UNDP Jobs - 61210- Provision of Individual Services of a Climate Chan

Provision of Individual Services of a Climate Change Adaptation Consultant

Location :

Beirut, LEBANON

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

03-Nov-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

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

Given the urgency and seriousness of climate change, the United Nations and Member States have established a new Green Climate Fund to make a significant contribution to the global efforts towards attaining the goals set by the international community to combat climate change. GCF is now the world’s largest multilateral fund for taking action on climate change, and will contribute to the achievement of the goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In the context of sustainable development, through a series of large scale country investments around the world, the Fund will promote a paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient development pathways, taking into account the needs of those developing countries particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

Rather than a stand-alone endeavor, the GCF will support actions that bring co-benefits for other development priorities such as disaster risk reduction, food and water security, and supporting risk-informed development pathways. Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction share the same objective: building resilience of communities and nations. It is necessary to tackle disaster risk reduction, climate change and issues like drought and food/water insecurity together. GCF seeks to channel investments to vulnerable countries that manage risks and build resilience of development results. The nexus of climate change to disasters, drought and food/water security is critical in context of the post-2015 development agenda. GCF seeks to forge the nexus between climate change, DRR and food and water security related targets, with a number of opportunities for high-impact investment in disaster risk reduction and more sustainable agriculture and water systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

With this context, UNDP is recruiting an international consultant under UNDPs Arab Climate Resilience Initiative to help prepare a multi-country assessment report that identifies the scope for GCF climate change adaptation (CCA) projects in Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan, in support of project submissions to GCF for each country in 2016. The assessment report will be based on a review of available literature and baseline information, and consultations with UNDPs Regional Technical Advisor on Climate Change Adaptation, UNDPs Regional Climate Change Specialist who will serve as co-supervisors of the consultant. The assessment report will identify key CCA challenges in each country, strategies for UNDP/GCF support at the country level, and a matrix of expected outputs and activities and budget needs for each country. Local consultations may be undertaken either virtually or on-site with UNDP Country Offices and partners. The assessment report will contain the following elements broken down per each of the three countries in focus:

Background and Contextual Analysis:

Overview of the key climate change challenges and trends in each country, and nexus to related issues of drought and disaster trends and food/water insecurity. Review documents and collate data with reference to NAPs, NAPAs, INDCs, climate change and disaster risk reduction strategies and action plans, or studies/assessments already undertaken on related topics. Identify past and ongoing projects on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the given countries that could serve as baseline for a future GCF investment.

Strategy and Outputs/Activities:

Based on the problem analysis in the context section, define cost-effective solutions and strategies for building resilience in the three countries in focus, and in context of the GCF areas of support for climate change adaptation. This should include an overview of the overall strategies recommended, as well as a breakdown of specific outputs and activities recommended to be undertaken through a UNDP/GCF project in each country.

Results and Resource Framework:

Develop a brief matrix of expected results, activities and required inputs and budgets for each country. This should include identification of amount to be requested to GCF as well as baseline and parallel support by other initiatives.

For additional information, please refer to ANNEX I – Terms of Reference.

Competencies

Knowledge of global climate change frameworks and GCF Project Guidelines an asset;
Displays cultural, gender religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Demonstrate integrity and fairness, by modelling the UN/UNDP's value and ethical standards;
Ability to work with a broad range of individuals of diverse institutions and levels;
Good inter-personal and facilitation skills,

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

Post-graduate degree in environment, climate change, water management or related disciplines.

Experience:

Minimum 10 years of experience in climate change adaptation cooperation, water issues and programme development;
Extensive experience in climate change adaptation cooperation;
Experience with project development and result-based management an asset;
Experience with multilateral supported climate change adaptation an asset;
Demonstrable analytical skills and experience in areas of water conservation and building resilience to drought and disaster risks;
Experience in the Arab region, especially LDCs;
Proven experience in undertaking similar assignments.

Languages:

Fluency in spoken and written English is a must;
Good command of the Arabic language is a plus.