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Start-Up Consultant, Pacific Invasives Network

TERMS OF REFERENCE
prepared by Mark White & Audrey Newman, with input from the PIN Design Team
Revised: 12 May 2004

1 OVERVIEW
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) seeks candidates with consultation, coordination and project design skills to help initiate a new peer learning network for invasive species teams in Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, and Hawai’i. – the pilot Pacific Invasives Network (PIN). Strong consultation and partnership building experience is required. Knowledge of Pacific islands invasive species issues, and fundraising experience is highly desirable. The position can be located anywhere in the Pacific basin and will require approximately three consultative trips to the island regions above. The contract period is for 4-5 months with some possibility of extension, pending funding and consultation results. The contract period for the successful applicant will begin in June 2004 and end October 30, 2004. A case statement for PIN is attached.

The successful applicant will help refine the Pacific Invasive Network’s currently proposed activities based on the needs of consulted organizations and practitioners working on invasive species issues in the Pacific islands. She/He will also strengthen the existing PIN partnership by finalizing a partnership MOU, help identify potential long-term funding sources and promote the pilot learning network to a wide Pacific Island audience.

PIN’s activities and agenda will be determined by the individual and shared needs of the participants. Examples of potential projects include:

· developing a national invasives strategy

· implementing a pest risk assessment process
· adapting international health standards to regulate imports
· eradicating rats or invasive plants from offshore islands

The first set of PIN teams will come from Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, and Hawaii, with each team representing a single nation, state, or archipelago. Teams will be selected to include members with a long-term commitment to conservation, strong cultural understanding, willingness to commit time to network activities, and potential to act as innovators to increase invasive species management and prevention in their nations. Participating teams will determine specific invasive species issues that they will address using the network.

To start, the network will commit to two to four meetings of participating teams and experts over the course of two years. Team recruitment applications will be distributed in late 2004, with the first meeting proposed for early 2005.

This year, PIN Design Team members including The Conservancy are raising funds to launch the network, hire a coordinator, and hold the first meeting in 2005. This consultancy plays a key role in the start-up of this pilot learning network. PIN has the potential to be a highly effective and far-reaching mechanism to address the urgent threats posed by invasive species, and have a lasting impact on conservation in all Pacific Islands.

2 CURRENT PARTNERS
1) The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
2) South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
3) Conservation International (CI)
4) IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)
5) Palau Office of Environmental Response & Coordination (OERC)
6) National Park of American Samoa
7) US Forest Service (USFS)

3 DUTIES
The Contractor will be required to complete the following work tasks by October 30, 2004:

1. Complete initial phone or in person consultation and orientation with TNC and SPREP for project start-up.

2. Work with SPREP, TNC and other PIN Design Team members to:
· develop a simple set of questions or survey format to gather input from country and regional stakeholders to refine the PIN’s draft criteria, activities, milestones and team selection process to meet priority needs in the field
· develop and maintain a good master distribution list for this consultation and future PIN communications
· determine how Design Team members can assist with the consultation process
· finalize MOU between all partner agencies that clearly describes the PIN partnership and roles of cooperating members.
3. Review relevant invasives initiatives at the country and regional level
4. With assistance of PIN Design Team members, consult with Pacific island countries, territories and regional organizations, as possible. At minimum, ensure consultation with the following countries and regional agencies:
· Melanesia: Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea
· Micronesia: Palau, Kiribati, FSM, CNMI and Guam.
· Polynesia: American Samoa, Samoa, French Polynesia, Tokelau, Wallis & Futuna
· Regional Organizations: SPREP, SPC, Pacific Island Roundtable, SOPAC, UNDP
5. For countries or territories interested in being one of the PIN “founding teams” in 2005, help them to:
· identify specific country projects and common needs to include in early network activities (and use as examples in proposals)
· examine ways they can strengthen their team to take full advantage of the network
6. Maintain/compile written/electronic records of all consultations. Prepare and distribute a summary report of the input received to all who participated in the consultation.
7. Finalize PIN announcement, application and initial recruitment materials and process based on consultation input.
8. Assist PIN Design Team to identify potential public and private donors and secure additional financing for the learning network. Assist with funding proposals and reports, as requested. Target is to secure 4-7 core funding partners at a $50-100K annual level.

