| Description |
CONSULTANT: INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT ON MSP UNDP-GEF: “IDENTIFICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ADAPTATION RESPONSE MEASURES IN DRINI – MATI RIVER DELTAS” | | Location : | Home basis with missions in Tirana, ALBANIA | | Application Deadline : | 09-Feb-09 | | Type of Contract : | SSA | Languages Required :
| English | Starting Date :
(date when the selected canditate is expected to start) | 23-Feb-2009 | | Expected Duration of Assignment : | 150 working days for the period 2009-2012 | | Background | The Drini and Mati River Deltas (DMRD) are 2 of 3 deltas found on the northern Adriatic coast of Albania which harbors significant biodiversity values. Based on assessments of impacts of climate change, including variability, the DMRD has been identified as a region of critical vulnerability to climate change and variability. Climate change scenarios for Albania have predicted an increase in sea surface temperature and sea level rise of up to 61 cm. This is expected to place additional stress on marine and littoral biodiversity as well as livelihoods of local communities. Climate change, including variability, could undermine biodiversity conservation efforts under the protected area regime in the DMRD. Currently, there are no efforts underway to address climate change impacts on the DMRD ecosystem. However, due to the importance assigned to the target ecosystem the government plans to expand already existing network of protected areas to cover the entire region of Shengjin (from Kune-Vain to Tale to River Mati to Patok to Fushe Kuqe to River Ishmi). This calls for consideration of climate change impacts to these efforts. With the request of the Government of Albania to address the significant need for adaptation of such an area, the Global Environment Facility has provided a grant in the form of a Medium Size Project to help Albania to pilot identification and implementation of adaptation measures. Whereby, a combination of technical and institutional capacity development, on-the ground adaptation measures, such as coastal dune habitat restoration, modification of DMRD protected area network planning and coverage, and other landscape-wide adaptation policy measures will be employed by the project. The overall development goal of this MSP is to assist Albania in establishing a mechanism by which strategies to moderate, cope with, and take advantage of the consequences of climate change are enhanced, developed, and implemented. The specific objective of the project is to build adaptive capacities in the DMRD to ensure resilience of the key ecosystems and local livelihoods to climate change. This objective will be achieved through 3 outcomes: (1) Capacities to monitor[1] and respond to anticipated climate change impacts in the DMRD at the institutional and community levels developed, (2) DMRD region’s conservation and development programmes, plans and policies integrate climate change risks and take local pilot actions for coastal adaptation, (3) Capacity for adaptive management, monitoring and evaluation, learning, and replication of project lessons developed. and respond to anticipated climate change impacts in the DMRD at the institutional and community levels developed, (2) DMRD region’s conservation and development programmes, plans and policies integrate climate change risks and take local pilot actions for coastal adaptation, (3) Capacity for adaptive management, monitoring and evaluation, learning, and replication of project lessons developed.
[1] Monitoring here refers to system performance monitoring as well as climate impact monitoring | Duties and Responsibilities | Objective of the assignment: To provide technical support to the National Project Manager (PM) International Consultant (IC) will be recruited. The task of the IC will be to provide technical assistance to the National Project Manager (PM), the National Project Experts (NPE) and other project stakeholders. In essence, the responsibility of the IC is to ensure that the overall technical direction of the project is maintained and flexibly adapted to meet the practical challenges faced during implementation. At the critical initial stages of project implementation the inputs of the IC in Albania will be on a semi-permanent basis, but will be gradually reduced once technical directions are firmly established and project implementation capacity is in place. Nonetheless the role of the IC will remain critical throughout the project as he/she will continue to have inputs on key technical decisions at strategic moments in the project implementation through field missions and remote communication (email). The IC will work closely with the PM, the project National Project Experts (NPE’s) and consultants, under the overall supervision and guidance by the UNDP CO, UNDP Climate Change Programme manager in Albania and UNDP-GEF RCU, based in Bratislava. Specifically his/her tasks include but are not limited to: Scope of the assignment and Main Tasks: - Get familiar with the project document including objectives, outcomes, outputs and activities including project work plan and monitoring and evaluation plan as well as inception report;
- Review the available literature and studies related to climate change vulnerability and adaptation for Albania such as National Communications, Technology Needs Assessment and other relevant literature, with particular focus on long- and short-term impacts of SLR (Sea Level Rise)-related hazards induced by climate change on the compound system of Adriatic coast.
- Get familiar with the socio-economic, environmental and climate background of the DMRD and update the socio-economic, environmental and climate baseline of the targeted area;
- Based on the new data and information, assist the project team update work plan, indicators in the project log frame, as necessary and assist the PM to regularly monitor the risks and update risk mitigation strategy of the, as required;
- Get familiar with the development programs and projects, infrastructure development and investment plans and relevant policies that are under way in the DMRD, aiming at the promotion of the sustainable development of the region and contributing to or posing the risks to coastal and adjacent ecosystems; .
