Antecedentes

The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock with support from UNDP, implemented the project entitled “Enhancing resilience of communities in Solomon Islands to the adverse effects of climate change in agriculture and food security” which was signed in May 2011.

The focus of the project is to build adaptive capacity and pilot adaptation activities at the community level. The objective is to strengthen the ability of communities to make informed decisions and manage likely climate change driven pressures on food production and management systems.

In particular, the project will lead to the following key results:

• 1) Promote and pilot community adaptation activities enhancing food security and livelihood resilience in pilot communities in at least 3 selected climatic and geographic clusters;
• 2) Strengthen institutions and adjusted national and sub-national policies related to governing agriculture in the context of a range of climate change futures; and
• 3) Foster the generation and spread of relevant knowledge for assisting decision-making at the community and policy-formulation level.

Under key result area 3, the project plans to hire an environmental development writer and editor with working knowledge on climate change and food security to lead, mentor, edit and finalize four publishable manuscripts out of the wealth of information project staff and partners have generated over the years of project implementation and use the case studies to spread relevant knowledge, best   practices and lessons learnt to national and international audience.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Scope of work/Expected Output

The purpose of this consultancy is to compile four case studies covering areas of land use planning, germplasm collections, role of women in food processing and preservation and integrated farming systems on artificial island.  The case studies are intended to be distributed nationally and internationally.  Specifically, four project staff will be tasked with the writing of four case studies based on specific key result areas above with hands on assistance and guidance by the consultant.

The consultant is expected to contribute to the following;

• Provide a 2 day’s workshop for writers and agree on a timetable to complete the writing for four case studies;
• Lead, manage and mentor writers to complete the case studies based on PMU approved timetable;
• Edit manuscript for four case studies;
• Source potential publication of the case studies internationally;
• Document and publish the case studies in a book for national use.

Competencias

• Excellent communication and academic writing skills with the ability to express ideas clearly, concisely and effectively;
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to work under pressure and to establish and maintain effective work relationships in a different cultural setting specifically with AF-SWoCK project PMU and responsible partners including UNDP, MECDM, MAL;
• Strong research skills specifically research design, data collection, analysis and reporting;
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills, including the ability to formulate relevant recommendations and advice;
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills in the area of gender, climate change and food security in the Solomon Islands;
• Demonstrated capacity to plan, prioritize and deliver tasks on time to meet goals under pressure;
• Demonstrated capacity to respond flexibly and positively to change through active involvement and generation of innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations;
• Has previously handle positive reporting on social and or environmental issues;
• Resourceful, innovative and able to make informed judgement;
• Computer literate with competency in word processing, spreadsheets, electronic presentation and the use of Internet.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• A minimum of Masters Degree in sociology, journalism, environment policy, natural resource management and development or related field. 

Experience:

• Should have at least 5 years of experience in government, NGOs or training institutions with at least 3 recent academic publicationsonline or authored and or co-authored at least a book;
• Should have established working networks with publishing or media agents internationally;
• Familiarization on gender issues in the Pacific region;
• The Consultant should understand climate change issues and trends, and be able to clearly articulate linkage between climate change and human development.

Language:

• Fluent in English.