Environmental Incentives
Team Lead Consultant, Ecuador 118/119 Tropical Forest and Biodiversity Analysis
Environmental Incentives, South Lake Tahoe, California, United States, 96153
Note:
Professional proficiency in written and spoken Spanish and English is mandatory for this consultant position. Selected candidates will be interviewed in English.Nota:
Para esta posicion de consultor, el dominio profesional del espanol e ingles hablado y escrito es obligatorio. Los candidatos seleccionados seran entrevistados en ingles.About Environmental IncentivesAt Environmental Incentives, our purpose is to create the conditions for human and natural communities to thrive. We do this by helping our partners improve the performance of conservation and development programs. Our clients trust us to design and support implementation of programs that (1) use evidence to develop effective strategies within complex systems, (2) center local stakeholder experiences and facilitate collective action, and (3) produce results that support learning about what works. Environmental Incentives is a certified B Corporation with offices located in Washington, DC, South Lake Tahoe, San Diego, Nairobi, and Lima (pending registration). Our remote staff and consultants are based in multiple states within the United States, and across five continents.ABOUT IDEALIn programming more than $750 million each year in biodiversity and climate change funds, USAID's decisions shape outcomes for irreplaceable ecosystems and the communities that depend on them worldwide. The Improving Design, Evidence, and Learning (IDEAL) contract provides support for all stages of the Program Cycle for USAID biodiversity and climate change programming at USAID and improves the Agency's ability to design, monitor, evaluate, and learn from programs with sustainable and impactful results.During this five-year activity, IDEAL supports USAID's programs to apply adaptive management decisions, generate and apply evidence, and apply learning to support better programming decisions. With expertise combining technical environment skills and organizational development and learning, IDEAL facilitates high-quality decision-making, increases evidence generation and use, and nurtures a culture of applied learning across the Agency.OPPORTUNITYThe Improving Design, Evidence, and Learning (IDEAL) mechanism is looking for a consultant to lead a comprehensive update to a 118/119 Tropical Forest and Biodiversity Analysis for the USAID Mission in Ecuador.PURPOSE & NEEDAs required by sections 118 and 119 of the Foreign Assistance Act, as amended, the analysis will examine the country-level tropical forest and biodiversity conservation needs and the extent to which USAID/Ecuador is currently or is planning to address the actions necessary to conserve and sustainably manage tropical forests and biodiversity to comply with the Congressional mandate. The analysis aims to assist USAID/Ecuador in comprehending the status of biodiversity and forest resources, as well as their significance to outcomes in various development sectors. It will delve into the socio-economic, institutional, and policy factors influencing these natural assets. Recommendations resulting from this analysis will offer tangible examples of how biodiversity and conservation efforts align with current and proposed development objectives, spanning areas such as food security, health, democracy, human rights and governance, economic growth, conflict prevention and mitigation, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.CONSULTANCY DESCRIPTIONEnvironmental Incentives is seeking a senior level Biodiversity or Natural Resources Management Specialist to serve as Team Leader (TL) for this 118/119 analysis update. Environmental Incentives will manage this consultancy, and the TL will be the technical lead of a team of in-country experts to develop, update, and finalize the analysis and all client deliverables, with technical and management support from Environmental Incentives. The TL will provide high-level strategic planning and insights for the analysis, coordinate with the team, lead the development of a work plan, guide stakeholder consultations and collection of qualitative data, lead the synthesis of preliminary findings, develop the draft and final analysis reports in accordance with approved outlines and quality standards, and present the final findings and key-takeaways to the Mission.
The assignment will be for an estimated 30-40 working days.
