The Kune-Vaini lagoon system (KVLS), located within the Drini-Mati River Delta in the Lezha region of Albania, provides a wide range of valuable goods and services to nearby communities. These local communities derive the majority of their income from fishing or agriculture and therefore depend on functional, intact ecosystems in the lagoon system for their livelihoods. A rapid increase in population size and widespread poverty in the area have led to an increase in pressure on the lagoon for ecosystem goods and services, and to unplanned alterations in the buffer zone surrounding the lagoon.
The unsustainable use and alteration of the KVLS is being compounded and will be further exacerbated by the effects of climate change, in several ways. Firstly, recent climate change models predict an increase in air and sea surface temperature, which will lead to increased evaporation. In addition, global climate models also predict a reduction in precipitation, which will also result in an increase in salinity in the lagoon with detrimental effects on the fisheries. Secondly, models predict an accelerating rate of sea-level rise (up to 61 centimetres by 2100) resulting in increased erosion and the consequent loss of habitat within the KVLS. Finally, the KVLS is expected to experience more intense and frequent floods and storm surges. These extreme events will lead to the erosion of beaches and riparian forests and the alteration of flow patterns within the KVLS, which in turn reduces physical barriers to extreme coastal flooding events and limits the capacity of the lagoon to buffer the surrounding communities from these events.
In order to address this problem, Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) resources have been provided to the Government of Albania to implement the project “Building the resilience of Kune-Vaini Lagoon (KVL) through ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA)” which aims to increase the capacity of government and local communities living nearby the KVLS to adapt to climate change using an integrated suite of adaptation interventions, including EbA.
This will be achieved by the following outcomes of the project:
• Improving technical and institutional capacity of policy- and decision-makers in Albania to address climate change risks through the implementation of adaptation interventions, including ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA).
• Demonstrating adaptation interventions within the KVLS.
• Improving awareness and knowledge of local communities and national stakeholders on effective EbA.
Functions
Summary of Key Functions:
The IEbAE will be responsible for developing technical protocols for the implementation of the selected EbA activities in the Kune-Vaini lagoon system. In particular, these technical protocols should describe the most appropriate methods for the implementation of reforestation and dune rehabilitation activities. The protocols should: i) verify sites for the interventions; ii) identify appropriate climate-resilient species to be planted; iii) describe in detail the preferred methods for reforestation and rehabilitation, including spacing between trees, depth of holes; etc.; and iv) provide cost estimates for the reforestation and rehabilitation activities. In addition, the IEbAE should work closely with the Coastal Engineer and construction firms hired to design and build a tidal inlet channel and artesian wells to ensure that the construction of this hard infrastructure is combined with an EbA approach.
The IEbAE will also be responsible for the development of technical guidelines for policy- and decision-makers on planning and implementing EbA interventions. She/he will work closely with a National Policy Expert – who will be developing a similar guideline on integrating EbA into development planning and policy – to complete this task. The IEbAE will then also plan, develop and deliver training on these technical guidelines to relevant government staff. Once again, the planning and delivery of training should be coordinated with the National Policy Expert and Project Coordinator.
The IEbAE will provide technical support and assistance to the National Adaptation Expert to develop training material on EbA. This will include the provision of information on best practices and lessons learned from EbA projects, and reviewing training materials and plans.
The expert will be responsible for the development of a nation-wide EbA upscaling strategy to sustain and replicate climate-resilient development using EbA. This strategy will be developed in collaboration with the NAE, and the process will be led by the inter-ministerial working group on climate change. This expert will consult a broad spectrum of relevant national stakeholders to guide the development of the upscaling strategy. Once produced, the expert will need to present the upscaling strategy at a multi-stakeholder workshop.
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Become familiar with the project document and project objectives.
• Develop a workplan for completing the specified duties and responsibilities, and achieving project objectives.
• Maintain regular communication with the Chief Technical Advisor and Project Coordinator to ensure that the correct and necessary deliverables are being produced in a timely manner.
• Collect information on international best practice and lessons learned from similar EbA projects in Albania and in the Mediterranean area.
• Develop technical protocols for the implementation of EbA interventions – in particular reforestation and dune rehabilitation – in the Kune-Vaini lagoon. This should be done with input from the National Adaptation Expert.
