| Description |
INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT FOR REVIEW OF TECHNICAL LESSONS AND SOCIAL IMPACT
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| Location : |
Thimphu, BHUTAN |
| Application Deadline : |
03-Jul-12 |
| Type of Contract : |
Individual Contract |
| Post Level : |
International Consultant |
Languages Required :
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English |
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) |
01-Aug-2012 |
| Duration of Initial Contract : |
38 days between August – October 2012 (with approx. 20 days trek) |
| Expected Duration of Assignment : |
38 days |
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Background
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The most significant climate change impact in Bhutan is the formation of supra-glacial lakes due to the accelerated retreat of glaciers with increasing temperatures. The risk of potential costly economic damages on key development sectors such as agriculture, hydropower, and forestry by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) is mounting. Climate change is attributed as the primary reason that water levels in glacial lakes approach dangerous thresholds. This poses a new dimension to the existing range of threats to lives, livelihoods, and development.
As a follow up to the UNDP-supported National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA, 2006), Bhutan is currently implementing the first project funded by the Least Developed Countries Fund on Climate Change Adaptation titled “Reducing climate change induced risks and vulnerabilities from glacial lake outburst floods in the Punakha, Wangdue and Chamkhar Valleys”. The project is addressing climate risks in two Sub Basins - Pho Chhu and Chamkhar Chhu - which represent the two most GLOF-vulnerable areas in the country and pose a major threat to life and infrastructure in downstream communities. The goal of the project is to enhance adaptive capacity to prevent climate change-induced GLOF disasters in Bhutan through the following project outcomes:
- Outcome 1: Improved national, regional and local capacities to prevent climate change-induced GLOF disasters in the Punakha-Wangdue and Chamkhar Valleys;
- Outcome 2: Reduced risks of GLOF from Thorthormi Lake through an artificial lake level management system;
- Outcome 3: Reduced human and material losses in vulnerable communities through GLOF early warnings;
- Outcome 4: Enhanced learning, evaluation and adaptive management.
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Duties and Responsibilities
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The purpose of the review is to examine and document technical and social lessons and impact of the project since the beginning of its implementation from 2008 till date, in order to extract best practices and formulate recommendations for an exit strategy which increases sustainability, enables upscaling and replication of the project. The lessons learned formulated in the assessment report are expected to be applied in on-going and future GLOF risk management projects in Bhutan and other GLOF-prone countries.
The scope of the review contains a technical and social assessment of:
Special emphasis of the technical review will be on the methods applied for the artificial lowering of Thorthomi lake (outcome 2) and the installation of a GLOF Early warning System (outcome 3). The review should address the following:
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Assessment of the project approach to GLOF/climate risk reduction in terms of overall coherence and complementarity of project interventions, and contribution towards overall vulnerability reduction and capacity development objective;
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Assessment of the adequacy of policy-level interventions conducted under the project, and effectiveness of the Community Based Disaster Risk Management approach (Outcome 1);
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Review of the artificial lowering of Thorthormi lake (Outcome 2), covering the following:
Technical approach and methodology;
Environmental footprint assessment;
Multi-disciplinary team and workforce management and transportation;
High-altitude Health and Safety management;
Impacts and benefits of project related to livelihoods of project workers, herdsmen and local communities;
Cost-benefit analysis;
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Review of the GLOF Early Warning System (Outcome 3), covering the following:
Technical approach and methodology;
Response plans, communication and information flow;
Coverage and anticipated avoided losses of lives and infrastructure;
Manual EWS: synergies with automatic EWS and sustainability;
Partnership and co-financing;
Community awareness of EWS, evacuation routes and sites;
Cost-benefit analysis.
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Adequacy of technical documentation and the corresponding dissemination among different government- and non-governmental entities;
- Assessment of the project with regards to women’s empowerment and gender equality impact;
- Lessons learned from managing the project, including best practices, weaknesses and experiences with adaptive management;
- Formulation of an exit-strategy for the project, based on recommendations for increased sustainability of project interventions, including budget requirements and suggested responsibilities for follow-up projects;
- Recommendations for replication and upscaling of project interventions in Bhutan and other GLOF-prone countries.
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Competencies
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| Consultant should have in depth understanding of GLOF risk reduction approaches including evaluation experience, will be designated as the team leader with responsibility of the assessment of technical aspects of the review.
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Required Skills and Experience
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- International/regional consultant with academic and professional background in fields related to Climate Change Adaptation/Disaster Management. A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience is required;
- Substantive technical experience with GLOF risk reduction approaches, including Early Warning Systems, and from similar interventions, preferably from the region;
- Experience with participatory monitoring processes and evaluation of technical and social aspects of climate change adaptation and/or disaster risk reduction projects;
- Be medically fit to travel in high-altitude up to 5,000 meter above sea-level (submission of medical certificate for high-altitude trekking required upon selection);
- Familiarity with the challenges developing countries face in adapting to climate change, and with Bhutan or similar countries;
- Excellent in human relations, coordination, planning and team work;
- Excellent English writing and communication skills.
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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.
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