Climate Change Adaptation Technical Specialist

Objective:

Within this overall background, UNDP is seeking the support of a Technical Specialist to provide support to the Head of Climate Change Adaptation (Head-CCA) and the Regional Technical Advisors (RTAs) at a global level. The Technical Specialist will focus primarily on leading in three key areas:  Gender, Publications, and The Capacity Building Programme on the Economics of Climate Change Adaptation.

Scope of Work:

Due to the diverse responsibilities to be carried out in this position, the Scope of Work has been separated into three distinct sections.

Working in coordination with project staff at the global, regional and national level, the Technical Specialist will be responsible for:

Gender Scope of Work:

• Provide substantive support to the RTAs to address gender considerations in projects that are designed for various vertical funds. This includes reviewing and revising (and/or suggesting revisions) to Project Preparation Grants, Project Identification Forms, Initiation Plans, Project Documents, Gender Assessments and Gender Assessment Action Plans, and GCF Concept Notes and Proposals to ensure gender requirements (as per  UNDP policy) are fulfilled;
• Serve as the focal point within the Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) team for gender and climate change, and gender and climate finance;
• Develop communications materials on gender and climate change and gender mainstreaming within the CCA team;
• Oversee and guide the development of technical papers, guidelines and other materials on gender and climate change;
• Collaborate with the RTAs and National Consultants to facilitate and complete the Gender Assessments and Gender Assessment Action Plans for GCF Proposals, and ensure gender is appropriately reflected in the entire proposal submission;
• Prepare best practice examples of gender mainstreaming into climate change adaptation;
• Collaborate with the UNDP-GEF Directorate in the New York Headquarters in the development and review of tools and approaches for mainstreaming gender aspects into the work stream, in the development of operational procedures and guidance materials and data analysis as required.

Publications Scope of Work:

The Technical Specialist for Climate Change Adaptation is responsible for providing twenty UNDP CCA publications and ensuring technical, policy, and programming implementation support and oversight. In addition the Technical Specialist will provide knowledge and capacity development services pertaining to the work of the CCA signature programmes to UNDP Country Offices, working with other UN agencies, governments and inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, donors and the private sector.

The targeted audience for the publications will be decision makers at the national and sub-national level of the countries targeted by these programmes, key donors, UNDP staff as well as the general public.

The publications are to raise awareness and build capacity in UNDP’s client countries to inform and guide a medium to long-term approach to addressing climate change adaptation.

The publication scope of work for this component of this consultancy is further broken down as follows:

• Research : i) As assigned by the Head-CCA research new topics for detailed publications in relation to climate change adaptation and the teams breadth of work; ii) Fact check, seek references and have a knowledge base of go-to information in order to research accurately, promptly and effectively.
• Writing: Lead the preparation of professional publication content in collaboration with RTAs for specialized subject matter knowledge.
• Editorial: i) Lead editorial practices and review protocol by demonstrating a proven working knowledge of UNDP Style, Editorial and Branding Guidelines and Polices in regards to editing and design for both internal and external audiences; ii) Copyedit publications and other assigned documents by providing and correcting references, verifying quotations and their sources, correcting errors in language and style, correcting and ensuring typographical accuracy and optimal readability to the key audience.
• Quality Assurance Procedures: Ensure that all publications meet UNDPs 7-Step Quality Assurance Procedures.
• Outreach: i) Work with the CCA team, Regional Hubs, and UNDP Headquarters on outreach and advocacy strategies and launch event potential; ii)Prepare press releases and associated advocacy material to accompany publication release.

The Capacity Building Programme on the Economics of Climate Change Adaptation (ECCA) Scope of Work:

There are three components to the management, success and timely completion of material required for the ECCA Programme – ECCA Reports, ECCA University Course, and APAN Forum.

These ECCA Reports are broken down into the following:

ECCA Reports:

• ECCA Country Reports;
• ECCA Regional Reports;
• ECCA Policy Briefs;
• ECCA Toolkit;
• ECCA Cost-Benefit Analysis Toolkit.

