Consultant: Capacity Building for Climate Change Management in Turkey

Climate change is gaining importance in the environmental and development agendas of all countries at all levels. The findings of the Fourth Assessment Report (FAR) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) underline – as its predecessors – the need for immediate action to reduce the amount of anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted to the atmosphere in order to avoid a dangerous human interference with the climate system. The FAR also recognizes that no single technology or mitigation option has the potential to achieve this goal by itself; instead, a portfolio of alternatives – offering enough flexibility to accommodate different national circumstances and interests – will be required. Moreover, global participation will be paramount to effectively address climate change, which implies creating incentives and designing new roads for developing countries (and possibly non-Kyoto Parties) to facilitate their participation in the international mitigation effort post-2012.
Climate change is a global human development challenge. It threatens sustainability of ecosystems and brings about serious economic and social challenges for billions of people and whole nations around the globe. Turkey is not an exception. The country is highly vulnerable to climate change. Turkey is already facing an observed warming trend in temperatures and a decreasing trend in precipitation.
Recognizing that the traditional donor support would be insufficient to address global Climate Change challenge, the Kyoto Protocol broke new ground with the introduction of innovative, new financial market mechanisms to leverage private financing for controlling and coping with climate change. Turkey has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol yet and thus cannot benefit from participation in the Kyoto Protocol Flexible mechanisms. Nevertheless, the country has significant GHG emissions reductions potential and could participate efficiently on the flexible mechanisms, especially in VCM. In addition, it is important not to lose the momentum and to formulate country’s position in post-Kyoto negotiations.
As a candidate country for full EU membership, Turkey is striving to be in line with the EU climate change policy. Climate change is of the highest priority in the environmental agenda of the European Union.
The climate change policies and measures that have resulted from the EU strategies and programmes are covered in the EU legislation by numerous Directives in almost all sectors of the economy.

Project Activities in general:

• Reviewing the status of Turkey under the UNFCCC and the KP in a post-2012 framework
• Supporting participation and capacity of government representatives in international climate change negotiations.
• Organization of a National Climate Change Conference
• Assess the current situation of Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) projects in Turkey and survey of current VCMs successful experiences globally.
• Drafting a proposal for approval chain of Voluntary Carbon Projects.
• Developing National VCM registry system.
• Developing an advisory paper on the legal status of Voluntary Emission Reductions (VERs) in all aspects.
• Develop communication materials.
• Organization of a number of awareness raising activities for efficient participation in the VCM for various target groups through workshops, training sessions, promotional materials and sharing of lessons learned.
• Performing a study for estimation of the potential for VCPs in Turkey.
• Developing standard baselines (for energy, forestry and solid waste projects).
• Developing at least three Project Idea Notes (PINs) reviewed by MoEF.
• Developing potential follow up actions undertaken by MoEF.

Detailed Responsibilities of International Expert are as below:

• Prepares a detailed work plan for the project’s activity 1.1.1 (in consultation with the Project Steering Committee(PSC) and UNDP);
• Advises and ensures the timely and effective implementation of the project activities in accordance with the working plan;
• Coordinates(pls. align the times), oversees and executes the preparation of outputs of the project, including the development of the review of Turkey’s status under the KP and its update in accordance with the decisions of the latest COP/MOP and Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex 1 Parties under the Kyoto Protocol(AWGKP) and most updated national, EU and international reviews on Turkey and Climate Change (and or Energy policies) as well as in accordance with outputs of related working group studies;, supporting the studies of the national working groups, reviewing and compilation of the reports from relevant meetings and conferences;
• Analyses existing institutional and legal framework for climate change and energy in Turkey;
• Defines the role and the responsibilities of the stakeholders, including of the PSC;
• Ensures preparation of the progress reports of the activities performed;
• Supports the work of the national expert if necessary;
• Ensures the coordination of project inputs and outputs between the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and UNDP;
• Maintains close contacts with UNDP,  indicating foreseeable changes in work-plan and proposing realistic amendments and budget revisions as needed;
• Facilitates cooperation with other ongoing capacity building projects  in the relevant areas for climate change;
• Finalizes the outcomes of the project activity 1.1.1. together with the national expert along with the governmental experts and members of working groups in relation to climate change negotiations;
• Ensures that the project outcomes are in line with the international requirements and national priorities.
  

• Advanced university degree (master or Ph. D.) in one of the following: environmental studies (economics, legislation, policy), economics, law or equivalent;
• Strong written and verbal skills in a variety of environments such as government and communities;
• Ability to communicate effectively in English (Basic Turkish is an asset)
• Planning and organizational skills and ability to work under pressure;
• Result oriented;
• Flexible and able to work in a team in an effective manner;
• Ability to operate common office software.

• A minimum of 5 years of working experience in the area relevant to the project;
• Experience in international project management of multi-stakeholder driven projects in the environmental sector;
• Knowledge of the international negotiations and process under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol;
• Knowledge of EU climate change policy;