- Assist the PM and the NPE’s in development of relevant TOR’s and mobilization of qualified national experts and organizations, as needed, to provide specific consultancy services;
- Based on the previous studies of the vulnerability and adaptation performed under National Communications and other studies, advice on the best and suitable approaches/methodologies to be used for the update of the climate scenarios for the project targeted area.
- Advice the project team on best suitable approaches / methodologies for the assessment of the climate change impacts and variability on biodiversity attributes. Comment on the final results obtained after the application of the suggested methodologies.
- Advise the project team on the methodologies for assessing a set of adaptation measures for ecosystems of the DMRD, with particular focus on coastal restoration measures in the coastal areas; and identification of priority adaptation response measures
- Review and share with national consultants ICZM / ICAM best practices available from other countries that can be applied in Albania and used as a comprehensive framework for coastal adaptation,
- Analyze technical and economic feasibility of the prioritized coastal adaptation measures to be embedded into the ICZM framework as well as the associated risks and barriers to implementation.[1] This would involve account of costs of impacts / no action scenario vis-a vis cost and benefit of adaptation options / alternative scenario; This would involve account of costs of impacts / no action scenario vis-a vis cost and benefit of adaptation options / alternative scenario;
- Review, and share the relevant knowledge and good practices available particularly from the Mediterranean region. Help the PM facilitate the knowledge exchange and partnerships for introducing such good practices in the context of Albania;
- Based on the above analysis, produce the guiding notes for the project team and the key stakeholders on key technical issues to help in smooth project implementation and delivery of results;
- Assist the PM, the project team and local partners in design and implementation of concrete, on-the-ground pilot measures to practically demonstrate project findings and recommendations;
- Assist in capturing the key lessons and developing a replication plan for other regions in neighboring countries. As part of the replication strategy, help develop a knowledge product/s for wider dissemination of project results and lessons learned.
- Provide peer review of the technical reports, studies and other deliverables produced under the project from experts hired.
[1] In terms of scope, as defined by the project document, the measures will include, but not limited to, coastal protection against sea surges, inundation, erosion and a long term responses to SLR, such as shore nourishment, coastal dune wetland restoration, etc. | Competencies | List of deliverables and time-line A technical paper namely - Climate Change in the Drini-Mati River Delta and adaptation options will be the final deliverable of this assignment, which will include but not limited to the following items: - Deliverable 1: Inception report that includes socio-economic, environmental and climate change updates of the project baseline, including indicators, risk management and M&E plan. Deadline: 2 months after signing the contract
- Deliverable 2: Evidence-based climate change risk assessment, including updated / localized scenarios for DMRD. Deadline: 10 months after signing the contract
- Deliverable 3: A set of adaptation measures designed, focusing on establishing ICZM good practice, coastal dune and wetland habitats’ restoration; and adaptive management of protected areas in the DRMD. Deadline: 18 months after signing the contract
- Deliverable 5: A package of recommendations for integrating adaptation measures in development and infrastructure plans / programmes in DRMD area. Deadline: 24 months after signing the contract
- Deliverable 6: Overall Project Good Practices and Lessons Learned Report, including good practice and lessons learned dissemination plan. Deadline: 30 months after the signing of the contract
- Deliverable 7: Project Exit Strategy Deadline: 34 months after the signing of the contract
Timeline and implementation arrangements: The total duration of assignment will be up to 150 working days for the period: 2009-2012. The assignment will also involve at least three missions to Albania, including but not limited to initial consultation with the project team; discussion and validation of the methodologies to be employed for climate scenarios, impact and assessment of adaptation measures as well as discussion and validation with stakeholders of the of the policy paper for adaptation of DMRD. Throughout the assignment the consultant will provide on-line technical support and advice as per the above mentioned tasks. The consultant will report on his work to the Climate Change Program Manager, Project Manager for DMRD and to Ms. Keti Chachibaia, Regional Advisor at Bratislava Regional Center. | Required Skills and Experience | - Advanced university degree in natural ecosystem management, coastal management, land use planning or related fields;
- Good knowledge on and extensive working experience on climate change adaptation, preferably on coastal adaptation and in developing countries;
- At least 10 years of proven work experience on coastal adaptation preferably in the Mediterranean Sea region;
- Good command of English language;
- Demonstrated technical writing skill;
- Good facilitation skills;
- Ability and willingness to work in team.
To apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit the letter of interest by indicating concisely why they do consider themselves qualified for such position, the updated CV and copies of supporting documents including letters of reference, financial proposal and a work plan for accomplishing the assignment |
|
