Note: Professional proficiency in written and spoken English is preferred for this consultant position but not mandatory. Interviews will be conducted in English or Spanish, depending on the candidate's proficiency.
Nota: Se prefiere un dominio profesional del inglés hablado y escrito para esta posición de consultor, pero no es obligatorio. Las entrevistas se llevarán a cabo en inglés o español, dependiendo de la fluidez del candidato.

About Environmental Incentives
At 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 IDEAL
In 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.
OPPORTUNITY
The Improving Design, Evidence, and Learning (IDEAL) mechanism is looking for a consultant to support a comprehensive update to a 118/119 Tropical Forest and Biodiversity Analysis for the USAID Mission in Ecuador.

PURPOSE & NEED
As 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 addressing the actions necessary to conserve and sustainably manage tropical forests and biodiversity. The analysis and report recommendations will highlight strategic linkages and opportunities to integrate tropical forest and biodiversity conservation into priority development sectors, inform programming and help to strengthen the Mission's role in biodiversity conservation. The analysis will not generate original primary data, and is based on synthesis and analysis of existing information, coupled with consultations with key stakeholders.

CONSULTANCY DESCRIPTION
Environmental Incentives is seeking a mid-level Marine Conservation Expert for the 11/119 analysis update. The Marine Conservation Expert will serve as a key contributing member of a core analysis team for this activity. The Marine Conservation Expert will report to the Team Lead and IDEAL's technical manager at Environmental Incentives, and contribute to the development and implementation of all client deliverables. This includes providing inputs into a work plan, conducting desk-based research, leading a portion of stakeholder consultations and qualitative data collection, and contributing to the synthesis of preliminary findings, the draft and final analysis reports in accordance with established protocols and quality standards, and a presentation to the Mission on final findings and key-takeaways. The assignment for the Marine Conservation Expert will be for an estimated 7-15 working days. The period of performance will begin as early as September 2024 and conclude by December 2024.
RESPONSIBLITIES

• Contribute to the planning, development, analysis and reporting for the 118/119 analysis, including drafting key sections as delegated by the Team Lead.
• Contribute to a desk-based research approach, gathering data from existing datasets and conducting interviews with experts and partners.
• Provide key insights relating to marine-coastal biodiversity conservation, linking conservation gaps to broader policy and governance issues that impact biodiversity and local communities.
• Participate in regularly scheduled meetings throughout the activity lifetime.

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in marine biology, coastal and marine resource management, oceanography, environmental science, zoology, ecology, ecosystem conservation, political ecology, environmental policy or planning, or a closely related field; and at least 13 years relevant experience OR Master's degree in marine biology, coastal and marine resource management, oceanography, environmental science, zoology, ecology, ecosystem conservation, political ecology, environmental policy or planning, or a closely related field; and at least 11 years relevant experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in marine conservation in Ecuador.
• Demonstrated experience conducting desk-based research and contributing to comprehensive analyses.
• Strong network and demonstrated experience with key actors in the marine, coastal, and fisheries sectors.
• Strong knowledge of institutions, regulations and legal frameworks in the marine sector in Ecuador; knowledge in forestry, wildlife, and/or related environmental sectors in Ecuador is a plus.
• Excellent communication and analytical skills.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Spanish is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise assessing linkages between marine conservation and development programming in non-environment sectors such as food security, economic development, and governance.
• Experience working collaboratively with diverse populations in Ecuador, including Indigenous populations and local communities, understanding cultural practices and integrating them into conservation efforts.
• Broad understanding of geospatial perspectives to inform development priorities and planning.
• Knowledge of the USAID Program Cycle and strategic planning process.
• Proficiency in English is useful but not required.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Permanent residence in Ecuador.
• Legally authorized to work in Ecuador with no restrictions.

BASE STATION
The position will be remotely based in Ecuador.
HOW TO APPLY
Please 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 EMPLOYER
We 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 and other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.