The period of performance will begin as early as September 2024 and conclude by the end of December 2024.RESPONSIBILITIESCoordinate and lead planning, production, and submission of the following deliverables, in collaboration with local experts and the IDEAL team:Draft and final agreed work plan;A draft annotated outline of the 118/119 Update Report, adapted from USAID's FAA 118/119 Analysis Report Annotated Outline and showing the anticipated presentation of the background, methodology, findings, and conclusions;A final, English-language, public facing updated 118/119 report;An English-language presentation relaying findings and key take-aways.Serve as the primary point of contact between the analysis team and external stakeholders, including counterparts from USAID/Washington, USAID/Ecuador, and IDEAL project leadership.Lead in-person and virtual consultations with in-country and U.S.-based stakeholders as needed.Coordinate analysis and synthesis of data from in-country consultations and secondary literature review and datasets as necessary to respond to 118/119 report objectives, with support from IDEAL.Lead the development of the draft and final Analysis Reports, and any supplemental technical annexes, in accordance with an approved template and outline.Participate in regularly scheduled meetings throughout the activity lifetime and maintain clear communication with the analysis team, IDEAL staff, and USAID counterparts as needed, including to report progress updates.Develop and deliver a presentation on findings and key take-aways to USAID/Ecuador staff.With assistance from the IDEAL team, coordinate with a separate IDEAL team conducting parallel analysis on landscapes with mitigation potential.QUALIFICATIONSMinimum QualificationsMaster's degree in biology, ecology, zoology, forestry, ecosystem conservation, political ecology, environmental policy or planning, or a closely related field; and at least 15 years relevant experience.Subject expertise in one or more of the following: USAID policy and planning, biodiversity, forestry, wildlife, environmental governance, inland, marine, and coastal ecosystems, indigenous peoples, GIS, agriculture and land use, and livelihoods.Extensive knowledge of Ecuador's biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as threats to the country's biodiversity; proven experience working with Ecuador's biodiversity, demonstrating hands-on involvement in conservation, research, or related environmental projects.Strong network and established connections within Ecuador's biodiversity conservation field, including with relevant government authorities.Strong familiarity with current landscape of donor-funded conservation programming.Experience working collaboratively with diverse populations in Ecuador, including Indigenous populations and local communities, understanding cultural practices and integrating them into conservation efforts.Experience drawing linkages between tropical forest and biodiversity conservation efforts and programming in other key development sectors.Experience coordinating analyses and leading multicultural teams.Excellent communication, analytical, and presentation skills, both written and verbal, in English.Proficiency in Spanish required.Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.Preferred QualificationsDemonstrated experience conducting 118/119 analyses or similar analyses.Knowledge of deforestation trends and deforestation analysis.Broad understanding of geospatial perspectives to inform development priorities and planning.Knowledge of USAID's Program Cycle and strategic planning process, both broadly and as related to tropical forests and biodiversity.ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTSPermanent residence in Ecuador.Legally authorized to work in Ecuador with no restrictions.BASE STATIONThe position will be
remotely based in Ecuador.HOW TO APPLYPlease submit your application no later than
October 1, 2024 . On a rolling basis throughout the application period, we will review applications and contact qualified candidates for additional information.ENVIRONMENTAL INCENTIVES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERWe are committed to developing an inclusive work environment for all employees, where diversity of thought, style, culture, and skill is valued in support of individual performance and potential, as well as our business goals and mission. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
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Professional proficiency in written and spoken Spanish and English is mandatory for this consultant position. Selected candidates will be interviewed in English.Nota:
Para esta posicion de consultor, el dominio profesional del espanol e ingles hablado y escrito es obligatorio. Los candidatos seleccionados seran entrevistados en ingles.About Environmental IncentivesAt Environmental Incentives, our purpose is to create the conditions for human and natural communities to thrive. We do this by helping our partners improve the performance of conservation and development programs. Our clients trust us to design and support implementation of programs that (1) use evidence to develop effective strategies within complex systems, (2) center local stakeholder experiences and facilitate collective action, and (3) produce results that support learning about what works. Environmental Incentives is a certified B Corporation with offices located in Washington, DC, South Lake Tahoe, San Diego, Nairobi, and Lima (pending registration). Our remote staff and consultants are based in multiple states within the United States, and across five continents.ABOUT IDEALIn programming more than $750 million each year in biodiversity and climate change funds, USAID's decisions shape outcomes for irreplaceable ecosystems and the communities that depend on them worldwide. The Improving Design, Evidence, and Learning (IDEAL) contract provides support for all stages of the Program Cycle for USAID biodiversity and climate change programming at USAID and improves the Agency's ability to design, monitor, evaluate, and learn from programs with sustainable and impactful results.During this five-year activity, IDEAL supports USAID's programs to apply adaptive management decisions, generate and apply evidence, and apply learning to support better programming decisions. With expertise combining technical environment skills and organizational development and learning, IDEAL facilitates high-quality decision-making, increases evidence generation and use, and nurtures a culture of applied learning across the Agency.OPPORTUNITYThe Improving Design, Evidence, and Learning (IDEAL) mechanism is looking for a consultant to lead a comprehensive update to a 118/119 Tropical Forest and Biodiversity Analysis for the USAID Mission in Ecuador.PURPOSE & NEEDAs required by sections 118 and 119 of the Foreign Assistance Act, as amended, the analysis will examine the country-level tropical forest and biodiversity conservation needs and the extent to which USAID/Ecuador is currently or is planning to address the actions necessary to conserve and sustainably manage tropical forests and biodiversity to comply with the Congressional mandate. The analysis aims to assist USAID/Ecuador in comprehending the status of biodiversity and forest resources, as well as their significance to outcomes in various development sectors. It will delve into the socio-economic, institutional, and policy factors influencing these natural assets. Recommendations resulting from this analysis will offer tangible examples of how biodiversity and conservation efforts align with current and proposed development objectives, spanning areas such as food security, health, democracy, human rights and governance, economic growth, conflict prevention and mitigation, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.CONSULTANCY DESCRIPTIONEnvironmental Incentives is seeking a senior level Biodiversity or Natural Resources Management Specialist to serve as Team Leader (TL) for this 118/119 analysis update. Environmental Incentives will manage this consultancy, and the TL will be the technical lead of a team of in-country experts to develop, update, and finalize the analysis and all client deliverables, with technical and management support from Environmental Incentives. The TL will provide high-level strategic planning and insights for the analysis, coordinate with the team, lead the development of a work plan, guide stakeholder consultations and collection of qualitative data, lead the synthesis of preliminary findings, develop the draft and final analysis reports in accordance with approved outlines and quality standards, and present the final findings and key-takeaways to the Mission.
