UNDP Jobs - 76453- Project Development Consultant

Project Development Consultant

Location :

Banjul, GAMBIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Jan-2018

Application Deadline :

08-Jan-18 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

60 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

60 working days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a financial operating entity of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which is established to contribute to the collective efforts of the international community to combat climate change. The GCF plans to fund programmatic approaches that provide an opportunity for a transformational shift in countries’ climate resilience and green economies, prioritizing a balanced approach between adaptation and mitigation. The GCF can be accessed directly by National Designated Authorities (NDAs) from developing countries and/or through accredited international and regional Implementing Entities (AEs). The Board of the Green Climate Fund has started Accreditation of National and International institutions for direct access. Currently there are 59 AEs and 144 NDAs.

Classified as a Least Developed Country by the UN System, The Gambia is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an overall national poverty rate at $ 1.25 per person per day of 48. 4% (2010) compared to 55.5% in 2008.

The Gambia’s coastal area is composed of ecosystems of high socio-economic importance. Indeed, the coastal related tourism which dominates the tourism sector in Gambia, is among the main contributors to the Gambia GDP. The total contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP was $188.10 million (21.8% of GDP) in 2013, and was forecasted to rise by 3.2% in 2014, and to rise by 3.9% p.a. to $284.26 million (17.9% of GDP) in 2024. Furthermore, in 2013, the total contribution of Travel & Tourism to employment, including jobs indirectly supported by the industry, was 18.7% of total employment (125,500 jobs). This was expected to rise by 1.5% p.a. to 144,000 jobs by2024 (15.4% of total). Sea level rise is threatening these important economic features of the Gambian economy and could be an obstacle to the achievement of the country's long-term goal of recording 500,000 annual tourist arrivals by 2020 as stated in the national development blueprint, Vision 2020.

The Kololi coastal zone is confronted with a range of “creeping” environmental issues, such as coastal erosion, changes in coastal sediment dynamics and morphology and a decline in the functioning of protective ecosystems (e.g. mangroves). Coastal dynamic modelling, using bathymetry, wave climate data from 2000 to 2009 (Bijl, 2011) concluded that the cause of the high erosion rate at Kololi Beach is driven by multiple processes. The combination of a large amount of shell fractions in the sediment, sand deficit due to sand mining and the effect of sea level rise all exert a high influence on sediment transport. There is a natural trend in erosion along the coast of The Gambia, caused by alongshore gradients in the longshore transport and the effect of sea level rise. A changing reef bathymetry and changing wave climate have compounded the erosive processes. It is expected that sea level rise projected for the Gambia will likely amplify the adverse impacts that are already being felt. The Kololi stretch, which extends between Kololi Point and Bald Cape along the coastline, constitutes one of the important tourism cluster area in the Tourism Development Area (TDA). It has a high economic value as it contains major hotels, including 2 five stars and 2 four star hotels. In addition to the hotels, the area has a high concentration of tourism related businesses, including restaurants, beach bars and hair dressing salons. There is also the Bijilo Forest Park, which is important for both tourism and conservation, located on the cliffs to the northwest of Bijilo. Led by the National Environment Agency (NEA) under the purview of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Natural Resources (MECCNAR) with UNDP serving as the GCF Accredited Entity, an adaptation project “Enhancing Resilience of Kololi stretch economic infrastructure and social assets against sea level rise” has been proposed for possible funding by the GCF. The Proposed Project supports the Government of The Gambia (GoTG) in strengthening the resilience to sea-level rise and associated impacts of climate change of Gambia’s most important coastal socio-economic development assets, notably the tourism infrastructure of the Kololi coastline and the Tanji Bridge. The Project promotes a paradigm shift towards a climate resilient coastal development through its integrated and holistic approach to managing climate risks for coastal areas for approximately 59,140 vulnerable people in the Kololi stretch and surrounding communities of Serrekunda (including 35,000 women) through two (2) inter-linked Components:

Output: Natural coastal defence systems strengthened to reduce the exposure of coastal communities and key infrastructure to climate risks.
Output: Strengthening the policy and institutional framework for the implementation of an integrated coastal zones management in Gambia.

A consultant is required to lead the team of the consultants supporting the formulation of the GCF project proposal in line with UNDP and GCF guidelines. UNDP will mobilize a team to support the preparation of the proposal package in time for submission to the GCF Secretariat (aimed for end of August 2018). The Consultant is expected to work with and coordinate with the team below under the guidance of and supervision by UNDP.

