UNDP Jobs - 11313- Consultant: Project Preparation for Tuvalu Enviro

Consultant: Project Preparation for Tuvalu Environment Programme Mainstreaming and Coordinated Framework for Improved Service Delivery

Location :

Funafuti, TUVALU

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

17-Aug-2009

Application Deadline :

31-Jul-09 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30 working days

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

Background:
Tuvalu is committed to the Pacific Aid Effectiveness Principles which guides the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to more effective aid management and opens up avenues for improved monitoring of performance of development outcomes that had been initiated by their commitments to the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness. Key principles from these commitments include the harmonization of donor funding and the alignment of development partners’ programmes with existing country and regional programmes through national and regional mechanisms. Weaknesses with regards to institutional and social capital within the national planning and aid coordination bodies of PICs necessitate the support which UNDP is committed to providing through: 1) building and enhancement of capacities at the national level to manage foreign assistance and minimise duplication or misuse of donor funds, reduce aid management burdens on national governments and budgets, empower national planning and aid coordination institutions through development of policy tools and improved planning infrastructures and support national mechanisms for better coordination.

Project Description:
The Tuvalu Environment Programme Mainstreaming and Coordinated Framework Project will assist the Government of Tuvalu to identify, develop and implement effective coordination mechanisms within formal government agencies that will establish a coherent environment sectoral approach. This will assist Government in the long term to execute more effective aid management and monitoring practices; to continue to work on the Pacific Aid Effectiveness Principles as well as to meet its Paris Declaration commitments. The effectiveness of the project outputs will be judged through increased incorporation of environment and energy in national planning and budgeting processes leading to effective service delivery and equitable access of island councils to environment and energy funds.

The project is divided into 2 phases, which are briefly described as follows:

Phase 1: Convening of Forum for Environment Dialogue

The expected output will be the convening of an Environment Sector round table meeting between Government, donors, development agencies and identified stakeholder partners that will focus on the following:

Consolidation of baseline information on environment donor programmes and status of pre-investment activities
Establishment of a forum for dialogue to address coordinating mechanisms;
Discussion on Tuvalu’s response to the Climate Change debate and planned assistance gaps; and identify critical gaps in Tuvalu’s capacity to address environment priorities
Agreement on road map for sequential changes and improvement to processes to progress key decision points;
Mobilization of Resources for Phase 2 implementation

Phase 2: Tuvalu Environment Programme Mainstreaming and Framework for Coordinated Support and improved service delivery

Review and transformation of policies in support of national development plan and alignment with MDG goals as well as with the principles of equal and effective participation will be observed at relevant stages in mainstreaming of environment and energy and towards building of capacity for coherent national aid management and coordination that minimizes duplication. Phase 2 will require contribution of a share of the project resources to support emerging regional knowledge networking and coordination priorities that will support national leadership in the management of external funds for environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work:
The Consultant is required to ensure Phase 1 of the project is completed. To this end, activities that the consultant will be responsible for are as follows:

Undertake an assessment of existing information, studies and reports for consolidation of baseline information on environment donor programmes and status of pre-investment activities
In collaboration with the Aid Coordination Unit within the Planning and Budget of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, develop/modify the Data Matrix of Tuvalu ODA funded programmes going back to year 2000, in the areas of Environment, Energy and Climate Change that identifies:
---Project Title/Year/Duration
---Project Outputs/Deliverables
---Project outcomes achieved
---Tuvalu Government contribution
---Donor Name/Amount contributed
---Gap Areas Identified
Report on consolidated baseline information and pre-investment activities
Report on analysis of critical gaps in institutions required for improved aid coordination
Undertake policy and programme reviews to identify priority areas of interventions that address capacity challenges identified
Identification of capacity development needs/gaps relating to flow of aid within Government and from Government to Island Councils and CSO institutions
Assessment of alignment of current donor assistance with national strategies and development programmes in environment/energy through review of current aid management and coordination policies, including recommendations of incorporation of cross-cutting issues of gender and human rights
Assist the Government of Tuvalu in material preparation, planning and organization of the Environment/Climate Change Donor Roundtable.
Present Report of Findings and Analysis at the Donor Round Table Meeting

Deliverables:

Weekly Progress Report during the duration of assignment detailing progress made towards major deliverables as specified above.
Final Synthesis Report incorporating all aspects of the scope of work (1 -9) as identified above.
Information Package for Environment/Climate Change Round Table Materials (including agenda, presentation documents, etc.);

The consultancy is expected to commence in August 2009 and completed before October 2009. The expected duration of consultancy work is 30 working days with the consultant to be based primarily at the Planning & Budget department in Funafuti, Tuvalu as his/her duty station during the period of consultancy.

Institutional Arrangements:

For the duration of the assignment, the consultant will be supervised by the Acting Director of the Department of Planning and Budget under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Government of Tuvalu, who in turn will provide feedback to the UNDP Multi Country Office in Fiji.
The consultant will work in close collaboration, and where relevant share knowledge and expertise with other staff members in the Department of Planning and Budget as well as the Ministry of Finance in undertaking the above-listed tasks.
The consultant is expected to submit weekly progress reports to the Director of Planning and Budget as well as a comprehensive report on successful completion of activities according to the agreed schedules.
The consultant’s progress reports will be evaluated by the Acting Director of Planning and Budget who will then authorize UNDP to release payments due to the consultant.
On the final report, endorsement will be provided by the Acting Director of Planning and Budget in consultation with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. As with all major reports undertaken by the Government, it is expected that the Development Coordination Committee (DCC) and Cabinet will be briefed through an Information Paper prepared by the Acting Director of Budget and Planning and their comments incorporated in the final endorsement of the Permanent Secretary of Finance and Economic Planning.

FEES AND PAMENT SCHEDULE
In addition to a written expression of interest, CVs, and references to other similar assignments conducted, interested applicants will be required to submit a lump sum quotation which should comprise of: a) Fees for services rendered; b) If residing outside Tuvalu, airfares based on two round trips from place of residence to Funafuti, Tuvalu; c) Cost of Accommodation and other logistics for time spent in Tuvalu; d) Output based payment schedule based on section IV. – Deliverables.
The successful applicant will also require a valid passport as well as a medical certificate with a current validity of one year. UNDP will facilitate entry and work visas for Tuvalu and will remunerate the selected applicant based on the lump sum quotation and the completion of each specific output as articulated in the output based payment schedule.

Competencies

Competencies:

Sound knowledge and understanding of environment and energy practice areas, gender, conventional aid mechanisms, familiarity with the planning and budgeting process in the PICs.
Working experience in Tuvalu would be an asset.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications and Competencies:

Post graduate qualification in economics, development planning, administration, finance and Information system with sound knowledge on International Aid Effectiveness agreements and guidelines (DAC practice on Aid Delivery, Rome Declaration on Harmonisation, Paris Declarations and the Pacific Aid Effectiveness principles).
A minimum of 5 years experience in managing operations of Aid Management Information System or working in the area of aid management and coordination, preferably in PICs; or a minimum of 5 years experience working with developing countries in finance and economic management preferably in PICs;
Sound knowledge and understanding of environment and energy practice areas, gender, conventional aid mechanisms, familiarity with the planning and budgeting process in the PICs. Working experience in Tuvalu would be an asset.

Closing Date

Applications close on July 31, 2009 and all applications must be sent to registry.fj@undp.org with a cc: to saunese@yahoo.com or ssimati@gov.tv , Director of Planning and Budgeting, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Funafuti, Tuvalu.