UNDP Jobs - 51704- International Consultant/Climate Change Adaptation

International Consultant/Climate Change Adaptation/GEF Expert for the Climate Resilient Livelihoods in Agricultural Communities in Drought-prone Areas of Turkmenistan

Location :

Home-based with two missions to Ashkhabad (Ashgabat), each covering 5 working days, TURKMENISTAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

12-Jan-2015

Application Deadline :

05-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

70 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

70 working days within January-December 2015

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Nature Protection requested GEF’s assistance through UNDP to carry out a project preparation of a Full-sized project (FSP): Supporting Climate Resilient Livelihoods in Agricultural Communities in Drought-prone Areas of Turkmenistan. The project will facilitate the strengthening Turkmenistan’s capacities to meet national and global environmental commitments through support for climate resilient livelihoods in agricultural communities and at the same time strengthen capacities to mainstream climate adaptation into sector policies and plans; and monitor and evaluate the implementation of climate adaptation interventions. The main project components are:

Local adaptation interventions in targeted agricultural communities in Lebap and Dashoguz provinces through the implementation of community-based adaptation solutions;
Adaptation mainstreamed in agricultural and water sector development strategy/policy; and
Iterative national adaptation planning. In addition the project will also focus on enhancing the institutional sustainability of capacities developed under the project through the assessment and targeted strengthening of monitoring and evaluation processes;

The Project Preparation Grant (PPG) is requested to design the FSP through appropriate situation analysis and extensive stakeholder consultation. A key objective of the PPG will be to assess existing data for the three (3) project components. From these, establish the baseline context, to clarify GEF increment and to plan activities to all stakeholders. Also, the PPG will help develop a strategic results framework that has optimal resource allocation from GEF and other stakeholders to meet the project objectives.

During the initiation plan period, a number of studies and stakeholder consultations will be undertaken with the view to further develop the approved project concept into a fully formulated project document. The final output of the initiation plan will be an UNDP-GEF project document.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of the assignment

The objective of the PPG is to develop a full-sized project that facilitates the strengthening Turkmenistan’s capacities to meet national and global environmental commitments through support for climate resilient livelihoods in agricultural communities and at the same time strengthen capacities to mainstream climate adaptation into sector policies and plans; and monitor and evaluate the implementation of climate adaptation interventions, taking into account the context of the sector and institutional setup and working closely with national and local authorities, end-users and other parties.

Outcome of the assignment

The end result of assignment will be a completed Request for CEO Endorsement and Project Document for the UNDP-GEF Full-Sized Project “Supporting Climate Resilient Livelihoods in Agricultural Communities in Drought-prone Areas of Turkmenistan”.

Scope of work

The task of the International Consultant will be to ensure that essential steps in the process of scoping the UNDP-GEF FSP “Supporting Climate Resilient Livelihoods in Agricultural Communities in Drought-prone Areas of Turkmenistan” and development of the relevant Project Document to be submitted for CEO Endorsement are undertaken in line with respective GEF guidance.

To this end, the International Consultant will be responsible for mobilizing and leading the team of national and international experts for planning and effectively undertaking the required surveys and preparatory field work, establishing dialogue and a working relationship with stakeholders (funding partners, national counterparts and local communities), and the timely delivery of the agreed documents.

Under the overall guidance of UNDP Programme Specialist on Environment, UNDP CO and in coordination with the national consultants and as informed by guidance from the UNDP/GEF Regional Technical Advisor, the International Consultant/Climate Change Adaptation/GEF Expert (acting in his/her individual capacity) will be tasked with the following duties and responsibilities:

Activity I –Baseline data collection and information gap analysis for preliminary assessment of Climate Resilient Livelihoods in Agricultural Communities in Drought-prone Areas of Turkmenistan:

Draft and finalize TORs for a team of local and international consultants to be hired under the PPG;
Prepare check-list of data and information to be collected by a local team;
Review baseline information and data collected and delivered by the local experts;
Assess existing data and information on climate vulnerability, climate adaptation and socio-economic outcomes in the targeted agricultural communities;
Assess best practices for implementation of community-based adaptation solutions and identify the best model(s) for Turkmenistan;
Supervise and oversee a detailed review of existing climate risk information and analysis relating to Lebap and Dashoguz provinces;
Supervise and oversee a review of community risk and vulnerabilities in order to guide the formulation of project interventions;
Supervise and oversee a review of current socio-economic conditions in Lebap and Dashoguz provinces;
Supervise and oversee a review of ongoing development projects in these two provinces and produce an inventory of policies, laws, executive regulations and decrees that govern climate-related resilience issues;
Draft a detailed description of expected project implications on existing institutional/policy/legislative frameworks in agriculture and water sectors, community settlements and water- and farm-user associations;
Lead a review of relevant laws, regulations, responsibilities, and financing provisions that have bearing on supporting a conducive structural environment for climate change adaptation;
Draft the situation analysis;
Review and analyze the description of barriers to the effective promotion of Climate Resilient Livelihoods in Agricultural Communities in Drought-prone Areas of Turkmenistan;
Development of a strategy and a set of measures to remove the identified barriers based on the approved project objectives and outcomes presented in the Project Identification Form (PIF)

Activity II – Identification of specific sites for intervention:

Supervise and oversee a selection will be made of specific pilot sites that this project will focus on, based on the compiled information;
Supervise clarification of a thorough assessment of the location specific risks that this project will need to overcome in order to inform the overall design of the project;
Develop and apply a participatory stakeholder approach to site selection and definition of priority research needs (involving relevant local institutions, the private sector, research organizations and representatives of civil society) to be outlined in the project document;
Align the financial scope of the FSP with the project’s potential for wider regional impact and maximum replication of adaptation benefits beyond the two selected provinces;
Propose criteria for demonstration project selection and prioritization;
Supervise and oversee selection of sites for on-the-ground adaptation options based on the proposed criteria

Under this activity, the consultant should lead the process of identifying options on project activities/investments/outputs that will be further developed and submitted to leverage government cost-sharing to complement the extent of development change from the project activities. These options shall not be necessarily part of the project document. However, these must be contributing to the project strategy. The consultant should produce a matrix of options and elaborate a roadmap for leveraging government cost-sharing, with clear linkages to project goals, outcomes and outputs.

Activity III – Integration with development plans, policies, budgets and complementary projects:

Supervise and oversee a targeted policy review and contacts with key agencies and negotiate with key government representatives in order to identify linkages of climate change concerns into sub-national development plans and policies and to ensure full agreement on the project objective, outcomes, outputs and activities to support climate resilient livelihoods in agricultural communities;

Activity IV – Stakeholder consultations:

Supervise and oversee mapping of all stakeholders in the project area and development of a reference group in each community;
Lead the process of mobilizing and engaging stakeholders during project design;
Identify stakeholders’ interests and current and potential roles;
Assess and tailor stakeholder capacities for implementing adaptation plans in Turkmenistan;
Discuss and mobilize partnerships with on-going projects to align their activities and the project to build synergies;
Propose capacity building and awareness raising measures;
Facilitate stakeholder consultations to ensure local and national ownership of the proposed project;
Develop stakeholders’ involvement strategy with a particular focus on the application and monitoring of adaptation issues in Turkmenistan, including: stakeholder matrix, stakeholder involvement plan, stakeholder capacity building needs and plan recommendations for the full-sized project on the stakeholder involvement;
Discuss and agree all recommendations and implementation plan with project partners and stakeholders.

The international expert will be supported by the national expert to facilitate stakeholder consultations and communication throughout the FSP development, in addition to co-ordination and support provided by UNDP CO.

Activity V – Project Scoping and Definition:

Define the full-sized project scope and logical framework based on the results of baseline analysis and approved PIF:

