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Role details

Darwin Expert Committee (DEC) Member

Application deadline 1 May 2023

Summary

• Organisation: Darwin Expert Committee (DEC)
• Sponsor department: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Environment, Agriculture & Fishing
• Skills: Audit and Risk, Commercial, Communication, International Experience, Major Projects
• Number of vacancies: 3
• Time commitment: 14 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £250 per day
• Length of term: The appointments will commence in July 2023, with a three-year term.
• Application deadline: 11:59pm on 1 May 2023

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   28 March 2023

2. Application deadline

   11:59pm on 1 May 2023

3. Sifting date

   15 May 2023

4. Interviews expected to end on

   5 June 2023

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the role

Introduction

We are looking for three new members of the Darwin Expert Committee (DEC), which is made up of independent experts including academics, practitioners and NGO representatives, along with government officials, all with significant senior leadership, knowledge and experience of biodiversity conservation and/or poverty reduction programmes in low- and middle-income countries.

The primary role of the DEC is to provide high quality and independent technical specialist advice to the Darwin Initiative - one of Defra’s Biodiversity Challenge Funds (BCF), along with the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and Darwin Plus. It competitively awards grants for biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction activities in eligible countries, helping these countries meet their commitments under the Multilateral Environment Agreements, Sustainable Development Goals, and national policy.

In addition, the DEC are expected to champion the Darwin Initiative where possible, with members supporting outreach and engagement activities to engage stakeholders and further the objectives of the fund, including attending and presenting at Darwin Initiative events, including workshops/webinars for potential applicants and projects.

Role description

We are looking for individuals who, as leaders in their field, are able to contribute at the highest levels and work effectively as part of the committee. Successful candidates will offer sound judgment, excellent interpersonal skills, discretion, the ability to assimilate complex information and preferably have previous experience of reviewing project applications and justifying their assessment in a committee-type forum of peers.

Members are expected to:

·         assess and score applications against the published criteria, to agreed timelines and standards, to enable Defra to award funding to high-quality projects,

·         provide strategic advice, and

·         champion the Darwin Initiative

We would like to encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds, including the private sector, academia and professional institutions, non-governmental organisations, independent experts and other stakeholders based in the UK, or in low- and middle-income countries and elsewhere.

Individuals who are currently or have previously been members of the DEC are eligible to apply for a further term without a break, subject to open competition. 

The appointments will commence in July 2023.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Defra are looking for up to three people who can demonstrate significant leadership in designing, delivering or evaluating programmes in low- and middle-income countries, for example through concept, design, implementation, closure of projects, supported by core capabilities in areas such as finance, safeguarding, poverty reduction, gender, monitoring, evaluation, risk, capacity-building  and training.

You are also expected to demonstrate substantial specialist and/or generalist technical expertise and experience related to specific biomes, conservation actions, poverty reduction approaches and/or specific threats to biodiversity and human wellbeing.

To help maintain DEC’s capabilities and capacity, we are particularly interested to receive applications from candidates who can demonstrate expertise in private sector development and nature finance, and/or and knowledge in one or more of the following:

Biodiversity components:

• Production land-use systems (agriculture, plantations and peri-urban/urban)
• Montane ecosystems 
• Freshwater ecosystems (streams, rivers, and lakes)

Conservation actions:

• Livelihood, economic & other incentives (incl. conservation payments)
• Innovation and entrepreneurship 
• Education & awareness (incl. training)

 However, applications from candidates with other expertise are also welcomed.

To support DEC’s capability and capacity to recommend strong projects, we would like to encourage candidates from low- and middle-income countries to apply in order to strengthen the geographic diversity and improve the representation of these countries and their stakeholders in our decision making.

Successful candidates will offer sound judgment, excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills, discretion, the ability to assimilate and analyse complex information. Candidates will preferably be capable of demonstrating previous experience of impartially and robustly reviewing project applications, followed by the capability to justify their assessments in a committee-type forum with your peers.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate all the following essential criteria:

1.       Substantial and significant technical expertise and knowledge of topics relevant to the Darwin Initiative’s objectives.

2.       Professional experience of successfully delivering outcomes in multiple low- and middle-income countries over a number of years from concept to closure, supported by core capabilities around finance, safeguarding, gender, monitoring & evaluation (incl. logical frameworks), communicating, risk management and capability building, supported a practical understanding of working in challenging environments and delivering building strong and equitable partnerships.

Strong track record of working with, applying and reporting to competitive grant funding schemes, ideally including impartially reviewing project applications to such schemes. This should include the ability to articulate or identify technically robust projects that provide strong value for money, can deliver ambitious outcomes in line with respective guidance, and provide positive and constructive feedback where required.

