UNDP Jobs - 24300- International Consultant

International Consultant - Climate Change Capacity Building and Policy Specialist

Location :

Praia, CAPE VERDE

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2011

Application Deadline :

29-Jul-11 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Two Months

Languages Required :

English French Portuguese

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Two Months

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

The project “Building adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change in the water sector in Cape Verde” is a national execution project of the government of Cape Verde and is implemented by the National Institute for Water Resource Management (INGRH) through its Project Management Unit in Praia as well as its Project Site Units in Santiago (Santa Cruz) and Santo Antao (Porto Novo). The project is funded by the Global Environment Fund (GEF) and has the following objective:

“To increase resilience and enhance key adaptive capacity to address the additional risks posed by climate change to the water sector."

The project is divided into three components (based on outcomes) for implementation as follows:

Outcome 1: Climate change risks and adaptation measures integrated into key national policies, plans and programs for water resource management.

Outcome 1 deals with the ‘governance framework’ for adaptation. The fact that climate risk, vulnerability and adaptation measures are only superficially integrated (or mainstreamed) in policies, plans and programs is a symptom of incipient and limited capacity of key national stakeholders to plan in response to climate change.

Outcome 2: Small and medium scale climate change adaptation practices for water resource management are demonstrated and implemented in selected hydrographical basins.

Outcome 2 shows how pilot demonstration investment at the site level can make a difference in terms of improving resilience locally.

Outcome 3: Lessons learned and best practices from pilot activities, capacity development initiatives and policy changes are disseminated.

The lessons learnt and experiences acquired under Outcomes 1 and 2 will be disseminated across and to other countries through actions foreseen under Outcome 3.

The activities are concentrated on two islands; Santiago with the intervention sites in Tarrafal and Santa Cruz and Santo Antao with the intervention sites in Planalto Leste, Rib. Grande, Rib. das Garcas, Rib. das Patas and Rib. Cruz.

At field level the activities in the two watersheds of Santo Antao island and Santiago island focus on the following areas:

Capacity reinforcement of the project’s objectives in general and by intervention zone as well as the knowledge of socio-economic realities in these areas.
The identification of capacity building needs at local and central institutional level for the integration of climate change risks as well as resulting adaptation measures into the policy framework and development programmes.
The organisation and realisation of trainings on climate change risks as well as technical adaptation measures for staff of partner institutions as well as target agricultural producers.
The promotion of a participatory approach for strengthening of the partnership with institutions and beneficiaries for implementation in the intervention zones and watersheds. This is mainly oriented towards management and valorisation of water management infrastructures;

- The implementation of soil and water conservation measures with the introduction of pilot techniques and practices like drip irrigation among beneficiaries in order to reinforce their resilience towards climate changes.

Duties and Responsibilities

In this context the project plans a consultancy for a Climate Change Data Analysis and Monitoring Specialist with the following Terms of Reference. The consultant under supervision of the National Project Coordinator (NPC) and in close collaboration with the national expert will:

Support the national Climate Change Capacity Building and Policy Specialist the Project Management Unit (PMU) in the task of ensuring that climate change risks for the water sector are mainstreamed in National and Municipal policies and plans.
Guide the design and drafting of climate change adaptive plans at the Municipal and National level, and provide constant technical support for policy drafting.
Provide technical support for the formulation of pertinent climate change politics.
Be responsible for capacity building/ trainings with respect to CC adaptation measures in the water sector at Municipal and National level.
Responsible for designing and technically coordinating/overseeing all actions planned under Outcome 1, and providing constant technical support.
Prepare and implement 3 trainings (1 national, 2 regional) for the training of trainers on climate change.
Develop a monitoring plan with the national Climate Change Capacity Building and Policy Specialist in order to enable the continuation of activities by the national project team.
Formulate and submit a consultancy report in Praia for approval by the National Project Coordinator (NPC).
9. Formulate recommendations for the national project team to improve their knowledge and links with research and development institutions in their respective intervention domains.

Competencies

Communication skills for complex information and techniques targeted towards subject matter specialists as well as wider general audiences.
Good competency in pedagogical approaches in order to transmit skills at various levels.
Ability to communicate effectively orally as well as an excellent level of written skills in order to be able to present, negotiate and summarize work sessions.
Good skills for efficient facilitation during meetings between various stakeholders (government, NGOs, CBOs, international community and communal levels).
Strong skills in monitoring and evaluation, and experience in implementing environmental projects.
Ability to produce high quality reports, publications and project proposals.
Previous experience with GEF projects is an added plus.
Excellent writing skills in French and Portuguese, and a good working knowledge of English is an added plus.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university education at PhD level with expertise in the area of natural resource management and with a specialization profile in water resource management.

Experience:

Minimum 10 years of professional experience, of which at least five are at international level.
A good understanding of challenges linked to climate change (adaptation and mitigation), and particularly in the field of water resources; if possible in or at least in the sub-region.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English.

Application Procedure:

Proposal should be submitted to the following address: Joint Office of UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF, Av. OUA, PO Box 62 - Praia Cape Verde or by email to procurement cv@cv.jo.un.org no later than July 29 2011, 16:00Hrs Cape Verde Time.

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing, or by standard electronic communication to the address indicated above or the following email: antonio.querido@cv.jo.un.org. UN Cape Verde will respond in writing or by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.