Antecedentes

Mongolia is among the countries most impacted by climate change, due to its geographical location and livelihood of local communities associated with the pasture based livestock husbandry. Increased temperatures, coupled with decreased precipitation, has resulted in a drying trend impacting pastures and water sources. In respect of natural hazards the frequency and intensity of extreme events, including summer drought followed by harsh winters, cold waves related low temperatures, and higher snowfalls etc. Unsustainable herding practices and increase of livestock numbers, inconsistent with climate parameter fluctuation are leading to destabilization of income source of herding families, while further stressing increasingly fragile ecosystems.

The “Improving Adaptive Capacity and Risk Management of Rural Communities in Mongolia’’ project funded by the Green Climate Fund was launched in March 2021. The project will be implemented by the MET, the MoFALI and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for 7 years in Dornod, Sukhbaatar, Zavkhan and Khovd aimags. The objective of the project is to strengthen the climate resilience of resource-dependent rural populations in the 4 targeted aimags through feasible adaptation measures for maintaining ecosystem services. This is one of the principal outcome of the Project and aimed at the capacity building for the engaged ministries, such as MoED, MET, MoFALI and agencies as the NAMEM, as well as local government and professional institutions to use modern planning instruments in everyday and longer-term management of resource use based activities, inclusive manner in respect of civil society and local community.

It is well-known that adaptation activities are very expensive partly because of uncertainties on possible future climate conditions and scenarios. In case of Mongolia, adaptation measures can be based on a combination of traditional knowledge and modern know-how, thanks to the inherited adaptive capacity of local communities to reversible variability of climate change. All adaptation measures can be divided into three categories: 1. Passive adaptation based on indigenous technology and traditional lifestyle for which will not be needed an additional investment because of low negative impact of uncertainties. 2. Active adaptation which will need a certain additional effort in accordance with expected climate change but, mainly might require a moderate size of the investment. 3. Pro-active adaptation which, as a rule, will require transformative change based on the “theory of change”. It could lead to some paradigm shifts in the concept of national development and to promote more active multilateral and bilateral cooperation for technology transfer and financial support.

These principles are suggested to explore in NAP process for Mongolia and in this regard they should be narrowed down for those 4 target aimags in a differentiated way depending on climate zone, landscape features and associated way of life, in terms of residents’ resource use for revenue.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Objective of the assignment is to develop guidelines, instructional methodologies and manual on climate risk-informed planning for land, water, and livestock management at national and local levels, including medium-term response planning, particularly, planning for projected seasonal extreme weather events and climate early warning scheme as a principal part of the existing weather early warning system, with extended elements such as forage preparation, water storage and accumulation/ harvesting, livestock product marketing.

1. Scope of work

The following outputs should be achieved as a result of the consulting services:

1. Develop guidelines and methodologies on climate risk-informed planning with close cooperation with the national consultancy team:

• Carry out an assessment of the improved data collection and processing and forecasting ability, coupled with local specific information, including vulnerability assessments and related risks, and livelihood features, focusing on a quantitative approach to impact and risk in collaboration with the national team;
• Adjustment of the methodology on Impact based forecasting (IBF), supported by the WMO to local circumstances, including the development of the operational impact models for water availability, pasture yield/fodder and dzuds, involving outcome of studies;
• Propose a way to streamline the climate-related forecast-based financing scheme with existing financial and public budgeting regulatory mechanisms, at the national and aimag levels. In this regard, some best practices and lessons learned can be seen from the pilot project on Forecast-based Financing for Vulnerable Herders in Mongolia which was developed and implemented by the IFRC as a FBF module for dzud with additional related cost- benefit analyses;
• Based on carried out an assessment on improved data and forecasting ability, guide the national consultancy team in the development of a climate early warning scheme as a principal part of the existing weather early warning system, with extended elements like forage preparation, water harvesting, livestock product marketing and etc;
• Provide professional guidance on improving medium-term response planning that includes emergency planning and coordination, guidelines and procedures for seasonal planning, and coordinating of national and international responses.
• Bilateral cooperation arrangements on data exchange and information sharing on transboundary natural hazards should be settled and maintained using the existing schemes developed and implemented by the NAMEM with some upgrades;

1. Support the Government in incorporating climate-informed planning and decision-making:

• Develop a procedure for dissemination of information, particularly, to decision-makers on response scenarios with options on risk reduction and financial implications;
• Advice on improving the coherence of the ongoing and new climate projects/activities with the adaptation options identified by climate risk and vulnerability profiles and  provide support in engaging the existing and new national and international partners to implement and scale-up risk-informed adaptation actions identified by the project;
• Facilitate at least 4 consultations amongst partners, Ministry of Economy and Development, and Ministry of Finance on the implementation process of climate-informed planning mechanisms, in order to reflect the key conceptual aspect of the New Revival and Green Financing policies;
• Develop guidelines, instructional methodologies, and manual on climate risk-informed planning for land, water, and livestock management at national and local levels.
• Advice on the NDC implementation in consultation with different ministries and international partners, ensuring the use of climate risk-informed planning;
• Organize and facilitate necessary meetings with relevant policy and decision-makers in the field of planning as needed and provide necessary support to the MET in incorporating the climate-informed decision-making principle into the climate change legislation draft.

1. Information dissemination and trainings:

• Develop guidelines on efficient use of newly introduced tools and organize training of users in both ways: centralized for more broad stakeholders and on-site for training of trainees;
• In the development of relevant guidelines and in training exercises, the primary focus has to be made on preparedness, especially in areas of policy coordination, response planning, monitoring sectoral work, information sharing, and resource mobilization. For active dialogue on this issue can be used certain tested experiences of the Humanitarian Country Team, for instance, flexible funding, contingency plans, the trigger of action, and an enabling environment;
• Finalize the report and compile it for the consolidated report, which should be prepared with the team of national consultants in close cooperation with Lead consultant for submission to the MET and PIU in both Mongolian and English.

Competencias

Professional Experience:

• At least 7 years experience of working in the field of land, water, and other changeable resources in the national organizations of the country, similar to Mongolia, where moderate latitude dry climate conditions and nature-based life-sustaining system
• At least 5 years of experience working with national and local authorities on climate change and related field is mandatory
• Experience in analyzing information on climate-related risk assessment, environment,  land and water resource management is mandatory,
• Experience  in using the outcomes in the development planning of sectors like agriculture, where free and regulated access to resources are common practices is preferred.
• Experience and relevant skills in the use of the Office suite (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) is mandatory.
• Experience in working on UN-funded projects and programs is an advantage
• In-depth knowledge of national plans, strategies, and policies related to climate change in countries similar to Mongolia is preferred.

  Deliverables/ Outputs	Estimated Duration	Review and Approvals Required
  Deliverable 1. Inception report: It consists of the following: Detailed work plan and schedule of tasks to be performed during the project, with specified duties of the engaged parties ; Develop fieldwork plan in consultation with MET, PIU, and other logistical arrangements  if necessary;	5 working days	MET, PIU and UNDP
  Progress Report 1: Desk review Desk survey on existing methods and methodologies for assessment of basic resources like land and water and regulatory arrangement on using those resources for economic development and for revenue of local communities. Guidelines on the use of regional climate projections for downscaling in order to use local resources in a consistent manner with anticipated climate change trends in the region. Guidelines on streamlining of expected climate-associated change in resources in the aimag economy and social development planning. Progress of project implementation in respect of response to climate change adaptation, risks, and vulnerability management;	10 working days	MET, PIU and UNDP
  Deliverable 3.   Progress Report 2: Recommendation on the incorporating the climate-informed decision-making principle into the climate change legislation draft; Manual for development of database, involving ground-based measurement and remote sensing information of resources and its maintenance using GIS and other modern data analysis instruments as well an interactive use of the database with regulated access by professional communities and by private sector entities, including herders and farmers. Develop a climate early warning scheme as a principal part of the existing weather early warning system, with extended elements including forage preparation, water reservation, livestock product marketing, and other emerging issues. Recommendation on a way to streamline the climate-related forecast-based financing scheme with existing financial and public budgeting regulatory mechanisms, at the national and aimag levels. Developed guidelines and procedures for seasonal planning, emergency planning, and coordinating of national and international responses.	65 working days	MET, PIU and UNDP  and relevant stakeholders
  Deliverable 4.   Final report and recommendations in English : Package of guiding materials and manuals developed and prepared in an integrated manner in close coordination with the consultant team on impact forecasting and forecast-based planning and as well as NAP consultant team, in order to maximize the Project results and benefits. Contribute to 3 knowledge products and knowledge transfer activities related to the topic of the assignment; Discuss proposals and recommendations with PIU and related project stakeholders and incorporate them in the report and guiding documents as part of the report; Consolidated final report, which should be prepared jointly with the team of national consultants in close cooperation with Lead consultant for submission to the MET and PIU in both Mongolian and English.	20 working days	Upon satisfactory result of the PIU and Programme Analyst of UNDP and relevant stakeholders including MET, MoFALI
  Total	100 days ( 80 days in UB)

Skills

• Excellent communication, articulation, and coordination skills;
• Excellent verbal and written skills in English;
• Ability to understand different interests and seek conciliation and coordination of activities;
• Ability to build informal networks internally and externally and visualize them as part of the value creation process;
• Ability to demonstrate behaviors such as teamwork, knowledge sharing and relationship maintenance;

Ability to encourage collaboration and improve performance

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Advanced education in development policy planning, environmental science, climate studies and risk management (Master's degree or higher)