UNDP Jobs - 38051- Governance & Capacity Expert, Strengthening Climat

Governance & Capacity Expert, Strengthening Climate and Disaster Risk Governance in Vanuatu

Location :

Port Vila, VANUATU

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

22-Jul-2013

Application Deadline :

18-Jun-13 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

10 Weeks

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 Government of Vanuatu has a newly established National Advisory Board (NAB) on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction designed to improve coordination and governance surrounding the threats climate change and disasters pose to its people, environment and assets. One of the key functions of the NAB is to improve access to and the management of human, financial and technical resources to effectively respond to the priority adaptation needs of its people.

The Government of Vanuatu recognizes that effective institutions and the inter-relationships between them are at the heart of its ability to respond to growing climate and disaster risks.

The NAB is undertaking a comprehensive analysis of climate and disaster risk governance in Vanuatu to:

Better understand the specific capacities and needs of various national provincial and local stakeholders;
Evaluate national institutions’ performance of key functions critical to adaptation and preparedness; and
Identify specific gaps in capacity that can be filled through investment and action to improve governance.

A multidisciplinary team combining experts on climate change and disaster risk management governance, public financial management and local institutional knowledge will be assembled to perform the analyses. Each expert will be allocated a specific set of tasks, with a team leader undertaking overarching analysis and ensuring consistency of the assessment and its output documents. The expert team will be steered and guided by the NAB and its Project Management Unit (PMU) within the Vanuatu Meteorological and Geo-hazards Department.

The Assessment is supported by the Pacific Risk Resilience (PRR) Programme, implemented by UNDP, which will focus on strengthening governance mechanisms for DRM and CCA at the national, sub-national and local levels in Vanuatu (and in the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Tonga). The PRR programme will be centered on two components that will be implemented under one coordinated and integrated programme;

Risk governance: supporting mainstreaming of DRM and CCA into development planning and budgeting at all levels of government; and
Community level risk management and integration of risk management into local level governance mechanisms. This assignment is supported under component one of UNDP’s PRR programme.

Objective and Outputs
The overall objective of this consultancy is to analyse capacity for risk governance from national to local levels (vertically) and across all Government and other stakeholders (horizontally). The Governance & Capacity Expert will identify opportunities to strengthen capacities and horizontal and vertical linkages for risk governance and make recommendations on the most effective entry points for integrating climate and disaster risks into national, sectoral, provincial and local planning and processes.

The outputs expected from this assignment to achieve this objective are as follows:

An analysis and recommendations for strengthening risk governance in Vanuatu that will inform the development of the national climate change and disaster risk reduction policy and action plan, and ongoing climate and disaster risk programming in Vanuatu.
The basis for a capacity development plan for the NAB and PMU based on a performance analysis of NAB’s current function and structure (including the NAB, PMU, other agencies at national and sub-national level) and assessment of partner and stakeholder needs.
An assessment of current climate and disaster finance management capacity in Vanuatu to contribute to overarching analysis and recommendations for increased access to, and management of, climate and disaster resources.

Duties and Responsibilities

Activities and Expected Deliverables:
Human capacity analysis

Assess the capacity of staff in key agencies to manage programs and projects; identifying existing knowledge, experience, training and qualifications;
Liaise with key NAB civil society partners, including the Vanuatu Climate Adaptation Network (VCAN) and Vanuatu Humanitarian Team (VHT) to assess CSO human capacity and needs;
Assess agencies’ capacities to identify cross-cutting issues, such as gender, and the needs of most vulnerable groups;
Identify opportunities to train government officers, civil society officers and community leaders in climate, disaster governance, financial and technical matters;
Assess Governments’ ability to effectively use technical advisors and volunteers and identify opportunities to improve use of technical advisors and volunteers;
In light of the above human capacity assessment and the governance assessment below, assess the structures of the new Ministry, VMGD, NDMO and PMU to determine human resource needs to effectively meet the roles and responsibilities outlined in their ToRs.

Coordination and Project Management analysis:

Analyse and identify strengths and weakness in the operational standards and procedures of national, provincial and local climate change and disaster risk reduction organisations;
Identify the capacity of government agencies, provinces, communities and other stakeholders to implement projects in a timely manner;
Examine the capacity and expertise for project cycle administration of the NAB and PMU including managing and implementing projects in the field;
Assess the effectiveness of coordination among climate and disaster risk actors within Vanuatu at both horizontal and vertical levels and among different stakeholders;
Identify opportunities and challenges to strengthen climate and disaster risk links between national, provincial and community level governments and organisations;
Identify ways that development partners (donors) could better recognise and account for the capacity constraints of Vanuatu in their practices and operations.

Input to climate and disaster public expenditure and institutional review (CPEIR):

Identify and document current coordination and management arrangements for overseas development assistance and financing specifically related to CCDRM financing, including linkages between them;
Identify and document current coordination and management arrangements for implementation of national and sector budgets, as these may impact on implementation of CCDRM related programs;
Identify and document current coordination and management arrangements for sub-national and community level (including non-state actors) access to climate financing;
Identify the challenges and costs for national, provincial and local organisations to access, disburse and manage CCDRM funds and provide recommendations on improving the capacity of these organisations to effectively access, manage and disburse CC&DRM funds;
Identify and document human capacity/resources at the national level that directly impact on financial management of CCDRM related efforts e.g. in ODA Management, PFM, Finance and Planning, line agencies;
Provide recommendations on institutional structures in relation to climate and disaster financing;
Identify and document key capacity gaps and prepare actionable recommendations on how these might be sustainably addressed.

Key deliverables from this assignment should include:

Workplan, reference materials and consultation list (one week from commencement);
All data presented in complete and clear format;
Draft report including findings across all areas, themes, and list of opportunities for strengthening capacity in all areas at all levels;
Full report including findings across all areas, themes, and a prioritised list of recommendations for strengthening capacity in all areas at all levels.

Management and Reporting Arrangements

The consultancy will be carried out by a highly experienced international or regional expert in the field of risk governance. S/he will be based within the PMU in Port Vila and will report to the PMU Manager and a NAB Steering Committee established for this project.

Competencies

Expertise in analysis of governance capacity, particularly for risk management;
Excellent analytical, writing and drafting skills;
Excellent research, communication and writing skills;
Knowledge and experience of gender dimensions relating to DRM, CCA and development planning;
Demonstrated experience in workshop facilitation, stakeholder dialogue and participatory consultation processes.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualification:

University Postgraduate Degree in social sciences or discipline relevant to governance, disaster risk management and/or climate change.

Experience:

At least 5 years’ experience undertaking similar analyses and/or managing and implementing climate change, disaster risk reduction or sustainability projects;
Previous experience working in Vanuatu and/or the Pacific, good understanding of Vanuatu/Melanesian culture and sound understanding of climate, climate change and disaster challenges in Vanuatu;

Language:

Fluency in English (written and oral) is essential. Knowledge of Bislama would be an asset.

All applications must submit a technical and financial proposal with full contact details of three referees by Tuesday, 18th June, 2013 (Fiji Time) electronically to procurement.fj@undp.org. The related templates and procurement notice can be found on the following link: http://www.undp.org.fj/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=80

Note:
Failure to submit your application as stated as per the application submission guide (Procurement Notice)on the above link will be considered incomplete and therefore application will not be considered.