Application and selection process

How to apply

Candidates must complete an application through Flexigrant (https://ltsi.flexigrant.com/). This will include a: 

1. Statement of suitability: It is essential that your statement of suitability gives full but concise information relevant to the appointment, clearly demonstrating how you meet each of the essential criteria. Please provide specific examples to establish how you meet each of the criteria. The statement of suitability should not exceed 1000 words.
2. CV: should include education, professional qualifications and employment history, and the names and contact details for two referees. CVs should not exceed two sides of A4 pages.
3. Completed Conflicts of interest, conduct and advertising section
4. Completed Diversity section

Your application should be submitted through Flexi-Grant  by the closing date: 23:59 (UK time, BST (GMT + 1 hour)) on 1 May 2023.

For questions about the role or application process please contact NIRAS on BCF-Darwin@niras.com.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Ben Yexley - Darwin Initiative Lead – Chair - Departmental Official

EJ Milner-Gulland - Darwin Expert Committee Chair - Independent Member

Eilidh Young - Fund Administrator - Other Panel Member

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Principles of public life

Holders of public office are expected to adhere to and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life. These are:

1. Selflessness - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
2. Integrity - Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
3. Objectivity - Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
4. Accountability - Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
5. Openness - Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
6. Honesty - Holders of public office should be truthful.
7. Leadership - Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or serve in any one post for more than ten years

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

We will be offering recruited members a stipend of £250 per day plus reimbursement of reasonable (standard class) travel and subsistence costs for attending committee meetings, and internet costs if needed.

The Department has due regard to diversity.  Expenses may include reimbursement of reasonable additional childcare or other carer costs that are occurred due to DEC commitments, and the reimbursement of reasonable additional expenses of disabled people.

Remuneration and Travel and Subsistence Rules for DEC members 

DEC members will be remunerated at £250 per day for duties described above; but not for travel time to and from meetings (although travel and subsistence costs will be payable – see below).  

Remuneration is subject to tax and National Insurance contributions (NIC). This payment of remuneration will be classed as income for anyone completing a self-assessment form at the end of the tax year. 

Travel and subsistence payments will be based on Defra’s Travel and Subsistence (T&S) rules. Financial arrangements are constantly kept under review and DEC members will be informed of any changes to Defra’s T&S policy.   

DEC members will be reimbursed for items relevant to DEC business (excluding insurance). DEC members are asked to consider sustainability and environmental issues when planning journeys, and contribute to achieving value for money by complying with Defra’s T&S policy in line with HM Treasury requirements.

Further details are available in the Biodiversity Challenge Fund Expert Groups Handbook.

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy. Please contact NIRAS on 

BCF-Darwin@niras.com 

 

if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

Contact details

The Darwin Initiative is one of Defra’s Biodiversity Challenge Funds, along with Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and Darwin Plus. It competitively awards grants for biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction activities in eligible countries, helping these countries meet their commitments under the Multilateral Environment Agreements, Sustainable Development Goals, and national policy.

The Darwin Initiative is the UK’s flagship international challenge fund for biodiversity, conservation and sustainable development, established at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992.

The Darwin Initiative provides funding to projects that support and influence stakeholders to incorporate biodiversity considerations in achieving poverty reduction, through evidence and refined best practices, while building inclusive partnerships, and strengthening national/local capability and capacity to develop and deliver solutions to the global challenge of biodiversity loss and degradation.

It has so far committed over £230m to more than 1,275 projects working with local communities in countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Projects have delivered a wide range of outcomes, and worked across key biodiversity conservation-poverty reduction activities and threats including sustainable use, livelihoods, community-led conservation, human-wildlife conflict, species recovery, invasive species, building in-country capacity and capability, and habitat restoration.

The Darwin Initiative is funded by Defra through its Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) budget, and delivered through an external fund manager, NIRAS.

You can read more about the Initiative, including application guidance, and current and past projects, here: Darwin Initiative (www.darwininitiative.org.uk).

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience in their career progression. We want a DEC that celebrates and embraces diversity of thought and experience. We are fully committed to being inclusive and ensuring equal opportunities. We hope to attract a range of diverse applicants – particularly from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups, people with a disability and people with gender diverse identities. 

For an informal discussion about the role please contact NIRAS on BCF-Darwin@niras.com

Panel Sift: w/c 15 May 2023

Final Interview Date: w/c 5 June 2023

Attachments

• 1_DEC Candidate Pack

• 2_Monitoring form 1 (Conflicts of interest conduct and advertising Questionnaire)

• 3_Monitoring form 2 (Diversity Questionnaire)