Background

The Kingdom of Eswatini is a small [17,364 km2] landlocked country. Despite its small size, the land and climate are diverse with 4 agroecological zones, namely High veld, Middle veld, Low veld and Lubombo Plateau. The rainfall ranges from a high of 2,000mm to 500mm with the volume generally declining from west to east with the Lubombo Plateau sharing the same weather pattern as the Middle veld. According to the 2017 Population Census, the country’s population was 1.09 million people having grown by 0.7 percent from the previous census undertaken in 2007.  GDP per capita stood at USD3081 in 2020 with the economy estimated to have declined by 1.4% in 2020 due to COVID-19 virus. 

The country regained independence in 1968, whereupon it embarked on five-year development Plans until 1988 when the framework was reviewed and changes introduced. This review introduced three year rolling National Development Plans (NDPs) that sought to align the plans with what was budgeted for in the Annual Budget or Book of Estimates.  The current NDP spans the period 2019/20-2021/22. Another major change introduced was the crafting of a long-term plan/vision that sought to stipulate the long-term direction that the country wanted to take. However, it was not until 1997 that the first National Development Strategy (NDS) was launched, with the first preparatory work on it having started in 1992.

A number of other planning documents have been prepared by succeeding governments since then, each responding to the pressing needs of the time. This include the 1996 Economic and Social Reform Agenda (ESRA) which was mainly in response to sluggish economic growth and dwindling government revenues following a change in the geopolitics of the region. This period was characterised by democratisation and peace in key neighbouring countries which led to increased competition for foreign direct investment (FDI) and the renegotiation of the revenue sharing formula of the 1910 Southern African Customs Union (SACU)1. Alongside ESRA government also introduced the Public Sector Management Program (PSMP) whose main thrust was to introduce efficiencies in the public service through reducing the number of civil servant whilst finding more efficient alternative means of delivering public services. There was also the 2004 Smart Programme on Economic Empowerment and Development (SPEED) whose spirit was in line with ESRA except that it sought to identify and implement “quick wins” or “low hanging fruit” that could be done quickly and yield instant results. The country also introduced the Poverty Reduction Strategy and Action Programme (PRSAP, 2006-2015) whose very ambitious target was to have reduced poverty by 50% by 2015 and completely eradicate it by 2022. Other programmes that followed include the Strategy for Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth (SSDIG), Fiscal Adjustment Roadmap (FAR, 2010) and more recently the Eswatini Strategic Roadmap (May 2019) and the Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan (July 2020).

Despite all the documents listed above, the NDP and NDS are viewed as the key overarching planning documents with the others being more like programmes responding to specific challenges of the time and often aligned with priorities as perceived by an incoming government.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work:

The country is reviewing and developing its next versions of both the NDP and NDS and on the 12th of October 2021 the country submitted its revised National Determined Contributions (NDC). It is therefore opportune that efforts are made to ensure that the successor to these planning framework documents incorporate climate change considerations.  The NDS revision process has already started and is guided by consultants engaged with the support of UNDP.  The NDP revision process is being supported by UNECA with an Economist and a Climate Change expert to ensure the NDP will be a climate proofed one. One of the key tasks of The Climate Change Economic Advisor would be to make input to these planning framework documents, particularly the NDP, so that they are aligned with the NDC and also adequately incorporate climate change issues. In addition, it is important to note that the Climate Change Economic Advisor (previously supported by NDC Partnership) whose term ended in August 2021 undertook a number of very important assignments and projects which are yet to be taken to full implementation. This request therefore is that the new Climate Change Economic Advisor should facilitate that all these initiatives are progressed to implementation. Advancing these projects and initiatives to implementation would a) ensure that the effort spent on them does not go to waste and b) facilitate in gaining the much needed buy-in from policy and decision makers through a demonstration that the international community is willing and able to support small resource constrained states in implementing bold climate change friendly programmes and policies in line with their NDC commitments. Specifically, the Economic Advisor will undertake the following:

