International Consultant/Trainer on Promoting environmental education and principles of green economy in Tajikistan, Phase II (SSAs)

Background:

As a continuation of the POiD’s commitment to assist Tajikistan in advancing the green economy, enhancing the efficacy of environmental education, and promoting public involvement in environmental governance, in March 2024, the Project organized a 5-day study tour to Georgia for five representatives of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CoEP). The aim of the study trip was to provide the Tajik state officials with the opportunity to learn about the local practices of administering national parks and nature monuments, and explore the possibilities to apply them in Tajikistan. 

During the study tour, Georgia’s Agency of Protected Areas officials shared their experience in the functioning of the country’s protected areas and highlighted the implementation of the SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) patrolling system. The SMART platform consists of a set of software and analysis tools designed to help standardize and streamline data collection, analysis, and reporting, making it easier for key information to get from the field to decision-makers. The Tajik delegation expressed willingness to introduce the SMART patrolling system in Tajikistan’s protected areas as well. 

OSCE’s support to the COEP ensures that basic needs are met and that capacities are strengthened to ensure an improved management of PAs in addressing poaching, logging and other illegal activities, in monitoring flora and fauna species diversity and the health of natural ecosystems, in education of the public, and in promoting tourism and sustainable development.

The envisaged introduction of SMART application and follow-up training for SMART officers and rangers will improve the quality of protection in Tajikistan by implementing a rigorous advanced patrolling protocol, and will establish a centralized law enforcement monitoring system that allows the protected areas authorities to monitor day-to-day patrolling efforts and make adaptive management decisions to address gaps in protection.

The project will specifically provide training in SMART, which is a software designed to help park rangers fight wildlife crime by identifying poaching hotspots, improving rapid response measures and calculating the impact of anti-poaching efforts to maximize results. SMART will be used by park management to monitor the patrolling efforts, inform adaptive management decisions for patrolling operations and provide regular updates on wildlife movement to assist park authorities in mitigating the human-wildlife conflict affecting local communities.

To facilitate the process, the Project will hire one International Consultant/Trainer to conduct a training on implementation and operation of SMART patrol system for CoEP staff. 

 

Objective of Assignment: 

The objective of this consultancy is to:
a.    Provide consultancy to Tajikistan’s Committee of Environmental Protection (COEP) on the specific steps to ensure replication of SMART application;
b.    Implement the communication with the developers of SMART application to ensure translation of the app into Tajik language;
c.    Carry out oversight on implementing the COEP’s specific steps to ensure preparation for foundation for the SMART App launch;
d.    Develop training materials on the implementation and operation of the SMART patrol system; 
e.    Conduct a 5-day training by physically visiting Dushanbe, Tajikistan and implementing training for COEP’s 20 trainers. 

 

Duration of Assignment:
14 working days.

 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Head, Economic and Environmental Department, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties: 

1. Technical Support to COEP to identify key needs for PA. Data model for application determined and Conservation Areas (protected area maps with shape files) for selected protected areas have been developed in collaboration with the COEP coordinator and active participation of protected areas managers and key personnel;
2. Providing a text for translating the software into Tajik language and once the translation is cleared by COEP coordinator, ensuring language pack’s installation in the software;
3. Creation of Conservation Areas in the SMART software with the predefined SMART Data Model (SMART app menu);
4. SMART Officers Training. 5-day training will be held in Tajikistan to train the SMART data officers in charge of SMART databases of selected protected areas. At the end of SMART Training, the SMART Data Model and Conservation Areas to be finalized by the training participants and ready for deployment in PAs;
5. SMART Connect – Supporting the national coordinator with the SMART developers to set up the SMART Connect server on the cloud;
6. Once Conservation Area and Connect server are ready delivering a one-day training for using SMART Connect for the SMART national coordinator and SMART officers;
7. International expert supports the process to develop the ranger manual for using smart phones and collecting the data via smart mobile app together with the National Coordinator. This manual will be used by local professionals who will participate in the trainings conducted by International Consultant in Dushanbe and transfer the knowledge to local professionals. As a follow-up the National Coordinator and trained professionals would be delivering trainings to the rangers in other protected areas. International Expert will be available for another 4 days to provide consulting and advise on the process.

 

Deliverables:

• Protocol with COEP on key needs for identified PAs;
• SMART software into Tajik;
• Developed data model and conservation area;
• Training manual;
• SMART Tajik on the SMART Partnership owned cloud server;
• Training materials;
• Training materials and powerpoint presentations

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, please see: https://www.osce.org/programme-office-in-dushanbe.

 

Necessary Qualifications:

• University degree in environmental studies, environmental management, public administration or any other related field;
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in working at protected areas system;
• Extensive professional experience in conducting training and workshops;
• Comprehensive knowledge about implementation and operation of SMART patrol system;
• Fluency in English language; Knowledge of the Russian language is an asset;
• Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft applications;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity.

 

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant's/expert's qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE's online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

 

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

 

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

 

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization. 

 

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

 

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.