ECCA University Course:

The ECCA University Course will provide a ten-day training course on the economics of adaptation to climate change and focus on the use of economic principles and analytical techniques.  The course will commence in September 2016. The course will provide participants with the necessary tools to assess the value of different development planning options in light of climate change. The countries to be involved are Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Viet Nam.

The Technical Specialist in conjunction with senior economists will prepare and finalize all university course material and have it available to the University prior to the commencement of the ECCA University Course in September 2016.

 The countries to be involved are Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Viet Nam.

The Technical Specialist will act as the primary contact point between UNDP-GEF CCA, the University, and UNDP Procurement to ensure arrangements are promptly made.

The ECCA University Course consists of the following:

• Block 1:  Review of the Economic Impacts of Climate Change and Proposals Presentation by Participants;
• Block 2 Track 1:  Assessing the Sectoral Impacts of Climate Change;
• Block 2 Track 2: Cost-Benefit Analysis of Investment Projects and of Climate Change Adaptation Investments; and
• Block 3: Proposal development and presentation by participants.

Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN):

The Fifth Asia Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum 2016, ‘Adapting and Living Below 2 degrees Celsius: Bridging the Gaps in Policy and Practice’ will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from the 17-19 October 2016.

The agenda for the 2016 Forum sessions will be organized under four major streams: Adaptation Planning, Financing for Adaptation, Climate Resilient Development, and Multi-actor Cross Learning.

The Adaptation Planning stream will cover adaptation planning as a tool for long-term vulnerability reduction, best practices for maximizing synergies, climate services for addressing uncertainty in adaptation planning, mainstreaming climate change into development planning and budgeting, and monitoring progress. It is within this stream that the ECCA Country Reports, Regional Report, Policy Briefs and country progress and successes will be presented.

The forum will provide the platform for the ECCA Programme and participants, along with partners to deliver their findings.

The APAN forum and the involvement of the Technical Specialist requires them to:

• Be the focal point for all aspects of the ECCA Programme – all reports as listed above, all course materials as listed above;
• Be available to provide input to the workshop host, organizers and partners on aspects of the ECCA programme and oversee how delivery of reports and presentations will occur;
• Attend lead up APAN meetings as required, along with the programmes designated partners;
• Ensure that all ECCA Country Reports, the Regional Report, and the Policy Briefs are complete and available to attendees;
• Ensure that the ECCA University Course is delivered and running successfully.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

Gender Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

The Technical Specialist will work to integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment principles into climate change finance and contribute to the generation of new knowledge on gender and climate finance.

Specific results expected are as follows:

• Provide guidance on gender mainstreaming and best practice on gender and climate change adaptation and climate finance;
• Track developments in gender best practice with the GCF in order to write, review and submit Gender Assessments for GCF proposals;
• Work with RTAs, Country Offices and Consultants to develop Gender Assessments and Gender Assessment Action Plans for GCF proposal and Concept Notes;
• Be responsible for facilitating the process of gender mainstreaming within the team and leading the work on gender and climate change adaptation and climate change finance, including providing guidance and awareness raising on gender-responsive and gender-transformative climate policies and their implementation;
• Ensure that strategies and methods for improving integrating gender considerations are in place within the work of a CCA team;
• Identify areas where there is room for improvement and assist RTAs on how this can be achieved;
• Provide guidance, advisory services and technical support on gender to the CCA team.

Publications Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

The Technical Specialist will complement ongoing UNDP-led activities to strengthen the capacities of client countries to reduce the impact of climate change on development efforts.

