Background

Climate Change is projected to have significant impacts on water resources in Turkmenistan. Water availability and supply are likely to suffer from increasing shortages due to elevated temperatures and climate aridification. Turkmenistan’s inherent aridity and reliance on agriculture as a source of both income and food renders the country particularly vulnerable to these climate change impacts.

To effectively address climate change challenges and mitigate the risks, the Government of Turkmenistan has committed itself to develop a comprehensive approach to water adaptation in the agricultural sector. UNDP Turkmenistan as a development partner contributes to these efforts through providing policy advice, and rendering technical assistance aimed at improving national institutional and human capacity and legislative framework to enable Turkmenistan to effectively deal with climate change issues.

The Project “Addressing climate change risks to farming systems in Turkmenistan at the national and community level” is the first comprehensive initiative in Turkmenistan that focuses on strengthening water management practices, developing integrating water policies at the national and local levels, and increasing resilience of local communities through improving services for water supply and effective use. For more detailed reference, a project document can be made available upon request or accessed at www.undp.tm .

The project is implemented by the Ministry of Nature Protection with support from the United Nations Development Programme. The project is being executed in three different climatic areas: a desert zone of Karakum (Bahardok); in the mountain villages of Nohur and an irrigated area of Sakarchaga region (project target areas).

The project is structured into three components:

• Policy and institutional capacity strengthening;
• Supporting community based adaptation initiatives; and
• Improving communal management systems for water delivery.

Component 2 focuses on pilot demonstration of adaptation measures (drip irrigation, construction and reconstruction of wells and reservoirs, laser land levelling, reconstruction of canals, fruit tree and vegetable gardening, rehabilitation of indigenous woodlands and degraded lands) in the three pilot areas with specific focus on introduction and enhancement of efficient water management and irrigation practices and techniques. For the past two years of project implementation, community mobilization has been the main instrument to ensure that the project responds to community needs and priorities in terms of water management. A series of training and other capacity development events were conducted to broaden the understanding of the local communities about advantages and benefits of adaptation measures based on the local climatic and socio-economic conditions. Furthermore, the project implemented a mechanism of engaging communities in identification, design and implementation of area-specific adaptation measures.

Component 3 seeks to implement efficient communal water management systems in the selected regions, through the development of Water User Associations (WUAs). Component 3 establishes the mandates and institutional functions of WUAs in the three identified regions. Communities in the target regions will be activated with technical support of the project, to assess the vulnerability of water supply in their community against the impact of climate change, to plan and carry out community scale water adaptation approaches which are appropriate to local economic and environmental context, and to establish locally appropriate communal management structures to ensure the sustainability of the adaptation measures.

The following are some of activities carried out to date under this component:

• The project assisted in the design of a new draft of water code for adoption by the Government of Turkmenistan. This new draft enables formation and implementation of local institutional mechanisms and bodies to be in charge of local water-related issues. Furthermore, the project has prepared a draft law on water user association to define their legal status, mandate and functions. In addition, the project helped determine roles and responsibilities of WUAs, specific to each project area;
• This assignment is about piloting the rollout of these functions in the 3 pilot areas above allowing for the difference in structure between he areas. To date, WUAs are piloted in all the three project areas, in Nohur and Karakum at a more advanced pace. In these two areas, WUAs are based on the existing and traditional mechanisms for establishing local decision making councils. In Sakarchaga, it is expected that the WUA function will be embedded into the mandate of the farmer association, which is an existing institution with economic authority;
• A series of community mobilization activities are being carried out in all the three project areas in order to identify the pressing needs in water access and services and to implement the most acceptable solutions for the benefit of the community.

Based on the above, UNDP is recruiting an International Consultant on Community Mobilization and Water User Associations/Groups (hereafter referred as the International Consultant) to read and understand the proposed legal an management frameworks for WUA/Gs, study the existing arrangements of the water groups piloted as potential WUA/Gs by the project in the three areas, and facilitate further rollout of WUA/Gs and relevant capacities in managing local water resources.

Duties and Responsibilities

The international consultant will report to the Adaptation Fund Project Manager and will be under the overall supervision of the UNDP Programme Specialist on Environment.  The role of the consultant will be to provide support to the project team in community mobilization and facilitate the rollout of the water user associations/groups (WUA/Gs) in these three pilot areas.  More precisely, the international consultant will work with the national expert on community mobilization. The consultant will work from their home base of operations, with one trip to Turkmenistan.  This will be a scoping and assessment mission of approximately one week (May-June), resulting in a number of concrete recommendations and roadmaps for community mobilization and operation of WUA/Gs. Dates of the visit will be defined later. The international consultant is expected to have consultations with the WUA/Gs members and other relevant community representatives to facilitate the delivery of this assignment. Office accommodation will be provided in the National Institute of Deserts in Ashgabat when in Turkmenistan.

