Background

Central Asia is highly vulnerable to climate change. In a region that is subject to multiple stressors, climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities. Central Asia is warming faster than the global average. Average annual temperatures have risen by 0.5 degrees Celsius over the last three decades and are forecast to increase by 2.0 to 5.7 degrees Celsius by 2085. This is evidenced by substantial reductions in mountain snowpack and the depleted volume of the Tien Shan glaciers and permafrost, releasing carbon and methane stocks which contribute to further warming. The region is projected to experience increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns and increased drought. These impacts add pressure to already stressed and overexploited natural resources, thereby increasing the vulnerability of rural communities and their livelihoods. Whilst climate change rarely results in direct security threats, climate change interacts with existing stressors, including socioeconomic, political, and natural hazards, to undermine resilience.

A particularly complex challenge is the water-food-energy nexus because electricity and food production rely on scarce water resources. Increasing frequency of climate-induced extreme weather events and disasters can put communities and their livelihoods at risk, which in turn can push people to migrate on a large scale or to turn to illegal sources of income. Climate-induced disruption of food production and increasing food prices can lead to social instability. Impacts on energy production caused by higher temperatures and lower precipitation, as well as threats to energy production and transmission infrastructure from extreme weather events put supply chains and energy supply at risk. Increasing demand for water and an unreliable supply increase pressure on existing water governance arrangements and can complicate political relations, particularly at transboundary basins already affected by tensions.

To address these challenges UNDP, with the financial support from EC, is implementing a regional project “Climate Change and Resilience in Central Asia” with overall objective to support stability and climate resilient development in the Ferghana Valley, a trans-border area of the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The project will (i) improve knowledge of climate-fragility risks amongst stakeholders at local, national, and regional levels; (ii) facilitate risk-informed policymaking and transboundary resource management; and (iii) support practical risk reduction interventions. Early warning and prevention measures will be enhanced. Knowledge base will be increased through targeted public awareness campaigns to ensure growing consciousness on climate-induced vulnerability implications and spill-over effects and climate change resilience.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of the assignment is to support national project teams in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in conducting participatory assessments to identify climate change resilience implications, vulnerabilities, and hot-spot areas within the Ferghana Valley to provide a basis for the development of more effective and sustainable adaptation strategies. The consultant is also expected to work closely with national consultants for development of pilot projects to demonstrate adaptation and prevention measures at the community level.

To meet the objective, the consultancy will provide expertise and necessary resources to deliver the following tasks:

Task 1. To develop a methodology for participatory assessment to identify climate change resilience implications, vulnerabilities, and hot-spot areas within the Ferghana Valley. (Outcome 1, activity 1.2)

• Conduct a literature review of available methodologies and best practices (like, climate change and security assessment and improved local resilience to climate change risks project implemented by UN Environment) for vulnerability assessment to highlight available approaches and solutions.
• Prepare methodology. The scope of the assessment should include exposure and sensitivity of key economic/social sectors to climate-related risks and implications (civil protection and disaster risk reduction, water and agriculture, land management, energy, health, rural development, urban development, environment, social development, including gender and vulnerable groups).
• Develop criteria for selecting transboundary climate change and resilience hotspots.
• With the support of UNDP COs in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan agree methodology and hotspots selection criteria with national counterparts.
• Design questionnaire/surveys for national counterparts to assess national level capacities and skills in relation to (existing) climate information, modeling, forecasting and early warning tools relevant to climate-fragility risks.

Task 2. Support national teams in conducting participatory assessment to identify climate change resilience implications, vulnerabilities, and hot-spot areas within the Ferghana Valley.

• Conduct a training for national teams on application of vulnerability assessment methodology and hotspots selection.

• Provide technical advice/peer review to national consultants on conduct vulnerability assessment, and hotspots selection.
• Conduct presentation and prepare a policy brief summarizing the finding of the assessments and recommendations targeting decision makers at national and local level.
• Provide technical advice and support to national consultants on conduct capacity assessment surveys for national counterparts both at professional and technical levels. The results of capacity assessment will inform technical trainings and other capacity building activities.

Task 3. Based on the results of the participatory assessments and with selection of hotspots, provide advice and guidance to validate design of the community resilience pilot projects (Output 4. activity 4.1)

• Provide technical support and advice for development of pilot projects that demonstrate adaptation and prevention measures at hotspots in the Ferghana Valley. The pilot measures will be focused on enhanced community-based early warning, communication and awareness, and local community climate change adaptation measures.
• Provide guiding recommendations formulated to national consultants to develop preparedness and response plans for pilot communities.

Competencies

Functional competencies

• Excellent communication and management skills and demonstrable capacity to work with a multi-national team and to work with government institutions
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategies and communication plans
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.

Corporate competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in environmental management, climate change, environmental policy, economy or related areas.

Work experience:

• A minimum of five years of progressive experience related to scoping and facilitating research, policy development, evaluation and review in climate change adaptation, climate change and security, natural resources and/or environmental management, transboundary collaboration/partnership.
• Work experience, familiarity with multi-stakeholder dialogue and knowledge and experience exchange and understanding of sustainable partnerships and their ecosystems in ECIS and/or Central Asia.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required for this assignment,
• Working knowledge of Russian is an asset. 

Application Process:

Interested candidates need to apply online at www.jobs.undp.org and upload requested documents (Technical Proposal/Methodology/Cover Letter, CV/P11 form, Offeror’s Letter of confirmation) in Part 5 of Procurement Notice no later than end of December 20, 2021 (New York time).  Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Your on-line applications submission will be acknowledged to your email address provided in application. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary.

Link to application at the UNDP Job Site – https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=103599

(cut and paste into browser address bar if the link does not work).

You can review detailed Procurement Notice, Terms of Reference and download templates from the UNDP Procurement Notices Site following the link http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=86482 (cut and paste into browser address bar if the link does not work).

Application submitted via email, incomplete applications or received after the closing date (December 20, 2021) will not be given consideration.

Technically compliant candidates will be contacted via email for Financial Offer submission.

Failure to submit the Financial Proposal by the deadline or without reference to the subject above will result in disqualification.

For more detailed information about UNDP Uzbekistan please visit our website at www.uz.undp.org.  UNDP is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified female candidates, people with disabilities, and minorities are highly encouraged to apply. UNDP Balance in Manage Policy promotes achievement of gender balance among its staff at all levels.

Requests for clarification must be sent in writing to pu.uz@undp.org,  ensuring that the reference number above is included in the subject line. UNDP shall endeavor to provide such responses to clarifications in an expeditious manner, but any delay in such response shall not cause an obligation on the part of UNDP to extend the submission date of the Proposals, unless UNDP deems that such an extension is justified and necessary.