Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) operates in over 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, to reduce inequalities and to increase sustainability. One of its critical priorities for 2020 is to support countries to accelerate ambitious action on climate change.

Climate change is the single greatest challenge humanity has ever faced, threatening water and food security, health, livelihoods, and the safety of billions of people. The global response to this challenge must be just, inclusive, and leave no one behind, while seeking the most efficient climate solutions that advance multiple Sustainable Development Goals at once.

UNDP focuses our climate action support to countries on three strategic and transformative pathways that are inclusive, rights-based and gender-responsive contributing to efforts to reduce poverty and inequality and leave no one behind. They are (1) increasing ambition and accelerating NDC implementation; (2) mobilizing institutions and resources; and (3) aligning policies, plans and budgets with climate-risk informed approaches. Building on its active climate support across the world, UNDP promotes partnership and coalitions building among state and non- state actors including private sectors for transformative change at local, national, regional and global levels.

UNDP has recently launched its ambitious “Climate Promise” which will support 100 countries to enhance their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement by 2020, with demonstrated increase in ambition for greater emissions reduction and resilience building. To deliver this promise, UNDP is leveraging its extensive expertise and capacities around the world, including through our donors and partners as well as independent experts, to support country offices. From the UNDP Samoa Office, Niue need to be expeditiously supported in enhancing their NDCs based on the approved workplans.

Duties and Responsibilities

The UNDP MCO Samoa Office has hired a consulting firm to implement the Climate Promise workplans of Niue, which includes conducting consultations that are inclusive at the national level by involving various line ministries and concerned departments while enhancing their NDCs. This activity aims at delivering a range of outputs following these consultations on the baseline scenario of NDCs implementation in Niue, revision of targets, review of existing policies and legislations, suggest new targets for climate change mitigation, and adaptation by including progress achieved towards Sendai Framework and SDGs. The purpose of this activity is also to enable the countries in finalizing their NDCs for submission within 2020. The National Consultant has to assist the international consultant team in each of the activities under the different service lines of Climate Promise work plan.

Scope of Assignment

The scope of assignment is limited only to successfully implementing Niue’s Climate Promise workplans including support for the update/enhancement of NDCs. The Activities listed below under their Climate Promise Workplans shall be implemented in close collaboration with the ongoing work of national institutions, support from Regional Pacific NDC hub and other donors. It is expected not to commission any new studies at this stage as part of this assignment, wherein the Contractor should rely on the existing information and data from regional sources such as SPC, SPREP and other local institutions in respective countries. The National Consultant will assist the International consultant team mainly in data collection, organize workshop, conduct field visit, building contact with government officials for the following tasks:

Competencies

Technical work

• Strong expertise in environmental-related areas, including climate change policy;
• Demonstrated experience in conducting workshop, gap analysis and prioritization of actions in government’s national climate action policies and plans;
• Experience in designing and facilitating capacity building processes, consultations and coordination processes; and,
• Demonstrated strong technical knowledge of UNFCCC processes.

Partnerships

• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior members of national institutions. 
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability. 
• Excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of quality analysis for the project proposal.
• Excellent coordination skills and result oriented collaboration with colleagues.  

Results

• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP. 
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
• Good team player who has ability to maintain good relationships. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Minimum Advanced University degree in environmental sciences, development studies, international development, engineering, natural resources management or other closely related field.

Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in climate change policy and strategy support at the national level, with specific focus on NDC design and implementation.
• Proven experience in organising consultation works, reviewing strategy, project documents
• performing strategic alignment assignments
• Experience in assisting team and translate information in English from local language 
• Previous experience with UNDP is a great advantage.
• Experience of work in the region is an asset. 

Languages

• Excellent English writing, presentation, communication skills are essential.

Evaluation criteria: 70% Technical, 30% financial combined weight:

• Advanced University degree in the fields of environmental management, public administration or relevant related fields (25 points)
• 5 years of experience in climate change policy and strategy support at the national level, with specific focus on NDC design and implementation (25 points)
• performing strategic alignment assignments (15 points)
• Previous experience with UNDP (15 points)
• Experience of work in the region is an asset (10 points)
• Excellent English writing, presentation, communication and translation skills (10 points)