Background
Tajikistan is a small landlocked country in the heart of Central Asia, bordered by Afghanistan, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan. Roughly one-tenth of its 7 million total population lives in Dushanbe, the capital city. The country has abundant water resources, contributing to its specialization in cotton production and a considerable hydropower generation potential. Only 7 percent of its total land area of 143,000 square kilometers is arable. High mountain ranges across its territory make communication between different parts of the country difficult, especially in winter. Tajikistan is highly susceptible to natural disasters, and is regularly affected by floods, landslides, and droughts. Up to 40 percent of the country’s national workforce is employed abroad (mostly in Russia) and sends home remittances equal to more than one-third of its gross domestic product. However, with global financial crisis and economic downfall in Russia associated with sanctions the remittance incomes are already adversely affected. Preliminary forecasts from IMF and the World Bank suggest that remittance income will fall by more than the 31% fall in remittance income. Lastly, low agricultural productivity and rudimentary safety nets still leave those below the poverty line vulnerable to shocks and stresses, including women who have experienced lowered rates of poverty reduction than men. The above factors combine to make Tajikistan one of the poorest and most vulnerable economies in the world.
Unless urgent and timely action is taken, Tajikistan will suffer tremendously. It is in the context of this reality that Tajikistan’s National Development Strategy until 2030 outlines hazard risk reduction along with adapting to climate change as critical for the country to achieve its long-term sustainable development goals and objectives. To give effect to this, Tajikistan has tapped into a number of funding sources and is implementing several related projects. In 2018, Tajikistan made a significant step towards advancing the climate change adaptation agenda by tapping into another such source with the endorsement of its Project Concept Note for Adaptation Fund Project. The endorsement paves the way for the development of the full project proposal, that will be undertaken by UNDP in Tajikistan in partnership with the Committee for Environmental Protection, under the project “Facilitating Climate Resilience in Tajikistan” funded by the Russian Trust Fund for Development.
Duties and Responsibilities
Goals and objectives:
UNDP in Tajikistan is seeking for an International Consultant, who, under supervision of and in close consultation with UNDP Programme Analyst on Energy and Environment, Crisis Prevention and Recovery of UNDP CO, as well as in close cooperation with the key national stakeholders and other relevant counterparts will bear responsibility for developing the Project proposal for Adaptation Fund Board (AFB).
Duties and responsibilities:
An International Consultant will be responsible for the evaluation and analysis of the existing capacity in the Republic of Tajikistan for climate change programmes and interventions to facilitate complementarities and reduce potential for duplication. Specifically, an International Consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:
- Review relevant documentation including, but not limited to, Tajikistan’s Project Concept; AFB Project template; related Government of Tajikistan’s policies, strategies, plans including Tajikistan’s National Development Strategy until 2030 and the relevant sector plans, Tajikistan’s National Communications on Climate Change and National Strategy on Climate Change Adaptation, etc;
- Liaise with the key governmental agencies – Committee for Environmental Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry Agency, Protected Areas Agency, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Local Development Committee, State Agency for Investments and State Property Management, Local Authorities – to ensure that the objectives of the project are adequately captured and addressed in the final project proposal;
- Consider opportunities for expanding the project conceptual framework to tap into GEF-7 programming and Green Climate Fund;
- Collect and collate baseline data as required including spatial, socio-economic and environmental data, for inclusion in the proposal and for use during project implementation;
- Develop criteria for selecting communities for interventions under the project;
- Plan and co-ordinate stakeholder workshops at the national and local levels to: a) disseminate relevant information to stakeholders; b) obtain information and data necessary for the proposal including identification and prioritization of capacity building needs;
- Document consultation methodologies and outputs;
- Develop project theory of change, log frame (results and resources framework) and detailed budget for project implementation;
- Design monitoring and evaluation framework; and finalize the institutional/implementation framework, including the stakeholder responsibility matrix;
- Incorporate all the above into the country’s final proposal for submission using the relevant AFB template;
- In addition to this, an International Consultant will provide support in drafting of the project documentation in full and following UNDP and AFB guidelines.
For detailed information, please refer to annex 1- Terms of Reference of the below link.
Competencies
Functional Competencies:
- Professionalism;
- Communication;
- Teamwork;
- Accountability.
Corporate Competencies:
- 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 favouritism;
- Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Postgraduate or other advanced university degree in Development Studies, Environmental Studies, Development Policy Planning or relevant area of Social Sciences.
Experience:
- At least 5 years proven experience in project or programme/project development, planning and formulation for climate finance mechanisms, Adaptation Fund and Global Environmental Facility;
- Knowledge and experience of the political, social and environmental factors and issues related to climate change adaptation and protected area management in Central Asia, preferably in Tajikistan;
- Skills in facilitation and development of multi-stakeholder workshops and broad-based consultative processes/ programmes/project documents on climate change, natural resources and/or environment related discipline;
- An independent, reliable, responsible self-motivator able work under pressure;
- Excellent communication, team-building and diplomatic skills to develop partnerships;
- Familiarity with UNDP/GEF programming policies, templates and requirements for FSP.
Language:
- Fluent in English language.
Application Procedure:
Please follow the link to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice:
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.