in the upper catchment, widespread erosion and catchment degradation, over abstraction of water, under investment in social and municipal services and a lack of enforcement of laws intended to protect the environment. Poor small-holder farming practices and urban pollution are now arguably the biggest issues, but the legacy of some irresponsible commercial horticulture remains. All these threats were heightened in 2009 when Kenya experienced severe drought which became a catalyst for the birth of the Imarisha Naivasha project.

Imarisha Naivasha is a unique initiative of the Kenya Government, supported by HRH Prince of Wales’ International Sustainability Unit that aims to address the economic and environmental challenges facing the catchment in an integrated and concerted way. It builds on a legacy of local public sector/private sector/ civil society partnerships currently undertaking conservation and community support projects. Wide stakeholder participation will be critical to success, and at the programme’s organisational heart is a Management Board drawn from the main civil society and private sector interest groups, with government also represented. The Board is responsible for the planning, allocation and management of resources in the Lake Naivasha Basin, and is unusual in having significant powers and a ‘hotline’ to the Office of the Prime Minister.

The terms of reference of the Board are:

· Prepare a long term development plan that will provide for the sustainable management and equitable allocation of the basin’s natural resources for all stakeholder interests

· Coordinate all research and development activities aimed at restoring the catchment environment

· Ensure the proper enforcement of laws relating to environmental protection and resource allocation

The Management Board of the Imarisha Naivasha Initiative is now seeking short term consultancy to support the formulation of a Five-Year Development Plan, and to prepare a Strategic Response Plan.

The Task

The Naivasha catchment has been well researched and previous planning exercises provide much material. The immediate task is to carry out a largely desk-based exercise synthesizing this information and various stakeholder inputs. The most recent and comprehensive source is the Kenya Wildlife Service Integrated Management Plan.

The objective is to produce a Five Year Development Plan, which will provide a clear framework for action and to attract funding. One essential subset of this Plan will be a Strategic Response Plan that will identify a series of focused responses aimed at reversing negative environmental trends, enhancing enforcement and achieving sustainable resources management. The Development Plan products will include:

i) Vision

Brief description of what a viable long term future for the Naivasha catchment might look like, in environmental, economic and social terms.

ii) A Summary Roadmap.

This will set out the principal sectoral interventions and reforms that are required to put the catchment onto a sustainable footing. The summary will demonstrate how the Naivasha initiative fits within the Government of Kenya’s wider planning frameworks (e.g. Vision 2030, and climate mitigation and adaptation planning processes). It will cover the major development issues, including:

· Water Use Plan – taking account of current pressures and the likely effects of Climate Change

· Development of sustainable small holder agriculture, addressing both livelihoods and environmental impacts.

· Improvement of commercial floriculture and horticulture practices

· Addressing the challenges of the pastoralist community

· Development of viable fishing/ aquaculture

· Pollution control

· The re-establishment and rehabilitation of riparian zone

· Deforestation – including demand side drivers from energy use and carbon offsetting

· Urban Planning

· Land use allocation

iii) A Development Matrix.

This will set out in more detail what needs to be done – specific projects and development activities including approximate costs and timings: The matrix will be structured to cover:

· All individual stakeholder groups (x axis)

· The major development themes/ activities (y axis)

The matrix will also be phased to differentiate (where possible/sensible):

· Immediate/no regret actions;

· Medium term actions (2-3 years);

· Long term actions (5-10 years)

iv) An Execution Plan – the how? and the who?

This will set out in broad terms how the plan will be executed - what the management strategy will be; what capacity building will be required and what funding will be necessary. As a separate exercise the execution plan should also identify potential funding partners and a draft engagement plan for the involvement of government, donor, private sector and civil society agencies to assist in the implementation of the programme of works.

For the sake of clarity, the Strategic Response Plan will be a subset of the above, and will be the focus for the short- medium term work plan.

Reporting

The consultant will work with the small Imarisha Naivasha secretariat, reporting to the Imarisha Naivasha Management Board on a regular basis.

The work will be predominantly done at the Imarisha Naivasha offices in Naivasha Town. Preparation of report will be in close cooperation with the Management Board.

Time frame

Eight weeks – to be completed by early April with weekly progress reviews. When the plan is completed, consideration will be given to the employment of a longer term Implementation Manager.

Essential Qualifications, experience, knowledge skills and abilities:

· Fluent spoken and written English

· Substantial experience in working in communities in developing countries

· Proven track record in planning development programmes, including the integration of multi-stakeholder perspectives

· Writing strategic response plans from existing material to short time frames

· Working with government/private sector/civil society partnerships

· A broad understanding of the environmental land use and economic development issues in East Africa and pathways towards sustainable development

· Self motivated, energetic team player

· Able to recognise stakeholder sensitivities

· Able to recognise differing stakeholder priorities and find a way forward

· Good under pressure

· Able to work to tight deadlines

· Able to synthesise existing material and create a practical Strategic Response Plan

· Able to work from Naivasha, Kenya for duration of project

Desirable qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities

· Degree in Environmental Science, Development Studies or similar

· Working in Africa, ideally Kenya.

· Management of water resource management from catchment to individual farm level

· Small holder land use practices

· Commercial horticultural practices

· Pollution control methods

· Pastoralism

· Urban renewal

· Catchment restoration and reforestation

· Economic development

In addition to your CV, please write a personal statement that sets out your reasons for applying for the work, your salary expectations and details of your skills and experience in relation to the Terms of Reference and Person Specification. Please note, the post will be based in Naivasha, Kenya.

The closing date for applications is 13 January 2012 and interviews will be held shortly afterwards. The successful applicant will be expected to start work as soon as possible during February.

Please send your application by email to Anne Harley, HR Adviser at anneharley.hr@gmail.com.