Background

Climate change poses challenges for all sectors of the Turkish economy but particularly for those sectors dependent on natural resources, such as agriculture. Turkey’s First National Climate Change Communication (FNCCC, 2007) is the first official document submitted to the United Nations pursuant to Law No. 4990, May 2004, concerning the accession of Turkey to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is in this document that Turkey acknowledges its commitments and to comply with the responsibilities embodied by the Annex I countries to the Convention according to its special circumstances.
 
The document has also enhanced general awareness and knowledge on climate change in Turkey as it contains a useful inventory of emissions and activities that are taking place. The First National Communication (FNC) was prepared through close collaboration of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and UNDP Turkey. UNDP will co-author the 2nd National Communication in collaboration with the Turkish Government in 2009.
 
Towards this, in 2007, UNDP in collaboration with Ministry of Environment and Forestry and with support of TUSIAD (Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association) conducted a series of initial investigations and workshops, with participation of public and private organizations, universities and NGOs, and developed an outline course of action for preparing the plan. The core objective of this project is to develop Turkey’s National Climate Change Action Plan.
 
The Government ratified the Kyoto Protocol in February 2009, and Turkey shall become a party in August 2009 after the approval of UNFCCC. But both the Communication and Kyoto announcement did not contain clear climate change policy goals. The action plan will deliver these policy measures and also should ensure that the Government’s thrust on the issue is not wasted and will help to flesh out the Turkish position and follow-up for Copenhagen 2009.
 
The National Climate Change Action Plan Project will add value to the process by continuing this integrated approach to planning, and take it further by introducing peer reviews, international experts, and NGOs into the planning process, and a robust framework to deliver the Plan. Alongside this, the project will also work to improve the capacity of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and other ministries to articulate Turkey’s position and the final NCCAP in international meetings.
 
The results of these and other planned/ongoing projects could be used while implementing the National Climate Change Action Plan Project. The public and private sector involvement in the planning process in itself have been a learning experience. The working groups will include of experts who are/were involved actively in the process of planning and policy development. These stakeholders will continue to influence national policy makers.
 
The NCCAP will provide a starting point that will help future policy makers with various implementation and technical baselines. By putting the effort into a framework for delivering the plan, during the project implementation it will be identify who is responsible for implementation of the NCCAP. Securing high-level government buy-in throughout the process should ensure that the NCCAP becomes national policy.
 
The peer review, which is the subject of this terms of reference, will mainly aim at benefiting from the best practices of countries with similar socio-economic and geographic and climatologic characteristics with Turkey in support of development of a robust, comprehensive and integrated National Climate Change Action Plan, and to foster alignment of NCCAP with international commitments, and sustainable development principles. The peer review will conduct analyses of selected countries’ climate change action plans in relation to national communications, sustainable development and overall development strategies; and provide strategic and methodological input for the stocktaking analysis and the development of the NCCAP.

Duties and Responsibilities

This contract aims primarily at supporting the preparation of a robust, comprehensive and integrated National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) for Turkey by:
 
  • Conducting peer reviews: Reviewing and analyzing climate change action plans of other countries with similar socio-economic and geographic and climatologic characteristics with Turkey, in relation to national communications, sustainable development and overall development strategies
  • Providing strategic input, driving from best practices form the peer reviews that could be used to structure the stocktaking analysis and Turkey’s NCCAP in line with international commitments in the field of climate change, and sustainable development principles.
 The key objectives defined above will primarily be achieved through the following results:
 
  • Undertake peer reviews on national climate change action plans of selected countries with similar socio-economic, geographic and climatologic characteristics with Turkey, in relation to their national communications, sustainable development and overall development strategies:
  • Provide strategic and methodological input in stocktaking analysis to be conducted by the national consultant within the framework of the project:
  • Prepare a strategic framework paper in cooperation with relevant national stakeholders for the development of the NCCAP and of a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder working mechanism for the task forces for the NCCAP drafting process.
 The International Expert is expected to achieve the objectives and duties defined above by means of:
  • Employing a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder approach through effective coordination of the work of thematic task forces established within the project framework composed of key project stakeholders;
  • Ensuring close collaboration with UNDP Environment and Sustainable Development Programme ongoing projects team;
  • Ensuring close collaboration with National Partners, notably Ministry of Environment and Forestry as the implementing partner of the project;
  • Working closely with the other national and international experts hired for the project;
  • Liaising and collaborating with specialized agencies and international/national organizations and other development partners in topics related to climate change action plan.

Competencies

Functional Competencies
  • Strong analytical skills
  • Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
  • Able to work independently with no supervision
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
  • Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills in English
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
Development and Operational Effectiveness
  • Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
  • Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development plans, programmes and projects;
  • Good ICT skills, knowledge of ERP systems.

Required Skills and Experience

  • Advanced post-graduate degree in environment, energy, economics, or a closely related field. 
  • Minimum seven (7) years of professional experience in the field of climate change policy; 
  • Minimum three (3) years of international experience on climate change policy processes;
  • In-depth knowledge of strategic planning, and policy development on climate change, development and/or environmental management or other related fields. 
  • Excellent knowledge of UNFCCC commitments and ongoing negotiations both for mitigation and adaptation;
  • Experience in mitigation and adaptation methodologies and climate policy;
  • Knowledge of the lessons learned in developing national climate change action plans in other countries.