Background
Eswatini National Development Strategy and Vision 2022 contains the nation’s desire to be amongst the top 10% of the medium human development group of countries founded on sustainable economic development, social justice, and political stability’. Eswatini National Development Strategy and Vision 2022 contains the nation’s desire to be amongst the top 10% of the medium human development group of countries founded on sustainable economic development, social justice, and political stability’.
Over the last 10 years, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and disasters have increased. Projections show that Eswatini will continue to get warmer with unpredictable rainfall patterns. Climate change and anthropogenic activities are some of the major pressures on ecosystems and are expected to drive changes in biodiversity of the country. Projected impacts on ecosystems, from selected global climate models, show a westward shift and shrinking of both the grassland and savannah ecosystem types of Eswatini.
Degradation of biodiversity and ecosystems, resulting from unsustainable use of natural resources, agricultural development, unplanned urbanization, and industrial development activities, is compounding the vulnerability of the economy and the population from geolocation induced natural systems. The loss of primary forest and woodlands, which are biodiversity rich areas, was estimated at 11% between 1990 and 201811 (whilst human settlements and subsistence cropland increased by an estimated 5% and 8.5%, respectively, during figure 2) the same period. The loss of biodiversity rich ecosystems means reduced capacity of ecosystems to provide goods and services, especially for water retention and flood attenuation, thus exposing the population to climate change and disasters. Projections show that the country will experience a decrease in precipitation, thus rainfall run-off and water availability in the country’s catchment will decrease13. The country’s main catchment’ stream-flows are projected to decrease by 40% by 2050. The decrease in water quantity is likely to affect the country’s irrigated agriculture, domestic and industrial use, and hydropower generation capacity which abstract water from these catchments.
Eswatini Nationally Determined Contributions commitment to the Climate Change Paris Agreement prioritises adaptation in biodiversity and ecosystems, water resources management, agriculture, and health sectors while the Green Climate Fund County Programme has prioritised nature-based solutions to enhance adaptation and mitigation measures. Realisation of targets under the NDC are contingent on accessing international financing due to limited domestic resources. In this regard, UNDP has been selected as the Accredited Entity to support Eswatini design a project on “increasing resilience to climate change of rural communities through integrated natural resources management” to access financing from the Green Climate Fund.
In support of this initiative, UNDP Eswatini Country Office requires services of a National Consultant who will work closely with the international counterparts to formulate a succinct project proposal on increasing resilience to climate change of rural communities through integrated natural resources management. The project will be part of the UNDP-GCF subregional multi country programme for Southern Africa project on integrating climate resilience in watershed management to enhance hydrological flows for small holder food and agricultural production systems. The National Consultant will support UNDP country offices; the Regional Technical Advisors (RTAs) as well as the Government to ensure integration of the local content and facilitation of national activities that will contribute towards the final deliverables for this assignment.
Objective of Assignment
The main objective of the consultancy is to coordinate a GCF project feasibility study and proposal development process in Eswatini, under the supervision of the international counterpart. Working closely with the International Consultant, the National Consultant is required to conduct prefeasibility appraisals of the proposed ecosystem, and agriculture value chain approaches and climate information and early warning system for all relevant segments of the population. This will build onto the pre-feasibility study that has been carried out as part of the UNDP-GCF sub-regional multi country programme for Southern Africa project on integrating climate resilience in watershed management to enhance hydrological flows for small holder food and agricultural production systems.
Duties and Responsibilities
Scope of Work
The National Consultant will lead national stakeholder consultations and organize resources that are necessary for the success of the assignment.
Tasks to be performed.
Coordinate stakeholder consultations and input: Liaise with relevant experts in Government, NGOs (Non-Government Organizations), CSOs (Civil Society Organisations), Private Sector, Development Partners to obtain critical inputs, including expert advice, information from relevant documents that can feed into the preparation of feasibility assessments.
- Facilitate meetings of the Technical Working Committee chaired by Eswatini Environment Authority as the Government Focal Point for the project
- Undertake necessary consultations with relevant Government agencies, stakeholders, and experts to obtain comments/suggestions and incorporate these comments into the draft documents.
- Coordinate consultations with stakeholders and obtain technical inputs from UNDP international consultants who will be providing remote support on cost benefit analysis and social and environmental safeguards.
- Organize, lead, and participate in stakeholder consultations.
- Obtain inputs from project beneficiaries, especially women and youth, CSO (Civil Society Organization) and private sectors.
- Coordinate community level consultations in the selected Tikhundula to provide input and validate the design of the concept and full proposal.
Support preparation of the feasibility study and project proposal
- Conduct technical analyses to flesh up implementation detail and all technical sections, against the GCF 6 criteria elements of potential for impact; paradigm shift potential; sustainable development; country needs; country ownership and cost-effectiveness; This will include review and collate existing information available at the national and field level for project intervention on the potential to enhance climate resilience of watersheds.
- Identify the critical needs for improving resilience of watershed systems in the country.
- Help prepare a budget using a bottom-up approach. In close collaboration with the Department of Water Affairs, Department of Forestry and Climate Change Unit at the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Eswatini Environment Authority; Eswatini National Trust Commission; Ministry of Agriculture and her agencies such as NAMBOARD and ESWADE (Eswatini Water and Agriculture Development Enterprise) and other key government departments and agencies,
- Prepare specifications, Bill of Quantities and a realistic Budget and procurement plan for all the goods and services needed within the GCF guidelines.
- Engage and secure co-financing commitments from government, civil society, and private sector.
- Support UNDP to address and respond to comments from the donor until final board approval.
DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT, DUTY STATION AND EXPECTED PLACES OF TRAVELDuration of Assignment
- Duration of Assignment: 01 July 2021 to 31 December 2021
- Duty Station: Home-based
- Expected Places of Travel: Destinations shall be determined and approved by supervisor.
FINAL PRODUCTS
The consultant is expected to produce the followings:
- Assessment report on watershed management; agricultural production systems and institutional coordination mechanisms
- Stakeholder consultation reports
- Procurement plan
- Project co-financing letters
- Terms of reference for key project staff.
PROVISION OF MONITORING AND PROGRESS CONTROLS
The consultant will report to the UNDP Eswatini Team Leader Environment, Climate Change or his designate on a routine basis and coordinate his/her efforts to match the timelines of the assignments. The consultant’s performance will be evaluated by the supervisor monthly. The performance evaluation must yield satisfactory result, or the contract may be terminated based on the recommendation of the supervisor.
REVIEW TIME REQUIRED
7-14 working days
CONSULTANT PRESENCE REQUIRED ON DUTY STATION/UNDP PREMISES
As and when necessary.
Competencies
Technical competencies
- Excellent analytical and organization skills
- Excellent ability to communicate in English both written and spoken, and to work in a team.
- Excellent project design skills
Personal Competencies:
- Positive, constructive attitude to work
- Ability to act professionally and flexibility to engage with government officials, Donor representatives, private sector, and communities.
- Recent experience with result-based management review methodologies,
- Competence in adaptive management, as applied to climate change adaptation,
- Experience working with the UNDP GCF projects,
- Demonstrated understanding of issues related to gender and climate change adaptation, experience in gender sensitive review and analysis,
- Project design experiences within United Nations system will be considered an asset.
Compliance of the UN Core Values:
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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,
- Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Master’s degree in environmental sciences, agriculture, international development, social sciences with academic or professional background in climate change adaptation and project formulation and/or implementation, monitoring and evaluation or other closely related fields. (10 POINTS)
Experience:
- At least 4 years of experience, climate change adaptation/ mitigation, business development or other closely related fields; (25 POINTS).
- Experience in implementation of climate change adaptation or nature-based solutions for agro- production systems projects/programmes; (30 POINTS)
- Demonstrated experience in project development and management in business-oriented or public-private sector platform is an asset.; (25 POINTS)
- Experience in working with private sector and international organization or UN organization would be an asset; (10 POINTS)
Language and other skills:
Proficiency in both spoken and written English.
Application Procedure:
Interested individuals must submit the following documents /information to demonstrate their qualification, experience and suitability to undertake the assignment. All supporting documents must be part of the detailed CV and uploaded as one document.
- Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP; OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP
- Personal CV or P11, indicating all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references; Link for the P11 form: https://un.org.sz/p11/P11.docx
- Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment; and a methodology on how they will approach and complete the assignment
- Financial Proposal that 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.
Incomplete proposals may not be considered. All applications must be made on-line.
Note: Please note you can upload only one document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach).