UNDP Jobs - 54100- Consultant to: Undertake the Realignment of the St

Consultant to: Undertake the Realignment of the State of Kuwait National Action Plan to Combat Desertification

Location :

Kuwait, KUWAIT

Type of Contract :

Other

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

06-Mar-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Other

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

In accordance with the requirements of UNCCD 10-year strategic plan

Project

Supporting the alignment of the National Action Programmes (NAP) of (Kuwait) to the 10- Year Strategy of the UNCCD.

General Objective of the Consultancy

The main objective of the CTA is to provide overall technical expertise and consultative support to Kuwait Environmental Public Authority (KEPA) on the alignments its National Action Plan (NAP), to the UNCCD 10-Year Strategy, through providing necessary technical assistant in accordance with the requirements of the alignment process as outlined in the relevant decisions of the UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP).

Specific Objective of the consultancy

The primary objective of the Consultancy is to contribute to the development of an integrated framework for combating land degradation in Kuwait and for mitigating the physical, biological and socio-economic impacts of land degradation and drought. This is in keeping with obligations of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, per decision 3/COP.8, in which affected country parties are urged "…to align their action programmes and other relevant implementation activities relating to the Convention with The Strategy by, inter alia, addressing the outcomes under the five operational objectives (paragraph 5)."

Background

Article 9 of the Convention determines that the elaboration and implementation of NAPs are the central elements of the strategy to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought, thus making their preparation and application fundamental to the attainment of its objectives. The Conference of the Parties (COP) has over the years adopted several decisions which further underline the importance of these tools to the UNCCD process.

With the aim of furthering the improvement and acceleration of the overall implementation process, the COP adopted at its eight session, Decision 3/COP.8 outlining “The 10-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention (2008–2018).”This Strategy spells out four strategic and five operational objectives that should be achieved in the implementation process over the specified period (i.e. 2008-2018), and calls on affected country Parties to align their action programmes and other relevant implementation activities to The Strategy.

The COP at its ninth session adopted Decision 13/COP.9 containing the Consolidated Indicator for Operational Objective 2, and which also sets out a global target that 80% of all action programmes of affected country Parties should be formulated, and or revised; finalized and aligned to The Strategy .

The COP cognisant that the NAP alignment process needs to proceed apace, also adopted at its tenth session Decision 2/COP.10 on the, “Strengthening and enhancing the process of alignment of action programmes with The Strategy.” This decision noted that the alignment process may present a challenge for affected country Parties. It also noted that for the alignment process to be realised, it will require strong and effective support and that there is need to speed up the process.

The purpose of the assignment was to:

Review and update the preparation of the National Action Plan (NAP) to address Land Degradation and Drought in Kuwait;
Develop a Ten (10) Year Strategic Action Plan (SAP) to support the implementation of the NAP;
Enhance local capacity in sustainable land management; and
Promote public awareness and sensitization on the issues of land degradation in Kuwait and on the importance of adapting sustainable land management (SLM) practices.

Duties and Responsibilities

The specific output of this consultancy is work with KEPA:

The preparation of a draft of the aligned NAP of Kuwait that will guide the efficient and effective implementation of the NAP and other relevant action in accordance with the five operational objectives of the 10 Year Strategy;
Support national consultations for the review and finalization of the draft aligned NAP;
Preparation of the final version of the aligned NAP for stakeholder validation, and consequent upon the same, adoption by the relevant authority of Kuwait. stakeholders with the aim of laying the basis for the alignment of the NAP;

Methodology to be used

In realization of this consultancy the consultant shall employ the following methodology:

Develop a Kuwait NAP and update all other documents and actions pertaining to the same;
Initiate a process of consultation with all national stakeholders with the aim of laying the basis for the alignment of the NAP;
Work in close collaboration with KEPA, the UNCCD National Focal Point and the Scientific and Technical Correspondent of Kuwait;
Use the 10 Year Strategy and the Action Programme Alignment Guidelines as the fundamental basis for the elaboration of the draft aligned NAP, while being ever cognisant of the national and specific challenges of desertification, land degradation and drought in Kuwait;
The draft and final version of the aligned NAP must be done in a manner so that they:
Reflect all other important actions that must be aligned
Contain the relevant indicators so that the future implementation process may be measured;
Are consistent with the Integrated Financial Strategy of Kuwait, which is an essential part of the alignment process;
Are easy to understand and use;
Reflect the mainstreaming of the NAP in all relevant sectorial development policies of Kuwait;
Are synergistic with other Rio conventions; and
Can be easily adjusted in case of future reviews.

