Background

Climate change presents potential challenges for Cambodia in attaining sustainable development in recent years. Cambodia is a country regularly exposed to natural hazards and the foreseen impacts of climate change are likely to increase in terms of droughts, floods and the intensity of tropical storms.  Climate change and natural disasters have negatively impacted the socio-economic development. Therefore, the integration of climate change adaptation and disaster risk management into sub-national planning and implementation will be instrumental in addressing the challenges locally.

The impacts of climate change are clearly observed at the locality. Vulnerability has been a misery for pro poor people and adaptive capacity is limited in general. The government has started to implement reform programs, in particular local governance and democratic development providing the opportunity to improve the delivery of public services and participation of citizens in decision making process. The sub-national systems for planning, financing and management have been established including transfers of funds and functions to different tiers of local governments. The Cambodia Climate Change Strategic Plan (CCCSP) for period 2014-2024 provides the framework for the national and sub-national governments to develop and implement climate change responsive plans across the board. In this regard, the National Programme for Sub-National Democratic Development (NP-SNDD) 2010-2019 is being implemented with lens on crossing cutting issues such as gender and climate change. Another strategic document is the Strategic National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction (SNAP) 2008-2013, which aims to address disaster risk reduction at the national and local levels under the Hyogo Framework for Action. All these policy papers are instrumental for further dissemination at large scale and piloting programs are being implemented such as:

  • Cambodia Community Based Adaptation Programme (CCBAP);
  • Promoting Climate Resilience in Agriculture and Water Resources Management for Rural Livelihood in Cambodia Programme (NAPA FU);
  • Cambodia Climate Change Alliance (CCCA);
  • Local Governments and Climate Change Phase II (LGCC II), Strategic Program for Climate Resilient (SPCR).

The National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development (NCDD) has recently coordinated between the different piloting projects/programs in order to review district and commune planning system and develop an operational guideline to facilitate the mainstreaming of climate change adaption measures and issues related to natural disaster into the local planning system and investment programs for the matter of increasing adaptive capacity and implementation in an inclusive manner. At the outset of the project, Core Group with collective responsibilities of all active piloting programs mentioned above and key government institutions (planning, environment and interior) will be established to lead the development of the operational guideline; technical manual and national readiness plan for operationalizing CCA/DRR mainstreaming exercise at sub-national level across the country. UNDP is now seeking to recruit a planning specialist to assist Core Group  to achieve this goal.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work:

The main objective of this assignment is to carry out thorough review of existing planning regulations and practices at sub-national level in the light of identifying gaps and ideas, suggestions and options to mainstream into district and commune development plans (5 years) and its rolling investment program (3 years) and make recommendations on capacity development approaches for both national and sub-national stakeholders.

Therefore, the major responsibilities of the Planning Specialist, in collaboration with Core Group, are as following:

  • Review existing planning policy and regulations at national and sub-national levels, in particular at district and commune levels. Based on these reviews, consultant will gain the common views on potential challenges and opportunities for promoting integrated planning and implementation with focus on CCA/DRR at sub-national level. Project Manager (NCDD Secretariat’s designated official) is responsible to collect and share necessary policy papers with consultants for prior review;
  • Through the implementation of piloting programs such as CCBAP, NAPA FU, CCCA, LGCC II, consultant will review existing practices, roles and responsibilities of local governments and their capacity in order to find out  all possible entry points on mainstreaming of CCA/DRR into current District & Commune Planning System. The consultant is required to really consult with provincial support teams and local governments in three selected provinces (Takeo, Preah Vihear and Battambang) on potential entry points and how the operational guideline and technical manual would be looked like before drafting the comprehensive papers;
  • Most importantly, consultant should present Core Group the ideas, suggestions and options for stepping up CCA/DRR into current district/commune planning system and how operational guideline and technical manual would be crafted. This is the most critical step to ensure better alignment to planning policy and regulations and also build a common page among national and local experts on the future interventions for scaling up and promoting CCA/DRR implementation;
  • Review of mechanisms, roles and responsibilities for climate change adaption and disaster management at national and sub-national level and make recommendations on measures and capacity developments for them to cope with increased risks of climate change (floods and drought).;
  • Develop initial roadmap for the core group (multi-stakeholders) towards developing the guideline on mainstreaming climate change adaption;
  • Draft the operational guideline on mainstreaming CCA/DRR into district/commune planning system in alignment with planning policy and regulation;
  • Draft the technical manual with focus on capacity development and skills needed for local government to eventually operationalize “Operational Guideline” in consistent with district and commune planning system (5-Year Development Plan and 3-Year Rolling Investment Program);
  • Draft a readiness plan or roadmap for NCDD Secretariat to really inform sub-national administrations for undertaking CCA/DRR mainstreaming and implementation;
  • Conduct final consultative workshop with stakeholders from piloting and non-piloting provinces on drafts of Operational Guideline, technical manual and readiness plan;
  • Finalize the papers based on feedbacks and inputs from consultative workshop and submit the final peppers to NCDD Secretariat. This is subjective to be reviewed and accepted through endorsement of Core Group.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