List of priority barriers to adaptation planning;
A set of viable outcomes, outputs and activities that constitute the most effective response to the identified barriers to promoting application of adaptation policies design and practices;
Justified and confirmed choice of demonstration projects and the GEF-supported demonstration projects;
Scope of activities for promoting adaptation policies;
Social, economic and financial sustainability of proposed project activities;
Cost-effectiveness analysis to identify the most effective project alternative;
Detailed incremental cost analysis to justify GEF intervention for FSP;
Financing plan for the FSP project;
Costing of expected project outcomes and outputs, co-financing sources and co-financing commitments in compliance with the GEF incrementality principle;
Description of local, national and global environmental benefits;
Project M&E plan, including clear identification of responsibilities and accountabilities, as well as an appropriate M&E budget. The plan will be based on the standard template provided in the UNDP-GEF project document template that reflects the mandatory requirements of the GEF M&E Policy;
A logical framework with indicators for the FSP implementation plan;
A detailed multi-year budget following the standard template provided in the UNDP-GEF project document template that reflects the mandatory requirements of the GEF M&E Policy;
Learning and replication strategy;
Develop a project learning strategy: The full project learning strategy and plan will be developed, including identification of potential lessons and knowledge products, as well as the institutional channels by which these lessons and products will be delivered;
Define the sustainability plan to outline the principles and guidelines for ensuring the long-term sustainability of project achievements. It will also outline an exit strategy, seeking the continuation of key activities/achievements without the need of long-term international financing.
Draft the organisational structure governing the project. This will include identification of the project board and related management arrangements;
Revise the elaborated FSP scoping to address the comments/suggestions made by GEFSec, STAP and other reviewers;
Finalize and submit to UNDP the Request for CEO Endorsement/Approval document and Project Document for the UNDP-GEF FSP “Supporting Climate Resilient Livelihoods in Agricultural Communities in Drought-prone Areas of Turkmenistan”.

Activity VI – Inception and Validation workshops:

Participate and moderate discussions at a PPG inception workshop that will be organized to announce the commencement of the project preparation phase and collect inputs from the key stakeholders in the project design and development.
Participate and lead discussions at a validation workshop that will gather representatives from all relevant stakeholders to present, discuss and validate the final draft project document

List of deliverables and time-line

Deliverable I: Draft process plan with clear steps and division of labour and Terms of References for key international and national consultancies and undertake 1st mission Jan – Feb 2015, 15 days;
Deliverable II: Analysis of the baseline and draft project logframe - April 2015, 20 days;
Deliverable III: Draft Request for CEO Approval and UNDP/GEF FSP Project Document and conduct 2nd mission, July 2015, 25 days;
Deliverable IV: Final Request for CEO Approval and UNDP/GEF FSP Project Document, October 2015, 10 days;
Detailed list of deliverables and milestones will be agreed upon during PPG inception workshop in consultation with UNDP. The reports shall be submitted in English language.

Reporting:

The International Consultant must ensure timely preparation and submission of the Request for CEO Endorsement/Approval and comprehensive Project Document for UNDP-GEF FSP “Supporting Climate Resilient Livelihoods in Agricultural Communities in Drought-prone Areas of Turkmenistan”. All reports must be submitted in English to the UNDP CO in Turkmenistan and made in accordance with GEF-UNDP’s templates and requirements to reporting (available at www.thegef.org).

Monitoring

The monitoring of fulfillment of the assignment will be conducted by the UNDP Programme Specialist.

Travel:

In the course of the assignment, the consultant will be expected to undertake 2 missions to Turkmenistan, with one in January-February 2015 and the second one tentatively in July 2015. Cumulatively missions will tentatively last for 10 days (each mission-one week). The dates for this mission will be agreed upon between the consultant and UNDP-Turkmenistan.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

Demonstrate integrity and ethical standards;
Possess a positive and constructive attitude to the assignment;
Respect cultural, historical, religious, national, and ethnic peculiarities of the country.

Functional and technical competencies:

Wide familiarity with current best and cost-effective practices in increasing energy-efficiency in buildings, with regard to policy / economics / technical as well as other relevant issues;
Excellent organizational, analytic, communicative, time-management, and teamwork skills;
Good writing skills and computer literacy.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in climate change, land/water management, nature protection or other related field.

Experience:

At least seven (7) years of working experience in the field of climate change adaptation;
Experience with preparation and supporting implementation of GEF-funded climate change adaptation projects;
Practical experience in financial and economic analysis and incremental cost analysis in accordance with requirements and based on criteria applied by the GEF;
Previous experience of working in CIS countries for climate change adaptation will be an asset.

Language skills:

Proficiency in English, excellent analytical and drafting skills;
Good knowledge of written and spoken Russian is an asset.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Offeror's letter to UNDP, please follow the link for download: http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/operations/jobs/;
Detailed, carefully considered and justified financial statement based on a lump sum, which should include: consultancy fee, travel costs, administrative expenses (if applicable), and/or any other expenses an applicant deems would incur during assignment;
Detailed methodology indicating phases, tasks, methods, techniques, time, resources, accessibility and tools to be applied for successful completion of assignment;
Resume (curriculum vitae) describing similar project assignments in recent years;
UN P11 form, please follow the link for download http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/operations/jobs/.