• Work closely with the Coastal Engineer and construction company to ensure complementarity between the reforestation and rehabilitation interventions and the construction of a tidal inlet channel and artesian wells. For instance, dune rehabilitation could be used to stabilise sand banks on either side of the tidal inlet channel, or reforestation could take place near artesian wells with tree species that prefer lower salinity conditions.
• Work with the National Policy Expert and relevant stakeholders to develop technical guidelines for policy- and decision-makers on planning and implementing EbA interventions.
• Plan and conduct training sessions and workshops for national and local government on the technical guidelines for planning and implementing EbA interventions. This should be done in collaboration with the National Policy Expert.
• Provide technical support and assistance to the National Adaptation Expert to develop training material on EbA.
• Review EbA training materials and plans developed by the National Adaptation Expert and provide recommendations.
• Review the reports by the National Adaptation Expert on the construction/implementation of EbA interventions to ensure that implementation is progressing according to the technical protocols developed.
• Provide technical advice to consultants developing a research and monitoring plan for the SCCF project.
• Provide technical assistance and support to local academic institutions conducting research and monitoring of the EbA interventions.
• Consult a broad spectrum of relevant national stakeholders to guide the development of a nation-wide EbA upscaling strategy.
• Develop ¬¬– under the guidance of the inter-ministerial working group on climate change – a nation-wide EbA upscaling strategy.
• Host a workshop with relevant stakeholders to present and validate the upscaling strategy developed.
• Conduct any other tasks relevant to the position and as agreed with the project coordinator.
• Collaborate with other consultants employed by the SCCF project.
• Provide the relevant assistance, with regards to ecosystem-based and coastal adaptation, to any other consultants involved in the SCCF project.
Experience and qualifications:
• At least a Masters-level degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Climate Change or related field.
• At least 7 years of experience working on climate change adaptation projects and EbA in particular.
• Expertise in Ecosystem-based Adaptation and/or coastal adaptation. Excellent understanding of ecosystem management, protected area management, national development and coastal development.
• Experience working with local communities.
• Strong communication, reporting and presentation skills.
• Work experience with projects funded by international donors.
• Excellent spoken and written English.
• Competency in Albanian language is desirable.
Schedule and deliverables
By December 2016:
• Technical protocols for reforestation of selected sites with indigenous, climate-resilient species.
• Technical protocols for the rehabilitation of coastal dunes with indigenous, climate-resilient dune plants.
By June 2017:
• Review of training materials on EbA produced by the NAE.
• Technical guidelines for policy- and decision-makers and planning and implementing EbA interventions.
By December 2017:
• Delivery of at least 2 training sessions for national and local government technical staff to present the technical guidelines on EbA. This will be done in collaboration with the National Policy Expert.
By June 2018:
• Delivery of at least 2 training sessions for national and local government technical staff to present the technical guidelines on EbA. This will be done in collaboration with the National Policy Expert.
By December 2018:
• Delivery of at least 2 training sessions for national and local government technical staff to present the technical guidelines on EbA. This will be done in collaboration with the National Policy Expert.
• Development of a nation-wide EbA upscaling strategy,
• Delivery of training on the nation-wide EbA upscaling strategy during a workshop.
The IEbAE will be compensated for her/his work with a competitive remuneration package based on international rates and level of experience.
The compensation will also include the withholding tax(15%) that must be paid in Albania, pursuant to Albanian tax law.
Payments will be made upon receipt of the following deliverables:
• Detailed workplan: 20%
• Protocols for the implementation of EbA interventions: 20%
• Technical guidelines on EbA: 20%
• Training materials and training of stakeholders: 20%
• Nation-wide EbA upscaling strategy: 20%
Language
All final reports /deliverables must be submitted in English and Albania language
Application
Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter outlining their approach to the assignment, a detailed CV and financial proposal to:
Pellumb Abeshi- General Director of Environmental Policies and Director of the Project, Ministry of Environment, Email: pellumb.abeshi@moe.gov.al
and
Viola Agasi, Project Manager, Mobile: 0692365066 / 0674091375,
Email: viola.agasi @yahoo.com,
