UNEP Sudan plans to implement jointly with UNDP and UN Women, the project entitled “Supporting Sustainable Peace in Blue Nile State through Gender-Responsive Natural Resource Governance, Inclusive Conflict Resolution Mechanisms and Climate-Resilient Livelihoods” with support from the Peace Building Fund (PBF).

The project aims to support and engender the peace process in Blue Nile State by enhancing climate resilient livelihoods options for women, youth and other marginalized groups, improving the local governance of natural resources by ensuring the full and equal representation of women, and strengthening the local conflict resolution mechanisms that underpin the development prospects of all groups. Building on the lessons learned from a pilot conducted by the Joint UN Programme for Women, Natural Resources, Climate and Peace in North Kordofan, the project will promote the empowerment of women change agents, capitalizing on their important roles as natural resource managers and the increased economic and care burdens women face in the post-conflict context.

With the overarching goal of contributing to sustainable and inclusive peace in the Blue Nile State, the proposed intervention will have two main outcomes each linked to two related outputs:

Outcome 1: The socio-economic stability of conflict-affected communities is strengthened through the development of climate-resilient livelihood options for women and other marginalized groups.

• Output 1.1: Climate-resilient and sustainable livelihoods options and access to critical socio-economic infrastructure/services provided in selected communities.

• Output 1.2:  Proactive measures to protect women from natural resource-related violence and enhance access to justice adopted in selected communities.

Outcome 2: Local-level governance and conflict resolution mechanisms are strengthened through inclusive and participatory processes in selected conflict-affected communities.

• Output 2.1: Inclusive local governance mechanisms are established within selected communities, which enable the participation of women and other marginalized groups in the planning and management of natural resources, as well as the prevention and peaceful resolution of disputes.

• Output 2.2: New channels are established to link local-level peacebuilding processes to the peace process in Blue Nile State.

UNEP Sudan as responsible Agency to lead the community consultations aiming at strengthening natural resources governance and dispute resolution in the selected localities, seeks to engage a Natural Resources Expert to lead on the implementation of Natural Resource Management (NRM) related project activities, as well as on the project’s Monitoring & Evaluation framework.

Objectives:

• Natural Resources Management activities guided in a professional manner;
• Community environmental action plans developed as a basis for climate-resilient and sustainable livelihood activities;
• Good practice and lessons learned from environmental action planning processes documented;
• Project M&E framework established and utilized by project partners.

The deliverables of this consultancy include:

• NRM activities planned and budgeted in the 2021 and 2022 UNEP workplans;
• Implementing partner contracted and fully prepared for the Community Environmental Action Planning (CEAP) processes;  
• Regular contact ensured with project partners regarding the implementation of the environmental Action Plans;
• Project M&E framework designed and project partners trained in its use;
• Lessons learned document and knowledge products from the CEAP processes;
• Innovative NRM solutions upscaled;
• Timely progress reporting produced of high quality.

Specific tasks and responsibilities:

The duties and responsibilities of this position are as follows:

• Advise implementing partners on Natural Resource Management related project activities in the targeted communities;     
• Programme and deliver the expected NRM results in the UNEP workplan;
• Guide the Community Environmental Action Planning (CEAP) processes in the targeted communities using a gender lens in close collaboration with the contracted implementing partner;
• Contribute to the implementation of the Action Plans resulting from the CEAP processes in the form of climate resilient livelihoods activities to be conducted by the project partners;
• Develop and implement the project M&E framework, ensure project partners contribute to its implementation, evidence is collected in a systematic manner and monitoring results are informing project reporting; 
• Provide training and guidance to project implementing partners so that they are able to implement the M&E framework during the project lifespan;
• Capture lessons learned and prepare knowledge products from the CEAP processes;
• Identify opportunities for replication of innovative NRM solutions and upscaling into policy;
• Contribute to donor reports in the required format;
• Contribute to UNEP prepare quarterly progress reports, as well as any other corporate reporting;
• Perform any other duty as required for the successful completion of the project.

• A Bachelor’s or Masters Degree in Environmental Sciences, Forestry, Agriculture, Natural Resource Management, Development Studies, Social Sciences or related field;
• At least 7 years experience in rural development or environmental projects, with particular emphasis on natural resources management;
• Excellent understanding of the institutional and community landscape in Sudan is essential and in Blue Nile State is desirable;
• Experience with inclusive participatory assessments and action planning;
• Experience in designing and implementing M&E frameworks;
• Great affinity with and working experience in gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• Must be fluent in English and Arabic, including the ability to convey technical information to a non-technical audience; 
• Must have excellent documentation and report writing skills;
• Used to working to deadlines and producing material at short notice at times;
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary environments, as a contributing member.

Critical success factors include:

• Client oriented approach, ensuring no one of the beneficiary communities is left behind;
• Methodical and organised and clear and concise records kept;
• Capacity of various project stakeholders built in NRM and M&E.