 Specific results expected are as follows:

• The Technical Specialist will be responsible, within the project team environment, to develop a set of twenty publications based on the results and impacts of UNDP’s CCA Portfolio;
• The Technical Specialist will work to complete twenty in-depth publications for the Climate Change Adaptation Team, acting as the focal point for the Head-CCA and the RTAs to complete delivery;
• The Technical Specialist will research and lead on the construction of a range of publications as determined by the Head-CCA.
• The Technical Specialist will provide technical and content editing to all publications ensuring adherence to strict UNDP Style, Editorial and Branding Guidelines and Policies. The Technical Specialist will oversee and be involved in the graphic design process of publications.
• The Technical Specialist will be proactive in ensuring that all publications meet UNDPs 7-Step Quality Assurance Procedures.
• The Technical Specialist will seek avenues to launch and advocate publications in conjunction with UNDP-GEF Knowledge and Communication Specialists in New York Headquarters, Regional Hubs and the UNDP-GEF Communications Specialist n Bangkok.
• The Technical Specialist will track the development of all publications and project-manage to meet deadlines as assigned by the Head-CCA.
• The Technical Specialist will be the primary point of contact for communications writing, editing and technical writing guidance for publications, reports, submissions, quality assurance, and proposals.
• The Technical Specialist will seek avenues to launch and advocate publications in conjunction with UNDP-GEF Knowledge and Communication Specialists in New York Headquarters, Regional Hubs and the UNDP-GEF Communications Specialists in Bangkok and in Country Offices.

ECCA Expected Outcomes and Deliverables:

Reports

• The Technical Specialist will coordinate, facilitate and guide the team of economists, academics, and UNDP staff at the BRH and associated Country Offices to finalize nine Country Reports on the ECCA programme from the Asia-Pacific Region;
• The Technical Specialist will coordinate, facilitate and guide team of economists, academics, and UNDP staff at the BRH and associated Country Offices to finalize a Regional Report on the ECCA programme from the Asia-Pacific Region;
• The Technical Specialist will coordinate, facilitate and guide team of economists, academics, and UNDP staff at the BRH and associated Country Offices to finalize nine Policy Briefs on the ECCA programme from the Asia-Pacific Region;
• The Technical Specialist will be responsible for finalizing the ECCA Toolkit and overseeing the completion of the Cost-Benefit Analysis Toolkit;
• The Technical Specialist will track the development of all publications and project-manage the team and the deliverables to meet deadlines as assigned by the Head-CCA;
• The Technical Specialist will seek avenues to launch and advocate the reports in conjunction with UNDP-GEF Knowledge and Communication Specialists in New York Headquarters, Regional Hubs and the UNDP-GEF Communications Specialist in Bangkok.

 University Course

The ECCA course aims to provide participants with the necessary tools to assess the value of different development planning options in light of climate change. The course will provide a ten- day training on the economics of adaptation to climate change and focus on the use of economic principles and analytical techniques.

There are three components:

• Quantitatively assess the economic impacts of projected climate change at sectoral level;
• Estimate the costs and benefits of adapting to the projected impacts of climate change at sectoral level;
• Conduct cost-benefit analyses of investment projects in the context of climate change and of climate-proofing investment projects.

The technical specialist will be responsible for:

• Ensuring all course materials are correct, agreed to by all parties, edited to meet the stylistic guidelines of UNDP, USAID and the University;
• Ensuring that all course materials are uploaded and available for University staff, lecturers for approval and in a timely manner prior to the commn3xment of the University Course in September 2016.

Expected outcomes and deliverbles work plan:

a) August 2016 (20 days):

Oversight and guidance on the delivery of the following including providing editorial input and clearance on all reports and design in accordance to UNDP and USAID Style/Editorial and Branding Guidelines and Policies:

•  ECCA Toolkit
•  ECCA University Course
•  ECCA Country Reports
•  ECCA Regional Reports

Provision of guidance and preparation of reports as required for the following:

• Project Preparation Grants (GEF)
• Initiation Plans (GEF)
• Project Document
• Gender Assessment and Gender Assessment Action Plans (GCF)

b) September 2016 (20 days):

