The Danube and Carpathian regions of Ukraine belong to priority ecoregion for the WWF network in general and for WWF-DCP (World Wide Fund for Nature – Danube Carpathian Programme) in particular. While WWF-DCP has been involved in conservation activities in the Ukrainian Danube Delta for over 15 years, to date activities in the Ukrainian Carpathians and in Ukraine more generally have been limited. WWF-DCP is currently seeking to develop a basis for long term activities in the Ukrainian Carpathians. Since 2003, WWF-DCP has supported activities for the adaptation and testing of the High Conservation Value Forest Toolkit, with the aim of developing this toolkit for use in the forest certification processes and as a valuable tool for the identification of biodiversity, environmental, social and cultural values of the forests. We have also supported preparation of data for the conservation of the last remaining unique floodplain forests.

The present project will prepare the ground for a number of actions contributing to the sustainable use and protection of the globally important natural values in the East Carpathians in Ukraine. It focuses on promoting cooperation between protected area authorities, NGOs and local communities and stakeholders to promote local sustainable development and nature protection as well as cross-border cooperation.

It will do this by building capacity of protected area administrations, NGOs, local communities and stakeholders in the project focal areas and initiating a number of sustainable local development activities, including sustainable forestry and tourism, that can demonstrate and deliver socio-economic benefits for local people while maintaining and even enhancing the rich biological diversity of the region.

The project is in line with national, regional and international priorities for biodiversity conservation and strengthening environmental governance in the region, as these are expressed in the Ukrainian biodiversity action plan, ecoregional conservation plan, the Kyiv Resolution on Biodiversity, the Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians, the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and recent Norwegian government white papers.

The one-year project will lay the foundation for follow-up activities with a three to five-year perspective, in which other donors also will be approached for contributions. The focus of project activities on cooperation between Protected Area managers and local communities and stakeholders to identify and develop sustainable local development will secure the longer-term sustainability of the project.

The project area is broadly the East Carpathian Mountains in western Ukraine, with specific activities focused around protected areas contained within two internationally recognized Biosphere Reserves: the Ukrainian portion of the trilateral East Carpathian Biosphere Reserve shared with Slovakia and Poland; and the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve located near the border with Romania.

The objective of the assignment is the coordination of project activities that will be developed in the project areas and support the work of the field managers.

Specific tasks
coordinate development and regular updating of detailed plans for the project activities,
coordinate, advise and support the activity of the two field managers who will work in the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve and the Eas Carpathian Biosphere Reserve,
supervise the work of specialists with third party contracts within the project framework, analyse resulting reports / studies and present an evaluation of these to the WWF-DCP project manager,
together with the WWF-DCP team and field managers define detailed activities for efficient implementation of the project and involve representatives of the biosphere reserves,
liaise with representatives of relevant national authorities, seek support for the project and involve representatives of national authorities in relevant activities,
contribute to the development of terms of references for consultants and selection of the consultants for specific tasks,
identify and involve, as appropriate, key stakeholders at the national level,
promote the project and project results in Ukraine and present the poject at international events if needed,
contribute to the development of the project concept and the full project proposal for the next funding stage,
collect reports from field managers and provide regular reports on project progress to the WWF-DCP project manager,
supervise and report on project finances,
organize planning and reporting meetings for the project team (WWF-DCP representatives, field managers, key consultants, representatives of the biosphere reserves)
organize field visits for the WWF representatives and for the donor, as needed.

Anticipated deliverables:
project results as defined in the project document (see chapter 5.1. Logical framework),
project concept and full project proposal developed for the next stage (work will be done with the WWF DCP team and field managers),
reports as requested by the WWF standards and specific reports if requested by the donor.

The work will be carried out over the period from mid September or October 2007 to June as a part time job.

Reports to: WWF- DCP Forest, Protected Area and Carpathian Leader

Works with:
WWF DCP Staff
Staff of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserves and the East Carpathian Biosphere Reserve
Ministries and other relevant national authorities (e.g. national forest authority)
FSC and HCVF consultants of WWF DCP
NGO's and other relevant stakeholders in Ukraine

Key Responsibilities:

The Consultant will

be responsible for overall project implementation,
provides quarterly financial and activity reports to the WWF-DCP and half year technical reports according to WWF standards,
provides brief monthly reports on activities.

Key Requirements:

Biodiversity conservation/protected area management and related background and experience (university degree);
Very good knowledge of the Ukrainian protected area system. Experience in protected area policy or management is an advantage;
Good knowledge of relevant international treates and agreements;
Experience in project management, in organizing and facilitating workshops/working groups;
Excellent communication skills;
Ability to think strategically and seeking solutions to complex issues;
Very good knowledge of English language;
Computer literacy (Word, Excel, Power Point).

Please send your CV and cover letter to Bohdan Prots [mailto:bprots7@fastmail.fm] , Roman Volosyanchuk - volosyanchuk@yahoo.com and Erika Stanciu - erikas@zappmobile.ro