Empleos en el PNUD - 100790- International consultant in Agrometeorology to enh

International consultant in Agrometeorology to enhance agrometeorological climate and weather advisories in Georgia

Localidad :

Home Based (With up to 3 missions in Tbilisi, Georgia)

Tipo de contrato :

Individual Contract

Fecha de comienzo del contrato :

Fecha límite de postulación :

20-Aug-21 (Medianoche Nueva York, Estados Unidos)

Nivel de puesto :

International Consultant

Duración del contrato inicial :

Idiomas requeridos :

Inglés

Duración esperada del puesto :

Up to 80 days in total during September 2021- September 2024 with up to 3 missions (15 days) in Geo

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Antecedentes

With funding from Green Climate Fund (GCF), Swiss and Swedish governments, UNDP Georgia and Government of Georgia is implementing 7-year program dedicated to Reducing the Risk of Climate-Driven Disasters since 2019. The program includes three inter-related on-going projects, including GCF funded, 7-year project entitled: “Scaling-up Multi-Hazard Early Warning System and the Use of Climate Information in Georgia” (hereafter GCF project). SDC funded 5-year project “Strengthening the Climate Adaptation Capacities in Georgia” and SIDA funded 4-year project on “Improved Resilience of Communities to Climate Risks”. The program is implemented under National Implementation Modality (NIM) with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA playing) an executing entity’s/implementing partner’s role for it.

An overall objective of the project is to reduce exposure of Georgia’s communities, livelihoods and infrastructure to climate-induced natural hazards through a well-functioning nation-wide multi-hazard early warning system and risk-informed local action. The GCF project will provide critical climate risk information that would enable the Government of Georgia to implement a number of nation-wide transformative policies and actions for reducing exposure and vulnerability of the population to climate-induced hazards. The project will thus catalyse a paradigm shift in the national climate risk management, climate-proofed disaster risk reduction and early warning approaches. The project innovation and transformative change will also include (a) participatory “Last Mile” communication solutions tailored to the needs of local communities, including Community-based Early Warning Systems (CBEWSs); (b) increasing implementation capacities for carrying out cost-effective risk reduction and community resilience measures through such innovative approaches as watershed/floodplain restoration, agroforestry, etc., and combination of structural and non-structural protection measures aimed at reducing exposure and increasing effectiveness of the early warning; (c) combining best available science and local knowledge for vulnerability assessment, hazard and risk mapping, disaster modelling and forecasting; (d) (e) carrying out a comprehensive community, municipal and national-wide awareness raising, education and capacity development activities on multi-hazard risk reduction, including preparedness, response and Early Warning Systems (EWSs).

The project objective will be achieved through three outputs: i) expanded climate-induced natural hazard observation network and modelling capacities secure reliable information on climate-induced hazards, vulnerability and risks; ii) Multi-hazard early warning system (MHEWs) and new climate information products supported with effective national regulations, coordination mechanism and institutional capacities; iii) improved community resilience through the implementation of MHEWs and priority risk reduction measures.

Under the output dedicated to establishing Multi-hazard early warning system and new climate information products, the project aims to enhance access and use of tailored climate and weather information products and advise farmers/agricultural enterprises through number of activities, which includes i. support to GoG in integrating climate risk and adaptation priorities into the agriculture sector plans, investments and budget framework; ii. development of guidance documents/methodologies and technical regulation for the agricultural sector on climate risk assessment and management and the use of climate information; iii. development of new climate information products for the agricultural sector and delivery of these products to the farmers; iv. supporting improvement of agrometeorological advisory service and capacity building for relevant GoG agencies (MEPA, NEA, NFA, RDA, Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture).