The specific duties will include the following:

 Specific Activities

• Read in depth the completed community mobilization activities  being done in the pilot areas for the past two years WUA/Gs , including proposed institutional and legislative amendments for instituting WUA/Gs;
• Read in depth the proposed modalities and arrangements for the  creation and operation of WUA/Gs , including proposed institutional and legislative amendments for instituting WUA/Gs that has  been developed by the projects and make recommendations on improving the main principles of functioning and principles of WUG;
• Travel to Ashgabat to meet with the project team, and visit the 3 project regions (Sakar-Chaga, Karakum and Nohur) to review the current community mobilization efforts been conducted in the 3  the pilot sites as part of implementing  water initiatives as part of  adapting to possible climate change impact.

 Set out clearly community mobilisation activities that should be undertaken by the WUAs (in all 3 areas)  for the following stages:

• Assessment of community water needs;
• Design of solutions to the needs identified;
• Support of WUA  during implementation of the water initiative;
• Monitoring the implementation of the water initiative;
• Maintenance  of the water initiative;
• Resource mobilisation;
• Any other stage that is considered important.

Prepare a set of user friendly tools/ materials for the WUAs that can be used  at each stage so that the WUAs understands their  responsibility and can undertake these effectively.

Set out clearly the role of the community as distinct from the WUAs and ensure this is included in the stages outlined above.

Carry out training on the tools/materials prepared to each of the 3 WUAs.

Set out a PLAN of action with each WUAs and the project coordinator and provide consultations on organizational and economic    measures for the establishment and functioning of WUA.

Operational functions:

• Develop a detailed work plan for the duration of the assignment (milestones, deliverables);
• Provide regular technical guidance to the project manager and expert team on WUA/Gs;
• Facilitate capacity building of project team and national partners through discussions and training sessions where appropriate;
• Produce a lessons learned note (1 page) based on results of the assignment.

 Other outputs expected:

• Direct guidance for work of national project team;
• Recommendations on the project documents, thematic reports, and materials;
• Inputs for preparing project planning and implementation documents and reports;
• Written mission report summarizing key findings.

Deliverables and timeframe

The contract is for 25 working days over the period May – August 2015.  The following deliverables and indicative schedule are expected from the consultancy contract. The final schedule will be agreed upon in the beginning of consultancy assignment.

Deliverable 1:

• Desk review report, capturing Specific Activities 1 and 2. Timeframe: May-June 2015, 5 working days.

Deliverable 2:

• Mission report, capturing Specific Activity 3. Timeframe: June 2015, 10 working days.

Deliverable 3:

• Final report, capturing Specific Activities 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 . Timeframe: Tentatively August 2015, 10 working days.

Payment Conditions

This is a lump sum contract that should include costs of consultancy and travel costs required to produce the above deliverables. One mission to Turkmenistan is envisaged. The mission (approximately 10 days) is tentatively in May 2015. Payment will be made in one installment according to these TOR as per Deliverables outlined above to be certified by the Project Manager and accepted by the UNDP Programme Specialist on Environment.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, age sensitivity/adaptability;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work.

Technical Competencies:

• Experience and qualifications in agriculture and water management;
• Good understanding of climate change issues;
• Training and community development experience.

 Functional competencies:

• Strong analytical and research skills;
• Excellent ability to communicate in English both written and spoken;
• Good writing skills and computer literacy;
• Ability to meet deadlines;
• Excellent organizational, communicative, time-management and teamwork skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• (Advanced) Degree in the field of public administration, economics, development issues or related field.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of practical experience in the design and implementation of community-based institutional frameworks and mechanisms;
• Experience of efficient community mobilization, preferably on water management issues;
• Working experience in developing countries and CIS countries is an asset.

Language:

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

Others:

• Good understanding of climate change issues;
• Outstanding time-management, organizational and interpersonal skills.

Evaluation of applicants

Applicants will be assessed in accordance with assessment of their qualifications (70%) and financial proposal (30%). Only successful candidates will be notified of their success.

Submission of applications:

• All applicants shall submit a brief methodology indicating phases, tasks, methods, techniques, time, resources, accessibility and tools to be applied for successful completion of assignment;
• All applicants shall submit a detailed, carefully considered and justified financial statement based on a lump sum, which should include: a consultancy fee, administrative expenses (if applicable), travel expenses (one mission) to Ashgabat, and/or any other expenses the applicants deem necessary to incur during assignment;
• Cover letter, in which the applicant must justify why he / she is the best candidate for the assignment;
• Completed P11 form, which would include a description of previous experience of the candidate in similar projects, and contact information of individuals who are ready to make appropriate recommendations (form P11 can be downloaded from the website at http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc). Please use the P11 form, and not a self-designed resume;
• Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual Contractor Assignment. Template of the form can be found at: http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/operations/jobs.

Additional requirements for recommended contractor

Recommended contractors aged 62 and older, and if the travel is required, shall undergo a full medical examination including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination is to be cleared by the UN physicians, and shall be paid by the consultant.