Finalization of the following publications by September 30th 2016:

 i)  Arab States Regional Publication

 ii) Coastal Risk Management Publication

•  Drought Publication
•  European and Commonwealth Independent States Publication
•  Flood Risk Management Publication
•  Gender Canada Facility Publication
•  Gender Publication
•  Local Authority and NAPS Publication
•  Pacific Regional Publication
•  Private Sector and Small to Medium Enterprises Publication

Provision of guidance and preparation of reports as required for the following:

• Project Preparation Grants (GEF)
• Initiation Plans (GEF)
• Project Document
• Gender Assessment and Gender Assessment Action Plans (GCF)

c) October 2016 (20 days)

Provision of guidance and preparation of reports as required for the following:

• Project Preparation Grants (GEF)
• Initiation Plans (GEF)
• Project Document
• Gender Assessment and Gender Assessment Action Plans (GCF)

d) November 2016 (20 days)

Provision of guidance and preparation of reports as required for the following:

• Project Preparation Grants (GEF)
• Initiation Plans (GEF)
• Project Document
• Gender Assessment and Gender Assessment Action Plans (GCF)

e) December 2016 (10 days)

Finalization of the following publications by December 31st 2016:

•  Cost Benefit Analysis and Financial Appraisal Publication
•  Disaster Risk Reduction Publication
•  Latin and Caribbean Regional Publication
•  Sustainable Development Goals Publication

Provision of guidance and preparation of reports as required for the following:

• Project Preparation Grants (GEF)
• Initiation Plans (GEF)
• Project Document
• Gender Assessment and Gender Assessment Action Plans (GCF)

f) January 2017 (10 days)

Provision of guidance and preparation of reports as required for the following:

• Project Preparation Grants (GEF)
• Initiation Plans (GEF)
• Project Document
• Gender Assessment and Gender Assessment Action Plans (GCF)

g) February 2017 (20 days)

Provision of guidance and preparation of reports as required for the following:

• Project Preparation Grants (GEF)
• Initiation Plans (GEF)
• Project Document
• Gender Assessment and Gender Assessment Action Plans (GCF)

h) March 2017 (20 dasy)

Provision of guidance and preparation of reports as required for the following:

• Project Preparation Grants (GEF)
• Initiation Plans (GEF)
• Project Document
• Gender Assessment and Gender Assessment Action Plans (GCF)

i) April 2017 (20 days)

Provision of guidance and preparation of reports as required for the following:

• Project Preparation Grants (GEF)
• Initiation Plans (GEF)
• Project Document
• Gender Assessment and Gender Assessment Action Plans (GCF)

j) May 2017 (20 days)

Provision of guidance and preparation of reports as required for the following:

• Project Preparation Grants (GEF)
• Initiation Plans (GEF)
• Project Document
• Gender Assessment and Gender Assessment Action Plans (GCF)

k) June 2017 (20 days)

Provision of guidance and preparation of reports as required for the following:

• Project Preparation Grants (GEF)
• Initiation Plans (GEF)
• Project Document
• Gender Assessment and Gender Assessment Action Plans (GCF)

Review and approvals of all deliverables from Head of CCA, UNDP-GEF unit are required.

Duration of the Work:  15 Aug 2016 – 30 June 2017 (Up to 220 days)

Duty Station: Home-based. The consultant is expected to be available to undertake fieldwork and missions at any time required during the contract in accordance with capability, consent, and due process as needed.

Expected places of travel: Travel is required to the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub, where the UNDP-GEF CCA-Head in based as required. In addition, the specialist will work with the UNDP Regional Hubs, UNDP-GEF Directorate in New York Headquarters, UNDP Country Offices, other UN agencies, governments and inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, donors, the private sector and others as required in order to complete assigned tasks.

Core values:

• Integrity: Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct;
• Professionalism: Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work;
• Respect for Diversity: i) Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff; ii) Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core competencies:

• Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity;
• Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative;
• Work in teams: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Communicating and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication;
• Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others;
• Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.;
• Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge;
• Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision-making.