This specific assignment is dealing with providing support to GoG agencies (MEPA and its sub-ordinate agencies: NEA, NFA, RDA, SRCA) in improvement of agrometeorological advisory services, development of new climate information products for the agricultural sector and capacity building for relevant GoG agencies. It includes Enhancement of agrometeorological services development and embedding of climate and weather advisory services in Georgia specifically with focus on 7 hazards (floods, mudflows, landslides, avalanches, hail, drought, strong wind). To this end, it is expected to assess international best practices of agrometeorological forecasting tools for development of climate and weather advisory services, to compare existing tools and practices in Georgia to international best practice, develop an approach, practices and tools tailored to Georgian reality and come-up with the medium-term and long-term strategy for its implementation.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Under technical guidance from Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) and direct supervision from Projects Coordinator, the International consultant will contribute to the activity dedicated to Enhancing access and use of tailored climate and weather information products and advise to farmers/agricultural enterprises.

The International consultant will closely work with Project CTA, project coordinator, International consultant in Forecasting, International expert in institutional capacity assessment, and will be supported by a national consultant. Also, the International consultant will work with national governmental agencies, including National Food Agency (NFA), National Environmental Agency (NEA), Rural Development Agency (RDA), Scientific-research center of Agriculture (SRCA).

The International consultant is will consultant with stakeholders through Technical Working Group meetings, which he/she is expected to lead.

More specifically, he/she will:

Conduct a detailed desk research and comparative analysis of agrometeorological advisory services and development of climate and weather advisories both internationally and nationally, which should include:

Desk Review, Comparative analysis and gap analysis:

Review and assessment of international best practices of agrometeorological advisory services (AAS) and the use and development of agrometeorological advisory tools and products (including forecasting of Pest&Disease and relevant advisories);
Review and assessment of Georgian practices of agrometeorological advisory services and use/availability of existing agrometeorological climate and weather advisories (including tools and products) nationally, considering forecasting of Pest&Disease and relevant advisories; (description of existing situation to be supplemented by national expert);
Conduct in-depth comparative study of international best practices and national experience (to be supported by national expert) in agrometeorological advisory services and development of climate and weather advisories and relevant tools;
Assess and identify gaps in development of climate and weather advisories and of agrometeorological advisory services (including, data availability and quality to produce weather advisories, technical capacities, human capacities) in Georgia;

Stakeholder Mapping and analysis, analysis of institutional arrangements:

Stakeholder mapping, with indication of main actors in agrometeorological services and climate and weather advisories, considering their mandates, roles and responsibilities, showing the interlinkages among governmental agencies (NEA, NFA, RDA, Scientific-research centers, farmers extensions centers), private entities (e.g. input -pesticides/fertilizers/seeds -; hardware suppliers; and advisory services companies/consultants), academia, active farmers' unions (working with smallholders and pastoralists communities, and water users’ associations) that could support the development of the advisory services business, VET services (livestock vaccination and fertility monitoring); the formal seed system (both at public and private) and others. Identify the important actors in a logic of sustainably embedding extension services to best handle specific advisory on multiple climate-induced hazard on farming systems.
The stakeholder mapping exercise should be undertaken in two phases:
- a rapid initial assessment of skills and willingness (using scorecard to be developed by the expert) of public/private actors to use climate and weather advisories and to explore criteria for selection of relevant actors and drawing the essential conditions of pitches of collaboration with data producer/dissemination centers. This should be based on the investigation of constraints, capacities, and eventual incentives to support the uptake of advisory services.
- End-users (farming systems and agri-food-industry) needs assessment. End-users' needs assessments should be separately will be a more detailed assessment of end user needs in terms of specific products and services to be provided. Recommendations on sector coordination and government incentives for uptake of the advisory services should be considered as well.
Develop recommendations for institutional arrangements for the development, implementation and long-term delivery of agrometeorological advisory services for Georgia

Institutional Capacity Assessment:

Undertake the technical capacity assessment of relevant institutions (NFA, NEA, RDA, Scientific-Research Center) to develop and provide agrometeorology advisories, through the capacity assessment scorecards developed by the Institutional Capacity Assessment Expert.
Develop the technical capacity development plan for the relevant GoG institutions (NFA, NEA, RDA, Scientific-Research Center) to enhance agrometeorological advisory services (including forecasting of Pest&Disease and relevant advisories)
Identify on-job training needs, identify and develop the most appropriate medium and long-term training strategy (including forecasting of Pest&Disease and relevant advisories) (including relevant online courses, training materials, etc.)

