Consultant: Climate Change Adaptation consultant

Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change. It will exacerbate the economic, political and humanitarian strain that countries in the region already face, and greatly reduce their capacity to eradicate extreme poverty. The poorest segments of society will be the most severely affected because they are also the least able to adapt. Responding to the threat of climate change will require concerted action on an unprecedented scale. Systematic action will be necessary across all levels of development planning and implementation (regional, national, sub-national, and local) if development in a number of countries is not to be reversed.

Some African countries have identified key vulnerabilities and priority adaptation measures, and others have initiated demonstration adaptation projects. However, countries continue to face a number of challenges including the following:

• Adaptation initiatives are limited in scope and scale, and their impacts are neither cohesive nor sustainable
• institutional capacities, relationships, policies and practices to assess and manage climate change risks are not developed sufficiently to create an enabling environment, with corresponding political and social champions to support the formulation and implementation of efficient solutions to a problem that has complex multi-sectoral effects
• limited knowledge of the most appropriate adaptation policies and measures hinders countries from preparing themselves with the necessary institutional capacities to support climate risk management
• limited financing options to sustain scaled-up adaptation remains a constraint
• difficult for countries to learn from each other about their experiences with different approaches to adaptation.

The consultant will undertake a desk review of existing material on capacity assessments for climate change. The objectives of this literature review are twofold:

• To make available existing good practice on capacity development for climate change, identifying CD approaches for climate change, outlining how these are being implemented. This will also include available information on existing adaptations of capacity assessment for climate change, and capacity development responses at the policy, organizational, and individual levels;
• to provide a synopsis of the previous capacity assessments that had been carried out in the AAP countries, in order to provide some guidance on the scope and depth needed for the AAP initiative;

This will include, the assessment frameworks used, a review of existing institutional arrangements and the status of implementation of the recommendations of these assessments; the challenges and how these were addressed.

2. Adaptation of the capacity assessment approach to climate change, pilot testing in two countries and validation
This includes the following:-

• Provide technical expertise in drafting the capacity assessment framework and methodology, including identifying capacity indicators to be assessed, in consultation with the CD team and relevant organizations;
• Ensure that technical and functional climate change adaptation CD issues, needs as well as appropriate CD response and strategies, are fully integrated in the CA and CD report
• Run 2 pilot tests of the adapted capacity assessment framework and methodology, and use experience in finalizing the adapted capacity assessment framework and methodology. The pilot will be carried out in West & Central Africa, specific countries to be determined in collaboration with the Africa Adaptation Program team

3. Provide training and facilitate consultations for the piloting and up-scaling process

• Facilitate a consultative and training workshop for the teams in the four (including two pilot countries from East & Southern Africa) pilot countries. Reach consensus on how the adaptation and testing process will be conducted, the priorities to be addressed, the stakeholder groups to be involved, the timelines for the activities, and all the technical issues to be addressed.
• Provide training of the core team for the adaptation, including the national consultants that will be supporting this process in order to further refining for each country teams of the adapted material that was developed during the training session
• Facilitate the validation workshop for the pilots;
• Facilitate a regional learning and lessons learnt forum

4.  Support  the up-scaling process from the pilots to the other AAP countries

• Consolidate and submit the scoping report and CA reports, ensuring quality analysis of data and information, and incorporating inputs and suggestions from consultative meetings and validation workshops.

Output expectations / deliverables

• Literature report, covering existing good practice on capacity development for climate change, identifying CD approaches for climate change, available information on existing adaptations of capacity assessment for climate change, and capacity development responses at the policy, organizational, and individual levels, a synopsis of the previous capacity assessments that had been carried out in the AAP countries.
• Capacity assessment and capacity development response tools for Climate Change Adaptation Capacities drafted
• Four pilot countries tested and documented
• Capacity assessment/development package (incl. customized capacity assessment methodology and capacity development responses); pilot and test drafted
• Validation workshop, Capacity Development training, mutual learning held
• Training of AAP country team consultants to support the capacity assessment in country
• The  adaptation process for the remaining 16 countries is facilitated, and the outputs documented

Experience in working and collaborating with governments on policy issues.

• Demonstrate ability and experience to take initiative and work in an independent manner.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; commitment to team work and to working across disciplines.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills, with experience in consultation processes and presentation of knowledge products.
• Advanced knowledge of English and / or French
• Full computer literacy.

Functional competencies

• Substantive knowledge of the UNDP approach to supporting capacity development 
• Hands-on experience of one or more of UNDP’s capacity development strategies: institutional reform and incentive mechanisms; leadership capacities; education, training and learning; and accountability and voice mechanisms desirable
• Recent country and/or regional experience in working with relevant stakeholders on capacity development
• Demonstrates substantive experience and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives;
• A sound global network of institutional and individual contacts;

Leadership and self-management

• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors
• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Good team player, self starter, has ability to work under minimum supervision and maintain good relationships
• Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovation
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills

Development and operational effectiveness

• Ability to undertake strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
• Ability to work under tight deadlines
• Ability to perform team tasks

Corporate competencies

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP’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 favoritism

• Literature review and preparation of the design of the adapted capacity assessment for climate change.
• Master’s degree in development, environment, energy, economics, or a closely related field