Background

Threats of climate change effects on the lives and wellbeing of Zimbabweans are an impediment to human development. Such threats not only challenge the gains already made in human development but also constrain further progress. Climate change effects are expected to intensify in the years ahead.

The increased incidence of drought and the resulting heightened water stress are already having an adverse effect on crop and livestock productivity, and is deepening land degradation and threatening the very existence of wild life. In 2010, the total forested area in Zimbabwe was 15.6 million hectares at a forest loss rate of 327,000 hectares per year (FAO 2010). These figures suggest that the rate of deforestation is now three times the estimated average over the period 1985-1992. Around 565,000 people are vulnerable to adverse climatic shocks and are food insecure as climate change is affecting the agricultural sector, groundwater systems and surface waters, environment and other economic sectors. It is predicted that water lost through evaporation will increase between 4-25% in the river basins due to climate change (Brown et al., 2012). Increasing climate variability combined with significant demographic changes in the most vulnerable parts of the country is worsening the problem of poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition. An estimated 1.5 million smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe, 70 % of them women, frequently face poverty and hunger. Moreover, the majority of them lack adequate coping strategies to withstand such shocks putting them in a highly vulnerable situation. If not addressed now climate change could be a serious impediment to achieving SDGs.

As successive Human Development Reports have shown, most people in most countries, including Zimbabwe, have been doing steadily better in human development. However, human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Globalization has provided significant opportunities, especially for developing countries, for major human development gains. Advances in technology, education and incomes hold ever-greater promise for longer, healthier and more secure lives (HDR 2014). But high achievements or potential achievements could be heavily undermined by shocks such as natural disasters, a result of climate change.

The literature on human development emphasize the importance of capabilities and choices in broader human development. The HDR 1996 argued that economic growth expands the material base for the fulfilment of human needs. The fact that income growth is a main contributor to increasing capabilities is reiterated by Sen (2000) and Ranis (2004). Yet, as recent drought episodes indicated, climate change effects are adversely affecting economic growth, livelihoods and progress in human development progress.

While the human development progress in Zimbabwe has been low overall, its potential to pick up fast should not be undermined. It is in this context that the Government of Zimbabwe has decided to produce the Zimbabwe Human Development Report (ZHDR) 2016. The national human development report will make an attempt to critically analyze the issues pertaining to climate change and human development, in a broader context. As the Conference of Parties 21 (COP21) aims to keep global worming below 2°C, through a legally binding universal agreement, a better understanding of climate threats to human development, innovative localized approaches to mitigation of and adaptation to climate effects and the institutional and policy environment that is required would be critical to take the COP21 commitments forward at the country level. The National Human Development Report with its approach to evidence based research and inclusive consultations could offer effective and contextualized solutions to such issues. It will also explore some global best practices within a developing country context.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the ZHDR Steering Committee chaired by the Office of President and Cabinet the consultants team will lead in the drafting of the Zimbabwe Human Development Report 2016 within the stipulated time frames. The consultants will:

  • Undertake a Desk Review of policies and strategies related to environment, climate change and related issue in Zimbabwe and global/regional best practices;
  • Review and revise as required the draft annotated outline for the ZHDR, in consultation with the Steering team and other stakeholders;
  • Prepare an inception report as guided by the Concept Note, Terms of Reference (ToR), the draft outline and guidance from the Steering Committee, present it to a stakeholder consultative workshop and finalize;
  • Undertake consultations with stakeholders on the subject for inputs on relevant chapters of the report;
  • Draft chapters as per the outline and submit for review by key stakeholders and the Steering Committee, present the initial findings to a select group of reviewers;
  • Present the draft report at a consultative workshop(s) and revise accordingly;
  • Consolidate, edit and finalize the report for final review;
  • Present the draft report at a validation workshop, and final revisions if required;
  • Submit a complete final report to the Steering Committee.

Deliverables/ Outputs:             

  • Inception report within 20 days since offer submitted to ZHDR Steering Committee;
  • Draft report for stakeholder consultations within 60 days since offer submitted to ZHDR Steering Committee;
  • Final ZHDR report within 90 days since offer submitted to ZHDR Steering Committee.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Displays cultural gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
  • Demonstrates diplomacy and tact in dealing with sensitive and complex situations.

Functional Competencies:

  • Strong analytical, writing and presentation skills; 
  • Good background in Zimbabwe’s human development issues and response strategies and related programme development;
  • Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills;
  • Proven capability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Team Leader and Project Expert should have a post graduate qualification, (MA or MSC) in environmental studies, climate change, human development, economic development or related field. Team members having a PhD is preferable;

Experience:

  • Proven track record over a period of 10 years in development research with specialization in environmental studies, climate change and/or human development;
  • Familiarity and previous working experience with international development organizations particularly on human development/MDG reports or similar reports;
  • Consultants should possess required skilled personnel to undertake the ZHDR.

Language:

  • Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Timeline, Reporting & Quality Control for the Assignment;

  • The consultancy is for a period of 150 person working days, spread over a period of 300 person days;
  • The contractors will work directly under the supervision of the ZHDR Steering Committee and will report to the committee on a regular basis;
  • The Lead consultant will have the overall responsibility to deliver the outputs with support from Project Expert

Application procedure;

  • Prospective candidates should apply as individuals;
  • Each individual should clearly mention the role they are applying for, Team leader or Project Expert. Each candidate should provide own CV, P11 and Technical Proposal, along with the application;
  • Submissions shall be evaluated per individual and UNDP reserves the right to constitute a team on the basis of evaluation results, should it be so necessary. Prospective candidates are advised to take note of the provision.

Applicants are requested to upload the following documents:

Applications without Technical Proposals will not be considered.

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF attachment as the system only allows upload of one document;

Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.

Evaluation:

The Consultant will be evaluated based on the qualifications and the years of experience, as outlined in the qualifications/requirements section of the ToRs. In addition, the Consultant will also be evaluated on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis: When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the 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%.

The award of the contract shall be made to the 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 ToR.

Selection Criteria:

Technical Evaluation: 70% of total evaluation (maximum 70 points):

  • Criteria A: Education (maximum 10 points);
  • Criteria B: Experience (maximum 50 points, divided into 40 points for substantive and technical experience in development research with specialization in environmental studies, climate change and/or human development, 10 points for working experience with international development organizations particularly on human development/MDG reports or similar reports
  • Criteria C: Language (maximum 10 points).

Final selection: Only the candidate with the highest ranked will be selected.

Note:

Only the highest ranked candidates who have obtained a minimum of 49 points (70%) on the technical evaluation will be considered for the financial evaluation.