• Provide advice and input during the preparation of the 2022/23-2024/25 National Development Plan so that it is aligned to the NDC and based on low-emissions and climate-resilient policies, strategies and programmes.
• Facilitate the development of a Resource Mobilization and Sustainable Financing Strategy and a Compendium of Donors that focus on climate change friendly initiatives to be attached to the NDP as part of the facilitation of the financing strategy for the NDP and conduct a training for Aid Coordination Management Section (ACMS) staff on the same.
• Participate in organising a results-oriented Donor and Investor Conference aimed at mobilising resources for the country. The ACMS is tasked with co-ordinating donor assistance but is not yet adequately capacitated and networked with funders focusing on resources for climate friendly initiatives.
• Compile technical needs and Terms of References (ToRs) for experts who will review the Planning Officers Manual (or a standalone document) that provides guidance on incorporation of climate change considerations in the appraisal of projects, programmes, and policies.
• Develop capacity within MEPD through conducting trainings for Government officials and other stakeholders in national planning issues and proposal development.
• Work with line ministries to mobilize financial and technical resources for the implementation of a portfolio of low-emissions and climate-resilient projects and programmes that have been identified in the post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan 2020-2022 and prioritised by the former Economic Advisor.  These include the following:
  1. Implementation of the 10% ethanol fuel blend (E10 project) and expansion of ethanol production and construction of a dehydration plant by Royal Eswatini Sugar (RES)
  2. Implementation of Eswatini climate change national research and capacity building programme hosted by the University of Eswatini
  3. Implementation of national air quality monitoring and management system in Eswatini
  4. Technical support for the development of Eswatini national digitalization strategy and programme
  5. Facilitation of access by disadvantaged communities and women to liquefied petroleum gas
  6. Pilot programme for the conversion of internal combustion engine vehicles into electric power, prioritising government and public transport vehicles

In addition to the above the Economic Advisor is required to progress the development and engagement of possible funders of the initiatives listed above.  This include those funders already engaged such as AfDB for the ethanol-fuel blend (E10) project and the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) project as well as the national capacity development programme proposed to be hosted by the University of Eswatini. The Advisor should conclude and facilitate the launch of the Eswatini-UNIDO Partnership Programme for low-emissions industry projects and programmes.

Furthermore, the Advisor can be requested to review national documents and add value to the final draft of the Implementation Plan in support of the NDC before its transmission by the Government to UNFCCC. Additionally, he/she is required to co-ordinate the finalisation and delivery of a climate change training programme mainly for central agencies (MEPD, MOF, MOPS) and identify reputable collaborators in its delivery including World Bank, the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) and others.  This would also include development of vulnerability assessment guidelines in the areas of climate change exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

In addition to the day to day activities that may be required from the advisor, the following explicit output would be expected to be delivered.

1. The 2022/23-2024/25 Eswatini National Development Plan that is aligned to the NDC and based on low-emissions and climate-resilient policies, strategies and programmes. This will be a joint deliverable with a national consultant engaged through support from UNECA.
2. A Resource Mobilization and Sustainable Financing Strategy and a Compendium of Donors that focus on climate change friendly initiatives prepared and conduct a training for ACMS staff on the same
3. A highly successful Donor and Investor Conference organised jointly with the ACMS. A Donor and Investor Conference Report to be produced indicating pledges made amounting at least to US 1billion in grant funding.  This would include the low emissions and climate-resilient projects and programmes referred to earlier.
4. Identify expertise, develop ToRs for experts who will review the Planning Officers Manual (or a standalone document) that provides guidance on incorporation of climate change considerations in the appraisal of projects, programmes, and policies.
5. Fully developed Project Profiles to bankable state for each of the 6 low-emissions and climate-resilient projects and programmes in readiness for submission to donors. This may require engagement of specialised consultants to advance and develop further each of these projects. The climate change economic advisor will be at the centre of this and would drive the mobilisation of the necessary resources through partners and donors.
6. Support MEPD in trainings for Government officials and other stakeholders in national planning issues and proposal development. This can be in the form of  “Training of Trainers” level of at least 30 planners and finance officers from central agencies (MEPD, MOF, MOPS) on vulnerability assessment in the areas of climate change exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity, planning issues and proposal development etc.