Recommendations and road map for development of AAS:

Develop recommendations for the enhancement and development of agrometeorological services (in close cooperation with project’s Forecasting and Early Warning International Expert) and climate and weather advisory practices in Georgia towards international practice, considering existing gaps (e.g. data needs, more extended observation network, other tools, etc.) and evaluate needs against demand for services. Identify a preferred option for a tailored approach for AAS for Georgia.
- Agrometeorology advisory services should include monitoring and short-term forecasting (5-10 days) of abiotic (water deficit) and biotic (pests and air/soil-borne diseases) stresses induced by weather conditions.
- Advisory services should aim at adjusting management systems operations (from tillage/sowing to harvest including irrigation scheduling and post-harvest) and reducing yield and the quality gap in key cropping systems including staple and cash crops for major agroecological zones (AEZ).
- Advisory services should include monitoring and forecasting rangelands carrying capacities and livestock diseases.
Recommendations on the development of ASS should consider best-fitted advisory services for both poor/smallholders farmers/herders and commercial farms (medium size)/agribusinesses and agri-food industry
Provide step-by-step guidance of the short-term activities to be implemented within timespan of the project towards enhancement of agrometeorological advisory services and enhancement of development of climate and weather advisories
Develop a working plan with resource plan attached within the project

Participate in all meetings dedicated to agrometeorological advisory services including technical advisory working group meetings, meetings with stakeholders, project experts, etc.

Competencias

Competencies:

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 favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to work as a part of a team, sharing information and coordinating efforts within the team.
Ability to work under tight deadlines.
Very good inter-personal skills and demonstrated ability to engage and work with governmental institutions.
Strong analytical skills.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

At least Master's Degree in Agro-Meteorology, Meteorology, Climatology, agronomy or Hydrometeorology, Agricultural Science, Applied economics or Environmental Sciences (minimum requirement) - 10 Points.

Experience:

10 years of progressive and relevant experience in the field of operational agrometeorology (minimum requirement) - 10 Points.
5 years of Experience in the use of different tools/software for agromet advisory services and developing climate and weather advisories (minimum requirement) - 10 Points.
3 years of Experience of working with state institutions to enhance their capacities in agromet forecasting and using climate and weather information for development of agromet advisory services (minimum requirement) - 5 Points.
Experience in institutional economics applied to agricultural systems, processes and practices (asset) - 5 Points.
Appreciation of how agrometeorology and climate change impact agriculture and food (and related) systems and how the latter can respond/adapt (asset) - 5 Points.
Experience of linking between science, policy and practice in the field of agrometeorology (asset) - 2 Points.
Experience of working in Georgia and/or knowledge of the region’s context (asset) - 3 Points.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in written and verbal English is a must.

Evaluation:

Offerors will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis method, against combination of technical and financial criteria. Maximum total obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria (desk review 50 Points and interview 20 Points) equals to 70 and for financial criteria – to 30. Offerors that do not meet any of the Minimum Requirements will be automatically rejected, while the rest will form up the long list. Technical evaluation will comprise of desk review and interview stages. Candidates who collect 70% (35 points) of points obtainable as a result of the desk review will form up short list and be invited to the interview. Offerors passing 70% threshold as a result of the interview (i.e. obtain minimum of 14 points) will be recommended for financial evaluation.

Financial Proposal:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the ToR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount.

Maximum 30 points will be assigned to the lowest price offer. All other price offers will be scored using the formula (inverse proportion): Financial score X = 30* the lowest price offer/suggested price offer. All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal as well.