The supporting team will consist of the following:

Economic feasibility study Expert: To conduct economic analysis/appraisal of the proposed interventions.
Gender, Community and Enterprise Development Specialist: Conduct gender analysis related to the scope of the proposed project and develop a gender and community involvement plan.
Finance Expert/Specialist: To develop an integrated financial model, including cost-benefit analysis of proposed interventions.
Environment and Social Safeguards Specialist: Conduct detailed assessment of Social and Environmental risks and developing safeguards
National Consultants: Support International consultants to conduct desk reviews, access to documents/reports, arrange meetings/consultations etc as per their TORs.

Duties and Responsibilities

The main objective of the consultancy is to formulate the full proposal for the GCF funding for the Gambia. The Project Development Consultant/Specialist will prepare a full proposal based on ToC, sustainability plan and paradigm shift potential justification along the GCF/UNDP format. S/he will work with the UNDP Gambia Country Office, under the overall technical guidance of the UNDP Regional Technical Advisor (RTA) for climate change adaptation at the UNDP Addis Ababa Regional Hub.

Guided by the Concept Note (already submitted to the GCF), PPF, Theory of Change, Technical feasibility study and sub-assessments, national & regional consultations with the Gambian stakeholders, the consultant is expected to meet the following objectives:

Coordinate inputs from international and national consultants and relevant stakeholders

To liaise with key government stakeholders involved in the project formulation to obtain their expected inputs to inform the project design;
To participate and obtain inputs from CSO and private sector meetings which are organised by the UNDP;
To participate in community level consultations to validate the design and input in to the full proposal;
Ensure all project interventions are robustly designed meeting GCF investment criteria and are backed up with evidence including feasibility assessments, evaluations, relevant studies, especially at the site level, etc.

Design the full funding proposal, with the inputs from the national and international consultants

Develop the GCF proposal document and coordinate inputs from all consultants to prepare the full set of Annexes as part of the package for submission to GCF;
Develop the results log frame according to the GCF performance measurement framework;
Develop the total budget and financial structure of the project (with input from UNDP) and all main cost categories at the input level corresponding to all outputs and activities. The UNDP/GCF procurement and budget planning tool (latest version) must be used for this purpose;
Coordinate closely with the CO to prepare the procurement plan according to the UNDP/GCF template and project implementation timeline;
Work closely with the CO colleagues to present the implementation arrangements, in accordance with UNDP/GCF rules and regulations;
Continue to support the project refinement process based on feedback from GCF Secretariat up until GCF Board Approval.

Reporting and Coordination Line

The consultant will facilitate necessary contributions by all national and international consultants assigned to respective tasks for GCF project formulation for the Gambia;
The consultant will coordinate with other team members of project formulation team, government counterparts and UNDP during the consultation and formulation process;
The consultant will need to work closely with UNDP CO on the Feasibility Study for all the technical requirements of the project formulation process and in close coordination with BPPS/UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor on Climate Change Adaptation (Addis Ababa);
UNDP CO will be responsible for facilitating data collection, meetings, and provision of other supporting functions and the Quality assurance of the final annexes of the document.

Institutional Arrangements / Reporting Relations

The consultant will report primarily to the UNDP Regional Technical Advisor in Addis Ababa and the UNDP Gambia Office.

Competencies

Strong analytical skills; exceptional ability in communication and networking, negotiations and writing;
Flexibility and ability to operate in different cultural settings and with a variety of stakeholders; culturally and gender sensitive
Familiarity with technical issues related to adaptation, methods of cost-benefit analysis for adaptation options, identification of multiple benefits of adaptation, including, economic, social and gender related.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Postgraduate degree (M.S) in development, water resources management, drinking water supply, community development, coastal erosion control/management, resilient infrastructure development, climate change adaptation or related fields.

Experience:

At least 10 years of technical experience in coastal area infrastructural management/development, integrated coastal area policy development/management, community investment planning, water resources management in rural settings where typical infrastructure solutions and cost-recovery models do not apply;
5 years’ experience in the design and implementation of integrated development projects, especially in coastal degraded areas and on infrastructure and water security including working on community based initiatives;
5years experience related to water resources, coastal areas, infrastructure development, poverty reduction and community engagement;
5 years’ experience in the formulation and management of similar projects with global funds including:
Project design, management, and monitoring & evaluation;
Design of log frame with SMART indicators, work plan and budget formulation;
Working with multi-disciplinary teams, including local and expatriate technical experts.

Language:

Fluency in English both written and oral.