Institutional Arrangement:

The Climate Change Economic Advisor will be embedded within the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development where s/he can deal with a whole spectrum of planners and policy makers within government.  S/he shall report to and perform under the overall guidance and supervision of the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. On a day to day basis s/he will work with the Chief Economist whilst providing advice to the entire ministry and government, including through the Planning and Budgeting Committee (PBC). Official reporting shall be by means of monthly, quarterly and end of assignment reports. These reports will require clearance as satisfactory by Government of Eswatini.  Generally one week will be allowed for finalisation of a report after the end of each reporting period.

The duty station for the assignment is the capital city of Mbabane in the Kingdom of Eswatini as the position requires a lot of interaction and face to face contact in order for capacity building to occur.  Therefore the advisor is to be resident in Eswatini for the entire duration of the assignment.

Duration of the Work

The assignment is planned for a period of 9 months and the effort is distributed as follows:

Competencies

Corporate and Core 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.
• Communication – Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.
• Planning & Organizing – Develops clear goals in line with agreed strategies, identifies priorities, foresees risks and makes allowances accordingly.
• Organizational Awareness – Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
• Teamwork – Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Accountability – Takes ownership of all responsibilities and delivers outputs in accordance with agreed time, cost and quality standards.

Functional Competencies:

• Have wide exposure to and be well networked among funding agencies that provide assistance to small land locked states on a grant basis or significantly concessional terms.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills including consultation and facilitation, with ability to express ideas clearly, logically and effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Result orientation including being conscious and efficient in meeting commitments, paying attention to detail, observing deadlines and achieving agreed targets;

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, mainly development studies with an orientation towards the economics of the environment or natural resources management.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in policy analysis, programme planning and development, project planning and appraisal, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, organizational review, preferably with a bias towards environment and natural resources management.
• Previous experience in integrating climate change and or environmental considerations in programme and project development and in conducting vulnerability, impact assessments and developing mitigation measures to programmes and projects.
• Have wide exposure to and be well networked among funding agencies that provide assistance to small land locked states on a grant basis or significantly concessional terms.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills including consultation and facilitation, with ability to express ideas clearly, logically and effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Result orientation including being conscious and efficient in meeting commitments, paying attention to detail, observing deadlines and achieving agreed targets;

Language Requirement:

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Additional Information:

How to Apply

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Financial Proposal:

• Financial proposals must be “all inclusive” and expressed in a lump-sum for the total duration of the contract. The term “all inclusive” implies all cost (professional fees, travel costs, living allowances etc.);
• For duty travels, the UN’s Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rates are applicable to provide indication of the cost of living in a duty station/destination (Note: Individuals on this contract are not UN staff and are therefore not entitled to DSAs.  All living allowances required to perform the demands of the ToR must be incorporated in the financial proposal, whether the fees are expressed as daily fees or lump sum amount.)

Recommended Presentation of Proposal

Qualified candidates should submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF file:

1. Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
2. CV and a Personal History Form (P11 form);
3. Brief description of approach to work/technical proposal of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a proposed methodology on how they will approach and complete the assignment; (max 1 page)
4. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price and all other travel related costs (such as flight ticket, per diem, etc.), supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template attached to the Letter of Confirmation of Interest template. If an applicant is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the applicant must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

Incomplete applications will be excluded from further consideration.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated. Offers will be evaluated according to the Combined Scoring method – where the educational background and experience on similar assignments will be weighted at 70% and the price proposal will weigh as 30% of the total scoring. The applicant receiving the Highest Combined Score that has also accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract.