Background

N.B.

Applications through UNDP jobs will not be accepted, only to the procurement.cv@cv.jo.un.org email address.

Interested candidates are required to read the Procurement Notice for Individual Consultants and its related documents, which are available in the following websites:

Project background

The impacts of climate change on Cabo Verde water resources, particularly on water availability, are predicted to adversely affect human health, agricultural production and food security in both rural and urban areas. Predicted climate change scenarios are likely to constrain long-term development through: (i) increased frequency and severity of drought; (ii) increased rainfall variability, including more frequent events of short and intense rains, causing flash-floods in several catchment areas; and (iii) progressive sea level rise and salt water intrusion in freshwater reservoirs closer to coastal areas. Consequently, a major challenge for Cape Verde is to mainstream climate change adaptation measures into integrated water resource management across different institutional, social and spatial frameworks. Technical capacity of both government and local communities to manage the emerging threats imposed by climate change is required. The likely impacts of climate change are still poorly understood and the need for adaptation not sufficiently incorporated into relevant frameworks.

The project objective is to increase resilience and enhance key adaptive capacity to address the additional risks posed by climate change to the water sector in Cape Verde. Financial resources from the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) had been used to address systemic, institutional and individual capacity gaps to manage water resources for human, agricultural and other uses in the face of a changing climate.

A mid-term review was completed by September 2013, and a follow-up project has been endorsed and financed by CIDA with a focus on climate change and food security.

During LDCF project implementation awareness on climate change risks and adaptation alternatives have been reinforced and adaptive measure have been demonstrated/ scaled up ((small-scale drip irrigation; biological and mechanical soil and water conservation measures). Through this additional funds, capacity to mainstream climate change adaptation in development planning will be further reinforced with a particular focus on analysing current and projected impacts of climate change on food security status of the country and building community resilience through a shift towards climate-smart agriculture and integrated water resources management.

In line with guidance and eligibility criteria of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Fast Start Climate Change Funds, this proposal seeks to address food security issues associated with climate change, with special considerations afforded to gender issues in particular with respect to access to resources and exacerbated vulnerability under condition of strain.

The project aim at supporting the reinforcement of national applied-research programs targeted to climate resilient agriculture and food security in the context of a small island developing state (SIDS). Some priority measures identified in the NAPA, such as promotion of application of renewable energies for water mobilization in rural areas, will be also implemented with this additional funding.

Duties and Responsibilities

The mission will start with a desk review of project documentation and also take the following process:

  • Desk review of project document, outputs, monitoring reports, such as Project Inception Report, Minutes of Project Board meetings and Technical Support and Advisory Team meetings, Project Implementation Review (PIR), Quarterly Progress Reports, M&E framework, mission reports and other internal documents including financial reports and relevant correspondence;
  • Review of specific products including datasets, management and action plans, publications, audiovisual materials, technical packages, consultancies reports and other materials and reports;
  • Interviews with the Project Managers, technical specialist and other project staff;
  • Interview with Program Officers in charge of project oversight at UNDP CO;
  • Interview with RTA (Regional Technical Advisor) responsible for this thematic and geographic area;
  • Interview with the National Director of Environment;
  • Interview with the Director of Agriculture;
  • Finance and Operation Manager at UNDP CO authorizing direct payments;
  • Interview with project executing agency:  DGPOG Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, finance Officer and The project coordinating team and the executing technical branches of the ministry (INIDA, Extension, Island wide Representation of Ministry of Agriculture and Environment);
  • Field visits to conduct consultations and/or interviews with relevant stakeholders involved, including government’s representatives, local communities, NGO’s, private sector, donors, other UN agencies and organizations;
  • Field visit to interview project beneficiaries (community associations, local officials, farmers, water boards, etc.)

An overall approach and method for conducting project terminal evaluations of UNDP supported GEF financed projects have developed over time. The evaluator is expected to frame the evaluation effort using the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact, as defined and explained in the UNDP Guidance for Conducting Terminal Evaluations of projects.

A set of questions covering each of these criteria have been drafted and are included with this TOR. The evaluation team is expected to amend, complete and submit matrix as part of an evaluation inception report, and shall include it as an annex to the final report.

The evaluation must provide evidence-based information that is credible, reliable and useful. The evaluation team is expected to follow a participatory and consultative approach ensuring close engagement with government counterparts, in particular the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, UNDP Country Office, project team, UNDP Technical Adviser based in the region and key stakeholders. The evaluation team is expected to conduct a field mission to Cabo Verde including the following project intervention sites (Santo Antão and Santiago Islands).

Competencies

  • Demonstrate ability to assess complex situations, succinctly distils critical issues, and draw forward-looking conclusions and recommendations;
  • Famiarity with the challenges developing countries face in adapting to climate change;
  • Familiarity with Cabo Verde or similar SIDS ( Small Islands Developing States) countries;
  • Excellent  in human relations, coordination, planning and team work, and
  • Excellent feedback-giving skills and culture sensitiveness

Evaluation consultants will be held to the highest ethical standards and are required to sign a Code of Conduct upon acceptance of the assignment. UNDP evaluations are conducted in accordance with the principles outlined in the UNEG 'Ethical Guidelines for Evaluations'.

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Background:

  • International consultant with advanced academic degree (MSC or PhD) and professional background in fields related to Climate Change Adaptation, Agriculture and Integrated Water Resource Management. A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience is required.

Experiences:

  • Substantive experience in reviewing and evaluating similar projects, preferably those involving UNDP/GEF or other United Nations development agencies or major donors;
  • Highly knowledgeable of participatory monitoring and evaluation processes, and experience in evaluation of technical assistance projects with major donor agencies;
  • Ability and experience to lead multi disciplinary and national teams, and deliver quality reports within the given time;

Language:

  • Excellent English writing and communication skills. Portuguese, French or Spanish reading and communication skills. The consultant must bring his/her own computing equipment;

The applications should be submitted to the email address, procurement.cv@cv.jo.un.org indicating the following reference “International Consultant for “Terminal Evaluation - Building adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change in the water sector in Cabo Verde - CIDA Fast Start Climate Change Funds” by 31st October 2016. Incomplete applications will be excluded from further consideration. Only selected candidate will be contacted.

Recommended Presentation of Proposal:

  • Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
  • Personal Curriculum Vitae (CV) and P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
  • Technical proposal - Proposed evaluation methodology, approach to conduct on the field mission and desk-review phase and work plan;
  • One sample of past publications in English, French, Portuguese or Spanish;
  • Financial Proposal: the financial proposal must be expressed in the following pricing option: Lump Sum Amount - The lump sum amount must be “all-inclusive” (honorariums, living allowance, trips[1], health insurance, etc.); the price should be in USD indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP;

 

[1] Information on domestic inter-islands flights can be found on the national company: www.flytacv.com.

Contact for additional information: sandra.martins@cv.jo.un.org and/or debora.sousa@cv.jo.un.org