Background

Following a rapid social and economic transformation from a central planning state to one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Kazakhstan has reached a GDP per capita of USD 13,099 (2011) and a HDI of 0,754 (2012). High economic growth rates fuelled mainly by oil, gas and mining during the past decade have significantly reduced average poverty levels in Kazakhstan, but created at the same time inter-regional and significant intra-regional imbalances. Furthermore, the current non-sustainable development model is generating significant direct costs mostly impacting the poorer and more disadvantaged part of the society (e.g. in terms of environmental burden on health; consequences of resource degradation) and opportunity costs (e.g. increasing the green technology gap) which will further increase if no change in the country's development model is initiated.

At present the Government focuses on the implementation of the most recent long-term strategy Kazakhstan 2050, which includes a substantial chapter on the country's transition to a green economy model, triggering the development of a comprehensive Green Economy Strategy. While inspired by experience abroad, in particular from world leading economies, strategic policy decisions are fully developed and owned by the country's leadership and have, in the past, resulted in an impressive record of economic growth and poverty reduction.
The government's environmental management systems have made some progress in the past but remain short of meeting the sector's significant challenges. One of the recent positive moves has been a surge in interest by city administrations to sign up to the Covenant of Mayors – East, which will generate substantial synergies with the Project here presented. Kazakhstan also recently became a fully-fledged member of the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Aware of the significant existing and long-term direct and opportunity costs (including a huge environmental burden on health, resource use inefficiencies and resource degradation), and aware of the need to respond to the impact of climate change, Kazakhstan took a landmark decision to transition to a green economy model.

Duties and Responsibilities

The main objective of the work is providing technical support to the Projects Manager to go through and finalize the Inception phase of the Project. In essence, the responsibility of the IC is to ensure that the overall technical direction of the project in this phase is maintained and flexibly adapted to meet the practical challenges faced during implementation, support project management: planning, quality management, monitoring and evaluation.

Scope of work:

Project Management:

  • Provide strategic advice on the overall project implementation strategy to Project Board and PM;
  • Based on project Logical Framework, prepare and help PM assure the effective implementation of the project impact-oriented M&E plan;
  • Assist PM to carry out risk assessment and prepare risk mitigation plan, ensuring that risk mitigation actions are incorporated in the project work plan;
  • Jointly with PM and based on inputs from national experts prepare Project Inception Report, including overview of changes in project environment, summary and justification for revision in Project Logical Framework, M&E plan, Risk Log, QA/QC provisions and quarterly annual work plan and budget for 2015-2016;
  • Act as quality reviewer of selected project outputs and TORs and provide professional advice/solution for quality improvement

Policy and technical advice in individual project components:

Output 2:

  • Water use efficiency increased.

Expert’s guideline to National experts during developing national reports on:

  • Existing economic instruments in two sectors (irrigation and water supply and sanitation services);
  • Current business models applied in Kazakhstan for managing multipurpose water systems vis-a-vis international good practice; (3) Existing national system of supervision and control of hydro-technical infrastructure.

Review and commenting of above mentioned reports:

Output 4:

  • Quick-win operational highly visible and replicable GE pilot actions with demonstrable effects at local (region/city/district) levels implemented. A detailed analysis of the bus sector and existing regulatory framework is prepared;
  • Provide expert guideline to Design of the Pilot projects concept 2016-2018;
  • Provide expert guideline to knowledge management and scale up system;
  • Provide expert guideline to grant Program concept developed.

Specifically on Inception phase:

  • Get familiar with the project document including objectives, outcomes, outputs and activities including project work plan and monitoring and evaluation plan;
  • Get familiar with national legislative documents related to Green Economy concept, water and Climate Change;
  • Update accordingly the Project Document to report on changes in the project environment since the project was submitted;
  • Support the UNDP CO Team and the project manager in organizing the implementation of the different sub-components of the project at the inception phase, including support to the UNDP in the preparation of the Project Inception Workshop;
  • Drafting of the Annual Work Plan divided in quarterly time - frames detailing the activities and progress indicators that will guide implementation during the first year of the project. This Work Plan should include the dates of specific field visits, support missions from the UNDP-CO, consultants, as well as timeframes for meetings of the project's decision making structures. The Report will also include the detailed project budget for the first full year of implementation, prepared on the basis of the Annual Work Plan, and including any monitoring and evaluation requirements to effectively measure project performance during the targeted 12 months’ time-frame;
  • Drafting of Terms of Reference for the national and, as needed, additional international experts and subcontractors, etc., to provide specific consultancy services at least during the first year of the project;
  • Support the project manager in arranging co-operation with the current project partners and, as applicable, in establishing new, additional national and/or international partnerships to support the project goals and objectives;
  • Provide advice on the required institutional, legal and regulatory changes to support the reaching of the stated outcomes of the project and provide other required advice on the successful implementation of the specific project subcomponents and activities by drawing from the international lessons learnt and best practices;
  • Assist with the organization of the Project Inception Workshop;
  • Drafting of the Project Inception Report.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
  • Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional Competencies:

  • Excellent communication skills,
  • Good analytical skills and effective communication and training skills and competence in handling external relations at all levels;
  • Ability to work in a team and to motivate other team members and counterparts;

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Advanced university degree in the disciplines related to energy and environment.

Experience:

  • Prior working experience in CIS countries
  • 5-7 years of experience and success in supporting similar EU funded projects (or its subcomponents);
  • Sound knowledge of international best practices on sustainable water use, green growth;
  • Familiarity with result-based management in project formulation, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation, experience with EU funded projects is a plus;
  • Experience with international organizations/projects/programs.

Language

  • Full proficiency in English both written and verbal including ability to review, draft and edit required project documentation;
  • Knowledge of Russian would be considered an advantage.

Important note:

For retailed information please kindly refer to UNDP Kazakhstan website.

All the applications including:

Should be submitted to: to email  gulzhamal.issayeva@undp.org. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.