  • Mapping report; in the form of Inception Plan; on current practices (of CCBAP, CCCA, NAPA FU and LGCC2) that outline key ideas, suggestions and options for mainstreaming CCA/DRR into district and commune planning guidelines. This mapping report is subjective to be consulted with and agreed by Core Group before drafting operational guideline and technical manuals;
  • Operational Guideline is developed to spell out major steps, process and tools for implementing mainstreaming of CCA/DRR into district/commune planning system in terms of identifications and prioritizations;
  • Technical Manual is drafted providing CCA/DRR options for Local Governments to respond to climate change impact including National Readiness Plan for NCDD Secretariat to eventually operationalize mainstreaming guideline at sub-national level across the country;
  • A 2-day final consultative workshop on drafts operational guideline, technical manual and readiness plan is conducted. All papers are finalized based on inputs and feedbacks and submitted to NCDDS through endorsement of Core Group.

Institutional Arrangement:

Once the contract is signed between the consultant and the UNDP Country Office, first meeting with project team, is convened to provide overall direction and guidance as well as to discuss arrangements of the exercise.  

The consultant is responsible for developing appropriate methodology of the assignment. UNDP will closely coordinate the exercise with NCDD Secretariat by identifying and scheduling meetings with stakeholders for interviews, and providing related documents. The consultant can also be proactive and making use of her/his own networking in making interviews, and research for other related documents to fit into operational guideline and technical manual.

The consultant must report directly to the Project Director, who is NCDD Secretariat and consult with UNDP E&E and Governance team on a regular basis. Right at the conclusion of consultations and meetings with various stakeholders, the consultant shall have a debriefing meeting with the project team and senor management of NCDD Secretariat to provide overall feedbacks and initial analysis, which will shape the process of putting together the operational guideline and technical manual.

Duration of the Work:

The proposed duration of this assignment is 50 working days spreading over the period of April to July 2014. The assignment is a combination of home-based of the consultant home country and in-country missions. The consultant is required to be available in Phnom Penh for up to 35 working days (15working days for working from home).

Duty Station:

  • Home-based: 15 working days;
  • Country-based: 35 working days.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

  • Excellent writing, and communications skills;
  • Proven ability to work flexibly and independently with limited supervision in a multicultural team environment and deliver quality results against tight deadlines;
  • Up-to-date knowledge of climate change, disaster management and decentralization in Cambodia;
  • Proficient computer and internet skills  including Microsoft Office.

Corporate Competencies: 

  • Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
  • Exerts strict adherence to corporate rules, regulations and procedures;
  • Familiarity with the internal control framework and results-based management tools is a must;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

  • At least a master’s degree in development related field such as public policy, public administration, social science and or political science of economics.

Experience: 

  • At least 7 years substantial experience in area of local government administration and local government reform processes in Asia Pacific region. Cambodia’s experience is a strongest asset;
  • Established track record in designing and managing climate change adaption (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) programs;
  • At least 7 years of professional experience in conducting assessments, formulation and review of sub-national systems and plans, preferably in the governance reform or local economic development with eyes on CCA/DRR.
  • Extensive experience in stakeholder engagement;
  • Familiarity with procedures of the UN and various development partners in Cambodia.

Language Requirement: 

  • Fluency in English required (written and spoken);
  • Fluency in Khmer would be a strong advantage.

Important note:

Interested offeror is strongly advised to read the Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice, wich can be viewed at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=15161 for more detail about term of references, instructions to offeror, and documents to be included when submitting offer.

Documents to be included when submitting the application:

Interested offeror/individual must submit the following documents/information:

Please be informed that we don’t accept application submitted via email.

Interested candidate is required to submit application via UNDP jobsite system, because the application screening and evaluation will be done through UNDP jobsite system. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file. Your on-line applications submission will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary.

Any request for clarification/additional information on this procurement notice shall be communicated in writing to UNDP office or send to email vannara.chea@undp.org and/or procurement.kh@undp.org. While the Procurement Unit would endeavor to provide information expeditiously, only requests receiving at least 5 working days prior to the submission deadline will be entertained. Any delay in providing such information will not be considered as a reason for extending the submission deadline. The UNDP's response (including an explanation of the query but without identifying the source of inquiry) will be posted in Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice page as provided above. Therefore, all prospective Offerors are advised to visit the page regularly to make obtain update related to this Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice.