Background
The Commonwealth Vulnerability Index ranks Vanuatu as one of the world’s most vulnerable countries due to its high exposure to natural disasters, scattered island geography, narrow and economic base, inadequate communication and transportation networks and limited capacity to cope with disasters including climate change. With mostly volcanic islands, human settlements are found mostly along the coastlines and this region is a primary focus in efforts to build climate resilience. Vanuatu’s National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA) include specific measures focused on the coastal zone such as the promotion of community-based marine resource management and integrated coastal zone management.
To better adapt to the impacts of climate change, the government launched the project “Adaptation to Climate Change in Coastal Vanuatu” (VCAP) in November 2014. The was project funded $8.030 million grant from the Least Developed Countries Fund of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and was implemented by UNDP. The project was implemented in 6 provinces of Vanuatu covering at least 5-6 communities in each province to improve their resilience to climate change, to sustain their livelihoods, improve food production and preserve/improve the quality of life.
The interventions of the V-CAP project had ranged from the following:
1. The climate proofing of public conveyance infrastructure such as river crossing bridges, roads and pedestrian walkways and tracks to facilitate access needs to population centers, health facilities, markets and schools for children regardless of weather conditions.
2. The climate proofing of existing Provincial/Area Council offices as shelters during natural disasters for 8 island communities. These also included training and equipping of existing resource personnel to respond to climate disaster needs.
3. The extension of agricultural services in order to facilitate the demand for food supply as a result of growing population in the outer islands and the increasing disease and pests in subsistence crops. These included the setup of nurseries and model farms in 7 island communities to supply climate resilient crops. In addition, these communities were also trained and provided farming materials to allow them to be self-sufficient. Similarly, livestock management trainings were conducted, and start-up of livestock initiatives were provided to more than 1,000 local farmers to generate further household incomes opportunities and create employment.
4. The development of Upland Management Action Plans to address sustainable farming practices, land erosion and water security in 9 island communities. This also included the planting of vertiver grass and plants in coastal eroding hotspots and replanting of native trees and water catchments areas. In addition, water tanks and gravity feeders were installed on Torres and Epi island communities which often are affected the most during the drought seasons.
5. The development of Disaster Plans in 1 District, 3 Area Councils and 9 communities to be able to address disaster risk events accordingly.
6. The successful setup of Integrated Weather Forecasting and Automated Weather Stations in the 6 provincial sites to allow a systematic analysis and predictions of climate-related events such as cyclone, storms, drought etc in order for communities to prepare beforehand.
With V-CAP completed in 2019, the government had expressed its intention to implement a phase II of V-CAP. Its decision is based on the positive outcome and contribution of V-CAP project in the local communities and the level of assistance to Vanuatu Government sectors which have benefited greatly from its interventions in the project sites in Vanuatu. A funding of $US 12 million was approved by GEF in November 2019 and will therefore be focusing on upscaling the successful interventions of the earlier V-CAP work.
Duties and Responsibilities
Specific to the work of the consultant he/she will be expected to conduct the following:
- Work in consultation with the Marine Specialist in the submission of a detailed methodology and workplan which will be provided to the Team Leader.
- Work with the Terrestrial Specialist to ensure that the terrestrial component is well articulated in the project document, and it is participatory, gender-responsive and is based on extensive stakeholder engagements; and
- Verify and ensure that all project activities focused on marine management/conservation are technically sound and cost effective.
- Provide specialised support to undertake a comprehensive stakeholders and capacity assessment work in order to contribute and provide technical advice on component 1, 3 and 4 of the PIF in project formulation focusing specifically on terrestrial issues and ensuring ecological link to other ecosystem services.
- Work with the Marine Specialist to ensure that components addressing marine issues, gaps, priorities, opportunities are well presented in the PIF that will be presented during the validation stage to the stakeholders.
- Work with the project formulation team to finalise project sites selection following agreed criteria and lead in the collection of marine information (Coastal Zone Management, Marine Managed Areas, Protected Areas) situation based on available data in the target sites.
- Contribute to the preparation of the inception report with specific focus on marine.
- Work with In-country Coordinator to finalise a schedule of field visits and the overall PPG timelines.
- Work with the Marine Specialist to analyse and compile a report of the project baseline in terms of current sustainable marine management, marine management planning, nearshore marine resource use policies, projects and stakeholders.
- Provide technical advice to the gender specialist to ensure that findings from the gender analysis work is meaningfully integrated into the design of activities focused on marine management/conservation interventions and is culturally sensitised.
- Ensure the design of appropriate project knowledge management processes and platforms, ensuring appropriate linkages to existing mechanisms and knowledge sharing in project landscapes;
- Contribute to the work and write up tasked by the Marine Specialist to fully prepare component 1, 3 and 4 of the VCAP 2 project document.
- Identify government and non-government agencies, local project stakeholders and potential project partners for consultation and coordinate meetings during the PPG mission.
- Facilitate in the organising of consultative meetings with local government, provincial and community stakeholders to assist project definition in collaboration with other partners.
- Contribute to the work and write up tasked by the Marine Specialist to fully prepare for and assist in the work of marine management and integrated ecosystem-based management from ridge to reef of the project sites.
- Support and contribute to the work of other team members that are part of the project especially in the areas of marine management, institutional capacity and knowledge management.
- Support the In-Country Coordinator in organising and provide support in facilitating inception, consultation and validation workshops. Active participation in workshops.
- Conduct follow up as per the guidance of the International Specialist or Team Leader in order to finalise the ProDoc for GEF Sec submission.
Competencies
- Minimum 5 years of demonstrable experience in the technical area of sustainable natural resource use planning, marine conservation and planning, protected areas network and management or equivalent
- Experience in implementing and managing marine projects particularly for UNDP and GEF projects;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
- Experience in developing community-based livelihoods diversification through nature-based conservation and resource management initiatives;
- Experience working in the Pacific/Government in Vanuatu on related initiatives highly desired
- Knowledge of and experience in ridge to reef conservation approaches and planning, with experience in sustainable financing mechanisms for nature-based protection and management etc
- Experience in developing community-based livelihoods diversification through nature-based conservation and resource management initiatives;
- Experience working in the Vanuatu on related initiatives highly desired
Required Skills and Experience
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field, such as Natural Resources Management, Marine Science, Conservation Biology or Sustainable Development and Planning;
- A detailed Terms of Reference can be obtained from UNDP Pacific Website
- https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=62996
Proposal Submission
Offerors must send the following documents.
1) CV including names of at least 3 referees
2)Cover letter setting out:
A statement of how the applicant meets the qualifications and experience requirements.
3)Completed template for confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal
Consultant must send a financial proposal based on Professional Fees payment and any other cost associated with undertaking this consultancy. In country travel arrangements to the outer island will be organized by UNDP. In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.