UNDP Jobs - 65232- International Consultant

International Consultant - Provision of Individual Services of a Climate Change Adaptation Consultant/Water Sector

Location :

Amman, JORDAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

20-Apr-2016

Application Deadline :

08-Apr-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Around 20 working days – of which 10 working days (2 calendar weeks) in Amman.

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Around 20 working days – of which 10 working days (2 calendar weeks) in Amman.

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

Jordan has been amongst the most active countries in the region with regard to involvement in international climate change efforts and response actions. Jordan was amongst the first group of developing countries to ratify the UNFCCC and make an accession to the Kyoto Protocol in 1994 and 2003 respectively. In response to its obligations towards the UNFCCC, Jordan prepared and submitted its Initial National Communication on Climate Change in 1997 and the Second National Communication in 2009. Moreover, Jordan has launched its Third National Communication Report to UNFCCC in December 2014. In line with that, Jordan has systematically continued its efforts in responding to climate change by developing and starting implementing national strategies and policies; of which Jordan, supported by UNDP, has developed a national climate change policy in 2013, the first comprehensive policy in the Arab Region and the Middle East as elaborated above.

With regard to adaptation to climate change and before developing of the National Climate Change Policy of Jordan 2013-2020, which advanced concrete strategic objectives, measures, and instruments to adapt the country to climate change impacts in each involved sector (water, coastal areas, agriculture/food security, health, tourism, biodiversity, and socioeconomic situation/poverty), Jordan conducted (2009-2013) a major joint program of water and health sectors’ adaptation namely “Adaptation to Climate Change to Sustain Jordan’s MDG Achievements”. The program’s outcomes were to develop sustained access to improved water supply sources, despite increasing water scarcity due to climate change and to strengthen the capacity for health protection and food security under conditions of water scarcity.

Climate change is expected to affect sustainable development, economic growth and society. Based on outcomes from the latest Third National Communication Report to UNFCCC (2014), serious vulnerability and impacts results are expected based on modeling and projections analyses. Predicted trends indicated that the annual precipitation tends to decrease significantly with time. Simultaneously, the mean, maximum and minimum air temperature tends to increase significantly by 0.02, 0.01, and 0.03 °C/year, respectively. On the other hand, the relative humidity tends to increase significantly by an average of 0.08%/year. In addition, the dynamic projections predicted more extremely likely heat waves and likely drought events, dry days, and potential evaporation among other potential impacts (TNC 2014). In response, Jordan is keen to implement adaptation priorities at the national and local levels.

Given the urgency and seriousness of climate change, the United Nations and Member States have established a new Green Climate Fund to make a significant contribution to the global efforts towards attaining the goals set by the international community to combat climate change. GCF is now the world’s largest multilateral fund for taking action on climate change, and will contribute to the achievement of the goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In the context of sustainable development, through a series of large scale country investments around the world, the Fund will promote a paradigm shift towards low-emission and climate-resilient development pathways, taking into account the needs of those developing countries particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

Rather than a stand-alone endeavor, the GCF will support actions that bring co-benefits for other development priorities such as disaster risk reduction, food and water security, and supporting risk-informed development pathways. Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction share the same objective: building resilience of communities and nations. It is necessary to tackle disaster risk reduction, climate change and issues like drought and food/water insecurity together. GCF seeks to channel investments to vulnerable countries that manage risks and build resilience of development results. The nexus of climate change to disasters, drought and food/water security is critical in context of the post-2015 development agenda. GCF seeks to forge the nexus between climate change, DRR and food and water security related targets, with a number of opportunities for high-impact investment in disaster risk reduction and more sustainable agriculture and water systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

With this context, UNDP is recruiting an international consultant to help prepare a national assessment report that identifies the scope for GCF climate change adaptation (CCA) projects in Jordan, in support of project submissions to GCF for Jordan in 2016. The assessment report will be based on a review of available literature and baseline information, and consultations government of Jordan, civil society organizations, private sector, UNDPs Regional Technical Advisor on Climate Change Adaptation, UNDPs Regional Climate Change Specialist who will serve as co-supervisors of the consultant and UNDP Jordan CO. The assessment report will identify key CCA challenges in the country, strategies for UNDP/GCF support at the country level, and a matrix of expected outputs and activities and budget needs for Jordan. Local consultations should be undertaken on-site with UNDP Country Offices and partners.

Based on the scoping task (above) and the assessment report, the consultant is expected to develop a GCF concept note using the GCF template for the top priority interventions in the areas of water and agriculture.

Deliverables:

An assessment report

It is expected to contain the following elements:

Background and Contextual Analysis:

Overview of the key climate change challenges and trends in the country, and nexus to related issues of drought and disaster trends and food/water insecurity. Review documents and collate data with reference to NAPs, NAPAs, INDCs, climate change and disaster risk reduction strategies and action plans, or studies/assessments already undertaken on related topics. Identify past and ongoing projects on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction that could serve as baseline for a future GCF investments.

Strategy and entry points for UNDP

Based on the problem analysis in the context section, define cost-effective solutions and strategies for building resilience in the country in focus, and in context of the GCF areas of support for climate change adaptation in the water/food security sector. This should include an overview of the overall strategies and entry points recommended, as well as a breakdown of specific outputs and activities recommended to be undertaken through a UNDP/GCF project in Jordan.

GCF concept note

In consultation with local partners and UNDP, develop a concept note using GCF template for the top priority adaptation intervention in the areas of water, agriculture, including the identification of potential co-financing sources.

Competencies

Knowledge of global climate change frameworks and GCF Project Guidelines an asset;
Displays cultural, gender religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Demonstrate integrity and fairness, by modelling the UN/UNDP's value and ethical standards;
Ability to work with a broad range of individuals of diverse institutions and levels;
Good inter-personal and facilitation skills;
Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
Ability to plan and organize his/her work, efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

Post-graduate degree in environment, climate change, water management or related disciplines.

Experience:

Minimum 10 years of experience in climate change adaptation cooperation, water issues and programme development;
Extensive experience in climate change adaptation cooperation;
Experience with project development and result-based management an asset;
Experience with multilateral supported climate change adaptation an asset;
Demonstrable analytical skills and experience in areas of water conservation and building resilience to drought and disaster risks;
Experience in the Arab region, especially Jordan;
Proven experience in undertaking similar assignments.

Languages:

Fluency in spoken and written English is a must;
Good command of the Arabic language is a plus.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Proposal:(i) Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work; (ii) Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work;
Financial proposal;
Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references.

Financial Proposal

Lump sum contracts:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount including fees, travel cost (round ticket for Amman), DSA (for 2 calendar weeks in Amman), while local transportations (local travel means inside Jordan) will be covered by the UNDP. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount.

Evaluation:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight; 70%

* Financial Criteria weight; 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 60 point would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Evaluation criteria:

Having carried out similar or related work, 35 points;
Technical approach and methodology and work plan demonstrating a clear understanding of the job to be done, 35 points.