Specific duties of the consultant:

Under the supervision of the Diretor of Costal and Desertification Monitoring Department at Kepa, the Consultant will secure the fulfillment of tasks in due time including:

To write and submit a draft, and following its review, a final version of an aligned NAP of Kuwait;
To ensure that the final document is as comprehensive and exhaustive as possible bearing in mind the 10-Year Strategy, the Action Programmed Alignment Guidelines, the national priorities of (Kuwait) as regards desertification, land degradation and drought and sustainable land management as a whole;
To make sure that the contents of these documents shall cover the areas that are fundamental to addressing the problems of desertification, land degradation and drought and sustainable land management in Kuwait
That these documents are done in accordance with the conditions, structure and length, and in the timeframe prescribed by Kuwait;
To prepare these documents following the approved UNCCD methodology;
The documents produced shall be submitted in electronic format.

Relevant documentation:

Articles 9 & 10 of the UNCCD Convention;
Decision 3/COP.8: The 10-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention (2008–2018);
Draft guidelines for the alignment of the action programmers and other relevant implementation activities with The Strategy;
Decision 1/COP.9: Implementation of the 10-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention (2008–2018);
Decision 2/COP.9: Alignment of the action programmers with The Strategy;
Decision 2/COP.10: Strengthening and enhancing the process of alignment of action programmers with The Strategy4;
7. Decision 13/COP.10: Assessment of the implementation of the Convention against performance indicators5;
Official CRIC Document: Relevant sections of the report of the ninth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention;
Technical documents in support of the NAP alignment process prepared by the Secretariat;

All relevant documents and sectorial policies of (country), such as but not limited to :

Agriculture policy;
Land and zoning policy;
Grazing policy;
Poverty reduction strategy;
Water policy.

The Consultant shall Reports to the Department of coastal management and desertification:

Ensures timely and qualitatively execution of the Terms of Reference;
Ensures unconditional carrying out of requirements of the Contract;
All information should be presented in typed and electronic format in quality English and Arabic language;
The Consultant shall provide a complete list of documents and other sources of information used while working on this assignment. The Consultant should keep in mind that he/she bares personal responsibility for the credibility and reliability of the utilized data and information;
The consultant is expected to perform/provide support for the project staff on design/development of other documents/activities as well as participate in any relevant meetings/workshops as to be required/tasked by the by the SLM Projects Coordinator.

Competencies

Ability to work in a team;
Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
Demonstrate effective oral and written communication in working with individuals, groups, organizations, and communities.
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
Treats all people equally without favoritism;
Ability to provide training and enabling the use the outputs of the consultation;
Excellent public speaking and presentation skills;
Good capacities for strategic thinking, planning and management;
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situation;
Demonstrates openness and ability to deal with change.

Required Skills and Experience

To be able to accomplish the tasks spelt out in these terms of reference, the consultant recruited shall meet the following requirements:

Education:

Advanced degree in environmental studies and or social sciences or a related field.

Experience

At least 10 years of work experience as an expert, work experience in multi-sector project management, preferably in West Asia and/or MENA;
Experience and expertise in the development of environmental action programmers;
Must have experience of working in the area of development and or the alignment of action programmers for the implementation of the UNCCD;
Good awareness on objectives and procedures of international organizations, in particular, UNEP, UNDP and their partners;
Work experience with government bodies, representatives of local government, SLM, civil society organizations, academic societies;
Experience in planning and holding workshops, etc.
Experience in establishment of cooperation with stakeholders, institutions and organizations;
Very good general knowledge of environmental issues particularly related to UNCCD, UNFCCC and CBD;
Good knowledge of the environmental issues and in particular the issues of desertification, land degradation and drought in Kuwait;
Sound knowledge of the UNCCD 10-Year Strategy and the alignment process; Sound knowledge of the role and purpose of the NAPs in the UNCCD implementation process;
Sound knowledge of the role and purpose of the NAPs in the UNCCD implementation process;
Sound knowledge of the NAP process in Kuwait; and
Sound knowledge of the sectorial development policies of Kuwait.

.Language:

Good spoken and written Arabic and English are essential.

Terms and conditions:

The consultant would be deemed to have fulfilled the terms of this consultancy on delivery of a final version of the aligned NAP for consideration by the government of Kuwait;
The contract type is a GSSCPD government contract;
The Consultant shall be posted in Kuwait;
Methodologies and products developed and delivered through this consultancy shall remain the exclusive property of the government of Kuwait, and shall only be divulged and/or used as determined by Kuwait;
The duration of the consultancy is 6 months and subject to Extension;
The position is “Chief Technical Advisor on Developing Kuwait National Action Plan in alignment with the UNCCD 10-year strategic plan (CTA)”.

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