4 MILESTONES and DELIVERABLES
The following milestones and deliverables will be used to track progress on this contract.
June 2004
Complete initial consultation with TNC and PIN design team members

·Consult regional organizations at Pacific Island Roundtable in Fiji if possible

Complete detailed work plan for completing assignment, including determining proposed consultations to be done by Design Team and by consultant

Draft MOU and circulate to partners for feedback

July 2004
·Finalize consultation schedule
·Begin consultations with countries and organizations listed above. A minimum of one trip to each region in Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia may be required (depending on assistance to be provided by Design Team )
·Begin identifying potential funding opportunities
·Assist with funding proposals, as requested
·Revise MOU

August 2004
Continue consultations and compile input in interim report for Design Team discussion
Assist with grant writing and funding proposals, as requested
Finalize MOU

September 2004
Complete consultations
Revise PIN’s working plan based on consultations
Circulate draft PIN announcement, application materials and distribution list for review by PIN team and all individuals consulted
· Prepare list of potential “founding” PIN teams and confirm their interest in participation (pending funding)

October 2004
Assist with funding proposals, as requested
Finalize revised PIN work plan, criteria, activities and milestones
Finalize PIN announcement, application materials and distribution list. Distribute if funding secured
Finalize list of potential “founding teams” who are interested in participating in PIN in 2005
Submit final consultation report

5 ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. Proven track record in regional consultation, project design, planning, and partnership building.
2. Advanced degree or equivalent work experience in management, invasive species, organizational development, conservation, sustainable development, or other relevant field.
3. Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively as a member of multidisciplinary and multicultural teams. Ability to work effectively in cross-cultural situations with a wide range of people with diverse backgrounds.
4. Excellent organizational skills, demonstrated strategic agility, and consistent drive for tangible results. Ability to prioritize and maintain complex projects in a demanding work environment and to work with multiple deadlines.
5. Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills in a multi-cultural environment. Successful track record in writing reports, proposals, and related materials required by bilateral and/or multilateral institutions is desirable.
6. Experience with or strong knowledge of conservation, invasive species, or sustainable development programs and organizations in the Pacific islands is highly desirable
7. Commitment to the preservation of significant natural areas and to the goals of The Nature Conservancy.

6 AMOUNT
The total cost of this contract is $US22,500, including travel and reimbursable expenses. An estimated $US10,000 will be needed for travel, communications and other reimbursables, with the remainder covering the contractor’s fees. (This project may be fully or partially funded from the US Federal Government, as such, all rules and regulations that may govern these funds are enacted and will be applied.)

7 APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY: 31 May, 2004, 5:00 p.m.

8 PREPARATIONS and SUBMISSION of APPLICATION
All applicants must submit the following:
1) A cover letter briefly summarizing your experience and qualifications for this consultation. Cover letters should not exceed 2 pages.
2) Resume of professional experience
3) List of References (minimum 3)

Applications shall be received no later than 31 May, 2004 at two locations.

Applications may be emailed to mwhite@tnc.org and lizd@sprep.org.ws or faxed to TNC (+1-808-545-2019) and SPREP (+685-20-231).

We strongly encourage and would prefer email, but will accept faxed or mailed applications. If email or fax is not available please mail applications to:

The Nature Conservancy
923 Nuuanu Avenue
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Attn: Mark White

South Pacific Regional Environment Programme
PO Box 240
Apia, Samoa
Attn: Liz Dovey

NB: Please note that mail in the Pacific can be slow and may jeopardize the timely arrival of your application.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL PROPOSALS, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OR REQUIRE AMENDMENTS TO THE PROPOSALS WITHOUT LIABILITY WHATSOEVER. THE NATURE CONSERVANCY ALSO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AMEND OR SUPPLEMENT REQUIREMENTS AND MATERIALS, IN WRITING, AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE SUBMISSION DATE.

9 EVALUATION and Selection of Appicants
Candidates will be evaluated on the basis of their qualifications and effectiveness to meet the objectives and deliverables.