The assignment will be for an estimated 30-40 working days.
The period of performance will begin as early as September 2024 and conclude by the end of December 2024.RESPONSIBILITIESCoordinate and lead planning, production, and submission of the following deliverables, in collaboration with local experts and the IDEAL team:Draft and final agreed work plan;A draft annotated outline of the 118/119 Update Report, adapted from USAID's FAA 118/119 Analysis Report Annotated Outline and showing the anticipated presentation of the background, methodology, findings, and conclusions;A final, English-language, public facing updated 118/119 report;An English-language presentation relaying findings and key take-aways.Serve as the primary point of contact between the analysis team and external stakeholders, including counterparts from USAID/Washington, USAID/Ecuador, and IDEAL project leadership.Lead in-person and virtual consultations with in-country and U.S.-based stakeholders as needed.Coordinate analysis and synthesis of data from in-country consultations and secondary literature review and datasets as necessary to respond to 118/119 report objectives, with support from IDEAL.Lead the development of the draft and final Analysis Reports, and any supplemental technical annexes, in accordance with an approved template and outline.Participate in regularly scheduled meetings throughout the activity lifetime and maintain clear communication with the analysis team, IDEAL staff, and USAID counterparts as needed, including to report progress updates.Develop and deliver a presentation on findings and key take-aways to USAID/Ecuador staff.With assistance from the IDEAL team, coordinate with a separate IDEAL team conducting parallel analysis on landscapes with mitigation potential.QUALIFICATIONSMinimum QualificationsMaster's degree in biology, ecology, zoology, forestry, ecosystem conservation, political ecology, environmental policy or planning, or a closely related field; and at least 15 years relevant experience.Subject expertise in one or more of the following: USAID policy and planning, biodiversity, forestry, wildlife, environmental governance, inland, marine, and coastal ecosystems, indigenous peoples, GIS, agriculture and land use, and livelihoods.Extensive knowledge of Ecuador's biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as threats to the country's biodiversity; proven experience working with Ecuador's biodiversity, demonstrating hands-on involvement in conservation, research, or related environmental projects.Strong network and established connections within Ecuador's biodiversity conservation field, including with relevant government authorities.Strong familiarity with current landscape of donor-funded conservation programming.Experience working collaboratively with diverse populations in Ecuador, including Indigenous populations and local communities, understanding cultural practices and integrating them into conservation efforts.Experience drawing linkages between tropical forest and biodiversity conservation efforts and programming in other key development sectors.Experience coordinating analyses and leading multicultural teams.Excellent communication, analytical, and presentation skills, both written and verbal, in English.Proficiency in Spanish required.Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.Preferred QualificationsDemonstrated experience conducting 118/119 analyses or similar analyses.Knowledge of deforestation trends and deforestation analysis.Broad understanding of geospatial perspectives to inform development priorities and planning.Knowledge of USAID's Program Cycle and strategic planning process, both broadly and as related to tropical forests and biodiversity.ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTSPermanent residence in Ecuador.Legally authorized to work in Ecuador with no restrictions.BASE STATIONThe position will be
remotely based in Ecuador.HOW TO APPLYPlease submit your application no later than
October 1, 2024 . On a rolling basis throughout the application period, we will review applications and contact qualified candidates for additional information.ENVIRONMENTAL INCENTIVES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERWe are committed to developing an inclusive work environment for all employees, where diversity of thought, style, culture, and skill is valued in support of individual performance and potential, as well as our business goals and mission. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
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