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:

 

Background

Addressing climate change is one of UNDP's main global challenges and priorities. Working in more than 170 countries and territories, UNDP is in a unique position to work with all sectors of society to help mobilize the institutions and resources needed to support countries to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the context of Paris Agreement.

The Paris Agreement aims to accelerate actions and investments to keep the global average temperature rising well below 2 ° C above pre-industrial levels, increase the capacity to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and make financial flows consistent with a path to a lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate resilient development. The Paris Agreement asks countries to undertake and communicate ambitious efforts at Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs), to achiev the objectives of this agreement. Nationally Determined Contributions describe action plans for climate change, self-determined by each country, usually until 2025 or 2030, and will represent a progression over time, recognizing the need to support developing countries for the effective implementation of these climate actions.

As a small island developing (SID) nation, Cabo Verde is already experiencing the adverse impacts of climate change – extreme weather conditions, sea-level rise and degradation of fish stocks. Its adaptation strategy, which aims to protect its ocean-based economy, is to promote integrated water resources, increase adaptive capacities of agro-silvo pastoral production systems, and protect its coastal zones. The country’s mitigation strategy is to achieve a 30% renewable energy penetration unconditionally by 2025; however, with international support, it aims to achieve 100% renewable energy penetration by 2030. Additionally, through its energy efficiency strategy for GHG mitigation, it aims to reduce energy demand unconditionally by 10% and conditionally by 20% of the baseline scenario. To achieve its 100% renewable energy penetration target alone, Cabo Verde will need EUR 1 billion EUR – this will avoid GHG emissions of 600-700 tCO2eq. Cabo Verde also requires capacity-building, and financial and technological support.

The Climate Promise program is an important initiative under the UNDP strategy to support the implementation and improvement of the NDC at the global level, which is also based on the largest portfolio of UNDP support to countries in relation to climate change.
The UNDP's Climate Promise Program was launched in September during the UN Climate Action Summit to support 100 countries to improve compliance with national climate promises (National Determined Contributions, NDCs). Governments are expected to review and update their NDCs by the end of 2020, ideally before COP26.

Like other countries, the UNDP Cape Verde Offices had access to financial resources to help the country fulfill its commitments regarding the implementation of the Paris Agreement, thus presenting an increasingly ambitious NDC (or national targets) of climate) every five years. The general goal and objectives of the project are to contribute to the updating of the Cape Verde NDC.
The first opportunity to do this will be in 2020, which is UNDP's commitment to support to improve the Cape Verde NDC, working closely with the National Environment Directorate to make the NDC more technically robust and to include new ways in which the government it can intensify its climate action, as well as finance these bold goals

In 2020, with the involvement of the UNDP office in Cabo Verde and in close collaboration with the National Directorate for the Environment, work will be carried out to make the NDC more technically robust and include new ways in which the government can intensify its climate action, as well as finance those bold goals.

Through the Climate Promise, UNDP will support Cape Verde in integrating several key sectors for better implementation of the NDC with specific objectives of strengthening measures to adapt to climate change,
review the existing mitigation measures, promote the integration of the new sectors, review the legislative and institutional arrangements associated with the NDC in order to promote the active involvement of all stakeholders in the various key sectors, reinforce mechanisms for evaluating and monitoring the implementation of the NDC at the national level, in line with international guidelines and improve the strategy and increase the capacity to mobilize financial resources for the implementation of the NDC.

Duties and Responsibilities

In order to carry out Assessments of existing priority national policies, laws and regulations related to nature-based solutions (NbS) in Cape Verde to be able to integrate it into the national NDC, the consultant must perform some tasks and responsibilities:

  • Develop and agree with the UNDP-CO and the National Directorate of Environment (DNA), the work plan for the whole consultancy. In the workplan, the consultant will outline in detail his/her methodology, approach to work and explain how the deliverables of this consultancy will be achieved.
  • Compile and review key documents, reports, strategies, related to enhancing NDCs through nature-based solutions. This includes global-level reports and analyses on nature-based solutions in NDCs, reports and literature
  • The consultant will supplement the desk review of literature and policy papers by conducting consultations with key government counterparts and stakeholders
  • The consultant should participate and promote a workshop to present the document to the main actors involved
  • Analysis and country examples will be captured in a 10-15 page Information Note on the challenges and solutions for integrating and enhancing NBS into the NDCs, as the means to illustrate the potential. The information note should include simple visuals/graphics to display key findings.
  • The final paper should be preceded by a submitted outline and first draft for review and inputs by the UNDP Cabo Verde and DNA
  • Prepare and deliver to UNDP-CO and DNA the draft of the consultancy Final Report.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates commitment to UNDP´s mission, vision and values;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Functional Competencies:

  • Diplomacy and tact;
  • Ability to communicate and work closely with a variety of people within a multicultural environment;
  • Demonstrated ability to work within a multi-disciplinary and international framework with a wide range of partners, particularly at the science-policy interface;
  • Strong work ethic and commitment;
  • Concise and analytical thinking;
  • Organized and resourceful.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

  • Master's degree in conservation science, climate, international policy or finance, or development-related field.

Experience

  • At least 6 years of specialized professional experience in topics related to international climate policy.
  • Professional or academic experience in international policy analysis and design, and knowledge and understanding of complex multilateral institutions.
  • Specialized knowledge of current negotiations under major climate policy fora and existing network of contacts.
  • Excellent interpersonal and written and oral communication skills.
  • Proven ability to form collaborative working relationships with multiple groups internal and external to the organization.
  • Ability to understand complex, technical issues concerning conservation science, international development policy, and the politics surrounding multilateral institutions that are critical to CI's success.
  • Highly independent worker able to assess a situation, make the necessary decisions and execute them for multiple lines of work and deadlines.
  • Ability to coordinate and work effectively as a member of a team.
  • Ability to facilitate group meetings in person and remotely.

Language

  • Mastery of written English is a requirement, as the key deliverables will be in English;
  • Working knowledge of Portuguese (or alternatively Spanish) preferred, as many of the reports to be analyzed are only available in Portuguese.