Functional competencies:

• Ability to manage and empower people to work effectively together in reaching results;
• Knowledge of programme management and results-based management;
• Outstanding negotiation, advocacy and interpersonal skills;
• Expertise in writing coherent and convincing documents;
• Excellent planning, goal-setting and prioritization skills;
• Ability to establish and maintain broad strategic networks and partnerships with UN agencies and other international partners to promote partnership and build alliances to advance organizational interests and competencies;
• Ability to go beyond established procedures and practices, introduce new approaches and strategic innovations.

Required Skills:

• Ability to prepare succinct, analytical publications and reports, including technical reports;
• Strong Adobe Creative Suite skills including Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator (successful candidate must have their own software);
• Strong knowledge of women’s empowerment and gender equality in countries supported by the UNDP-GEF CCA Team;
• Outstanding writing skills;
• Focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
• Fluency in spoken and written English;
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communications skills;
• Excellent Microsoft Office skills;
• Excellent Adobe Creative Cloud skills;
• Strong ability to build and maintain relationships with people at all levels from a variety of organizations.

Climate Change Adaptation Technical Specialist shall have the following qualifications:

Education:

• Master’s degree or higher in international development, international relations, environmental or social science, or other closely related field with exposure to gender studies and communications.

Experience:

• At least 5 years in an international development project context working on issues of climate change and related themes including gender equality, environment, and sustainable development;
• Experience conducting research and analysis in the area of climate change including areas such as communications, formulating project documents, strategies;
• Experience working in developing countries and remote locations is an asset;
• Experience working in the UN system and knowledge of relevant processes of UNDP-GEF; UNDP gender priorities; and UNDP communications requirements is an asset;
• Experience working in gender and women’s empowerment is an asset.

 Language requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

The contract will be based on daily fee

Consultant shall quote an all-inclusive Daily Fee for the contract period. The term “all-inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, consumables, etc.) that could be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment are already factored into the daily fee submitted in the proposal. If applicable, travel or daily allowance cost (if any work is to be done outside the IC’s duty station) should be identified separately. Payments shall be done on a monthly basis based on actual days worked, upon verification of completion of deliverables and approval by the IC’s supervisor of a Time Sheet indicating the days worked in the period.

In general, UNDP shall not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology

Cumulative analysis

• Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated;
• Offers will be evaluated according to the Combined Scoring method – where the technical criteria will be weighted at 70% and the financial offer will be weighted at 30%;
• The technical criteria (education, experience, languages [max 500 points]). Only the top 3 candidates obtaining at least 70% or more of the total technical points (education, experience, and languages) will be considered for the interview and financial evaluation;
• Financial score (max 100 points) shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal of those technically qualified;
• The financial proposal shall specify an all-inclusive daily fee amount which includes all costs (professional fees, communications, consumables, etc.) that could be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment;
• Applicant receiving the Highest Combined Score and has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 500 points)

• Criteria 1 : Education - max 100 points;
• Criteria 2 : Experience in an international development project context working on issues of climate change and related themes including gender equality, environment, and sustainable development - max 125 points;
• Criteria 3 : Experience conducting research and analysis in the area of climate change including areas such as communications, formulating project documents, strategies - max 75 points;
• Criteria 4 : Experience working in developing countries and remote locations is an asset - max 50 points;
• Criteria 5 : Experience working in the UN system and knowledge of relevant processes of UNDP-GEF; UNDP gender priorities; and UNDP communications requirements is an asset - max 50 points;
• Criteria 6 : Experience working in gender and women’s empowerment is an asset - max 50 points;
• Criteria 7 : Fluency in oral and written English - max 50 points.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 350 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Shortlisted candidates shall be called for an interview which will be used to confirm and/or adjust the technical scores awarded based on documentation submitted.

Documentation required

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex II;
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
• Financial proposal, as per template provided in Annex II;
• Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

Please click on the below link to download required documents

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=31435

For any clarification regarding this assignment please write to brh.gef.procurement@undp.org